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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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???

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!