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.

The Neighbors by Ania Ahlborn and A Weekend Seemingly Made For Reading

Well, it's Monday, again. I spent the weekend thinking I would have abundant reading time, but family and kids got in the way. If you've ever been to a large-ish swim meet you know that it seems like you will have plenty of time to read (or knit, or play solitaire, or answer e-mails, or write a blog . . .) but then the fact that you're there with children hits you in the face. My nine-year old loves to swim and loves the meets, but gets sidetracked while sitting in camp with her friends. Momma has to make sure she gets to her events, or the purpose of the meet is lost. And at this meet there was the added distraction of her little sister, who usually gets to go to the babysitter's house. She doesn't sit still very well and wants to visit with EVERYONE. And momma has to make sure she's not talking to strangers and not bugging the kids (she is a little sister after all).

That brings us to today and getting back on track. I got to hit our local YMCA and the elliptical for an hour, which is awesome. I love the elliptical because I get to read, and reading gets me through the workout. Two birds, one stone.

I am currently reading the latest installation to the Wool serials by Hugh Howey, Third Shift. I am halfway done with it. This story is broken up into three parts which are then divided and sold as serials--a great concept The first five parts were Wool  Next up is The Name of The Star by Maureen Johnson. I'm excited about this book and can't wait to get on it! I didn't realize it, but I bought it yesterday at $2.99 for my Kindle and today it is back up to $9.99. I will try to keep my readers you informed of the deals I get. 

Okay, onto my review for the day. I finished this book last week. Get it now for $1.99 as part of Kindle's 100 books under $3.99 for February. The book wasn't developed enough for me, but Ania Alhborn has a lot of potential. I really think we all will be reading her in the future.

Buy the Kindle edition of The Neighbors at Amazon

"Pushing a pair of earbuds into his ears, he let Bob Marley assure him that every little thing was going to be all right. Singing along beneath his breath, he trudged down the hall toward the bathroom. He’d used it the evening before but had kept his eyes half-closed, partly out of exhaustion, but mostly because he didn’t want to see just how bad it was. But now, with the morning’s light trickling through the window above the bathtub, the filth was undeniable—so staggering that even Bob couldn’t sing his way around it."

The cover and the marketing for this book really got me. A seemingly perfect neighborhood with a creepy house? Yes please! And perfect neighbors who have a secret? Again, yes!!!

 Andrew, or Drew, or Andy Morrison is a good boy getting away from a horrible situation. He basically gave up his life to look after his agoraphobic, alcoholic mother after his father took off with what he remembers to be another woman. When he sees his mother walking down the street with a sack full of booze, Drew has had enough.

His childhood friend found him through good old Facebook, and Mickey has offered him a room in his house at a VERY reduced price. Drew knows this is the chance he needs. As he drives through the neighborhood he is thrilled with the picture perfect neighborhood, until he realizes Mickey's is the only creepy, dilapidated house on the block. Once inside, his disappointment grows but optimistically jumps right in, trying to clean the filth, hoping that his own life can be cleaned up as well. Meanwhile, Mickey sits on the couch, gaming his life away, watching his old friend Drew from the corner of his eye. Through his dreams, hopes and cleaning, Drew can't keep his eyes off of the perfect house next door. And the lady of the house seems very neighborly, baking him cookies. Giving him a job. Drew's absolute dream. And the neighbor lady is SEXY!

This is where it falls apart. Every creepy scenario shows its head. Ania Ahlborn does okay, but she feels the need to include everything. Murder, mayhem, mind-control. Sex, drugs, rock and roll. The only thing missing is the mystery. You pretty much know what is going to happen as soon as Mickey starts to stir from the couch and Drew's mom apologizes and promises to clean up her act.

I'm not giving up on Ahlborn and I will read more from her. I think she has great potential. She writes well and creates compelling characters. With a couple of tweaks Drew could have been a great character, he just needed a little more depth. Harlowe (the sexy neighbor) also was wonderful, but I think a little more mystery with her would have been nice. The conflict within Drew concerning Harlowe could have been great psychologically; the fact that he's sexually attracted to her but he also sees her as a mother figure, and this all happens after his conflict with his mother.

I will be cheering on Ahlborn. I think she can be a force in the future.