BAMF'S

2008-02-19T15:58:00.002-06:00

I finished reading The Alchemist's Daughter yesterday and was hoping to start The Red Tent, but I am having some issues procuring the book. So, instead I started reading The Birth House and I am super excited about this one. I got this one for our BAMF's book exchange and it looked really intriguing. I will hopefully be getting The Red Tent by Friday and I can't wait to read about mentration and beastiality!

2008-02-14T12:47:00.001-06:00

I borrowed the graphic novel Wonder Woman: Love and Murder from Sarah and thought it was decent. I LOVE Jodi Picoult's books, she is an amazing writer...but her comic book adaptation left me a little less impressed. I have never been into comic books and don't really care too much for lame superheroes, but I do like the idea of graphic novels and I thought the art was fantastic. I liked the way it was drawn and the story moved along quickly. There was dialogue intended to be light and funny, comical and quick witted, but it kind of feel short and felt a bit forced. Even though it didn't knock my socks off...I would still recommend giving it a try...after all it only took me about an hour to read and enjoy the pictures....Wonder Woman has a HUGE bosom!

2008-02-12T22:58:00.002-06:00

I have started reading The Red Tent, our next book club selection. It is actually pretty interesting thus far-I am about 40 pages into the tale. The one thing that has shocked me a little bit, though, is the multiple references to beastiality. I have to say that if the options were premarital sex in an agrarian economy or screwing sheeps, that I am shocked that the sheep won. How disturbing!

2007-12-26T10:39:00.000-06:00

It's been awhile! I have read quite a few books recently that never made it to the blog. I am reading The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall and I love it. I really enjoy books that take place outside of the US because they are always so rich in texture and so beautifully descriptive. All of the characters have their demons and the book contains great loss and amazing strength.

2007-12-19T21:59:00.000-06:00

I haven't been reading ANYTHING lately. I feel so terrible about this. I planned to read this past weekend while I was house sitting, but the television was like a vortex. I could not stop watching cable. I watched so much crap. Seriously, I watched the Girls Next Door. I really should have been reading. Here is to reading in the new year!

2007-12-06T21:56:00.000-06:00

I finished The Man of my Dreams yesterday. I really liked this book. My friend Emily read it and thought I would identify with the main character. Well, she was correct. The unfortunate thing is that the main character has some serious flaws (fear of relationships, difficulty accepting happiness, and so on). Sadly enough, I could totally identify with her. There is a part at the end that really resonated with me:

"I wanted to hold happiness in reserve, like a bottle of champagne. I postponed it because I was afraid, because I overvalued it, and because I didn't want to use it up, because what do you wish for then? That possibility, that I was intimidated by getting what I wanted, is the hardest one for me to consider, which might mean it is the likeliest." page 266

I think that most of us can identify with this quote. I think there are always things that we hold off on doing. Reading this book definitely gave me some real food for thought. I would recommend this book.

2007-12-06T13:45:00.001-06:00

Our Holiday BAMF's book club was a ton of fun, we were spreading merriment and cheer like no other! We did our annual book exchange and I ended up with Giraffe by J.M. Ledgard. So far its an amazing book with such vivid depressing imagery. Its fascinating how the author writes several chapters from the giraffe's point of view. The book is very dark and the author enables you to visualize the depression and despair of the characters and the country.

2007-11-26T17:59:00.000-06:00

I am LOVING the book 'Water for Elephants'. I can't seem to put it down, yet I am nervous that I won't finish in time for book club this Friday. It's an amazingly descriptive book and the writing puts the reader in the setting so well that its almost like your there. Great book so far, I can't wait to finish.

2007-11-23T22:44:00.001-06:00

I finished Water for Elephants on Wednesday night. I am so ready for book club! I did like the book. I think I was expecting more of an epiphany or spectacular event toward the end, but it was pleasing. I really liked the main character, Jacob. Granted I have never lived or traveled with the circus, but the book seemed really plausible. What do I know, though? I am excited to talk about this one at book club next Friday.

I started reading this holiday romance trilogy that my mom bought after WFE. I have read one of the three stories thus far and it was horrifically weak.

I also realized that I am not on track to make my annual goal of 52 books per year. I just finished number 42. I am a bit disappointed in myself. I might still aim for 48. but that is still a lofty goal.

2007-11-12T21:20:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted on BAMFs in a while, so I am super excited. I have read a few romance novels lately and they were so crappy that I didn't even care to write about them. Last night, I started Water for Elephants. I am about fifty pages in and am digging it so far. I was a little worried about the circus aspects being boring or irritating, but so far it is all really palatable. I am trying to finish this weekend so I can give the book to Jenny!. Also, I want to be done well before the 30th because I always wait until far too close to bookclub and then cannot get the book done.

I was thinking recently that I would like my job so much more if I actually took my lunch break every day and read for thirty minutes to an hour. Haven't done it yet, though. Maybe someday soon.

2007-10-25T12:28:00.000-05:00

I have been really slacking in the reading and posting department! I am reading The Many Aspects of Mobile Home Living and I am really enjoying it. This book is really off the wall and there are twists and turns and weird shit around every corner. I have been working on this one for over a week now and I really just want to finish it. I feel like such a slacker...not even finishing a book a week now!

2007-10-08T23:41:00.000-05:00

What? Huh? No one blogged book club? Come on, Jenny!, you are slacking. Book club was held this past Friday at Jenny!'s house. Jeanette was our lovely co-host. We read two different mystery books and did a murder mystery activity. Dinner was delicious. Jeanette made meatloaf and Jenny! took care of the brie with apricot, mashed potatoes, and corn. What a fantastically delicious Midwestern meal! Everyone by me dressed up in costume. This should surprise no one. My character was supposed to wear a black suit and sunglasses. It was 85 degrees and that was so not happening. We barely talked about the books because only a few people finished and we had two different books. A good time was had by all, but some of us party poopers had to leave early because we were too tired and had to wolrk at the JOB on Saturday at 8:30am.

2007-10-02T12:30:00.000-05:00

I am reading The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer and so far it's decent. It has some pretty entertaining passages about men shaving their balls. I am not all that excited about the fact that it's being made into a movie because I don't like Debra Messing and her sickly looking ass. I do think that she will play Gracie's part well though. And Joan and Cricket have been casted very well too. I will want to see the movie after if comes out, but not sure that it will adapt well to the screen. We shall see!

2007-09-27T19:17:00.000-05:00

I just finished Free Love and fucking LOVED it! I couldn't put it down! Next book club meeting is October 5th and we have a special surprise in store for everyone! We are doing a murder mystery! Ohhhh....how fun!

2007-09-23T13:58:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading Up Close and Personal. It was a decent and quick read. I started last night and finished this morning. You totally knew where the book was going the entire time, but the characters were really likable. Fern Michaels is a huge animal fan and includes lots of pets in all of her books. I will just say that this can get terribly old. I like cats and dogs, too, but enough already. Please stop devoting so much print to them. Maybe that was her creative way to fluff the text and make the book longer. I have to start looking for something like that.

Next up is The Zookeeper's Wife. It is based on a true story of a couple who smuggled Jews into the Warsaw Zoo during World War II. Should be interesting.

2007-09-20T22:43:00.000-05:00

I finished I Love You, Beth Cooper the other night. It was really entertaining and I would highly recommend it. If there is any part of a geek in you-and face it, most of us blogging for sure have that-you would enjoy this one. It is really a quick read and is pretty funny. On to the next book now. I got two at the library. I think I will go with the romance novel next because I will be too embarrassed to read that on a plane.

2007-09-16T22:49:00.000-05:00

I am loving I Love You, Beth Cooper. My old roommate Laura had recommended the book to me. She said it was funny and entertaining. It was also featured in the University of Illinois Alumni magazine this summer as Larry Doyle is a U of I alumnus. So, I finally put it on reserve at the library and decided to read it. It has literally made me laugh out loud more times than I can count. The book revolves around Denis Cooverman, valedictorian of Buffalo Grove High School, and his ambiguously gay best friend, Rich Munsch. It starts out with Denis' speech at high school graduation and then the rest transpires on graduation night while hanging out with Beth Cooper and her two friends Cammy and Treece. It has a Can't Hardly Wait or Dazed and Confused feel to it. This book is really funny. There were two quotes I wanted to share, but I cannot find them now.

2007-09-16T22:45:00.000-05:00

The BAMFs met for another round of bookclub this past weekend. There were six of us in attendance. Jeanette was not able to attend, unfortunately, because of work. We went to Wishbone in Berwyn for some Southern cooking. The food was fine. Our service was mediocre. I was really surprised by how busy it was. We did actually get to talk about our book, Montana Sky by Nora Roberts. Of the six of us, three were completely finished with the book and three had about 150 pages left. Thus, we didn't get to discuss it all. I think everyone was pleasantly surprised that they were totally digging a romance novel after having looked down on them with disdain. Our next book club will be at Jenny!'s and then the holiday bookclub will be at my house. Jenny and Jeanette have yet to reveal what the October book is, so we are all anxiously awaiting this information.

2007-09-11T20:44:00.001-05:00

So far in Montana Sky there is a whole lot of sexual tension...but NO fucking! I want the fucking!

2007-09-09T21:06:00.000-05:00

I have to decided to proudly embrace my romance novels and include most of the novels I read on this blog. I am sure there will be a few with covers or titles that embarrass me far too much to include. I saw this book at Target, but didn't buy it because I guessed, as did occur, that my mom would buy it. My mom always buys books by Carly Phillips. They are usually "Bookmarked" at Target when they are new on paperback. I took it from my parents and asked my mom how it was. Her review was so-so. By the way, my favorite thing in the world is when my mom hands me a book and says "You might want to read this. It wasn't very good." Oh, that's right, I have so much time on my hand that I want your crappy books. Seriously! Back to the topic. I actually liked the book. The characters came together fairly quickly and there wasn't all this drama involving contrived, barely existent conflict. They knew they would end up together and so did the reader. They just had to solve a mystery and stay alive to do so. The author also did one of my other non-favorite things which was introduce other characters who one will then have to buy her next book in the fall to find out what happens to. Oh, those clever romance writers. What to read next, that is the question. I will most likely start I Love You, Beth Cooper by Larry Doyle. It was recommended to me by my friend Laura.

2007-09-09T18:33:00.001-05:00

I stopped reading Finn, then started Confessions of a Shopaholic, then stopped that and started reading Montana Sky. I have to read Montana Sky by Friday and then pass it along to Jeanette. That's a lot of pressure and I am not sure if I can pull it off.

I stopped reading Finn because I kept falling asleep reading it on the train...not good. It's not that I don't like the book, it just can't keep me awake and enthralled enough to read on. It's also a bit of a slow read as well. Confessions of a Shopaholic is pretty funny, easy reading that is perfect for the train. It's acceptable if I forget what I just read...but Finn, you kind of need to remember things.

I am looking forward to book club this Friday...still not sure where we are going!

2007-09-05T20:11:00.001-05:00

I finished our book club book, Montana Sky by Nora Roberts. This book was my suggestion since I am an avid romance novel reader. I know they are considered to be crappy, but I love them. Some of them are extremely crappy quite truthfully, but others I just love. This seemed like a good choice since this was one of my favorites and a good book for those who aren't super into the genre. I am not saying much about it since I am probably the one one finished so far (I know this because two of you bookclubbers are borrowing it).

The overall plot summary is that three half-sisters-Willa, Tess, and Lily-are forced to live together on a ranch for a year in order to receive their inheritance. In addition to the romantic and sisterly relationships, there is quite a bit of intrigue as someone is killing humans and slaughtering animals. I am really curious to see how people will feel about this one.

Last night, I watched the movie version of the book. I think it was originally shown on Lifetime. I found out about the movie inadvertently on iTunes and then got the movie from Netflix. I would not recommend the movie. I tend to create really strong visuals and ideas of how people look, act, and talk while reading. For me, very few movies made from books can live up to the book. It is also tough to condense a 500-page novel into under two hours. I also thought that some of the changes were dumb and unnecessary. Changing one character from a lawyer to a cop did not help the plot. There was also little room for character development. Again, take a pass.

2007-09-01T12:53:00.001-05:00

Hi-

OMG! This is my first blog! I'm really excited about being able to post on BAMF's! Jenny said that I can't use pink, green, orange, or blue because those are other peoples ink colors already. I am kind of disappointed about that because those are all of the good colors. I guess I should have joined sooner.

Anyways, I am reading Bright Lights, Big Ass.....Jen Lancaster's 2nd book. Pretty funny so far! It's really easy light reading. She's interviewing for another temp job now. She does a lot of complaining.

Just finished the last Harry Potter! Also excellent! Some people didn't like epilouge chapter where they tell what happened 19yrs later, but I was happy about this.

When Harry was talking to Dumbledore and there was something whimpering in the corner......this was part of Voldemort's soul that was dead now, right?

Yay 1st blog!

2007-08-31T16:12:00.000-05:00

I finished Ordinary Spring and have started reading Finn by Jon Clinch. It's the story of Huck Finn's adulthood and so far it's good. I am only about 25 pages in but they have already talked about murder, alcoholism and penis! How can I go wrong with the rest!

2007-08-29T12:48:00.000-05:00

It seems like Ashley has taken the BAMF's by storm...she out reads all of us! I am more than half way through Ordinary Springs and so far it is amazing! It's a great read and a great but tragic story of a very young girls struggle to find herself, and right some wrongs from her past. It's a complicated story of circumstance, life and rising above challenges to overcome and be a better, happier person!

2007-08-22T20:45:00.000-05:00

Last night, I finished Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I am a little embarrassed to say, but I really liked it. It was my favorite book in the series so far. I am honestly not sure that I would want my teenage daughter to read this. Three of the four characters have sex and there is a pregnancy scare. I want my hypothetical daughters reading Babysitter's Club until the day they marry. There was a quote at the beggining of each chapter. I know you would have skipped these, Jenny! I was pretty pleased with how Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby grew up and that the pants continued to keep them together. I even think I cried. I know this isn't a mass appeal book for adults, but it was better than the adult book that Ann Brashares wrote. Her themes of friendship, abandonment, loss, love, and more resonate at any age.

2007-08-22T13:50:00.001-05:00

I finally finished the book Three Strikes You're Dead...and absolutely loved it!

It's a mob mystery set in 1938 Chicago and the book did a fantastic job of really giving the reader the feel of that time period. The books focus was on a murder that happened and a Tribune reporter who was reporting it got more interested than he should have and ended up mixed in with the mob. The author went into great detail about the El trains and street names and things and it was fun while reading to be on those actual trains and streets in the present while reading about their history. The character also spent some time in Oak Park and that was fun since that is my neighboring town!

I would recommend this book. Its really short...but it took me a long time to read because of my iPod! I have finally worked out how to listen and read at the same time!

Now, I will go back to Ordinary Springs and hopefully bang that one out!

Ashley, any word on the romance novels for September???

2007-08-16T18:29:00.000-05:00

Finished Virgin of Small Plains last night. It was really good. I have to say that I had most things figured out, but not everything. I was totally thrown off by some major red herrings as to the identity of the murderer. I liked this book a lot and would highly recommend. I have to figure out what to start next. I need to read through and see what is laying around-just a few hundred books.

2007-08-16T14:46:00.001-05:00

I have hit a serious slump in my reading...all thanks to my iPod! I have not figured out how to read and listen at the same time yet! I tried to read and then after about two pages, I was like "what the hell did I just read?" and then I have to go back and re-read!

2007-08-14T07:53:00.000-05:00

I started the Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard last night. It was lent to me by Jenny, who highly recommended it. I have to say, the beginning of the novel was shocking and I didn't want to put it down. I have a few theories, but I cannot to wait to see what happens. Did you note the new cover, Jenny? I think I like the other better, but this looks moreso like something you would see on a table at Barnes and Noble.

2007-08-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

I have put Ordinary Springs on hold so that I can read the book I got from Don, Three Strikes You're Dead. He picked this one out for me because it's a book that takes place in Chicago and revolves around the mob, Al Capone and other types of mob activity. It's by Robert Goldsborough and the book has his autograph, which is kind of cool. Don got it from Centuries and Sleuths book store and there will be a discussion regarding this book in a few weeks with the author, so I may be tempted to go!

So far it is interesting, and it takes place downtown so the street names that are mentioned are streets I walk on every day, corners that I remember, and theatres that I have been to! It's very cool!

2007-08-12T19:34:00.000-05:00

I will start out my blog by letting you all know that I have picked my signature color of orange for the blog. I evidently had stolen Jeanette's color, as was pointed out. No problem. I don't mind. No biggie. I was never informed we had color codes! And for those that know me, it was pretty obvious that it was going to be orange or blue, wasn't it?!

I read The Last Summer (of You & Me) over the weekend. I was totally willing to give this book a shot because I loved the first three Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books. I know I am an adult, but I still love a good teen book or movie. Let's not even go there. My first impression was that I wasn't sure I would totally bill this as her "first adult novel." Considering the main characters were 21 and 24, it wasn't overly adultish. The story revolved around two sisters, Alice and Riley, and their summer vacation neighbor Paul. Riley and Paul are best friends and Alice and Paul are in love with each other. I liked the characters, but was annoyed by the middle hundred pages where the Alice and Paul were kept apart because of a secret regarding Riley. I get so annoyed in novels and movies when trivial crap is used as a major plot device. It just isn't. Too much exposition leading up to a marginal climax. Should I throw in some more literary terms? The denouement was satisfyling at least. It was a quick read and an okay read, but nothing great. I had the newest Luanne Rice hardback from the library but took it back because I felt like it would be the same as her last half dozen novels and the same as this story. Now I have to decide what to read next. I am also on the hunt for a new bookshelf because I have books lying around everywhere and in every closet and cabinet I own, and I cannot take it anymore.

2007-08-11T08:01:00.000-05:00

Book Club was a success! I was a little nervous becuase the first time I hosted book club it did not go so well. I tried to overcompensate with food:

The menu:

Savories:

Cucumber sandwiches, egg salad sandwiches, veggie lavosh, gorgonzola baked potatoes

Fruit:

Fruit salad (to cleanse the palate)

Desserts:

Chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate eclairs and brownie ala mode ice cream pie (thanks Ashley!)

Tea Selections:

Pina Colada, Grape Cranberry, hard tea and cucumber water

Even though it seems the group was not super into Self Help books we did talk about them for a while! One member even came prepared with supplies to help us understand her book. She recommends this book highly!

Another book that sparked interest was about sex, shocking! It was not great and not really recommended by everyone, it got the equivalent of one thumbs up. It required you visualize a lot of sex instead of just doing it!

And last but not least another book that was fine conversation for all was the Strippers Guide. This book taught us throug a series of ten grueling questions, that four of us are Daisy Duke Strippers, and then one classic Betty (I think that was the term) and two who could not count their letters correctly :) I liked this one though, funny pictures like how should you shave yoiur muff and other burning questions answered like how to darken your nipples in the right lighting.
I hope you all enjoyed!

*** I hope you don't mind me adding on Sarah! I thought book club was a riot! We talked about the book a tremendous amont...and looked at my books pictures for a long long time! I really enjoyed all the food, friends and fuck talk...like always! Thanks for making my birthday unforgetable!

For our next book, we are all going to read a romance novel! I am a bit skeptical about the romance genre, as it seems a bit cheesy, but who knows. I would love to read at least one and find out what all the fuss is about!

2007-08-09T08:47:00.000-05:00

I finally finished The Stingray Shuffle, and I actually came around and really enjoyed the book. The last 30 pages really make the book good, the first 200+ were a bit long and tedious, but truly worth reading because of the last pages. It wasn't really a mystery book, but more of a cast of completely insane characters that all get intertwined in this fucked up plot. It's a rather enjoyable story, lots of ironic incidences and chance meetings between characters. A book where all the characters play a role in each other's lives whether they know it or not. I would recommend, not highly, but its worth a read!

I just started Ordinary Springs this morning and so far it's fair. This is a book that I picked up at the book sale last week. The story is about a girl and her father who were abandoned by their mother/wife. The girl is really protective of her father and doesn't want to "loose him" to another woman. Some really hot neighbor moves in and her father becomes obsessed with this broad and the daughter gets really jealous of their relationship. It seems interesting, a bit incestuous, but I am looking forward to reading more.

2007-08-06T20:36:00.000-05:00

The Stingray Shuffle is dragging!

I want to start reading all the books that I got from the book sale, but I can't just stop and leave this book unfinished. I am almost done, but it's plot...if you can even call it that...is just too wacky that I don't even find it that funny.

I can't wait for BAMF's book club meeting on Friday! Self-help seemed like a dud, but I can guarantee some good ass conversation!

2007-08-03T16:35:00.000-05:00

I have just finished the Graphic Novel The Plain Janes and I would absolutley recommend it. It is written for a younger audience but it only takes about 30 minutes to read and is pretty cute. If you have tried to find good literature for young women you know that with things like the gossip girls and the boy crazy romance novels it is not easy. This is a story of a couple of girls who did secret art works in their town under the name People Loving Art In Neighborhoods (P.L.A.I.N) It absolutley got me inspired to get out little book club together and go make some art incognito, any takers??

2007-08-01T11:58:00.001-05:00

I finished reading Good In Bed this morning...it took me longer than I would have liked. My goal is one book a week, and this took me a week and a half...but whatever...I will survive!

I liked the book and thought it was a good read. I find Jennifer Weiner to be very witty and funny. I was not at all surprised at the ending and the love affair that blossoms...I knew that about 25 pages into it! This book seemed to drag a bit for me, there were situations in the book that I though could have been written in one page, but instead they dragged on for almost five pages. The main character was a bit loopy towards the end, and I had a hard time relating to her depression and downward spiral. I really liked Little Earthquakes better, but I have been told by several people that the first Jennifer Weiner book they read is the best (no matter which one) and from then on it's a bit of a disappointment.

Up next...The Stingray Shuffle by Tim Dorsey. The book is described as "Carl Hiaasen on meth, Elmore Leonard on acid, Dave Berry on Drano." Well, I thought Carl Hiaasen was crazy, but a good read...and Dave Berry is just fucking hilarious, so a bit of Drano is just unimaginable to me!

I will give it a try!

2007-07-22T10:25:00.001-05:00

I finished reading The Secret Life of Bees this morning and was satisfied with the book. I was glad I read it and found it a bit better than The Mermaid Chair. Neither of Sue Monk Kidd's books left me with any kind of lasting impression, so I wouldn't pick up another book of hers. It was a decent read, good moral, and a happy ending...but there's something about her that I don't quite love. I have heard raving reviews about this book, but it didn't live up to all my expectations of it being a fabulous story.

Up next is Good In Bed...a book that I borrowed from Ashley ages ago...and still haven't read!

2007-07-17T22:43:00.001-05:00

Not to be outdone, I want to write about all of the books that I read, too, even though they are often crap. I just finished All or Nothing (as featured above). I LIKE TO READ ROMANCE NOVELS AND I AM NOT ASHAMED TO ADMIT THE FACT!!! I am, however, sometimes embarrassed to admit the titles. I picked this book up the other day at the library on the new fiction display. It had a slow start, but became engaging enough, although completely formulaic. Romance themed novels are typically formulaic, but a little variety would be nice. Also, the main character is a survivor of the big C, which is an unpopular literary note for most of the BAMFs. I read The River Knows over the weekend. It was one of the worst romance novels I have read in a while. I typically love a period piece, but this was not the way to go.

2007-07-17T14:42:00.001-05:00

I am almost half way through The Secret Life of Bees and it's mediocre. I am not all that impressed by the story, although I do find it enticing to finish. I want to know what happens to Lily and Rosaleen. I am not overly excited about this book, but it is an easy, non-thinking read...at least to me. These bees better have a damn good secret life...cause I will be seriously disappointed if not!

2007-07-13T23:33:00.000-05:00

I finally finished Eat, Pray, Love tonight. I had put it down for weeks. Afterward, I googled Elizabeth Gilbert and went on her website www.elizabethgilbert.com. I was curious to see if she and Felipe are still together (they are, by the way). The other interesting thing I learned from her bio is that she worked at Coyote Ugly and wrote about it for GQ. These writings were sold and became the basis for the movie Coyote Ugly. Interesting, huh?

2007-07-13T12:40:00.000-05:00

I finished reading Sharp Objects and really enjoyed this twisted murder mystery. The main character was so strong, yet weak and fragile, which I think is hard for an author to get right. The main character, Camille a journalist from Chicago, is a tortured soul who goes back to her small home town in Missouri to report on the murders of two young girls and the possibility of a serial killer on the loose. She encounters characters that are vivid and fucked up. Each person in this book has issues and the way that they deal with these issues is bizarre. After I finished, I thought that maybe the actual town was cursed. The book is violent, not like blood and guts violence, but self-hatred, sexual abuse and psychological violence. It is a great book and I can't wait for Gillian's 2nd book to be published. It is wonderfully descriptive how she makes you "feel" the pain of the main character and her eye-opening journey.

Up next is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

2007-07-09T09:56:00.000-05:00

I finished reading Nature Girl and was taken away by how crazy the story got towards the end. Carl Hiaasen is truly insane with his characters. I did enjoy the book, but I wouldn't rush out and buy another one of his books. This is the kind of book that you read in moderation. I don't think that I could read about crazy insane situations over and over again! I did enjoy this quick, crazy read!

I started reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn and so far it is a griping page turner. This book was highly acclaimed by Stephen King who said it is, "An admirably nasty piece of work, elevated by sharp writing and sharper insights." The story is about a young woman reporter from Chicago who goes back to her small hometown because of a murder and a missing girl. I am only about 25 pages in and it is really good. It usually takes me more than 25 pages to get into a book so I think that this will be a great read for me!

I have picked out what self-help book I will be reading for BAMF's August book club....I will be reading Sex and the Perfect Lover: Tao, Tantra and the Kama Sutra by Mabel Iam. I am not a fan of self-help, not that I think I don't need any kind of help, but that reading a self-help book is not going to fix me, so to speak. I picked this book because I thought it might be fun and reading about sex is so much more entertainig than reading about self-esteem, how to make money and how to get yourself organized. The other choice that I was highly considering was Self-Help Nation: The Long Overdue, Entirely Justified, Delighfully Hostile Guide to the Snake-Oil Peddlers Who Are Sapping Our Nation's Soul by Tom Tiede. Don thinks that I should read Self-Help Nation because he thinks I will get bored reading Sex and the Perfect Lover...he doesn't want me wasting my time on reading things that I obviously don't need improvement on!!!

2007-07-02T16:12:00.000-05:00

I started reading Nature Girl by Carl Hiaasen this morning and the first 10 pages were really kind of slow. I didn't think that I was going to keep reading, but then...it picked up and I am really getting into the different characters and the story, that as of now, I am still unclear about. I know about the characters, but the plot or purpose of the book has not shown itself yet and I am anxious to figure out what the deal is! Will keep you posted!

2007-06-29T14:04:00.000-05:00

I finished Vanishing Acts and I totally new the "shocker" before it was introduced! I am so proud of myself that I have finally picked up on Jodi's cues and foreshadowing. The first Picoult book I read was The Tenth Circle and I was totally taken by the surprise. I have picked up on her slippery methods of writing in subtly plot cues and can't wait to challenge myself in the next book I read. I was going to post about the shocker yesterday, but then I doubted myself and thought, well...maybe I am just pulling that out my ass since I am almost finished and it hasn't come up yet. But then I remember how in most of her books the shocker comes way at the end. I am a proud panda! This was a wonderful book! Highly recommend!

The BAMF's did a phone chat with Lorna Landvik and I would love to do the same with Jodi...I may bring that up tonight at book club. Tonight we are discussing Eat, Pray, Love and I am eager to share my opinions with the group. I feel a slight bit guilty because I seem to always hate the books that Judy picks and hosts.

2007-06-26T19:59:00.000-05:00

I am 200 pages into Vanishing Acts and I am loving it...not all that shocking since I love Jodi. This book has gone by very fast. Each chapter is written from a different characters perspective and it also has a different font for each character, which I think is very fun. Again, I find myself siding with the father which I have a tendency to do. I find it strange that I can't remember one book that I genuinely liked the mother figure. Is it mandatory that all novels contain a mother that is either a schizo or an alcoholic?

2007-06-22T15:31:00.000-05:00

I finished the book yesterday and loved it...in fact I told the whole story to Don last night in the shower, and he thinks it was a great story too! I want this to be made into a movie because it would rock! But only, if I could direct it, cast it and market it! Ashley, it's all yours!

I started reading Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult this morning and so far I am enjoying it. There isn't a Jodi book that I haven't liked yet so I am not expecting this to be the first.

2007-06-21T14:51:00.000-05:00

I literally cannot put The Virgin of Small Plains down! I just got to this really really amazing part in the book, where things start being explained, secrets are unleashed, mysterious happenings explained....and then...lunch hour's over!!! FUCK! I think I will be able to finish on my way home from work today!

2007-06-20T21:46:00.001-05:00

I gave up on Inheritance of Loss. I was eighty pages in and didn't care about any of the characters. I feel like such a quitter. I picked a romance novel instead. A much better read!

2007-06-18T15:29:00.000-05:00

I finished on Friday. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised about Indonesia...it was actually good (well, maybe not good, but much much better than Italy and India). I am glad to be finished with this book and probably wouldn't recommend this book at all.

I started reading The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard. I received it in the mail from this online book club that I belong too because it is an editors copy so it isn't ready for widespread publication yet. I am really digging it so far...only about 40 pages in and I can't stop! It is a bit of a mystery/suspense book and I haven't read one like this in a long time. I am excited to step outside of the popular novel books and into something a tad different. So far I would recommend this book over Eat, Pray, Love anyday!

2007-06-13T12:46:00.001-05:00

I am almost finished with India and I am finding myself bamboozled by the convenience of her spiritual awakenings. It's like, right on cue, God shows himself to her at just that perfect moment! I suppose it can happen, but spiritual awakening doesn't always happen so conveniently, unless of course your trip is paid for by the publishing company. What would have happened if her trip to India left her without any meditation breakthroughs and there was not spiritual awakening? Would the book still have been published, would Liz have to pay for her year long travels on her own dime...that's a lot of pressure to be spiritually enlightened! I am pretty sure that I would have come up with some wild stories!

The tag line for this book should be: One woman's desperate search for semi-believable stories of self-enlightenment across Italy, India and Indonesia so that I don't have to pay money back to the publisher!

2007-06-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

I am finished with Italy and I am moving on to India! Yeah, 1/3 finished with the book! It is getting better, but I think that has to do with me lowering my expectations!

2007-06-06T12:07:00.001-05:00

I am about 60 pages into Eat Pray Love and I can't stand it. This is the tale about one woman's search for everything across Italy, Indonesia and India. She is basically having a struggle with her life and decides that traveling is going to be the answer to her prayers! The way it is written makes me a little crazy, she skips around and hasn't actually said much about her travels so far. It seems as if this book was written for the reader to feel sorry for her pain and it is almost a bit attention seeking. I don't enjoy reading about one woman's sob story life and then how she is trying to find herself by being PAID to travel to these countries and then write a book about her adventures. It is a bit whiny, pity me the rich spoiled white girl, but then respect and be inspired by me kind of tone...and I just don't dig it. No pity parties will be thrown in her honor. I had high hopes for this book because I envisioned beautifully written descriptions of these countries and so far...nothing! I can't even seem to read the book on the train, I prefer to just stare out the window!

2007-06-05T23:21:00.000-05:00

I cannot say it enough...I LOVED THIS BOOK! I had received this book in the past from a friend who loved it. She told me I needed to read it, but I never got around to it. Recently, Jenny gave me the book and told me I should read it. Well, I did. I really could not get enough of this book. It was truly one of the most beautiful books I have read in some time. The plot and characters are quite engaging. I also was enamored with these two people and how their lives' were so entangled for all eternity. I would recommend this book to everyone. I also enjoyed that this book took place in Chicago-I think Niffenegger is a U of C professor-as I knew so many of the locales in the story.

When I did a quick search of this book to find the picture, I saw the movie of this is in preproduction. It is slated to star Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams. I love Eric Bana (he is great in Munich), but I think he is far too attractive to play Henry. McAdams will be a good Clare. It will be interesting to see how they adapt this novel because of the time-traveling. It is also a thick book (~500 pages) and it will be hard to adapt the entire novel into a screenplay. I wonder if I will even want to see it since I liked the book so much.

2007-06-05T23:17:00.000-05:00

This is my first addition to the BAMFs blog and I am so excited. Wanting to post on this site is what got me started. I am currently reading The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. I decided to read this book some time ago after I saw the author on Charlie Rose (PBS). I cannot say that I am loving the book, but it is definitely a new experience. And, I have had to write down a few words that I didn't know. I also like a book that expands my mind a little bit. I will have to read much more before I can say if I would recommend it or not. I hope this book doesn't turn out to be a big "thumbs down." It won the Man Booker prize in Britain last year. This wouldn't be the first time an award winning book has let me down, though.

2007-06-01T14:57:00.000-05:00

I finished A Spot Of Bother and really rather enjoyed it. I had my doubts! But it ended up being a wonderful tale of this incredibly dysfunctional crazy family and how they each learn to cope and adjust and come together for each other. The story centers around an upcoming wedding and the stresses, psycho outbreaks, accidents and incidentals that stem from each family member. I enjoyed this so much more than The Curious Incident and would read more of his books if they were like this. It was a bit long and based in England, so I am now kind of talking rather English!

2007-06-01T12:28:00.000-05:00

Here is the list of self-help books that I found on Amazon that I found intriguing...or funny...whatever! I am sure Sarah's list will be much better!

Self-Help Nation: The Long Overdue, Entirely Justified, Delightfully Hostile Guide to the Snake-Oil Peddlers Who Are Sapping Our Nation's Soul by Tom Tiede

Rock-a-by Baby: Feminism, Self-Help and Postpartum Depression by Verta Taylor

Self-Defeating Behaviors: Free Yourself from the Habits, Compulsions, Feelings, and Attitudes That Hold You Back

Dating for Losers, for Men Only: An Uncensored Politically Incorrect Self-Help Guide to Meeting and Dating Women by Anonymous

Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless by Steve Salerno

The Grrl Genius Guide to Sex (with Other People): A Self-Help Novel by Cathryn Michon

Are You Normal About Sex, Love, and Relationships? by Bernice Kanner

The Holy G-Rail by Michael Schuessler

Sex and the Perfect Lover: Tao, Tantra, and the Kama Sutra by Mabel Iam

Sex: A Man's Guide by Stefan Bechtel

Stuttering Self-Help for Adults by Morris Val Jones

Pornology: Noun--1: A Good Girl's Guide to Porn; 2: The misadventures of the world's first anthroPORNologist; 3: A Hilarious Exploration of Men, Relationships, and Sex by Ayn Carrillo-Gailey

The Science/Fiction of Sex: Feminist Deconstruction and the Vocabularies of Heterosex (Women and Psychology) by Annie Potts

Sex, Work and Sex Work: Eroticizing Organization by Joanna Brewis

Red-Hot Sex the Kama Sutra Way by Emerson Richard

How to Be a Sex Goddess by Sarah Tomczak

To Bed or Not To Bed: What Men Want, What Women Want, How Great Sex Happens by Vera Bodansky and Steve Bodansky

The Disposable Male: Sex, Love, and Money--Your World Through Darwin's Eyes by Michael Gilbert

Want Great Sex? Put the Cap on the Toothpaste!: A Less Traveled Road to Blissful Intimacy by Renee Hecker

Lose Weight Through Great Sex with Celebrities: The Elvis Way by Colin Mcenroe

Sexy Mamas: Keeping Your Sex Life Alive While Raising Kids by Cathy Winks and Anne Semans

Positive Magic: Occult Self-Help by Marion Weinstein

2007-05-29T14:17:00.000-05:00

BAMF's met on Friday night at Ashley's (who made the most fantastic BBQ pulled pork and salads) and it seemed like a consensus that the book was not well liked. Since it won a Newberry Award we were all expecting better. We did talk about the book for awhile, like 15 minutes...that's almost a record!

Judy is hosting next (Eat, Pray, Love) and then Sarah is taking her turn. We are going to do a self-help book which is different and kind of exciting. I am not a fan at all of self-help in fact I think they are a little dumb, but I would give it a whirl for my girls! Jeanette and I are requesting sex related self-help since that would at least give us something to keep entertained and chatty! Our librarian-esq member Elizabeth seemed shockingly intrigued by the possibility of sex self-help, which every time something sex related comes up (which is about every 6.3 minutes) I get a bit uneasy and I feel a bit slutty and sleazy....I am betting that she could show us all a few tricks!

2007-05-23T12:05:00.000-05:00

I finished reading Rise and Shine. I really didn't like it at first but was determined to finish. I was actually surprised because towards the last 100 pages I couldn't put it down. I ended up liking the book, but would still probably not recommend this highly.

The book is about two sisters and their lives after a series of unfortunate events take place and how they re cooperate from devastation and grow apart and then, of course, back together. It is set in New York city and got a bit whiny about the people and social quirks of the city. The main character Bridget is a Social Worker and her sister, Meghan is a hugely famous morning talk show personality. The scenarios are a bit predictable and you knew what the outcome would be before the author even addressed the issue. There was not much surprise or mystery to this book, just your average novel.

I started reading A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon. I read his other book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and didn't like it, so I am not sure why I am reading another. I guess I am a glutton for torture or I just want to give him another shot. So far I am confused, but that's not all that out of the ordinary!

2007-05-21T12:51:00.000-05:00

I finished reading The Higher Power of Lucky and found myself very disappointed. This book was written for 9-11 year olds, so being a 25 year old, I found this book very very boring. I tried to imagine a 9 year old reading this and it is no wonder why kids now a days don't read! This book won a Newberry award and I am shocked. I know the idea behind the BAMF's picking this book was to expand our horizons and not get stuck in the popular novel rut, but this sucked. I will have to turn in my membership card if we pick more young adult books. I read this book in the span of about 2 hours and I want that time back so that I could do something more productive, like masturbate or pick up dog shit! Hopefully the next book will be better!

2007-05-11T09:48:00.000-05:00

I finished reading Everything Changes yesterday and started Rise and Shine. I enjoyed Everything Changes, it was a very light book. It was about a man who is engaged to get married and his life seems all organized and set up nicely for him, but incidents takes place that uproot his entire life. Everything in his life seems to be falling apart, but really in the end his life finally takes a meaningful shape. I wouldn't recommend this book highly, unless you were looking for a semi-comic quick read.

2007-05-05T19:23:00.000-05:00

I finally finished The Time Traveller's Wife and loved it! It was such a great book. I thought that it would be more romantic of a tale, but I am so glad it wasn't...I hate really sappy shit. I did; however, find myself in tears riding the train to work the other morning...really embarrassing. As far as I can remember, that is the first book that I cried for. I started reading Everything Changes, it seems like an easy read option.

The next BAMF's book is going to be The Higher Power of Lucky. I don't know if we can keep the name BAMF's after reading this book, we may need to go to Nerd Herd. I don't find reading adolescent literature all that exciting, in fact I haven't attempted that since I was an adolescent. The book after that is Eat Pray Love and I am only slightly excited about this one.

2007-04-27T15:17:00.000-05:00

The BAMF's are meeting tonight to discuss One Hundred Years of Solitude and I am so not prepared! I just got the book last night and have only read 30 pages out of 458! It is a boring book so far and I am having a hard time keeping interested. I keep zoning out and having to re-read the same paragraph over and over again! It sucks! Don't read this one people!

2007-04-26T12:09:00.000-05:00

I am in love with The Time Traveler's Wife. It is fantastic and I am less than 100 pages in. It is the story of this man who is a time traveler and how he meets his wife. Kind of a love story, but not sappy and romantic. Henry (the time traveler) meets Clare (his wife) when he is twenty-eight and she is twenty. Henry is a librarian who bangs a lot of chicks and Clare is an art student. Henry has never met Clare before (or so he thinks and remembers) but Clare has known Henry since she was six. So Henry keeps time travelling back to the past and Clare finds out tidbits of information about her future with Henry and it is really fun. I like the idea of someone who can time travel so this is fun and different. Henry ends up time traveling back to teach his younger self how to do things like pick pocket, steal, and other weird things. Henry arrives at his time destination naked with nothing so he has to steal things to be able to eat and get clothes. It is a really fun book so far, I would recommend it highly!

2007-04-23T16:11:00.000-05:00

I have been so seriously behind in my blogging with BAMF's! I have finished a few books since my last post, but not the one for the book club meeting on Friday. I actually haven't even got the book yet, so I think this is going to be my first skipped book. From what I have heard from other members, this book sucks. It's slow and boring. Oh, did I mention that the book is One Hundred Years of Solitude?

I read Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult and thought it was okay. I have been on a Jodi P. craze and don't know how to stop. I am currently reading My Friend Leonard by James Frey and I really like it. I enjoyed A Million Little Pieces and this is similar. I enjoy the way he writes, it is a super quick read and you can start and stop anywhere and not interupt anything important. I also like it because the cover is pink! Tacky I know, but hey, my favorite color is pink.

2007-02-21T20:28:00.000-06:00

I finished reading The Last Boy and The Mermaid Chair. I didn't really like The Last Boy, I felt there was some underlying sanctimonious themes and that kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I also found the book to be incredibly predictable. I did enjoy The Mermaid Chair. It was a fairly good book but not fantastic. I am looking forward to reading The Secret Life of Bees. I have heard that this one is better than The Mermaid Chair. I just started reading Prep and that is so-so. The next BAMF's book is One Hundred Years of Solitude and I can't say that I am jumping at reading this one. Has anyone read any great books lately??? I am looking for suggestions because I haven't found something really intriguing lately...I've been getting some duds!

2007-01-29T11:18:00.000-06:00

I finished Dry and have started reading The Last Boy. It was a recommendation from Elizabeth so I am positive that I will love it. Dry was not as good as Running With Scissors, but was still enjoyable and hilarious.

2007-01-25T19:58:00.000-06:00

I finished reading Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult and loved it. Since this is the third book I have read by Picoult, I was able to guess the surprise ending long before it was revealed. I think this is my favorite Picoult book of the three that I have read. It really left me wanting more story about what happens after the book ends, but I was kind of disappointed in the end. I think it was because I knew the secret and then when it was revealed it didn't pack the kind of punch that I am use to at the end of her books. This was a great recommendation by Elizabeth, she has recommended the most fantastic books and I think from now on, I am going to defer my book choices to Elizabeth.

I have started reading Dry by Augusten Burroughs. I loved Running With Scissors, so I am hoping this lives up to my expecations!

2007-01-22T18:44:00.000-06:00

This is my latest book. Thanks Memo for buying it for me. I have heard really good things about and so far they are all true.

It is about the life of a high school English teacher in New York. He tells a great story and has been through some pretty amazing things. The last three books I read all had death in them and so I am hoping that this one is a change of pace from that!

2007-01-20T22:49:00.000-06:00

Me and Emma

So I am working on my February book, me and Emma. SO far it is really interesting but also very disturbing. The entire story is told through the voice of a little girl about her and her sister. Where it really has gotten strange is that the youngest girl is being molested by the step father but becuase the story is told by the other little sister she is rather flippant about what is happening (mostly becuase she does not get what is going on).

Jenny picked this book out and it is really a good choice. I am really hoping that the little girls figure out how to do away with the step father becuase I am just about done with his character.

Of course the most frustrating character is the mother who knows what is going on and is not trying to stop it.

To present this book to the book club I was going to make a power point or display board (mostly for my own entertainment) but know I am thinking I may go all out and make a little quilt or something!

2007-01-20T20:49:00.000-06:00

I finished reading The Glass Castle and found it kind of interesting and enjoyable, not the most captivating of books.

She opens her memoir by describing looking out the window of her taxi, wondering if she's "overdressed for the evening" and spotting her mother on the sidewalk, "rooting through a dumpster." Walls's parents—just two of the unforgettable characters in this excellent, unusual book—were a matched pair of eccentrics, and raising four children didn't conventionalize either of them. Her father was a self-taught man, a would-be inventor who could stay longer at a poker table than at most jobs and had "a little bit of a drinking situation," as her mother put it. With a fantastic storytelling knack, Walls describes her artist mom's great gift for rationalizing. Apartment walls so thin they heard all their neighbors? What a bonus—they'd "pick up a little Spanish without even studying." Why feed their pets? They'd be helping them "by not allowing them to become dependent." While Walls's father's version of Christmas presents—walking each child into the Arizona desert at night and letting each one claim a star—was delightful, he wasn't so dear when he stole the kids' hard-earned savings to go on a bender. The Walls children learned to support themselves, eating out of trashcans at school or painting their skin so the holes in their pants didn't show. Buck-toothed Jeannette even tried making her own braces when she heard what orthodontia cost. One by one, each child escaped to New York City. Still, it wasn't long before their parents appeared on their doorsteps. "Why not?" Mom said. "Being homeless is an adventure."

I really found the parental units disturbing and disgusting. I really must have some kind of complex that never allows me to like the mother figure in books. It's amazing how fucked up families can be!

I am so much in love with Jodi Picoult that I am reading Plain Truth. So far so good!

2007-01-10T13:38:00.000-06:00

The Pact is so far a fantastic book. I have high hopes since I absolutely loved The Tenth Circle. I am about 175 pages into the 500 page book and can't tear myself away. At first glance, I thought that this was going to be a cheesy Romeo and Juliet style story, but it is totally is better!

2007-01-08T10:19:00.000-06:00

Kite Runner was a fantastic book. It took me about 100 pages to get into it. In fact the 1st 100 pages took me about 5 days to get through and the last 275 I got through in one day. This book kept me guessing the whole time and when you thought you knew how it was going to work out, the story up and changes itself. I would recommend this book highly.

The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule.

I am going to start Jodi Picoult's book The Pact. I loved The Tenth Circle so hopefully this book will be just as amazing!

2007-01-03T13:50:00.000-06:00

Last night I finished The Memory Keepers Daughter. It was a quick read and it was so-so. I did not love it, but was glad that I read it. Towards the end I was basically skimming because I was getting terribly bored. I rushed through the last 100 pages so that I didn't have to spend another night reading this book. I didn't particularly like the ending, nor did I love the characters. I thought all the characters blamed everyone else but themselves for their problems and never really owned up to their mistakes. Again, I found myself hating the mother character (what is with me and hating the mother figures in books...I don't have any pent up rage against my own mother) and not liking the way she shunned her husband and ignored her fault in her miserable marriage. The dad was pinned to be the root of the problem (which, admittedly he made huge mistakes) but his wife did nothing to make the situations any better. I didn't like the son's character either, he was a shit and needed to be slapped around. I found the basis of the book to be off and kind of out there (I guess that's the point of a novel and creative writing). I don't know if it was the actual book that left me feeling high and dry (totally not ridden hard and put away wet), but maybe the fact that after reading The Shadow of the Wind, this book just couldn't compete.

I started reading The Kite Runner last night and so far it's okay, I will update you when I get a little farther in.

2006-12-28T14:12:00.000-06:00

I am in love with The Shadow Of The Wind. It is such a great book, it has everything you want in a book, mystery, suspense, murder, good vs. evil, love, hate, sexuality, anger and psychological themes. I would recommend this book to everyone because the way the story unfolds is marvelous. I can't wait to talk about it in February's book club. I can't wait till January's book club either because The Tenth Circle was another awesome book.

2006-12-19T11:36:00.000-06:00

The Shadow of the Wind is actually a very good book. I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy it because it seemed heavy and long, but I am really digging it. I am about 125 pages in and don't want to stop reading.

2006-12-12T10:26:00.000-06:00

OMG!!! I finished The Tenth Circle last night and was so excited. This is by far my favorite book club book. I didn't want it to end! There are so many twists and turns that keep you intrigued all the way up to the end. There is a shocker moment in the last 4 or 5 pages that I didn't expect (I probably should have seen the signs leading up to it, but I didn't). I couldn't stop talking about how great the book was last night, Don is even going to read this one! I so want to have book club now so we can discuss...I think there might be a lot to talk about. I bought Jodi Picoult's book The Pact yesterday and can't wait to start reading. She is an amazing writer and I love her style.

2006-12-08T08:46:00.000-06:00

I found a secret message in The Tenth Circle comic pages. I am over halfway done now, and I noticed that on the illustrated comic pages of the book that there are letters sporadically placed. I went back over the pages that I didn't notice any and sure enough, there were letters all over the place. I think that the letters have been placed there purposely with some kind of message. I am collecting the letters to see what it spells, however; I am not working ahead of my reading because if it is something that will spoil the ending, then I don't want to know yet. In the book, Daniel and Laura met because he was a street caricature artist and he drew a picture of Laura and hide a message in it for her to find and then to meet him later. I loved that part of the story, it was kind of like the soul mates thing going on. Sorry if I just spilled the beans to those of you who haven't read this far yet. I totally didn't describe it as nicely as it is written in the book though. My boner is enormous because of the secret message...watch, it's nothing!!!

2006-12-07T12:35:00.000-06:00

I have read about 100 pages in The Tenth Circle and I am really getting into it. I like that the book incorporates actual comic book pages between chapters to help depict the story. It took me about 50 pages to get into the book and start getting intrigued. The last sentence of the 1st chapter was such a cliffhanger. It is kind of a long book (almost 400 pages) and I feel like I haven't made much headway at all. I really enjoy Daniel's (the dad) character and want to find out about his mischievous past. Once again, I hate Laura's (the mother) character and want nothing good for her. The last three or four books we have read, I have hated/disliked the mother character...I wonder why that is?

An unrelated note: Doesn't the author look like Minnie Driver???

2006-12-04T10:27:00.000-06:00

I finished Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris and loved it. Sarah was right, this book is hilarious. It just kept getting better as you read. One of my favorite chapters was "Jesus Shaves" about how the French have a Bell instead of an Easter Bunny. I also loved the chapter "Make That a Double" about the conjugation of verbs in French and getting the gender or objects correct.

Here's a paragraph example:

"What's the trick to remembering that a sandwich is masculine? What qualities does it share with anyone in possession of a penis? I'll tell myself that a sandwich is masculine because if left alone for a week or two, it will eventually grow a beard. This works until it's time to order and I decide that because it sometimes loses its makeup, a sandwich is undoubtedly feminine."

In other news...I joined a book of the month club called QPB (qpb.com) that will ship me books (paperback) to my house. I have belonged to these things in the past - JAB do you remember BMG??? - and they have for the most part been a rip off, but I decided I like being screwed up the ass and wanted to give it another try. I actually got a good deal on the 1st Enrollment offer. I am getting seven books for $28.00 so I am pretty pleased. I only have to buy one more book to meet my committment and they are reasonably priced - about the same price if you bought it from Borders plus shipping. But hey, I got seven books for the price of two so I guess I can buy one more that's a rip. Here are the books I am getting in my order: The Mermaid Chair, Saving Fish From Drowning, Prep, My Friend Leonard, The Time Travelers Wife, Missing Mom and The Glass Castle. I started my wish list (it is a bit ridiculous now) but it is kind of exciting. There are so many books I want to read, I want writers to take a year off so that I can catch up with the books that are out right now, its impossible to stay ahead of the reading curve. Here are a few books that I want to read: Marley and Me, Possible Side Effects, Dry, Eye Contact, For One More Day, A Death In Belmont, The Kite Runner, The Secret Life of Bees, Daniel Isn't Talking, A History Of Love, The Line of Beauty, and many many more!!! I still have about 3 books that I have already that are waiting to be read. Better get going...need to read!!!

2006-12-03T22:51:00.000-06:00

What I couldn't/didn't say at book club....

Since I finished The Lovely Bones I keep coming back to aspects of the story over and over again. I loved this book and a lot of it has to do with emotions I have not had in a while. The overall story is that a girl dies and then describes her heaven and the aftermath of her death. I know I am that girl who talks about her dead mother all the time but this book just really brought it out for me (mostly through tears- but the good healing kind).

It will be four years in April 2007 since my mom passed away. In this entire time I don't think I ever really thought about what heaven for her might have been like. I grew up with an understanding that Heaven, though not a physical place, is a nearness to God where no sadness can occur. It is comforting to think this and I don't really think it is wrong. This book made me realize though in a kind of precious way that the sadness and longing I have for my mom might have also been emotions she felt as well. I realize it is corny to equate a fictional story with something in real life but it kind of made me feel good to know that she while not sad or in pain like she was on earth might actually look down and miss me back.

Many times after my mom passed away I thought I could feel her presence. Not like a she is in the room with me but more of a stillness with a great deal of comfort. When the book dealt with this topic I realized it has been quit some time since I felt that. Maybe it was because my emotions were heightened then or maybe it is because I needed it then, but it has not happened in a while.

We all grieve in different ways for different things. I am always amazed when I think about how far I have come from the days shortly after when I couldn't sleep for fear that the days might actually pass along. I could not then imagine living without her for this long. And then it happens one day you realize, It has been 3 and a half years. In this way I felt a great connection with the characters in the story. They were the survivors who had to learn to survive, like finding a new way to live all over again. Moving through days when you have to remind yourself to get dressed and then days when you cant help but smile even when you don't want to.

I really enjoyed this book and I think that it has helped in its own way to help me grieve again in a healthy way.

So far The Tenth Circle has not made me cry ( bonus)

2006-12-02T12:39:00.000-06:00

Book Club met last night at Ashley's house...great fun! Ashley cooked a really fantastic meal of chicken, company potatoes (or funeral potatoes), pretzel salad, buns and brie with apricot! Her dessert cookies and truffles weren't too shabby either!

I really loved the book exchange part of our meeting and would like to do that at least every 3 months! That was so so so fun! I ended up with a book that I think sounds really interesting. I can't remember what its called, but Elizabeth picked it out so I am betting that it will be good.

We discussed The Lovely Bones for a while. Everyone really enjoyed this book, in fact it was voted as one of the top 2 books we have read along with Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. The next meeting is on Friday, January 26th at Tina's house.

2006-11-25T09:27:00.000-06:00

I finished The Lovely Bones the other day and absolutely loved it! It is one of my favorite books from book club. I am looking forward to our next book, The Tenth Circle. This book was a really suprising read, I wasn't expecting to love it because of the subject matter and themes throughout the book. I found myself angry at the mother in this book too, kind of like the Curious Incident of the Dog. Towards the end it got a little weird, but all in all, the book was great! See you guys next week for book club...don't forget your book for the grab bag!

2006-11-06T14:09:00.000-06:00

Book Club was a blast! We had a Tastefully Simple party before hand, so that kind of mixed it up a bit. Those dips are fantastic! I am slightly disappointed that we didn't make it to Studio 21 after the meeting...that would have been some kind of fun! I thought people were going to like the book more. I didn't really love it, but I didn't hate it either. The next book is Lovely Bones and the meeting is on December 1st at Ashley's. This will be our 1 year anniversary meeting...OMG!!! We are also going to do a book exchange secret Satan thing so that sounds pretty fun. I am going to finish the vampire novel book before I start Lovely Bones. I also can't wait to talk to Lorna on November 18th...that will be different.

2006-10-24T12:10:00.000-05:00

So I am not impressed with Curious Incident...

Everytime I started to get into the story he would go off on this insane and at times boring launch into stuff that just did not matter. I guess I can say that I thought it was interesting to read the thought process of an Autistic person but it was just not enough to really keep me engaged in the book.

I think it was also a slight let down after I read Running With Scissors which I thought was absolutely fantastic. I cannot wait for the movie to some out, although I am sure there will be a long debate about the changes made for the movie. After just seeing the previews I am already upset that the girl Augusten hangs out with (whats her name) is not overweight in the movie. I also can tell already that the house will not be as disgusting as it was described in the book.

I really have to get on it with the reading thing becuase I have just begun Tall Pine Polka and it seems a little slow at first. Housewives eating bonbons was the same way though and I loved it!

2006-10-18T10:54:00.000-05:00

I have started reading the book "Little Children" by Tom Perrotta. I am about half way through and it is okay. I wouldn't highly recommend the book to people, but I wouldn't call it a complete waste of time. Tom Perrotta is the author of "Election" and "Joe College" so I expected this book to be funny like "Election" - it's not! I loved "Election" the movie, I never read the book and I am slightly disappointed because that was so witty and fun, and this is totally not like that at all. This book is being made into a movie, don't know release date or anything, but I'm not sure how great of a movie it will be. I think that Kate Winslet may be in it?

2006-10-17T19:15:00.000-05:00

I finished Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner and loved it. It was a great book and I loved the way that it was written and set up. The book was basically about four women and their lives during the period surrounding the birth of their first born children and how they bonded together to get through rocky parts of their marriage, family, raising children and other conflicts. It was really enjoyable. I would almost rather talk with Jennifer Weiner than Lorna Landvik. I think that Jennifer is more our style and would mesh well with our little group.

This book also made me kind of sad because I so wish that my friends were having babies so that we could share our experiences of motherhood together. I know that I could join a play group and make friends there, but it just wouldn't be the same. I feel so alienated from my friends sometimes because none of them have kids and I am sure that they get sick of me talking about Donovan all the time.

2006-10-04T12:30:00.000-05:00

I changed my mind...I am going to read Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner next and then read Me Talk Pretty One Day. I haven't been able to find Me Talk Pretty One Day at Target since the first time I saw it...I knew I should have just bought it then! Damn it! I hate buying books at Borders because they are so much more expensive. I love Target's book prices, but there selection is limited. The paperbacks at target are $5 and it is a sweet deal. Don asked me if Little Earthquakes is an erotic novel - I said, "No, I don't think so...why?" He said that orgasms are sometimes called "little earthquakes." See, you do learn something new everyday!

2006-10-04T12:24:00.000-05:00

I have finished reading The Tall Pine Polka and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. They were both good books, I enjoyed them, but didn't love love love them. The Tall Pine Polka was definitely not as good as AHEB, but had a pretty good story line to keep you interested. I did like The Curious Incident because it was different from anything else I've read. It was a really fast read, I finished it in less than two days and gave myself a headache because of my internal voice being "slow". I can't wait for the meeting though because we are going to have a Tastefully Simple party hosted by Judy before. I love Tastefully Simple's food...it is fantastic! I was looking forward to painting pot, but we can always do that another time.

2006-09-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

There seems to be so much happening lately with book club, or at least I feel like there is. I finished Running With Scissors and loved it. I am probably going to start reading The Tall Pine Polk by Lorna Landvik so that I can be prepared for whenever we set the date for and then move onto The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time. I feel like there are so many deadlines for reading. There are also a shitload of other books that I want to read too. I am growing my Amazon.com Wish List just for fun. I won't ever use that list, but its kind of fun to have. It is more of a way for me to remember what I want to read next. Here is what I am thinking for my next inbetween book....Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris.

2006-09-11T19:41:00.000-05:00

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! Lorna Landvik's publicist, Cindy, finally got back to me about setting up a phone chat with Lorna. I am so excited because I requested a phone chat twice with The Reader's Circle and I never heard back, not even a "we got your request and she's really busy" email. I didn't think that this was goin to happen so I am kind of looking forward to it. The BAMF's have decided that The Tall Pine Polka is the book that we will be reading for this phone chat with Lorna. That way we will have two of her books to discuss. I have no idea when this is happening, so we are going to have to play it by ear.

2006-09-06T19:47:00.000-05:00

Since the BAMF's aren't going to be meeting until beginning of November, I have decided to set some reading goals for myself. I really like having book club once a month because then I am constantly reading. I usually finish our club book in a week and then have some time to read one in between. I am a little disappointed that we are waiting two months for our next meeting since the book we are reading looks like a quick read kind of book. I have already started The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler but haven't been able to really get into the book. I started it before The Carnal Prayer Mat and haven't picked it up since I finished. I am determined to finish this one since it would bother me to leave a book half read. I also decided to read Running With Scissors By Augusten Burroughs. I have heard that it is a really good book so I have motivation to finish The Amateur Marriage first. So, if anyone else would like to read either of these books, we can arrange our own personal meeting.

2006-09-05T08:37:00.000-05:00

Book club was a great time on Friday. Here's everyone but Judy (she took the picture). Jenny had found these super cute chinese containers for the food, and everyone loved them. We actually talked about the book quite a bit (I needed some clarification on words like vulva). We had all of our members there! Very different from the last evening that Jenny and I hosted. One of our members has moved away putting us down to eight, and now one is being excommunicated for never attending. We really want to do a ceremony with the putting out of a candle and banging a gong, but some of us are against that. Overall a great time - kudos to us!

2006-09-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

Here is the next book for the meeting on

Friday, November 3rd!

Which cover will you choose?

2006-09-02T13:48:00.000-05:00

The Carnal Prayer Mat meeting was last night. All members were in attendance, Haley has officially been voted out...it's about time. Jeanette and I found these super cute take-out containers that we put fried rice, spring rolls and potstickers in individual containers. Tina made sangria and it was really really good, it was her own secret recipe. We talked about the book a decent amount and people that I expected to like the book, didn't really enjoy it. I was also surprised that only 2 people didn't finish this book, and one of them WASN'T Ashley. Sarah made a boobie cake...AKA...pineapple upside down cake, and it was really good. I didn't let her take the leftovers, so that I could have them all to myself. I was also surprised by the lack of sex discussion, since most of our meeting consist of sex talk, I figured this one would contain tons of sex talk. I am thinking that the content of the book made people a little more hesitant to talk openly. I was also a little held back because some of our members seemed put off by the content of the book or embarrassed about talking about the book. I had a really good time, like I always do! Again, I really really liked this book alot!

P.S. As soon as I remember what the next book is...I will post it!

2006-08-30T07:06:00.000-05:00

I have finished the book! Out of all of the books that we've read I would most like to see this one turned into a movie. No you pervs, not because it would then be porn. The ending was really quite shocking to me. The entire book (minus the first two and a half chapters) was really good and really enjoyable, but the ending moved it up from a fun book to read to a really good book that I would recommend to someone. Good picking Jenny!

2006-08-27T18:46:00.000-05:00

Book club meeting is this Friday...keep reading! You must finish the book in order to get in!

2006-08-23T07:46:00.000-05:00

I'm about half way through the book and I really do like it. I share many of the same thoughts as Sarah (except that there could be more sex). It is actually a really good book. It also seems a little more like literature than the books that we have been reading. Not that I don't love the books that we've been reading b/c for the most part I do. So far I really dislike the main character and all of the girls that he meets. That's the plus about porn. You don't get attached enough to them to care that they're having meaningless sex with woman after woman. That's what you expect. When I'm reading about someone's life I get a little more drawn in, and I'm a little disgusted when they have affair after affair.

2006-08-16T17:16:00.000-05:00

When I first started this book I thought uh oh, this is like porn.... absurd plots that lead poorly written characters into funky situation where everyone must take off their clothes and screw to survive. Now that I am a little further along into the book I have found that the characters dont suck (hehehehe) and that the plot is actually kind of interesting.

I still blush while reading it most of the time but I am enjoying it so far. ( in a completly literary sense of the word enjoyment)

2006-08-13T21:26:00.000-05:00

So...Is anyone ever going to post besides me - because there is a lot of pink going on folks?!?