I'm Back !!!

Hello! Remember me? I haven't been around much in the last few months. We had a crazy, wild summer and between kids, work, husband, dietary changes, activities, and, of course, reading, well, this blog suffered. I read some great books and wanted to share them with you all, but then I would have to run. So there you have it.

My younger daughter was positively diagnosed with Celiac disease, so we have all given up gluten. The first few weeks were great and I lost weight, but once I found my way around gluten I found a way to stop losing. But with school starting and with a little more free time, I will be concentrating on the gym and my diet.

School starts for my girls on August 14th, which is about a week away. This start date is about 10 days earlier than any other year. We usually go on vacation the first couple weeks of August, but older daughter is starting middle school and didn't want to miss orientation, so we skipped this year. My parents are going to be visiting from Arizona, and my brother is coming from Florida. Also, my aunt and uncle may be coming with my parents (they live in Colorado). This is worth skipping a visit to our cabin in the Poconos (Pennsylvania, for those not in the know). 

Today, rather than reviewing just one book, I'm going to tell you what I read and loved and what books I cannot wait to read. I will review the books that really struck a chord, either good or bad, in the coming weeks.

Okay, I fell in love with the author Kate Atkinson. I first read Life After Life, her newest novel. Beautiful, thought-provoking and original. After that I had to read a few of her others--so I read her Jackson Brodie series (3 books). They are sort of mysteries, but she delves so deep into the human side of things that you kind of forget about the mystery and just start to puzzle over people and their connections to each other. I love Atkinson and she is probably my favorite author this summer.

Here is the list of the other books I have read since May:
The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith (The Child 44 trilogy, book #2)
Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire (The last book in the Wicked series)
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling
All The Summer Girls by Meg Donohue
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Ocean at the End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman
The Fifth Assassin by Brad Metzler
Olive Kittridge by Elizabeth Strout
Interface by Neal Stephenson
Metatropolis by Jay Lake

And a couple of singles:
How To Talk To Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman
A Textbook Case by Jeffrey Deaver

Also, a list of books I plan to read soon (many more main stream than normal, but these I can't wait for!!!)
NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (who I just learned is Stephen King's son!)
Dr. Sleep by Stephen King (who is, by chance, Joe Hill's dad. AND this book is a follow up to The Shining)
Sycamore Hill by John Grisham (a follow up to A Time To Kill. I haven't read a lot of Grisham lately, but I LOVED A Time To Kill, so this is highly anticipated by me.)
Dust by Patricia Cornwell
W by Sue Grafton (I have to finish the alphabet)
Just One Evil Act by Elizabeth George
The Beast by Faye Kellerman
Light of The World by James Lee Burke
Takedown 20 by Janet Evanovich (I know, but she always makes me laugh and it's a quick read)

Do you have any to add to my list? Let me know, I'm ALWAYS looking to add to my list.

Happy August and good sailing back to school.