Is it Christmastime already?

It must be!!  Hallmark keepsake ornaments are out!!  I usually try to get my hub and the kids a keepsake ornament each year.   And I've told the kids that when they leave home, they can take their ornaments and use them to start their own tree when they leave home.  (Just FYI, I totally do NOT mean it, they can have their ornaments when they pry them from my fat little hands) .  Last year I totally decided that I wasn't going to do it because we had SO much going on.  Well, kids, I got to Helen's (my Mom, not her real name) and she had gotten her yearly Keepsakes, which included the CUTEST Fisher Price ornaments.  (See FP airplane on the left.  You totally had that airplane and played with it until you were 12.  Admit it.  Heck, I have the FP camper and I STILL play with it) Luckily, we were able to run down to the local Hallmark store, where they still had the ornaments in stock.  In the nick of time, yall. I'm not playing that game this year.  Gonna get my Keepsakes.  But they are completely SO fabulous.  For example:

Mistletoad (heh)

Our Christmas Together

You can check out the Hallmark Keepsake ornaments at:  http://www.hallmark.com/online/product/keepsake-ornaments/

Be careful. I beg you.

Up (I love Russell!!)

Books, Magazines and ADHD

I know.  I have about 4 books I need to review, but I got to thinking about magazines today.  I love magazines, but rarely read them unless I'm in an airport.  Top magazines? 

 People

 Real Simple

 Marie Claire

 Glamour

 Paula Deen 

 What do you think? I really love the book reviews and articles in Marie Claire.  And Real Simple?  Hard to say what my favorite part of that magazine is.  I love the matte pages and the way the pictures look. This is the PERFECT magazine to give as a housewarming gift.  They also have this great editorial in each issue where they compare products - anything from chocolate candy to kitchen cleaning items to deoderant to bras.  Loves it.  (makes me want to run to WalMart and get the newest issue - except for the fact that all the college kids will be there because it is 9:23pm and that is what college kids do and there will only be the self checkout aisles open and I'll still have to wait in line behind 10 people...so....maybe I'll just wait on that for now.)  I can't even bring myself to throw any of these issues away - the BEST thing, the definite DON'T miss with Real Simple is their Christmas gift idea issue - oh my GOSH!!  They have WONDERFUL ideas in all price ranges, for all ages, all relationships...you. must. get. it.  I promise, you will not be able to throw a single issue away.  It's a problem.  I have them everywhere. 

So.  I'm waiting for my best friend (TheSmartCuteOne) to recommend me a Danielle Steele book.  She says she doesn't think I'll like any of them (I'm honestly not a book snob - I'll pretty much read anything) and the fact is that I have read things written by DS and haven't hated them - so.  Waiting.  Planning on checking it out.  Can yall give me any good suggestions?  Okay.  Tomorrow.  I promise.  We'll get coffee (or a diet coke, depending on what you like) and talk books.

Please leave me a DS suggestion in the comments box...I'm dyin from lack of comments!  Have a good night - see yall tomorrow!

The late 1970's early 80's

I love books from the late 70's.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  Sidney Sheldon, Judith Krantz...those.  My favorite Sidney Sheldon book is 'Rage of Angels'.  Have yall read it?  It is about a young woman who becomes a lawyer, falls in love with a senator and ends up involved in the mob.  You are alternately hopeful and distressed by her life.  She has spunk, but ultimately loses everything that is important to her.  YOU NEED TO READ IT.  I also love Judith Krantz.  There is something about her books, the big hair, the fabulous clothes, the ridiculous excesses that are SO typical of the 80s.  Come on, I KNOW you remember the bangs and the high tops and the tightly rolled jeans.  That decade was MADE for me!  I can so totally do big hair.  And shoulder pads?  OMG.  Does anything make you look skinnier than big hair and should pads?  I was practically emaciated.  heh.

Okay.  So I've just started re-reading Judith Krantz's 'I'll Take Manhattan'.  Really, my favorite of hers is 'Princess Daisy'.  If you haven't read it yet, you need to do so.  Immediately. 

And for those of you here in Auburn, you can find these books at Harvest Thrift Store over on Pepperell Parkway - over by the Opelika Walmart, you know?  They have a HUGE selection of books and their hardbacks are mostly $2.  I'm not sure how much their paperbacks are, I haven't made it over there yet - I'm still working my way through their hardbacks.  Don't know about you, but I prefer a hardback or one of those bigger paperbacks.  They are easier to hold and they last longer (see previous Stephen King post - 'The Stand' is completely falling apart). 

One 70s/80s author that I want to like, but just can't is Danielle Steele.  I should really head over to Harvest and pick up something of hers and give it another try.  I just find her so TRITE.  Can't help it.  Seems like the same thing happens in each novel.  Tragic, brave heroine (who is broke) falls in love with handsome, noble, rich man and then something happens and he dies.  She mourns and is remarried to HNR man #2 30 pages later.  And in all fairness 'Wanderlust' and 'Message from Nam' weren't bad.  I actually own those and wouldn't get rid of them.

What is your opinion of DS?  I really should get something and try it.  Wonder if her old books are any good?  I'll do that and let you know.

See yall later!!  Have a good night.

Stephen King 11/22/63

Hey yall!  Hope your weekend is going well!

Are any of you Stephen King readers?  I see that a new book entitled '11/22/63' is coming out in November and I can't wait for it!!  I'm a SK reader from WAY back.  I remember reading 'Salem's Lot' when I was 16 and it scared me so bad, I had to sleep with my Mom the night I read it.  My son, the Teenage Banana, who is a senior this year, had a summer reading list and I was surprised and glad to see several of SK's novels on it.  He chose to read 'Different Seasons' which has four novellas in it, including Shawshank Redemption and The Body (which later became Stand By Me). 

I gave up SK in my late twenties/early thirties.  There was a lot going on and he just scared me too darn bad.  No time for wasting sleep when you've got young children!!  But I've recently rediscovered him and found that I LOVE his short stories and way of writing.

My ALLTIME favorite SK novel?

It's a tie.  'The Stand' (eep. Please try not to pay attention to the tape and missing back cover) and 'Green Mile' (Do you remember when GM came out and it was like a monthly serial novel?  That was GM, wasn't it?).  Anyway, these two novels?  Not scary.  Just amazingly good writing.

Oh, and movies that are as good as the book?  Definitely both 'Green Mile' and 'Shawshank Redemption'.

Tell me what you think - any hardcore SK readers out there?  What are YOUR favs?

Ok, gotta run...'Cataloochee' next post!!  Have a good one, yall!

Got my BOOKS!

Ok yall, got my books.  This is the one (above) that I'm so excited about.  It had a really good review somewhere, I can't remember where I saw it, maybe Marie Claire?  Anyway, I'll let you know what I think - may have to stop reading 'Her Fearful Symmetry' to get to this one.


I was going to talk about 'House Rules'.  You know (or you might not know yet, but you WILL know) that I love Jodi Picoult.  The book 'My Sister's Keeper' left me speechless (not the movie, still working on a movie for you that I love as much as the book - examples anyone??), but this one?  Eh, not so much.  The book is about a single mom and her two boys (15 and 18), one of whom (Jacob) has Asperger's, which is a condition within the autism spectrum.  People with Asperger's are very high functioning, but have difficulty socially and emotionally.  Most need a rigidly structured routine (and become very upset if their routine is interrupted or suddenly changed), have difficulty reading social cues and have little or no empathy.  (No comments from the peanut gallery as to how well this describes me. Heh.  Okay, so I don't like change.  And I have some trouble with social cues - I am TOTALLY compassionate and empathetic.)


ANYWAY, something comes up and Jacob finds himself in a bad situation and potentially facing jail time. The book is a pretty quick and easy read, as are all Ms. Picoult's books, but I have a problem with Emma, Jacob's mom.  I should like and admire her, because she has given up SO much to fight for her son and to be his advocate.  But at times in the book I find myself wondering if she hasn't gone overboard.  I don't have any children with serious disabilities, so it is hard to say what I would do, but I feel like Emma, in her quest to protect Jacob, has neglected her other son. And that makes me not want to like her.


And the ending.  Most of the time I want clear resolution.  I don't feel like I  got that in this story.  It was a little ambiguous.


'House Rules' is well written and a very interesting look at Asperger's, but I would only really give it a 3.5 out of 5, and only because I think she has written MUCH better.  I would read it again (and probably will)...Has anyone out there read it?  What do you think?  Agree or disagree?

Hi Everyone!!

Hi everybody!!  This is the first time I have ventured out into the blogosphere! Personally, that is. 


Let me tell you a bit about myself - I am a pharmacist (insert drug/dealer/good stuff joke here), but my true love is reading.  I am married and have 5 kids, but the kids are getting older, so I have plenty of time to read.  The hub thinks I should try new things and go to the library more or get an e-reader (I actually have one) but there is nothing like a new book that I bought at the bookstore....something about the electronic readers...I don't know.  I like the smell and feel of books.  And the ones that I have read over and over?  They are like old friends to me.  I never get rid of them, I keep taping them up and reading them again and again.


So anyway, I wanted to start a forum where we can get together and talk about books.  What we are reading (or re-reading), what we want to read and what we are waiting to come out!!


I am currently re-reading 'Her Fearful Symmetry' by Audrey Niffenegger.  Ms. Niffenegger wrote 'Time Traveler's Wife' which I love love LOVED.  (Although not the movie.  I didn't really know how you could translate that multi-layer book into a sort of one dimensional film.  But don't pay attention to me.  If I've read the book first, I don't often like the movie - with some exceptions.  Although I can't think of any right now.  I'll get back to you on that.  I know there are some.)  'Her Fearful Symmetry' is a re-read for me - but I'll wait to review it until I finish it.


On my list is 'The Lantern' by Deborah Lawrenson and 'Blind Faith' by CJ Lyons. Thinking I should get them from Amazon today!!  Yay!!  Reading material for the weekend!!  


I just finished 'House Rules' by Jodi Picoult - so that will be my first review.  I hope to get to that a little later today.  Also just finished:  'Unwind' by Neal Shusterman and 'Greyhound' by Steffan Piper.  There are also a couple of really good ones that I've read in the past couple of months that I hope to get to soon!!


Yall take care!  We'll talk soon!