tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37463522841664882232024-03-13T22:19:37.122+11:00ScatterbrainedMxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-34746785909187470812013-01-10T16:23:00.000+11:002013-01-10T16:23:34.529+11:00Review: When It Happens to YouOK so I've been in hiding for a while...<br />
<br />
New year, new start and all that. For 2013 my aim is to read at least 100 books, and increase my reviews. I'm going to shoot for around one a week and hope that I can maintain that! So here goes number one...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="When it Happens to You" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340224390l/13623790.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="132" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13623790-when-it-happens-to-you" target="_blank">Source</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Author: Molly
Ringwald (Yes, the actress from "The Breakfast Club")</span></div>
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Published: 2012 -
Simon & Schuster</div>
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A Novel in Stories</div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">From a mother as she grapples with age, infertility
and an increasingly distant husband to a former children's television star who
tries to rebuild his life after being hospitalized for 'exhaustion'. From an
elderly woman mourning the loss o her husband to a single mother who finds the
strength to protect her flamboyant six-year-old son, these stories follow the
hazardous terrain of everyday life, revealing the deceptions, heartbreak, and
vulnerability familiar to us all. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>When It Happens to You is an unflinching yet poignant
examination of the intricacies of the human heart and an auspicious literary </i></span><span style="font-size: 15px;"><i>début</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">When…</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">betrayal comes it takes many forms. A husband's
betrayal of a wife, a mother's betrayal of her son, a woman betrayed by the
loss of her soulmate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">When It…</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">comes it will take you by surprise. But it will
happen. And…</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">When It Happens…</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">everything will change. You may not know it now but…</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">When It Happens to You…</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: italic;">you will understand.</span></div>
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This is a novel of
short stories, wound together with connective links to make up one story. There
is essentially one plot running through the whole novel, but there are also
other stories told, peripheral to the central plot but linked in via a character
connection. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The story centres
around Greta, Phillip & their daughter Charlotte. As their family slowly
falls apart, we explore the different emotions and perspectives through their
interactions and relationships with other people. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Reading this, I
found that I struggled a little with the fact that the short stories are… well,
short stories. They are interspersed throughout the book, and I did have
difficulty reconciling the completion of one story within a longer, ongoing
story. Some of them didn't feel particularly… finished. Particularly for me,
the story of Marina, who befriends Phillip following his separation. They
develop a friendship as their children, Charlotte and Oliver, play together.
The story of Marina and Oliver is a complex one that I would have liked to
explore further. Marina is struggling with the fact that her son identifies as
a girl, and wishes to dress like one and be called Olivia. He feels it is
simple - he is a girl, and that's that. She imagines</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> his life, and how difficult
this journey will be. </span></span></div>
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<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
This book highlights
struggles and repercussions as a marriage falls apart, from the perspective of
the betrayed, the betrayer, and those impacted such as children and family. At
different points in the book I both liked and disliked most of the characters,
depending on the point of view we were looking from. It's definitely a book
that makes you think, and it will stay with me for a while. I'd like to re-read
this once I've had some time to think and digest it, I think this is one of
those that you get more out of every time you read it. </div>
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Novel number 2 of 100 towards my Goodreads 2013 Challenge!</div>
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<i>Have you read this? What did you think?</i></div>
Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-87606555452246064302012-07-17T21:13:00.000+10:002012-07-17T21:13:27.506+10:00Things I Am Grateful ForI love catch ups with girlfriends. It can be hard to coordinate schedules, especially with work, husbands, partners, kids... Even though I myself am single, most of my close girlfriends aren't. But I love it when we do get together, be it for a quick coffee at work, dinner, book club or motivating each other at the gym.<br />
<br />
I had a lovely coffee catch up with a work friend who has been on leave today, and I get to have dinner this Friday with one of my closest friends and her new baby.<br />
<br />
MxMxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-31428843619171469302012-07-16T20:15:00.003+10:002012-07-16T20:15:48.987+10:00Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">I don't read stuff just because it's popular. If fact I'm opposed to people reading something just because everyone else is. Proof - I haven't read Harry Potter. I haven't read Twilight. I figure, if I read the blurb and am not interested, why waste my time? </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-48LHdBcLyv0/UAPpjbX23RI/AAAAAAAAAFc/i4ukMpcKcR8/s1600/50ShadesofGreyCoverArt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-48LHdBcLyv0/UAPpjbX23RI/AAAAAAAAAFc/i4ukMpcKcR8/s200/50ShadesofGreyCoverArt.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifty_Shades_of_Grey" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">So I didn't plan to read "Fifty Shades of Grey". I was, in fact, vehemently against it. I still really don't know why I succumbed. And then I toyed with the idea of not admitting to having read it. But I have an ambitious 2012 reading challenge and I did read it so it's going on the book count.</span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">The writing - I wasn't a fan. I found it repetitive, unimaginative... Got a bit sick of the constant 'oh my', 'my sex', eye rolling and lip biting. Gasping and breath hitching. Find a new phrase! Geez. When you're writing 500+ pages, you can't say the same thing on each and every one, and sometimes multiple times a page. </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Ana. Really? A 21 year old university student, without a computer, and borrowing her housemates laptop. I'm sorry, but a) explain to me how you get through an entire degree using a borrowed laptop, and b) why the hell did the housemate not get shirted off with the constant borrowing before graduation?? Innocence is one thing, but this was beyond belief. </span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">And Christian. Complete creep. Ugh. That's all I have to say. </span><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">However... couldn't put it down (and I'm a little upset at myself about this!). Done in 3 days. And I will say that I didn't expect the ending. Will probably read the other 2 as I bought them as a set so already have them.</span>
<br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Have to say I think I was a little ambitious trying to do a month of gratitude posts! Not to say that I've run out of things to be grateful for, just a difficult task. Or maybe it's me. I'm also having a go at #photoadayJuly on Instagram... and find myself taking the photos, but winding up posting about every 3 days. Maybe commitment is my issue... </span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Mx</span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><b><i>Have you read the Fifty Shades trilogy? What did you think? </i></b></span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-10389126928602756582012-07-10T21:27:00.000+10:002012-07-10T21:27:45.167+10:00Things I Am Grateful For #9I love chocolate. I have no control around it. None. So right now I am grateful there is none in my house, as I would devour it all!<br />
<br />
Aaaah. Will have to make do. Cuppa tea anyone?<br />
<br />
MxMxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-87258795421060815632012-07-08T18:58:00.000+10:002012-07-08T18:58:26.808+10:00Things I Am Grateful For #8OK, so this one is gonna be me trying to gain some appreciation.<br />
<br />
Today was the Melbourne RCNA Nursing Expo. Geared towards undergraduate nursing students, it is a giant "COME AND WORK AT MY HOSPITAL" promotion. Fun the first year you participate, after that the appeal wanes somewhat. This is my fourth year of being involved. "Involved" meaning "having to give up my lovely sunny Sunday afternoon to talk about work"<br />
<br />
Soooooo, I am turning it around and saying I am grateful that I have a job. There are aspects of said job that I find less than appealing, but for the most part I enjoy it. As a nurse, there will always be a job for me, somewhere. And the good points are pretty awesome. Nursing can mean a wide variety of different jobs - hospital based, community based, academic. I can work full time, one day a fortnight, or anything in between. It is transferable - I can do it where I live now, or move just about anywhere. I can do it overseas should I desire.<br />
<br />
I appreciate the fact that I am employed. Means I can pay my rent, buy food, and fund my obsession with books.<br />
<br />
Mx<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Do you like your job? Do you love your job? What about it? </i></b>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-43397115237537802532012-07-08T18:35:00.001+10:002012-07-08T18:35:45.966+10:00Things I Am Grateful For #7<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9u62H_PrGc/T_lFtOpcDkI/AAAAAAAAAFI/CdaGdc7sW-c/s1600/coffeecup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9u62H_PrGc/T_lFtOpcDkI/AAAAAAAAAFI/CdaGdc7sW-c/s320/coffeecup2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://creattica.com/logos/coffee-cup/19933" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I am grateful that coffee exists. I don't think I would be able to get through early mornings or long days without it! </div>
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And it smells soooooooooooo good....</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dDlD7ZdXKXY/T_lF_MRHQCI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/jHI7yjAt9pY/s1600/coffee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dDlD7ZdXKXY/T_lF_MRHQCI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/jHI7yjAt9pY/s320/coffee2.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/12/04/2472468/coffee-makers-spill-all-over-the-map-tim-hortons-mcdonal" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Think I'm going to go make a coffee. Anyone want one? </div>
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Mx</div>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-78896165908167552532012-07-06T21:09:00.001+10:002012-07-06T21:09:20.921+10:00Things I Am Grateful For #6<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Today I am grateful for <span style="color: magenta;">MUSIC</span>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It makes yucky things more bearable. It makes happy times more joyful. It makes time pass much quicker when doing things like computer work, at the gym, going for a walk, doing housework, cooking dinner... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It helps me think, and can also help me stop thinking, help to turn my over working, over analysing brain off. I love lots of types of music, and lots of different singers, bands, genres. At the moment I am loving Norah Jones, Missy Higgins, Ed Sheeran, Train, and Prince. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Play it loud! Sing along! Dance! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Mx</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What is your favourite song? Who is your favourite band/singer? </span></b>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-45221730511113866602012-07-05T21:52:00.001+10:002012-07-05T21:52:59.271+10:00Things I Am Grateful For #5<span style="background-color: white;">Today I am grateful for Winter! We are really in the middle of it now, and the nights are cold, the mornings are cold, the evenings are cold. </span><br />
<br />
How do I cope? I have a lovely warm doona, heat packs, hot showers (even if the hot water only lasts about 3 minutes, it's a blissful 3 minutes!), tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and a heater in my office ;)<br />
<br />
I am very much opposed to the overheating, sweating, heavy air of a humid summer, so for what it's worth, winter can stay in my house for as long as it likes!<br />
<br />
Mx<br />
<br />
<b><i>What is your favourite season?</i></b>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-41529116296220883972012-07-04T20:53:00.003+10:002012-07-04T20:53:45.138+10:00Things I Am Grateful For #4My body.<br />
<br />
A work in progress.<br />
<br />
A constant source of self esteem issues.<br />
<br />
But today I am grateful for the fact that my body is strong. It is healthy. It is functional. It can climb stairs, ride a bike and drive a car. It has it's issues - but they're pretty minor.<br />
<br />
And, it has to be said - reading "Fifty Shades of Grey" has made me much more aware of certain parts of it ;)<br />
<br />
MxMxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-65744559675827348412012-07-03T21:24:00.000+10:002012-07-03T21:24:02.665+10:00Things I Am Grateful For #3Hello there!<br />
<br />
OK so today was pretty average. In fact so average that by the time I left work I was fuming, looking forward to stomping my way home and then ranting about it all on facebook and twitter. So I got home. Turned the heater on (because I now have <a href="http://www.scatterbrainedgirl.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/things-i-am-grateful-for-2.html" target="_blank">a functioning one</a>, yay!), made dinner (fine, cracked out the take away I'd bought on the way home), turned the TV on, and sat on the couch. <span style="background-color: white;">I took my #photoadayjuly photo - "The Best Part of My Day". Today - my Ugg boots. And Masterchef, but that didn't photograph as well as my comfiest slippers. </span><br />
<br />
Over the course of changing into my trackies, eating dinner, cheering on Kylie on Masterchef, and checking emails, I breathed. Consciously. Slowly. And despite retaining some feelings of irritability, I realised that it's just not worth it. Some people don't think, don't consider others - and my getting annoyed about it isn't going to change them. And ultimately, it's not important enough to give myself a migraine over. <span style="background-color: white;">Over time, as I've grown up (UGH! Did I really just say that...?) I've gained some perspective. Some things matter, some things don't. Some things don't really matter but you have the ability to change them. Some things do matter, but you can't change them. So you learn to deal. And breathe. </span><br />
<br />
In the scheme of things, I'd go so far as to say for the most part, the things that annoy me on a day to day basis I won't even remember in 10 years time. 5 years time. 6 months time.<br />
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So, today, I am grateful for my own ability to thoroughly contemplate, consider, and calm down rather than blowing up, or acting in an irrational fashion that would only showcase a lack of maturity in me, and that I would undoubtedly regret later.<br />
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See? I'm getting better! I'm learning the things!<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, and "Winners and Losers" for some escapism TV... ;)<br />
<br />
MxMxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-50050567631476051692012-07-02T20:56:00.002+10:002012-07-02T20:56:54.632+10:00Things I Am Grateful For #2<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Day 2 of reminding myself that life is GREAT!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today I am grateful for<span style="color: #38761d;"> trustworthy tradies</span>*. I am renting my apartment, and sometimes struggle to get maintenance done in a timely fashion. Now, little things generally get done quickly, but bigger jobs I tend to have to push for. Like the time my oven blew up... but that's a whole different post. Anyway, my heater retired permanently the first time I turned it on this (very cold) winter. Approximately 6 weeks ago. I began by ringing the rental agency twice a week, then three times a week, and finally, after calling daily for a fortnight, I got a call from the landlord asking if they could bring a guy over to quote for a split system. This happened on Wednesday. They came on Thursday. He said he could install on Friday - alas, I am to be out of town Thursday evening through Sunday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So the landlord agrees to oversee the installation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After leaving town, I discover the landlord is giving heater installer man my key and letting him go about his business. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I spend 3 days in fear of coming home to an empty apartment with the front door swinging wildly, I return. Not only to find the heater installed - a marvellous sight - but the tradie had returned my living room to it's natural state (I had moved the furniture out of the way prior to leaving) but he had also vacummed. AND, followed up with a phone call today - the Monday following installation - to check all was working properly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, he did. Lovely man. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mx </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Disclaimer: I have had no real experience that leads me to distrust tradies. In fact my brother is a tradie, a very trustworthy one with a high work standard. However, he knows some that give the majority a bad rap, and also, my parents have had some less than stellar results with unsupervised work being done. I have, of course, had the experience of taking a day off work only to have a tradie turn up 4 hours after pre-arranged time. Without calling. Grrr. Overall, though, it is just a general dislike of having people I do not know be given keys to my house without my approval. </span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-68204714930228471342012-07-01T18:21:00.001+10:002012-07-01T18:21:29.804+10:00Things I am grateful for #1<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK so it's been a while since I've posted. To be honest I have been reading, but I just haven't felt the drive to squeal about any of the books I've read. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sooooooo, I thought I would challenge myself to post every day for a month of things that I am grateful for. It's getting to that time of year when everyone's flu-ey, it's cold and wet, we're all due for some holidays (or at least a little weekend getaway) and I wanted to try to turn myself around by reminding myself that really, I have it pretty damn good. I have a roof over my head, employment, warm clothes, food to eat, a loving family and some amazing friends. And I'd best stop there or I'll have nothing to write about for the rest of the month! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aaaanyhoo, for today I'm going to start the month off by saying that I'm grateful for <span style="color: magenta;">my family</span>. I spent the weekend at home (about 2 hours from where I live), and got to see my sister, one of my brothers (and his girlfriend), and my wonderful parents. Mum took me out for lunch for a little mother / daughter catch up and a spot of retail therapy. We drank lots and lots of cups of tea :)</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1oYziipv4c/T_AHPojWbfI/AAAAAAAAAE4/v5VgovpDCgE/s1600/green-tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1oYziipv4c/T_AHPojWbfI/AAAAAAAAAE4/v5VgovpDCgE/s200/green-tea.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://unitingworld.org.au/blogs/green-tea-lent/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I bought a maxi dress, a warm woolly cardi, and "The Hypnotist's Love Story" by Liane Moriarty (because I need more books...) We had a lazy Saturday night in with a movie - "The Vow". </span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gMLaXsxbpLs/T_AFjJfjb9I/AAAAAAAAAEw/kaSArK_UwxU/s1600/The-Vow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gMLaXsxbpLs/T_AFjJfjb9I/AAAAAAAAAEw/kaSArK_UwxU/s320/The-Vow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.grindonline.com.au/2012/02/the-vow-review/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then this morning we had a lovely leisurely brunch where I had a lovely homemade muesli which has inspired me to make some of my own, and mum sent me home this afternoon with a bulging bag of groceries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mx</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>What are you grateful for? If you'd like to join in my month of things you're grateful for, post them below, or do your own and post a link in the comments section! </i></b></span></div>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-50904760865257777252012-05-28T21:56:00.002+10:002012-05-28T21:56:21.392+10:002012 So Far<br />
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">After reading back over my
previous post, I thought I'd go back to my <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>page to see exactly what I've read this
year. I love the reading challenge they do, and this year I set myself a goal of 100 books... Ambitious, I know!</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I was hoping doing this would push me to get through a good chunk of books I want to read (and the
rather full shelf beside my bed). Instead, in the interest of pushing the
numbers up, I seem to have read a few more of the 'junk food' books than I intended, and less of the
better-for-me and more substantial 'meat & 3 veg' type. Ahem. I must work on that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What have I read
this year? I am actually 34 down! Which puts me in the position of being - according to the Goodreads counter, I'm 6 books behind. Aaargh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So here's the (chronological, not alphabetical) list so far. Along with - and including - the
*cough* four *cough* that I have reviewed:</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Household Guide to Dying
by Debra Adelaide</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Personally, I Blame my Fairy
Godmother by Claudia Carroll</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Night World III by L.J. Smith</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I Heart Paris by Lindsey Kelk</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I Heart Vegas by Lindsey Kelk</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I Heart Hollywood by Lindsey
Kelk</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.375in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">(Yeah
I had a bit of a 'power through 'em' moment there)</span></div>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Letter From Chicago by Cathy
Kelly</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Sense of an Ending by
Julian Barnes</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Her Last Letter by Nancy C.
Johnson</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A Girl Like You by Gemma
Burgess</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A Song in the Daylight by
Paullina Simons (see <a href="http://www.scatterbrainedgirl.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/song-in-daylight.html">review</a>)</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Secret History by Donna
Tartt (see <a href="http://www.scatterbrainedgirl.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/secret-history.html">review</a>)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dreaming of Mr. Darcy by
Victoria Connelly (see <a href="http://www.scatterbrainedgirl.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/dreaming-of-mr-darcy.html">review</a>)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Lola's Secret by Monica
McInerney</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Dating Detox by Gemma
Burgess</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Words That Matter by Oprah's
Magazine Editors</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Daughters of Fortune by Tara
Hyland</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Making it Big by Lyndsay
Russell </span></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 15px;">(see </span><a href="http://www.scatterbrainedgirl.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/making-it-big.html" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 15px;">review</a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 15px;">)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Beautiful Chaos by Kami
Garcia</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Garden Spells by Sarah
Addison Allen</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Neither Here Nor There by
Bill Bryson</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A Visit from the Goon Squad
by Jennifer Egan</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Perfect Holiday by Cathy
Kelly</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Island of Dr. Moreau by
H.G. Wells</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Before I Go To Sleep by S.J.
Watson</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Bones to Ashes by Kathy
Reichs</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Passage by Justin Cronin</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Incendiary by Chris Cleave</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Nobody's Girl by Sarra
Manning</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria
Connelly</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Understudy by David
Nicholls</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Memory Tree by Tess Evans</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="disc">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Cocaine Blues by Kerry
Greenwood</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Phew! I've actually read more than I thought I had. </span></div>
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<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Some I liked - The
Secret History, A Song in the Daylight, A Visit from the Goon Squad, Before I
Go To Sleep, The Passage, Incendiary, The Memory Tree</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Some light hearted
fun / romance / quick reads - the 'I Heart's', Lola's Secret, Garden Spells,
the Mr. Darcy's, the Phryne Fishers (more to come)</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
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<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">And some I didn't
like so much. At times I don't like the fact that I can't just put a book down,
I keep thinking <span style="font-size: 11pt;">"I must keep going, I must give it a(nother) chance, It
might get better!" Fairy Godmother, I'm looking at you. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And they usually don't. These ones also include Night World, Making it Big </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I should have some
more reviews and some other fun stuff coming your way soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Mx </span></div>
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<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>What have you read this year? Do you get the chance to read as much as you'd like?</i></span></div>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-6096299146054943212012-05-26T21:10:00.000+10:002012-05-26T21:12:25.150+10:00In Hiding<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hi all</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I haven't posted in a while... OK, I haven't posted in ages. I suck, I know! Work has been really busy, and therefore I have not been able to read much. Ergo, haven't blogged any reviews lately. Excuses, excuses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My pile of "books to read", however, has grown. I really need to stop buying books for a while and actually read some!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I thought I'd write some quick thoughts out. I'm thinking about broadening out my theme. I've found "Beauty Heaven" and love all the girls blogs, thoughts and reviews of fun and pretty things! I might start to put some beauty posts up here too... and hopefully this will entice me to post a little more frequently, as even when I'm too busy to read, I still wash my face and wear make up to work every day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But for now, here's one about eReaders. I've downloaded the Kobo app onto my HTC phone. To be honest, although it feels really disloyal to my 'real' books, I actually really like it. I didn't expect to. I love the feeling of a real book. The weight, the smell, the satisfaction you get as you get further through, knowing you only have 100/40/3 pages left (and the disappointment - or relief - you get from knowing this!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pros of eReaders/tablet/phone apps</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- It's easy to carry around no matter how big the book is</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Has the added bonus of being able to read it in the dark. Once I'm in bed I really dislike having to get out again, and when I'm away from home I don't always have a bedside lamp. Perfect example - Mum and Dad's house. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Cheap books, and books/authors I wouldn't necessarily have found or looked at in a book shop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cons</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Eye strain after reading for an extended period of time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Doesn't feel like a book as such</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Can't put the books I've read on my bookshelf to brag about!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Can't loan books I love to family/friends (Though this might be a pro? I hate hate hate not getting my books back, or getting them back in terrible condition)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mx</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you have an eReader? Do you love it? </span></i>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-670007450193350952012-03-16T21:14:00.001+11:002012-03-16T21:14:35.951+11:00Making It Big<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This book is by Lyndsay Russell. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I really didn't like this book. The writing is very average (Read: could have used a good editor), the plot could have been somewhat interesting but I found it was so buried in fantasy that it just ended up ridiculous. I also thought that it was a very long book - it felt more like it should have been a short story. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It revolves around a fat girl who feels so hopeless in her quest to lose weight that she goes to a doctor advertising a 'miracle cure', and ends up in an alternate universe where fat is the new thin - and the bigger the better. From there it just gets more unrealistic. She very quickly - within 24 hours - gets a job as a supermodel, becomes famous, and sleeps with many hot and famous men. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I just found it totally stupid and badly written. Unfortunately for me, I find it very hard not to finish a book.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I think the invention of the ebook has a lot to answer for. Although it is wonderful that it has given more writers the opportunity to get their work out there, the lack of filtering means that there are a lot more books out there that haven't had the volume of reading, writing, re-reading, re-writing and editing that maybe they would benefit from. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My opinion only, of course, but as a reader of these books I really feel that this one was a waste of my time. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What are your thoughts on this book?</span></i>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-26714343175767171302012-03-10T18:29:00.001+11:002012-03-10T18:30:34.169+11:00Dreaming of Mr. DarcyThis is the second book in the "Austen Addicts" trilogy by Victoria Connelly. The first is "A Weekend with Mr. Darcy" and the third is "Mr. Darcy Forever" and I believe is to be published in April this year.<br />
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They're light hearted, they're fun, they remind me that I want to read Jane Austen and still haven't. They are chick lit and they reinforce my faith in love.<br />
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I like this series because they're sweet, they're romantic without being overly soppy. And that's really all I think I need to say! They're a lovely way to escape reality for a few hours.Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-56241091224065216942012-02-24T22:56:00.001+11:002012-05-26T21:14:05.910+10:00The Secret History<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">A</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">nother big book. 600-something pages. I did read it quite quickly though. It was easy to read, cleanly written. So why is it that I finished it days ago and I'm only now sitting down to write about it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The Secret History by Donna Tartt. First published in 1992. Wow, I didn't know that until just now. I actually thought it was older than that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was pegged as "the original American campus novel". Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this isn't true, but I'm not sure I would have called it that as a selling point. It was set - partially - at a university, and the characters did, indeed, attend classes. But at times it did read more as a crime novel that was based in a college.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">That said, I did enjoy the book. The main character is Richard, who changes colleges after commencing his studies in medicine and finding a, shall we say, lack of affinity for the profession. He stumbles across a group of students isolated from the larger student body, by their study of Greek, and their eccentric tutor. He makes friends with these students somewhat out of necessity, as the Greek tutor requires them to study all of their subjects with him and him alone. As Richard has come along after the original 5 had already established themselves, for the rest of the book he always seems just on the peripheries of the group. He narrates the book, sometimes more as an observer than an active part.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The book is an interesting study in behaviour, and how a major event can cause the group to come to rely and depend on each other, and the stress that can cause on those relationships. Fascinating stuff</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">As much as I didn't necessarily understand the choices these kids made, there was something about them I could relate to, sympathise with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I must admit, I like reading classics, novels that have stood the test of time. It feels like I'm in for something good before I've even started, just because it has managed to survive for so long. (Not that I've enjoyed EVERY classic novel I've ever read, but that's a topic for another post...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><i>Has anyone read this one? What's your opinion?</i></span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-8151180282769295472012-02-11T18:55:00.000+11:002012-02-24T22:57:40.982+11:00A Song in the Daylight<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have just finished this epic, almost 800 page book by Paullina Simons. After reading a few bad reviews for this book, I have realised that I liked the fact that I didn't love the protagonist. Too many books have the 'perfect' central character, while all those around her are flawed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Larissa Stark had the perfect life. 3 children, loving husband, money. Through what you might call a twist of fate - or a plot - she meets a young man. And then proceeds to make conscious choices that will change the course of her life and the lives of her family. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As she begins spending time with her young lover, her life falls by the wayside. She loses touch with her lifelong best friend, and her current friendships lose their shine. After a couple of close calls and over a year of hiding what she has become from her family, she leaves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I found the next part of the book difficult to read, possibly due to the fact that the author had this section set in outback Australia. And has clearly never been to outback Australia. So although I like Paullina's writing and find it easy to read, I did struggle with this content. Now, I've not been to Central Australia myself either, but little things such as referring to Western Australia as 'the Western Territories' did irritate me slightly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I liked the ending. I am glad that things weren't 'resolved' and everyone get their happy ending. It wouldn't have fit with the rest of the book. Life isn't perfect, people aren't perfect, and tying it all up neatly would have felt fake. I did find, however, that this book had similarities to one of her previous books - "Tully". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As with her previous books, Simons delivers. Her writing is clean, her language is simple, and the story easy to read. She pushes your buttons, ensuring that - love the book or hate it - you have to finish it, and you'll definitely have an opinion! </span><br />
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<i>Have you read this? Have you read any other books by Paullina Simons? Favourites? </i>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-28250483826326663412011-12-21T19:35:00.000+11:002011-12-21T19:57:08.328+11:00A Prayer for Owen Meany<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am in a book club with a group of girlfriends. We meet once a month (on average) drink wine and eat too much, and most of us usually attempt to finish a book in the between-weeks. This month our book was "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving. I had heard good things about it, and had been wanting to read it for a while. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It was a long book. Potentially made longer by the fact that the average chapter length is 60-80 pages of small typeface. I am usually quite a quick reader, but this book was a little like running through mud. I'm sitting here, staring at the computer, trying to figure out what to say about it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have mixed opinions about "A Prayer for Owen Meany". Parts of this book I really liked, but unfortunately I had to wade through a lot of long winded, and unnecessary, descriptions of things and situations that didn't appear to have anything to do with the plot. There was a lot going on, and I wasn't sure which plot lines to pay attention to and which ones were superfluous to the storyline. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">One of the major themes is faith, and Owen's unfailing belief that he is a direct instrument for God's work. Possibly one of the reason's I struggled to find the story in any way believable is that I am not religious. I felt that Owen used this belief as an excuse to get away with doing whatever the hell he wanted and offending anyone he felt like. Instead of observing manners or courtesy, he took no personal responsibility for his rudeness. I found his character self righteous, self important, and just plain irritating.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I think this is an interesting point, because a) I have friends who loved this book who aren't religious, and b) I'm sure that some of the religious opinions put forward in this book would have offended some who are. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I did like the ending of the book. I thought it was original, and it did wrap up a few questions I had... and justified a couple of small annoyances I also had. Another thing I liked about the book was the writing. Not a whole lot to say on that point really, apart from outside of the fact that I found segments of the books boring and irrelevant, it was relatively easy to read. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">If you're looking for a book that will provoke some interesting conversations, this one will do it. Certainly kept my book club in discussion - with lots of different opinions!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Has anyone read it? Opinions? </span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-63528688622026230072011-12-12T19:31:00.001+11:002011-12-12T21:21:18.431+11:00We Need To Talk About KevinLast night I went to see "We Need to Talk About Kevin". I am always hesitant to see any movie made from a book that I like - I usually don't feel that the movie has done the book justice. It also tends to taint my opinion of the book retrospectively - I feel like if I don't enjoy the movie, I have to question whether I really liked the book. Irrational, yes, but still.<br />
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Kevin is a book that I've actually read a couple of times (not too many books make that list - there are so many exciting new stories out there!). Luckily, the most recent reading wasn't that recent - maybe 12 months ago. This means that I can overlook (or more likely - not notice) small differences.<br />
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The big things were there. The plot wasn't played with. Obviously to take a 450+ page book and turn it into a 2hour movie there needs to be some concessions. My opinion is that one of these concessions was the depth of the relationship between Kevin and his sister Celia, and all that he did to her.<br />
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On the whole, I really quite enjoyed the movie. I thought it was very well cast - Tilda Swinton was the perfect Eva, and that evil little toddler! So good it was almost creepy. I thought they could have developed Franklin's character a little more, and played more on the wedge that Kevin drove through Eva and Franklin's relationship. Because of these little intricacies, I would very much recommend you read the book before seeing the movie. You will get the themes out of the film, but you'll definitely understand them much more fully having read the book. <br />
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I thought the book was very well written, and this translated into a very disturbing movie. My friend said it best - "I've never been so put off having children". So there you have it people, this movie is great contraception.<br />
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<i>What is your opinion on books into movies? Any hits or misses that stand out in your memory?</i>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-90836374203543681042011-12-04T19:16:00.001+11:002011-12-04T19:43:01.803+11:00Christmas Reading<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">One of my favourite things to do is wander through book shops. It's so much fun just looking at what's there, getting ideas for everyone's Christmas presents, and exploring the new authors and old favourites. There are a number of books out at the moment that I've got on my Christmas wish list ;) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">These include (but is certainly not limited to!):</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The Sense of an Ending - Julian Barnes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The Streetsweeper - Eliot Perlman</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The Marriage Plan - Jeffrey Eugenides</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">I've also got a little stack of books that has been piling up beside the bed - it's such a busy time of year that my reading has taken a bit of a back seat to my birthday and Christmas celebrations! So I'm hoping to get through a few of these during the holidays...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">A Song in the Daylight - Paullina Simons</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Bloodlines - Richelle Mead</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Cross Stitch - Diana Gabaldon</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">So it looks like I've got a busy time in front of me! Fire up the kettle and I'm all set.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's on your holiday reading list, and what new books are you hoping to get for Christmas?</span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-84921104903711482752011-11-30T21:32:00.001+11:002011-11-30T21:53:20.604+11:00The Slap<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I read "The Slap" by Christos Tsiolkas when it first came out a few years ago. To which I definitely had mixed emotions. I loved a number of things about it - it was incredibly well written, the story just flowed. It was set in Melbourne which I relished - I could immerse myself even further into it as I knew the area it was set in. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I HATED all of the characters. Which I'm kinda OK with. Any author who can have me disliking all of his characters and still loving the book is all good by me. I liked that he dealt with a hot topic, provoking many a (heated, I'm sure!) discussion between friends who may differ in opinion. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We read it for my book club. Now it's a pretty informal style book club, just a group of friends catching up over good food and wine and a good book. But boy were there some different opinions! The interesting thing was, everyone's opinions on this were strong. Everyone was either vehemently against disciplining other peoples children/other people disciplining their children, or they were of the 'it takes a whole village to raise a child' mindset. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have engaged in this conversation with a few different groups of friends, and it never ceases to amaze me that those with children just don't feel that those without children have a valid opinion. No, I don't have children. But does that mean my opinion doesn't count? Surely not. Sure, my opinion may change when I do have children, but then again, it may not. I know women with children on both sides of the fence. Some who are for discipline, and also some who are against. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have now finished watching the TV series, and I was really quite impressed. I thought it was well cast (I still didn't like any of the characters. No, I lie. I liked Anouk. Who, admittedly, wasn't particularly central to the storyline. I found most of the others to be lying, manipulative children who were only interested in themselves.) I also thought the event was well portrayed, not sugar-coated. And all of these same discussions were re-visited! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My personal opinion is that I would be happy to have my child disciplined by someone else, had I left the child in their care. As this is clearly a person I trust. And I would expect my (at this point theoretical) child to behave at someone else's house. And vice versa. That's todays thought. </span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-56625350302364880152011-09-23T21:03:00.000+10:002011-09-23T21:03:43.177+10:00Difficult Books. Satisfying or a waste of time?<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I am currently reading 2 books. One I am thoroughly enjoying, and one not so much. I am, however, determined to get through it. It takes a lot for me to put a book down without finishing it, which I must admit, can get painful at times. I can count on one hand the books I've started and not finished. And not for want of trying. There are also a small number of books that I've started and am YET to finish. Those that I am going to persist with. So I guess you could say that I'm currently reading about 5 books... some are just taking longer than others!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Two books that I never plan to even think about again (after this post, of course ;) ) are the second <em>Bridget Jones' Diary - The Edge of Reason,</em> and <em>The Children's Book.</em> I lost patience with Bridget Jones. I didn't like the first book, so really have no idea why I even picked up the second. Didn't get very far in. <em>The Children's Book</em>, I tried, I swear. So hard. I finally conceded that I had to give up when I had chewed my way through almost 200 pages of the 700-odd page epic (which took me a month), and realised that I had absolutely NO CLUE what I had read. Other than that there were children in it. Sigh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Apparently the lyrical style of writing confuses my brain. I'm led to believe these types of books are easier to understand if read aloud, but that looks (and sounds) slightly odd on a crowded train. So I - grudgingly - gave up. I find it incredibly difficult to stop reading a book, even if once I get to the end my thoughts are solely "Well there's 2 hours/days/decades of my life I'm never getting back." I suppose I feel I have to give it every chance to prove itself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">A couple that I've struggled but persisted through are <em>1984</em>, and <em>Cloudstreet</em>. One that I've finished, and one that I've yet to - but am still planning on. <em>1984</em> took 5 tries, and about 3 years, but the sense of satisfaction I had once I closed that final page was amazing. (Note to self: must have another go at <em>Cloudstreet</em>...) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Why do I continue to do it to myself? Oh yeah. I (mostly) enjoy it. Give me a good book and a decent coffee and I'm set. Tim tams wouldn't go astray either. But I digress. Silence or the iPod on shuffle and you've got my perfect Saturday afternoon. I know I'm completely hooked when it takes physical violence to get my attention. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Anyway - back to the topic at hand. Hmm, maybe Friday evening isn't the best time for me to blog - I don't seem to be able to maintain a consistent stream of thought! But the topic. I am currently loving <em>Last Summer</em> by Kylie Ladd - a current novel exploring how the death of a friend, brother, husband, father impacts everyone, and the repercussions this loss reverberates through their lives. This novel I started 2 days ago and will have finished by the end of the weekend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">The other novel I'm reading is <em>Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates</em> by Tom Robbins. A book for our book club that I hadn't completed by meeting time. Oops. So far has taken up a month of my life, but I am DETERMINED to finish it. Partly as the reason we had it for book club was because it is a friends absolute favourite book. And partly because I'm intrigued. I am enjoying the story - it's definitely different to what I usually read - but I am LIVING in Struggletown with the writing. It is roundabout, lyrical, and difficult to follow. For me. Here's hoping it won't take me another month to finish!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Thoughts?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Mx</span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-35053824039047224342011-07-21T21:25:00.000+10:002011-07-21T21:25:31.983+10:00Some Great Reads<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">A lot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">So I thought I'd share some of my favourite books that I've read in recent months. In no particular order of course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">The Hour I First Believed - Wally Lamb</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">One Day - David Nicholls</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Tully - Paullina Simons</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Room - Emma Donoghue</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I first read "Tully" when I was in my early 20s, and loved it. Re reading it now 7 or 8 years later (although it feels like a lifetime ago), I still quite enjoyed it. I did find, however, that the title character frustrated me much more than she did the first time around. I re-read it for book club, with a group of girls around my own age (ranging between late 20s to mid 30s), some who have read it before, some who were experiencing it for the first time. Interestingly, not many enjoyed it too much. Those that hadn't already read it disliked the characters and the story, those who had found Tully much more immature and dislikable. I guess it just shows how moving through different life stages can totally influence how you experience the written word. Definately makes me question whether I REALLY liked or disliked some books I've felt strongly about! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">What are some of your favourite books? Have you re-read them? Would you?</span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3746352284166488223.post-10391166904562931132011-07-15T17:35:00.000+10:002011-07-15T17:35:42.102+10:00<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just a quick post to say, after years of sometimes hellish, sometimes blissful shiftworking, I started working Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm, or as I like to call it - "Proper Grown Up Hours". So I <em>finally</em> have a reason to say - and mean - and properly understand the relief in...</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">"THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY"</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">And I can relish the thought that I can sleep in tomorrow morning, feeling like a normal person. Aaaahh. Bliss. Love. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Have a lovely weekend people!</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Mx</span>Mxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18018246763857168222noreply@blogger.com0