Half Broke Horses - Almost done

I love it when you can't put your book down. Last night I finished Julia Alvarez's book and then picked up Half Broke Horses and only got about 10 pages into it before I fell sound asleep. I then woke up at 2am and couldn't fall back to sleep and picked up the book and then couldn't put it down. I had to force myself to stop after I was up to page 167. I am purposely stopping because I don't want it to end. I love it when that happens. If you loved Jeannette Walls' book The Glass Castle, then you will love this story. The story of her grandmother and mother. What resilience these women had. It makes me want to re-read The Glass Castle. They are must reads for sure!

Finished my book!!!

Okay, I just finished Saving the World by Julia Alvarez and loved it. It was my first Historical Fiction book and I found it to be filled with history yet captivating with its fictional story line. I highly recommend it. In an earlier post, I shared a story review from Amazon so please check that out. Onto my next 2 books, Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls and Harry Potter - Book 7 (2nd time around) by J.K. Rowling.

Top 10 Reading List

Looking for readers to post their top 10 reading list. I have posted mine. Let's see how many people we can get to post theirs!

Tonight on PBS - Little Women Louisa May Alcott

One of my favorite childhood books was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I'm sorry, but not one of the movies could even compare to this beautiful story of sisters. This is a story that everyone, at any age, would love. I remember reading it 2x when I was around 10. I absolutely recommend it. Tonight on PBS on American Masters is Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women. I am in Northwest Indiana Central Standard time so please check your listings! Hope you enjoy it as much as I'm sure I will. I'll post tomorrow about it.

Merry Christmas - The best gifts of all

Okay so for Christmas I got the book I really wanted. What was it? Jeannette Walls' book "Half Broke Horses". I cannot wait to read it. I loved her first book, The Glass Castle. What a book. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me ANGRY! I kept wondering, what is wrong with that mother??? The life Jeannette Walls lived with her brother and sister was amazing. The fact that her parents lived as homeless people was just unbelieveable. I kept thinking, how could 2 intelligent people allow their children to live in squalor? After the book ended, I still had so many questions. I wanted to know why her parents were the way they were. I saw an interview with Jeannette and she said that a lot of people wanted to know why her parents were the way they were, especially her mother. Hence, Half Broke Horses, which is the story of her mother and her childhood. I am so excited to read it.

Here is a link to Amazon's page for The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls

http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Castle-Memoir-Jeannette-Walls/dp/074324754X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262012966&sr=1-1

Guilt

Is it that Hispanics experience the feeling of guilt more than other nationalities? Is it because we're mostly Catholic? I don't know. I feel guilty if I say no to something I don't want to do. For instance, my ex husband has this way of asking me for things, but in such a way that he's not asking. Does that make sense. It's kind of like he is telling me. Yesterday I finally said No to him and I felt so guilty like God was going to punish me. I don't understand why I feel guilty when I say NO to things that I know are not in my best interest. Therefore, this leads me into my next self help book. It is "Good-Bye to Guilt: Releasing Fear Through Forgiveness" by
Gerald Jampolsky. I am on my final chapters of Marianne Williamson's book "Enchanted Love", but hope to have this new book by then. I always try and order from Amazon. I got this new book for 1 cent plus shipping. I looked on Barnes & Noble and it was $16 new. Can't beat that. I like to highlight my books so I like to own them, otherwise I would say go the library. I also like Amazon because you can sneak peak in a book and read the first 10 pages or so. Interestingly, this book also refers to the book "A Course in Miracles". Marianne Williamson refers to this book too. I'm on the lookout in my resale shops. I could kick myself because I saw it once in my Goodwill store and thought for a second, I should buy that, but didn't and now really regret it! Well, that's it for this morning. Have a blessed day!

Julia Alvarez's Saving The World

There it is. My new book selection by Latina author, Julia Alvarez. In Saving The World, Julia Alvarez tells 2 different stories. The book starts with Alma Huebner, an author who receives a call from a former lover of her husbands. Alma receives some devastating news. Alma is also working on a novel about renowned Spaniard, Francisco Xavier Balmis. who in 1803 undertook to vaccinate the populations of Spain's American colonies against the smallpox under the ruling of the King. This part of the story, which is woven among Alma's story is told through the eyes of Isabel Sendales y Gomez, director of an orphan house. Francisco and Isabel meet when he comes in search of boys to carry the live vaccine overseas. I am on page 40 of the book and am already hooked.

Julia Alvarez has written other books. Most familiar is the movie made "In The Time of the Butterflies" and "How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents", among others. She just recently started her own website. www.juliaalvarez.com

I would love to discuss this book with someone!

FINISHED my book!!!!

Just now, 6:24pm CST, finished In the Woods by Tana French. Overall, I give it a 8-1/2 out of 10. I don't want to give away the ending, so I must say I am a little disappointed. I feel somewhat jipped. The story was good. I cannot say the ending was boring. The last 100 pages totally kept me enthralled and I didn't want to put the book down. That's a good thing. Would I recommend it? Yes, I think if you like mysteries, police stories, you'll like it. The main character was interesting and complex. You'll love and hate some characters which I always like in stories. At the end, I don't know if I liked the main character, but I think that's what made the book good.

Okay, now what to read next. My next post will be the answer!!!

Self Help Book on my nighstand

I am currently reading Marianne Williamson's

Enchanted Love The Mystical Power of Intimate Relationships

. I absolutely love it. If you enjoyed

A Woman's Worth

then you'll love this book. I am going through some challenging times and this book has brought me back. I highly recommend it to those Marianne Williamson fans. Anyone else reading it or read it??

In the Woods........

Okay, on page 325 of 429, just over 100 pages to go. This is my last day on this book. HELP!!! I shouldn't say that because I liked it, I just miss the beautiful writing of Carlos!!!!! I'm so excited to pick my next book I just want this one done. H E L P !!!!!!

Latio Artist

Check out my husband's website. He is a Latino artist from Chicago. Know of another Latino artist, let me know.

www.mmcastroarts.com

Favorite Book

I was just at one of my resale ships the other day and I love going through the books in resale shops. It made me think though. How many GREAT books are out there that I don't even know exist. What's your favorite book? Tell me why? I am big on picking books up where the cover catches my eye. Any book that has a book like cover on it, I'm a sucker for. For instance, the 13th Tale, Shadow Of the Wind. They both have dust jackets that are a book cover. I don't know why I always fall for those books or is it that they just catch my fancy. Please tell me what you favorite book is!

Embarrassed .....

Okay, I'm still on In The Woods. I'm soooo embarrassed! It's not that I don't like the book. It's great. I love it, okay, I like it, but I just read way too many at one time. What else am I reading??? I am so into Marianne Williamson's books. I am reading one on intimate relationships and it is really really good. I highly suggest it. It's about picking the right partner and finding love. Really it's more about finding love and holding onto the good ones! Is anyone out there???

My first mystery book

Okay, I have been off the radar lately, but back in full gear. I picked up my first mystery book and it was In The Woods by Tana French. Okay, I'm a little behind on the best seller list but it was at my favorite resale shop! I have fallen in love with this book. It is great. I have NEVER really been a big fan of mysteries, but this has really been a great experience. One of those books where you love the characters, Detective Rob Ryan. The story begins with a mysterious murder/abduction (you don't really know) of 2 kids. Then the story picks up 20 years later with another gruesome murder. It's a must read if you love mysteries and a great starter for your first one. I'm on page 172. So far, so GREAT! What's on my nightstand? In the Woods and I'm a little embarrassed to admit and slowly drudging through, Twilight. Sorry to all those Twilight fans, but I'm just having the hardest time getting myself through it! Next on my list? The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks and The Book Thief (my son's high school's book club has it on their list of books to read this year!).

Tell me what you're reading - someone please!

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Okay, I finished the book last night. I couldn't put it down. Like I stated before, the first 200 pages or so gives you the entire background and history of Edgar and his parents. Once you reach a certain point, the story just takes off from there. Those first 200 pages, I kept thinking, there has to be more to this. Rest assured, there was. There were nights I was so tired, but I couldn't put the book down. I literally fell asleep with it on my lap, not because it was boring, but because I refused to put it down when I felt tired. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it was a surprise. I love the way I knew Edgar so well because of all the background information. I also loved the characters. I hated some and loved some. There was a part in there which was a little out there (when Edgar had the dogs do a trick with a syringe), but overall, I would recommend it, especially to a dog lover. This is a great story about a boy and his love of his dog(s) coupled with suspense and surprised. This is sure to be a keeper for some of you!

Books to Re-read

Everyone asks me why I collect my favorite books? They ask if I've ever re-read any and I always say "no". I always thought it was because when you read a book, it becomes part of your life. I read Stephen King a lot when I was a teenager and not so much now, but my favorite book was Pet Semetary. I remember reading it all day! Anyway, Stephen King wrote a comment/review on the back of a book I was reading and he said something to the effect of he hardly ever re-reads a book because there are too many books and so little time. I thought - "exactly!" Now I think, I have them for my kids. I want them to have something to remember me by and that is my books. I feel like they are part of me. I have my favorites which I've been collecting in hard cover and I enjoy that. I love to know that maybe one day my daughter will be sitting in her home and reading something I did also.

My First Follower

Rita - how in the world do you do it? Work full time, kids, family, school??? I worked for over 25 years in corporate America and got laid off in December 2007 and have been a stay at home mom now for over a year. My hat goes off to you. Yes, I love my kids too and they too make me a better mom and person.

I have 2 sons and a daughter. My middle child, my son, hates to read to it is hard for me. I have him reading the Kite Runner now. We're starting with 15-20 pages a day, but it's a start. I think there are some valuable lessons in that book. I loved it. He seems to be okay with it so far. About 40 pages into it.

I'm on twitter under: http://twitter.com/Book_Talk

When do you find time to read???

Okay, I don't know how people do it. I honestly am exhausted when I finally sit down at the end of the day and pick up my book. I want to finish my book but I am sooo tired, I fall asleep before I do. Is it because I'm older? I love the book, so it can't be that. I wish I could just sit and read!

Story of Edgar Sawtelle On Page 300

Okay, at first I was skeptical. I must admit that I am not an Oprah Bookclub reader. I pick books that seem to just call me. I know it's weird, but I feel that the books I read find me. I found The Story of Edgar Sawtelle at the resale shop by my house and I had seen it before at other ones, but never had the urge to get it. This time I couldn't resist and I brought it home. For those of you who don't know the story behind it. To not give too much away, the first 300 pages center around the Sawtelle farm and their breeding business. I was starting to get a little overwhelmed, if we can say that, with all the breeding terminology and training descriptions, but then I realized that this gives the reader such a feeling of belonging in the story. I feel like I am part of the Sawtelle family now and this story has just got a hold of me and I look for moments in my day when I dare to read even a half a page. I suggest that if you pick up the book and have the urge to put it down before you finish, I beg you not to. This story only gets better as the book progresses.

I collect books - sooo many! If you are one of the 1st 3 to join this blog, I will send you for free via media mail, one of the following books:

Julia Alvarez's Saving the World

In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

First one to join, gets their choice of one of the above! Looking for other chica readers!!!

Cross Reference Books

If you loved:

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, then try:

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Tag - you're it!

Harry Potter Half Blood Prince

Just got back from seeing the Half Blood Prince and loved it. I read the Harry Potter books when book 7 was published and loved it. I am still in amazement of how many books she wrote and how they really got so much better and in depth the later you got into the series. I thought the movie was well made and it was almost 3 hours long. It made me want to read the book again. I love that the characters all stayed. Have you seen it? Join the talk on my blog. Please! I love to read and would love to talk with other readers!

Why do I love reading so much?

I love a great book. Do I ever re-read a book? Not that I can remember. Do I own my favorite books? Absolutely! It's part of me once I've read it. It is part of my life. I admire writer's so much. The years these people put into their works. I mean it's their life. The dedication it must take to write a book. I just saw a special on Primetime with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and she said how she's just enjoying her family life now. Not having to deal with deadlines. She said for 10 years, she's been under pressure to produce book after book. I saw the part where she finished the book on TV with the reporter doing the story and I felt this exuberance thinking, my gosh, she just finished book #7 of her series! What a feeling that must be to know you're done.

I know a lot of people who are buying that Kindle and part of me wants to get it (if I could afford one), but mostly I feel like Carrie in the Sex In the City movie where she's lying in bed with Big and he says "I think you are the only person left in NY who takes books out of the library" or something like that. Carrie goes on to say she loves the smell of the books. I totally understood that. Nothing can replace the feel of the book in your hands. Or how many times do you read and read and then close your book for the night and look to see how far you are from the top of the book? I don't know, it's just not the same with an electronic book. What do I love about it, the built in dictionary. I love my bookshelf or should I say 5 bookshelves! I had my husband build a whole wall with shelves to hold all of my books! Is anyone out there understanding what I'm saying about this??

The last books I've read!

Okay, what are the last 5 books I've read?
The Angel's Game, Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra
The Dirty Girls Social Club, Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez
Good Morning Darkness, Ruth Francisco
The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon

What are the last 5 books you've read???

Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Angels Game

Okay, I just finished Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Angel's Game and loved it. Did I like it better than The Shadow of the Wind? No, but it was definitely a keeper. I must admit that there were parts in this book that I actually cried in and was actually a little scared. I was reading it alone while everyone was out.

I waited in anticipation for his follow-up to The Shadow of the wind. I wanted a signed copy so I pre-ordered it from England from a signing he was doing at Hatchard's. I loved getting it in the mail and unwrapping it. Hatchard's did such a lovely job! It was better than Christmas gifts! Wait, it was like Christmas. Is anyone out there reading it or did you read it? Please blog me. I would love to get a great discussion started.