tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89961065928716684142024-02-07T04:11:04.091-06:00Carrie Reads, Carrie WritesExploring literature, one book at a time.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-15665032991802248582011-10-13T12:05:00.000-05:002011-10-13T12:05:22.178-05:00Blog sale! Sizes 8P-10PThe Mr. and I are thinking about moving, which involves a thorough look through all our stuff we've been holding on to for (eek) much longer than we probably should. It's easy to cast away things that are not yours, but much harder to take that advice. Case in point - here's the conversation we had about my beloved, ill-fitting work clothes:<br />
<br />
Mr. Carrie Writes: You know, you can buy new clothes when you get back to that size.<br />
Me: But I like those clothes and want to wear them again.<br />
Mr. CW: (deadpan) Do you honestly think you're going to fit in those in the near future?<br />
Me: (realizing he's right but not admitting it) YES!!! (scoffs)<br />
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So, in order to be more prudent with our available space, I realized I must either get rid of my clothes or get back to them in a superhuman pace. Alas, as I'm a stress eater losing weight is probably not going to happen. Oh, and did I mention how much I hate dieting? Yeah, there's that too. Below are the pictures I have detailing all my beloved clothes. All clothing is $8/3 for $18/4 for $20. Shipping is $5.95+$1 per additional item. Send me an email at ourcommoncents at gmail dot com and I will hold any items you are interested in purchasing.<br />
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Gap straight leg size 10 Ankle. Grey/pink pinstripe. Wool/poly/spandex with a poly lining and front/back pockets.<br />
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Larry Levine sport - Size 8. Charcol grey poly/spandex. Front flat pockets.<br />
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Apostrope black pinstripe bootcut size 8P. Poly/rayon/spandex. The jacket to match is below. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black pinstripe lined jacket to match the pants above, size 6P (runs big but I'm also a little pear shaped). $10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ycWUZ8qvAgU5xfuHWrBOKc5bTTapYzsE1LNfk353bj8lyQ36ekhSNTCO2TBdaNfAkryrACIta83AZSmzrqLfSPyBtZWmFc7kPPcH-zN8NYVqyl2sMVx5VLn19Yf0aI_z2UXcCBcZngY/s1600/IMG_4815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ycWUZ8qvAgU5xfuHWrBOKc5bTTapYzsE1LNfk353bj8lyQ36ekhSNTCO2TBdaNfAkryrACIta83AZSmzrqLfSPyBtZWmFc7kPPcH-zN8NYVqyl2sMVx5VLn19Yf0aI_z2UXcCBcZngY/s320/IMG_4815.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grey/light grey Poly/rayon pants - Jacqueline Ferrar size 8. Loose bootcut, size zip, no pockets. This blend is amazing, doesn't wrinkle when traveling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhtyqtpj623sRTJWpNxTQPR8jO_Z00k6jMUcgS6n2kaT5AJJWi4s1aLP2j1XF3f-bk73cB7eIrcRw64WZErrfr-pTq6hQqQhET3J817b-O9W-dy2eMguuzqB4z42KfDynxvDJjB5Gd_k/s1600/IMG_4772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhtyqtpj623sRTJWpNxTQPR8jO_Z00k6jMUcgS6n2kaT5AJJWi4s1aLP2j1XF3f-bk73cB7eIrcRw64WZErrfr-pTq6hQqQhET3J817b-O9W-dy2eMguuzqB4z42KfDynxvDJjB5Gd_k/s320/IMG_4772.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGlLOrnztHsGJniySTsZMyiHTGc-WpYfVcyk4sQtO4bwtu94x4sxw7z9X6RwkfOH3f1oK8AH_qwi63MMrckAdKYDnn7TMTHVcKt390uMXbyt8moS2Jj00E-z-rO0PKX1uBLlswI7b1-Y/s1600/IMG_4773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGlLOrnztHsGJniySTsZMyiHTGc-WpYfVcyk4sQtO4bwtu94x4sxw7z9X6RwkfOH3f1oK8AH_qwi63MMrckAdKYDnn7TMTHVcKt390uMXbyt8moS2Jj00E-z-rO0PKX1uBLlswI7b1-Y/s320/IMG_4773.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Apostrophe dark grey poly/rayon spandex pants with front pockets, size 8. Actually never wore these, sadly because I bought them when I was inbetween sizes. :(<br />
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Sport collection (Macy's) size 10P. Poly/rayon. These are seriously my favorite pants ever. They never wrinkle, machine wash yet never fade make me look at least 10# thinner. I would marry these pants if I could. (Sorry DH).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWQMqStg9Kyr5CgcJFzyk8LjlB732gN26dXQz3HOfAIIBJfIS8Yq6ENQTJy1NXQDtlOAvgm7VKT5Qe5sOCWGpqB8rSJ0ndoO2NCqQeJCRm1Ge_QFA3-O6ljGq81LRzRXJhKya1zYkWDU/s1600/IMG_4779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWQMqStg9Kyr5CgcJFzyk8LjlB732gN26dXQz3HOfAIIBJfIS8Yq6ENQTJy1NXQDtlOAvgm7VKT5Qe5sOCWGpqB8rSJ0ndoO2NCqQeJCRm1Ge_QFA3-O6ljGq81LRzRXJhKya1zYkWDU/s320/IMG_4779.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwsmOb6RlMsogk7f9Ubg_umcIGPQO7qUqxKdnPvdlIbXLv7vfZ2ECE56AKQEB2kyxaKMwAsG4lURnnjezWrmT0GX8hTkGPDj9CCqG1e-2nz6k4_jpcORFvaw2EWLerYpIKWNVTFhASVE/s1600/IMG_4780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwsmOb6RlMsogk7f9Ubg_umcIGPQO7qUqxKdnPvdlIbXLv7vfZ2ECE56AKQEB2kyxaKMwAsG4lURnnjezWrmT0GX8hTkGPDj9CCqG1e-2nz6k4_jpcORFvaw2EWLerYpIKWNVTFhASVE/s320/IMG_4780.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Poly/spandex winter white pants size 9/10P. I always thought I couldn't wear white as a size 10 until I bought these babies. No pockets, slightly straight leg and side buttons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgmobUQwEmZqhTu2EOiZQsh3kCzN5tDszymwj90VvR6UZ_r-SzL-Qi9mejUVY_4qfsVZAUbyEaYRzud-9Y-3TuXghZsh4WXEI10RcMH2EcmBYpG_ThR2lT6BM6EETbriK73LXybV269Y/s1600/IMG_4781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgmobUQwEmZqhTu2EOiZQsh3kCzN5tDszymwj90VvR6UZ_r-SzL-Qi9mejUVY_4qfsVZAUbyEaYRzud-9Y-3TuXghZsh4WXEI10RcMH2EcmBYpG_ThR2lT6BM6EETbriK73LXybV269Y/s320/IMG_4781.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQ6Ga8dP46SoCg4Y2Ba9b8_ScALLysSC14HB46rYgf6MrX911YMG9v6fntiUJvMnuM1FbevAHg-zHrkwG4il58VQ7i2NLDkKdlxi6wJ3zMKybkYPOOjiVDPQBQIdHitJQXU2N1XupTms/s1600/IMG_4782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQ6Ga8dP46SoCg4Y2Ba9b8_ScALLysSC14HB46rYgf6MrX911YMG9v6fntiUJvMnuM1FbevAHg-zHrkwG4il58VQ7i2NLDkKdlxi6wJ3zMKybkYPOOjiVDPQBQIdHitJQXU2N1XupTms/s320/IMG_4782.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Light beige poly/rayon/spandex pants - Apostrophe size 8. Another in between sizes purchase. I hate khakis with a passion, so this was my compromise. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black straight leg, side sip pants - Limited size 8P. Poly/lycra blend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgtZ-e_3kQK5Y9YOOTu9t3fh0FZHGipkusXX4c7IX6haxEfQg_eu0J8s5t4szZ70iCdG4j3VUbD0BKX2q6Dvl6j4o0aaS1AlGW6JPGgVk4k0CjjyLxK_x0YjOq1-65gQlOlr9jbiB2FA/s1600/IMG_4785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgtZ-e_3kQK5Y9YOOTu9t3fh0FZHGipkusXX4c7IX6haxEfQg_eu0J8s5t4szZ70iCdG4j3VUbD0BKX2q6Dvl6j4o0aaS1AlGW6JPGgVk4k0CjjyLxK_x0YjOq1-65gQlOlr9jbiB2FA/s320/IMG_4785.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Gap straight leg size 10 Ankle. Brown/light blue plaid. Wool/poly/spandex with a poly lining and front/back pockets.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDrwCMLiUqzhIP3gte5brfKckGtT9grGgt9EgET6G-jlDLyNRy5b-wP9Z_Y3KHduTiPLdeULbrTJNCUboEMpKmJXTUVM6dgCOduItmEun2q4KbEGg7U360i_6x9V9CGP_Omboo-MiVx4/s1600/IMG_4789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDrwCMLiUqzhIP3gte5brfKckGtT9grGgt9EgET6G-jlDLyNRy5b-wP9Z_Y3KHduTiPLdeULbrTJNCUboEMpKmJXTUVM6dgCOduItmEun2q4KbEGg7U360i_6x9V9CGP_Omboo-MiVx4/s320/IMG_4789.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black straight leg, side zip/button pants - Limited size 8P. Poly/lycra blend. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaLS0hog6dSifrEoBz0cul3c6_Qp4yue8__3hy3JAWyYfzogyQv_qIFkbeGwcRt-LLPmYnLREqH4Uctk1hVKiVVtf-3-Bva3vjHSRP8xDRKf7l5C8y0bS_iOxs3ohWn0eklZiOPozrWw/s1600/IMG_4790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaLS0hog6dSifrEoBz0cul3c6_Qp4yue8__3hy3JAWyYfzogyQv_qIFkbeGwcRt-LLPmYnLREqH4Uctk1hVKiVVtf-3-Bva3vjHSRP8xDRKf7l5C8y0bS_iOxs3ohWn0eklZiOPozrWw/s320/IMG_4790.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Black straight leg, cuffed poly/spandex Limited size 8P. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORI5Jy5copnEPM4JdV1Qe1Mqz-FzkaSQkCCcugBrwM6LtY0TnfqVsdPmMQmnQ2W5ZrDyAgfAAqepTevrKS8TUbtP1T0qd8UeCzE2jIOVg7aPVZ2292eTZW6iAE_iwZvRRR7pfT5GRWQo/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORI5Jy5copnEPM4JdV1Qe1Mqz-FzkaSQkCCcugBrwM6LtY0TnfqVsdPmMQmnQ2W5ZrDyAgfAAqepTevrKS8TUbtP1T0qd8UeCzE2jIOVg7aPVZ2292eTZW6iAE_iwZvRRR7pfT5GRWQo/s320/IMG_4793.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GU36d9Cyyg_3-xgCNrxMcJRST8kL8SW0Fxywckv930jDgM-Yy7wZIrz0qrAGgLfF3EdZkToIi1bcpGUixT16ZLH-RTZ8Z6ITSVaxUahx3uYL_MR11lf1hFSoC2YCQLgfnVEgccjrNz0/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GU36d9Cyyg_3-xgCNrxMcJRST8kL8SW0Fxywckv930jDgM-Yy7wZIrz0qrAGgLfF3EdZkToIi1bcpGUixT16ZLH-RTZ8Z6ITSVaxUahx3uYL_MR11lf1hFSoC2YCQLgfnVEgccjrNz0/s320/IMG_4794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Limited olive green bootcut, front zip/button pants size 8P. Poly/lycra blend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVTjYAHk8R_rNebDMxGaDSmJx8EPHtqMwp6cUcnnMy6VdLCR6Fdg1tflnxgzynzQ3pWVOxVTaWTYAeoI_Cm7cTnnT89rpEGAv8Ynx5WpKT4TPfeG1iluny3wReR96WlSHGSM170-z6LU/s1600/IMG_4827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVTjYAHk8R_rNebDMxGaDSmJx8EPHtqMwp6cUcnnMy6VdLCR6Fdg1tflnxgzynzQ3pWVOxVTaWTYAeoI_Cm7cTnnT89rpEGAv8Ynx5WpKT4TPfeG1iluny3wReR96WlSHGSM170-z6LU/s320/IMG_4827.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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Bootcut To The Max (Nordstroms) pants NWT, size 8. Poly/rayon/spandex.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwH76PNi80uCJYaXENAIrDkg4P6dBqOTWGgpNyiT6BqYaL11rg9_uaBm-ng4uuNDK2uHeD2fDtrCcfXEMCV_oIkpeCItoehvKxcKIWvjKgNSoCezExqvjJixD7dopuEG-cNOoOxT1zkI/s1600/IMG_4797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwH76PNi80uCJYaXENAIrDkg4P6dBqOTWGgpNyiT6BqYaL11rg9_uaBm-ng4uuNDK2uHeD2fDtrCcfXEMCV_oIkpeCItoehvKxcKIWvjKgNSoCezExqvjJixD7dopuEG-cNOoOxT1zkI/s320/IMG_4797.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEpZcu59L4qUND9iZYmJaRnwotC4emEFsR331Ge9_kZ8ULU-qrtV9MqpxaVWgs0irG3hukgpk0L3TQxh1ZrExIgqBbZsdA_z0O0E1rhtimXKrXPnZfBSX4d8-NJWlUY67xpX7JKZjw7w/s1600/IMG_4799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEpZcu59L4qUND9iZYmJaRnwotC4emEFsR331Ge9_kZ8ULU-qrtV9MqpxaVWgs0irG3hukgpk0L3TQxh1ZrExIgqBbZsdA_z0O0E1rhtimXKrXPnZfBSX4d8-NJWlUY67xpX7JKZjw7w/s320/IMG_4799.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lola P. sheer lined midi-length dress - size 10P. Rayon with poly/rayon lining. This dress reminds me of Hawaii, although I've never been. Great sewing job on this (see how the prints line up? Bananas.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwV_ftnETd8PuxihSOk_iMZP_WQPDAajuWEkbQW982toOlh3ogamFhgUzc3r5eGeVZoHF-GUpNQ5O1yS3XOXMTmptshBLMPxD6PnwvA4KVu6OigdcO7QjU7YM2N8cIk3s4haM_pHHutA/s1600/IMG_4800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwV_ftnETd8PuxihSOk_iMZP_WQPDAajuWEkbQW982toOlh3ogamFhgUzc3r5eGeVZoHF-GUpNQ5O1yS3XOXMTmptshBLMPxD6PnwvA4KVu6OigdcO7QjU7YM2N8cIk3s4haM_pHHutA/s320/IMG_4800.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEE26CJTAQGDgHrFHJxQNBda-4xdkQgp09uXIcK6TIw21DgoFLLEcyLOM3tbE6JvKahDduV1D1UIDNIDOX3Xc1SevLx2Ih8akX9mO0W_5stq8INXqdV0FPP55znwag8JVLHaXCBmevpg/s1600/IMG_4801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEE26CJTAQGDgHrFHJxQNBda-4xdkQgp09uXIcK6TIw21DgoFLLEcyLOM3tbE6JvKahDduV1D1UIDNIDOX3Xc1SevLx2Ih8akX9mO0W_5stq8INXqdV0FPP55znwag8JVLHaXCBmevpg/s320/IMG_4801.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Stretch lace a-line short dress (comes to my knees) size M. Nylon/spandex with poly lining. This dress is a powerhouse. It doesn't wrinkle and is super flattering. I can't tell you how many compliments I got on the cruise I wore this dress. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyNy387WwqsQdJLHgy04lE25jDLacQMoTGcQBcS3jTKJNB8mvUplJrr47BUxTG4W0Z8wQneKnLSM8Q1CG51LGCUj_nJKtKcZzJLVIokbtItN8YIFGJ4I36FZ_XjH0m_290UOHgBRAUIM/s1600/IMG_4802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyNy387WwqsQdJLHgy04lE25jDLacQMoTGcQBcS3jTKJNB8mvUplJrr47BUxTG4W0Z8wQneKnLSM8Q1CG51LGCUj_nJKtKcZzJLVIokbtItN8YIFGJ4I36FZ_XjH0m_290UOHgBRAUIM/s320/IMG_4802.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lJuxdaHHEW-vcCkOLPgwA6yz1MRUrn82kDa2NvjTJreucogeekdjYgA34JOYf_Tl2ePrj3cDzDxtpQPVgPGYnNK_CIWyPEnr3LJxSE05ZyE-M41H6GxXG7w01Ef0N5utuDKcyoJivBQ/s1600/IMG_4803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lJuxdaHHEW-vcCkOLPgwA6yz1MRUrn82kDa2NvjTJreucogeekdjYgA34JOYf_Tl2ePrj3cDzDxtpQPVgPGYnNK_CIWyPEnr3LJxSE05ZyE-M41H6GxXG7w01Ef0N5utuDKcyoJivBQ/s320/IMG_4803.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Breaking loose 100% poly dress with sheer overcoat, size 9/10. Worn once to an awards dinner. Wish I could make it into a shirt with the tie thing that's trendy now, but my fat a$$ wants a sandwich.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQeVp10uJ-b145zC2tZYLnSoRMorkK5sCxvL8DqCMjKq3Cywq2xkkqFL2rz3Avf-S_vwtiUqTbVP-9RiAcXFdc15WPQh69xSl6i2b7MYfqc0JkCvPYAU-Mn3c1Mwbp-YXSPTCP6zUd7w/s1600/IMG_4805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQeVp10uJ-b145zC2tZYLnSoRMorkK5sCxvL8DqCMjKq3Cywq2xkkqFL2rz3Avf-S_vwtiUqTbVP-9RiAcXFdc15WPQh69xSl6i2b7MYfqc0JkCvPYAU-Mn3c1Mwbp-YXSPTCP6zUd7w/s320/IMG_4805.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5N4HfKVgB353vGvjTDGH2SJr97TBY6O1p09ByrcXHStr2ChwhOOLcBq7H4kAWy8FL0do28aJ_6SLEvC0NI4on7RGyyEpXakpPpQRkQY47FIzApXkF0izp10GxnkcPvhsOfcScNs0KEzg/s1600/IMG_4806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5N4HfKVgB353vGvjTDGH2SJr97TBY6O1p09ByrcXHStr2ChwhOOLcBq7H4kAWy8FL0do28aJ_6SLEvC0NI4on7RGyyEpXakpPpQRkQY47FIzApXkF0izp10GxnkcPvhsOfcScNs0KEzg/s320/IMG_4806.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Zum Zum eggplant cocktail dress, size 7/8 (fits small, junior sizing). Rayon/poly. Worn once, dry cleaned but could use a good press. The back is so amazing on this dress, which is why I kept it for probably 10 years (that's when they used to make clothes that last, y'all).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiY1Ou4q-gVo5C9j3VHVXPyScHkKpHzDt5legGxhQaiGWXGOBJGs4MF7IbNFwv0w-tgsGdA97L1kwrtJfC_EvIpUczy3dW6HBIR9Q39VW-AARhSu9Dv-QXXcOtomEgl-gjWwyLD8fNP8/s1600/IMG_4810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiY1Ou4q-gVo5C9j3VHVXPyScHkKpHzDt5legGxhQaiGWXGOBJGs4MF7IbNFwv0w-tgsGdA97L1kwrtJfC_EvIpUczy3dW6HBIR9Q39VW-AARhSu9Dv-QXXcOtomEgl-gjWwyLD8fNP8/s320/IMG_4810.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmgzFZFAvZ66MploGjwPaykujUFFlSez1-_bEx2A7ZQGF0lKYoKtPiv-ZKmi_Cq5Ososb2iqIRVwXhP6Z0t1dSVO1V1nP14IxuYty-j87QVeaTYhAl_pZDWAj2SreIq-lpRQeYAWzzBY/s1600/IMG_4811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmgzFZFAvZ66MploGjwPaykujUFFlSez1-_bEx2A7ZQGF0lKYoKtPiv-ZKmi_Cq5Ososb2iqIRVwXhP6Z0t1dSVO1V1nP14IxuYty-j87QVeaTYhAl_pZDWAj2SreIq-lpRQeYAWzzBY/s320/IMG_4811.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GaHagSEQTfeuQYA4T3QqsuxFgk49o6rLAJUJiLZBoe54U1T6iSxjMs838ZzZOEo7px-sjgX99tvMbDz7t6Zzd5h-QfMYO9wfY5wgEgLIF-gNRMCzdNwaLcLtoputqApG7-zsxcl8PUk/s1600/IMG_4812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GaHagSEQTfeuQYA4T3QqsuxFgk49o6rLAJUJiLZBoe54U1T6iSxjMs838ZzZOEo7px-sjgX99tvMbDz7t6Zzd5h-QfMYO9wfY5wgEgLIF-gNRMCzdNwaLcLtoputqApG7-zsxcl8PUk/s320/IMG_4812.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilnsCCHCA5V7ub7Jzer0TYxzS9gMWNiiW4jpjie-hiGKqaOVxoDvHKV9n-kkLYKocA1vhv6XvHO7ryNzb4wWDFs3KNR4XLqJgRBfXdURmdiQnOscOiVjgt0jS5dJBinxGX2bYgoD3a0Q/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilnsCCHCA5V7ub7Jzer0TYxzS9gMWNiiW4jpjie-hiGKqaOVxoDvHKV9n-kkLYKocA1vhv6XvHO7ryNzb4wWDFs3KNR4XLqJgRBfXdURmdiQnOscOiVjgt0jS5dJBinxGX2bYgoD3a0Q/s320/IMG_4821.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> Black Harve Bernard 100% poly skirt with side tie and zip, size 6P. NWT.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRB3QqSrQlNMZhnNYvKLUzFJ8ilHEYB35aLF_IhnRd7l4ICU08qGfD9iDC5ClVpgVV7EbmoPCsTVVZhaQLWIFU40bul0kQAkLwjIr-3n8HbNqG7qWiRF67SzMY7sW4sRyhAkTKnyukzY/s1600/IMG_4813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRB3QqSrQlNMZhnNYvKLUzFJ8ilHEYB35aLF_IhnRd7l4ICU08qGfD9iDC5ClVpgVV7EbmoPCsTVVZhaQLWIFU40bul0kQAkLwjIr-3n8HbNqG7qWiRF67SzMY7sW4sRyhAkTKnyukzY/s320/IMG_4813.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Finity (Macy's) poly/rayon/spandex long black skirt, size 8. This hugs in all the right places, but is professional for work or dates. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPpKPfWdWcxe8lRnUCa_vAoJi7r3n3MMBLlohEFmvCLJls5B85e7nfrNBTVhGvEGYuuBknFouBLm28HkDhekND1HukP2ZG6ysTM-GJrWbVwESaOaABVYA3hLAGIPcnFTMUE2dM5WJhT0/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPpKPfWdWcxe8lRnUCa_vAoJi7r3n3MMBLlohEFmvCLJls5B85e7nfrNBTVhGvEGYuuBknFouBLm28HkDhekND1HukP2ZG6ysTM-GJrWbVwESaOaABVYA3hLAGIPcnFTMUE2dM5WJhT0/s320/IMG_4818.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Paul Harris black pencil skirt, wool and poly lining. This is a size 10, but a little short so would fit a petite person to the knee.<br />
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</div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-69192047797839024372010-09-07T10:54:00.002-05:002010-09-07T10:54:48.627-05:00Looking for reasons to believe<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8466692-reasons-to-believe" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Reasons to Believe" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1276704549m/8466692.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8466692-reasons-to-believe">Reasons to Believe</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/118598.John_Marks">John Marks</a><br/><br />
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John Marks is an exceptionally compassionate journalist with a powerful message in this book. I chose the book because stories about abandoned faith revisted interest me, perhaps because it's such an unsettled question in my mind. <br />
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<br/>Spoilers below<br />
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<br/>My favorite part of the book was the conclusion. In the beginning, John meets a fundamentalist couple while researching the Left Behind series for his work on 60 minutes. The husband, who turns out to be sympatheic and prominent character in the book, asks John whether he will be "left behind."<br />
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<br/>In true journalistic form, John spends most of the book carefully being objective with his experiences while still maintaining an emotional autheticity. His writing is near poetry, even while being a little long winded at times. <br />
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<br/>The part of the book that hit me the most was the conclusion. He went back to the question at the beginning about being left behind, and explained that he couldn't imagine a world where God exists with the simultaneous existance of the massacres in Bosnia and Rwanda. He also confesses that his wife and son are Jewish, and a fundamentalist belief would also condem them to Hell. I'm simplifying his monolog, but at the end he concludes simply, "leave me behind". <br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie-envinoveritas">View all my reviews</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-21541471693521964982010-07-22T14:03:00.000-05:002010-07-22T14:03:00.592-05:00Curious Incidents, Autism and Murder<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1618.The_Curious_Incident_of_the_Dog_in_the_Night_time" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time " border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255690510m/1618.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1618.The_Curious_Incident_of_the_Dog_in_the_Night_time">The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1050.Mark_Haddon">Mark Haddon</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40049449">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
Many murder mysteries have narrators with interesting quirks (Columbo and Monk come to mind immediately). Perhaps one of the most original narrators is the star of Mark Haddon’s bestseller The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Christopher Boone. Christopher is a highly functioning autistic 15 year-old boy with a passion for animals and a desire to solve the mystery of the murder of his neighbor’s dog Wellington. Encouraged by his teacher, Shibboleth, Christopher decides to write a novel with a hat tip toward his favorite mystery hero, Sherlock Holmes. The book describes Christopher’s life in methodic detail as he tries to uncover the mystery of the murdered dog. <br />
At first, the narration of the book is a bit jarring: non-sequential chapter numbers, run on sentences, absent punctuation and irrelevant tangential information. Once you realize that you are reading through the eyes of an autistic who prefers structure and logical methodology, the reading becomes easier. Later you discover that the chapter numbers are prime numbers, which, like all “maths”, Christopher has an affinity for. Though Christopher exhibits exceptional aptitudes in science and math, his development is hindered by a complete lack of emotion and social skills. Ironically, this is quite a touching book where the emotion comes through other characters, though Christopher seems oblivious to it. <br />
Christopher shows many characteristics of Asperger’s, such as:<br />
• Deficiencies in social skills. Christopher has tremendous difficulty showing emotion, accepting it in other people and even recognizing other people’s emotions, particularly when he is the cause. His relationships with other people are strained and people find him difficult. This is apparent when Mr. Shears decides to leave his mother after she decided to take Christopher in. Christopher doesn’t appear to have any friends or interpersonal relationships beyond the small circle of people in his life. <br />
• Inflexible to a changing environment: Christopher has a defined schedule and gets overwhelmed when things change (ie, he has to “do moaning) or have too much new stimulation. When difficulties with his living situation arise, Christopher’s primary preoccupation is whether he will be able to do his “A level maths” in his new school. <br />
• Preferences for certain foods, tastes, colours or sounds: Christopher has an aversion to the colors yellow and brown and only eats food of other colours. He gives a multitude of reasons for disliking yellow and brown foods, drawing on his photographic memory for random facts. <br />
• High cognitive ability, interest and talent in a specific area: Christopher is exceptional at mathematics and science and aspires to be an astronaut. He has also an extraordinary photographic memory and often creates maps or symbolic representations. <br />
• Behavioural problems: Christopher creates a lengthy list of all his behavioural problems he knows of in one scene (Often children with autism are not as self aware as Christopher, but likely this is a plot devise as much as brining the readers into Christopher’s mind.):<br />
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“A. Not talking to people for a long time.<br />
B. Not eating or drinking anything for a long time.<br />
C. Not liking being touched.<br />
D. Screaming when I am angry or confused.<br />
E. Not liking being in really small places with other people.<br />
F. Smashing things when I am angry or confused.<br />
G. Groaning.<br />
H. Not liking yellow things or brown things and refusing to touch yellow things or brown things.” (Etc.)<br />
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Though I suspect most readers figured out who killed Wellington before Christopher, the story continued to entrance me and became yet another example of how Christopher’s lack of social skills hurt his ability to function in the world. The book is less of the mystery we were expecting and takes on more of a story of life about building trust, challenges in family life and growing up. That is a story theme we can all empathize with, regardless of our situations. <br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie-envinoveritas">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-19883101850086890462010-07-21T14:01:00.002-05:002010-07-21T14:01:59.561-05:00Joey Pigza, Can I Get Back To You On That?<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/820517.Joey_Pigza_Swallowed_the_Key" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (Joey Pigza Books)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178673997m/820517.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/820517.Joey_Pigza_Swallowed_the_Key">Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47312.Jack_Gantos">Jack Gantos</a><br/><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/111103316">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><br />
Joey Pigza tries to be a good kid and please the adults in his life but he can’t stop getting into trouble. Like his estranged father and the grandmother who took care of him when his parents left, Joey was born “wired”. He can’t get control of his behavior, which he blames on his “dud meds”. This book shows what life is like through the eyes of a 9 year old kid whose life is challenged not only by apparent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but also from a tumultuous home life, and a host of teachers and administrators who don’t seem to know how to deal with him. Joey is an enduring yet flawed character and though he occasionally makes the wrong decisions, it’s easy to sympathize with a character capable of such heart-wrenching self-reflection. In the end, I cheered with Joey when he was able to successfully regulate his meds and return to his regular classroom after a particularly capable teacher “’Special’ Ed” at the Special Education school was able to get through to him about his personal ownership for his behavior challenges.<br />
Although the book is intended for younger readers (grades 5-8), the book has universal appeal to anyone seeking to understand ADHD. As a parent or a teacher it’s easy to see how Joey’s destructive actions, though largely unintentional, could be misunderstood as hostile. Even Joey’s mother describes him as “hard to handle”. Children (and adults) who suffer from this disability may be thought lazy, careless and irresponsible, unable or unwilling to act with a conscience because of their behavior. Joey describes quite opposite motivations in one self-reflecting monologue how much he would like to be a normal kid:<br />
I can have good days. Entire days when I wake up and I’m calm inside like water when it’s not boiling, and I just plant my feet on the floor like every kid in America and do a sleepy walk down to the bathroom and take a nice hot shower and wash my hair and dry off and get dressed and eat breakfast and all the while thinking about what I’d like to do with my day. And then the most amazing thing to me is after I think about what I want to do, like read, or see a friend, or say something nice to Mrs. Howard, or write a poem, I actually do all that stuff. That is *amazing* to me. I think it, then I do it. This may be how everyone else operates, but this is not how I usually operate. Usually I wake up with springs popping in my head, like I’m in the middle of a pinball game where I’m the ball, and I shoot out of bed and directly to the kitchen where I ricochet around after food until by chance I snatch some toast off the counter, then go slamming off the padded stool tops like they were lighted bumpers and zing up the hall into the bathroom where I try to brush my teeth, but I brush mostly my lips and chin and I explode back out the door and across the living room and carom off the furniture until Mom gets a grip on me a wipes the toothpaste off my face and works a pill down my throat. (pg. 51-52)<br />
Although ADHD is the most often studied disability, in the current regulatory statutes of IDEA 04 it receives only cursory mention and is listed in the “other health impairments” special education category. Furthermore, children with ADHD are not explicitly covered by IDEA 04, even with medical diagnoses or prescriptions. The rationale behind this slight is that a large portion of ADHD suffers also have coexisting learning disabilities, emotional or behavioral disorders. IDEA will cover children with ADHD and provide special services to them only if the condition “adversely affects educational performance.” (Smith & Tyler, 2009) However, it can be challenging to define what an adverse impact to education actually means. We saw this in the story with Joey. Several incidents (sharpening his fingernails, swallowing a key, running away on a field trip and finally seriously injuring another student) occurred before Joey received help, even though administration and the school nurse was aware that he was receiving medication for his condition. <br />
Though largely inaccurate, media often sensationalizes ADHD and further confuses public perception of the disorder. This negative portrayal can overshadow possible benefits of the disorder, including some famous people who attribute some of their success to positive traits of ADHD. For example, Olympic medalist Michael Phelps and CEO Navid Neeleman are both outspoken advocates for ADHD. Though teaching children with ADHD may be seen as a significant challenge, the truth is that many effective teaching techniques used for differentiating learning, particularly for learning disabilities, are also useful for students with ADHD. Providing interesting and appropriate instruction, peer coaches, immediate feedback and clear directions are benefits to all students and characteristics of good teaching. Additionally, classroom management and organizational strategies can have a positive effect on the entire classroom, not just the ADHD student. Intervening for problem behaviors can be as simple as providing a desk in proximity to the teacher and away from typical distractions like the pencil sharpener. <br />
My biggest criticism of the book is that it strongly promotes drugs as the answer to ADHD. Joey claims – and the story even supports – that he has “dud meds” which wear off after lunch. Joey is successful and able to return to his regular school once he gets different medication. The book gives cursory mention to non-medical intervention and techniques for self regulation. This may be due in part to the narrator’s naivety to his own treatment (he is 9, after all), but I also feel it was a promotion of the author’s agenda of getting students to fit into society rather than adjusting to their needs. Though medical treatment has had some success, there is rising concern over the prevalence of prescribed medication and its side effects. <br />
All criticism aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to teachers and parents who interact with students with ADHD. It would also be beneficial in a classroom setting as a book club or read along option to promote inclusion and acceptance, provided it doesn’t single out a child who has ADHD. As far as the medical treatment goes and what challenges Joey will face in upcoming books, can I get back to you on that?<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie-envinoveritas">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-90823367578970277652009-11-16T17:55:00.000-06:002009-11-16T17:55:00.376-06:00<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2678850.Get_a_Life_That_Doesn_t_Suck_10_Surefire_Ways_to_Live_Life_and_Love_the_Ride" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Get a Life That Doesn't Suck: 10 Surefire Ways to Live Life and Love the Ride" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31uheNgRrdL._SX106_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2678850.Get_a_Life_That_Doesn_t_Suck_10_Surefire_Ways_to_Live_Life_and_Love_the_Ride">Get a Life That Doesn't Suck: 10 Surefire Ways to Live Life and Love the Ride</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1176499.Michelle_DeAngelis">Michelle DeAngelis</a><br/><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77819783">3 of 5 stars</a><br />A refreshing take on a self help book that, while it doesn't necessarily teach anything new and noteworthy, it teaches all the things <em>we should know</em> in a way that's refreshingly digestible and immediately applicable. <br /><br />The summary from the book cover, which explains it pretty well (although the claims *may* be a little over generous for what it delivers...):<br />Life can really suck. But it doesn't have to. This book offers a better way to live every day. <br /><br />Engaging and encouraging, Get a Life That Doesn't Suck: 10 Surefire Ways to Live Life and Love the Ride explains how ill-equipped most people are to deal with the challenges in life and then introduces foundational tools and effective techniques to take you from crappy to happy. By providing the specific "mechanics" to joy, Michelle shows that joy is a repeatable by-product of living your life in integrity and of making conscious choices every day that kick misery, worry and guilt to the curb.<br /><br />For anyone who is bored, disenchanted, or in despair, this book serves up a combination of street-smart wisdom and cheerful irreverence and shows you how to enjoy the "ride of your life," regardless of the roadblocks along the way. <br /><br />With this book you can:<br /><br />•Close the gap between your dreams and your real life<br />•Learn very specific techniques to make the best of every situation<br />•Get the importance of saying what you mean and doing what you say<br />•Learn how to thoughtfully respond instead of react to tricky situations<br />•Master the 10 Life-Changing Ahas - daily actions that improve your life<br />•Get the tools you need to manage yourself and make life easier<br />•Um, get a life that doesn't suck!<br /><br />Check out another synopsis of the content here:<br /><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.michelleinc.com/the_10_life_changing_ahas" title="http://www.michelleinc.com/the_10_life_changing_ahas">http://www.michelleinc.com/the_10_life_c...</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-57896337057138489222009-11-09T17:37:00.000-06:002009-11-15T17:40:42.051-06:00TV for your brain, take 2<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13152.The_Angel_Experiment" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255703095m/13152.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13152.The_Angel_Experiment">The Angel Experiment</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3780.James_Patterson">James Patterson</a><br/><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77146570">3 of 5 stars</a><br />I'll just get this out there: James Patterson is not one of my favorite authors. His books, which are typically formula-driven without a whole lot of originality, are typically perfect candidates for a made for TV movie. So it probably goes without saying that I wasn't expecting Pulitzer-esque writing. <br /><br />My husband, who lovingly loaded this free book into my Kindle, thought this would be a great bridge between the mass market novels he likes to read and my current infatuation with Young Adult books. And he was sort of right: the story was one that was written pretty well (in YA formula). And though it was entirely predictable, I became invested in the characters, so much so that I think I MIGHT read another Maximum Ride novel. But first, I have to read something more pressing on my nightstand. (It may be awhile)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-28804728695387586242009-11-01T17:33:00.000-06:002009-11-15T17:36:21.694-06:00Sex, love and Vichyssoise<a style="PADDING-RIGHT: 20px; FLOAT: left" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6497520-julie-and-julia"><img border="0" alt="Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255622535m/6497520.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6497520-julie-and-julia">Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8546.Julie_Powell">Julie Powell</a><br /><br /><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74120523">3 of 5 stars</a><br />What a cute book. This book is a must for anyone who is a blogger and knows about the challenges of daily posting and the exhilaration of reading encouraging words from Internet strangers. The way Julie's story develops and intertwines with Julia Child's life, and the evolution of a basic cook that everyone can relate to who ends the book being able to make a nearly perfect pastry is a nice wrap up to the whole story.<br /><br />It's also a great book about obsessions and symbolism. Julie compares her thrill in reading Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French cooking to her sneaking and reading The Joy of Sex behind closed doors when she was a younger girl, before she knew what sex was.<br /><br />And in a way, she's right: French cooking is somehow mysterious and seems seductive in a way that makes the simplest dishes into gourmet meals. Take,for example, Vichyssoise. The English translation is cold potato leek soup. Yet the simplistic deliciousness makes it something I don't hesitate to share with the pickiest company. Also, it rolls off your tongue much better. Isn't it sexier to say "Vichyssoise" than "cold potato leek soup". (Plus it's really, really, REALLY good).<br /><br />I'm looking forward to seeing the movie and will post an update to the review then. Until then, try the Vichyssoise. You won't be disappointed.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-27240675275422800172009-09-24T21:00:00.000-05:002009-09-24T21:01:15.660-05:00A Great and Not Terrible Trilogy<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127459.The_Sweet_Far_Thing" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle, #3)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yVpn9xMbL._SX106_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127459.The_Sweet_Far_Thing">The Sweet Far Thing</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2526.Libba_Bray">Libba Bray</a><br/><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/55671859">4 of 5 stars</a><br />This was by far my favorite of the 3 Gemma Doyle books, and an excellent audiobook.<br /><br />I feel like Libba Bray's writing improved throughout the series, and the characters grew as time progressed. Gemma deals with more adult topics as she is nearing the end of her time in school, and the sub plots get darker and more complex as well. <br /><br />Gone is the little girl who made butterflies out of leaves in the Realms, and in her place is a character who is nearly a grownup, very real and complex and at the same time - still her charming self. <br /><br />If you've read ANY of the Gemma series, it's worth it to pick this one up and finish the story.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-31679736986522355122009-09-05T10:54:00.000-05:002009-09-05T10:55:10.457-05:00The Monkey's Raincoat<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14404.The_Monkey_s_Raincoat" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Monkey's Raincoat (Elvis Cole, #1)" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tuJp6wbPL._SX106_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14404.The_Monkey_s_Raincoat">The Monkey's Raincoat</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8944.Robert_Crais">Robert Crais</a><br/><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69218387">3 of 5 stars</a><br />A friend who knows how much I adore Nelson Demille's John Corey told me I might enjoy the Elvis Cole novels. What do you know? I did.<br /><br />The sarcastic, altruistic tough guy with a streak of impatience for rules and regulations, this book reads like a Bruce Willis cop drama. In fact, it's suprising that no one has snatched these books up to make into movies. Hmmm....<br /><br />Set in the 80s before cell phones were common and ignoring the cops was trendy, this pulp fiction-esq detective novel grabbed me. I already miss Elvis Cole and I'm sure I'll be back for more.<br /> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-34132064099874400712009-08-23T08:29:00.005-05:002009-08-23T09:41:25.361-05:00Status update (aka, what the heck is this blog for, anyway?)I began an ambitious goal to read a book a week this year when something occured to me that scared me to death - as a 33 year old woman whose life expectancy is <a href="http://www.efmoody.com/longterm/lifespan.html">79</a>, my life would run out before the books I wanted to read did. The pace I was reading, erring conservatively, was about one a month. That would leave approximately 552 books left to read in my lifetime. <br /><br />Aaack.<br /><br />Faced with the notion that a person has a limited amount of time left in life, their immediate thought is probably not "I won't be able to read all the books I want!" Yes, I realize I am a total geek for admitting this. Oh well - this is my blog and not yours, neener neener.<br /><br />So if you've made it this far, you may be wondering whether I still feel a book a week is a good goal, or where the heck I'm going with this, so I'll put together a quick FAQ for the remainder of the year. <br /><br />How many books have I read so far this year?<br />31, counting 8 full length audiobooks<br /><br />How many have I started and not finished?<br />4: <em>Mary</em> by Janis Cooke Newman, <em>Bird by Bird</em> by Ann Lamott, and <em>Jane Eyre</em>, all of which I intend to finish at some point, and <em>Middlesex</em>, which I do not. <br /><br />Are you still on target for reaching your goal?<br />If I read 5 books a month I'll have made my goal. It's still ambitous, and I'm a bit behind where I wanted to be, but audiobooks should help.<br /><br />Any advice for someone who wants to have a reading goal?<br />Audiobooks are a great way to get some reading in during times that you can't read (like when you're driving), join Goodreads or another online book club for inspiration, and keep your eye on the goal.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-87878537481432464202009-08-23T08:12:00.001-05:002009-08-23T08:13:58.815-05:00Adventures in David Sedaris, part 1<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1044355.When_You_Are_Engulfed_in_Flames" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="When You Are Engulfed in Flames" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51U21PsmbmL._SX106_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1044355.When_You_Are_Engulfed_in_Flames">When You Are Engulfed in Flames</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2849.David_Sedaris">David Sedaris</a><br/><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/63661279">3 of 5 stars</a><br />You could probably guess that I am the ideal audience for David Sedaris. For starters,<br /><br />I listen to NPR regularly.<br />I love humor laced with sarcasm.<br />I have an overdeveloped sense of urgency around for gay rights.<br />My interest for living in the US is waning, and finding American citizens living abroad is more and more enticing. <br />I love a great story laced somewhere in between these topics. <br /><br />David Sedaris meets all those things and more. There were times during the audiobook where I literally laughed out loud in my car, then looked to see if anyone was watching me make a fool out of myself. Yet there were other times when his voice became whiny and monotonous when I had to turn off the book just to find - ironically - he was the special guest of the day on NPR. <br /><br />The part of When You Are Engulfed in Flames dedicated to David's journey about quitting smoking, while interesting, dragged on endlessly. His love of spiders was not entirely enduring either. I mean, who loves spiders above people and - ghastly - above puppies?!<br /><br />I'm not done yet with David Sedaris, but I hope my next experience doesn't make me want to put down the book. Or worse - turn off NPR.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-51331899098593396582009-08-09T16:57:00.001-05:002009-08-09T16:57:26.370-05:00Dreamland<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4325.Dreamland" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Dreamland " border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1239071565m/4325.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4325.Dreamland">Dreamland</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2987.Sarah_Dessen">Sarah Dessen</a><br/><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/66232447">3 of 5 stars</a><br />I enjoyed this, my very first Sarah Dessen book. Dessen's ability to create characters with complexity was refreshing, especially for this subject - an abusive, co-dependent relationship with a girl you really don't expect to be "that" girl. <br /><br />The book made me look at teenage relationships in a different light. Should be required reading in health class, although I can't think that any teenage boy would use the book as anything other than a flyswatter.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews >></a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-65430796267079143742009-06-24T08:54:00.001-05:002009-06-24T08:58:10.844-05:00The Year of Magical Thinking (sans magical writing)<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7815.The_Year_of_Magical_Thinking" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Year of Magical Thinking" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165644384m/7815.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7815.The_Year_of_Magical_Thinking">The Year of Magical Thinking</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/238.Joan_Didion">Joan Didion</a><br/><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40050796"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 2 of 5 stars<br/>So many people have raved about this book, and it won awards so though memoirs are not my usual genre, I thought I would really enjoy it. Boy, was I wrong. <br /><br/><br /><br/>The author is a writer and so was her husband of 40 years. Her writing is excellent, well researched points of view, etc. But as far as being engaged in the story or caring about the characters? Nada.<br /><br/><br /><br/>Perhaps if I had been touched by tragedy and death I would be able to understand and appreciate the authors POV. Until then, I'll stick to fiction.<br /><br/> <br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-56807585171424726052009-06-14T22:17:00.002-05:002009-06-14T22:23:33.020-05:00A Certain Slant of Light<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/289601.A_Certain_Slant_of_Light" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="A Certain Slant of Light" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173449788m/289601.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/289601.A_Certain_Slant_of_Light">A Certain Slant of Light</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/87534.Laura_Whitcomb">Laura Whitcomb</a><br/><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36443191"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 3 of 5 stars<br/>The premise of the book intrigued me-could the undead really have soulmates? The story line from the book jacket:<br /><br/><em>Someone was looking at me, a disturing sensation if you're dead. I was with my teacher, Mr Brown. As usual, we were in our classroom, that safe and wooden-walled box - the windows opening onto the grassy field to the west, the fading flag standing in the chalk dusty corner, the television set mounted above the bulletin board like a sleeping eye, and Mr Brown's princely table keeping watch over a regimen of student desks. </em><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/>That "someone" was Billy, a spirit inside a living person's body. This novel is an interesting and original ghost story that kept me rooting for the main character, Helen, who has haunted her live hosts without contact for over a hundred years. I literally could not put this book down last night until I finished it to find out what happened to Helen as Jenny and James as Billy. <br /><br/><br /><br/>Unfortunately, the end was rather anticlimactic. I ended up reading it twice to make sure I wasn't just tired, but alas... the end lacked the substance that kept the pages moving. The passion in the relationship when Helen was living her life in Jenny's body led to an end I felt somewhat cheated by. Helen and James got to live happily ever after in 400 words or less. There were far too little answers on what happened to the bodies they had been inhabiting while falling in love, their perfect spirit love was rather boring. I felt cheated as this had such wonderful possibilities. It got me wondering whether the editor got tired and let the last few pages go, as the producer did in nearly all of Steven King's movies.<br /><br/><br /><br/>A good, somewhat "light" YA novel with a lot of mature themes not suitable for your little sister. <br /><br/><br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-50397511122522351352009-04-30T09:49:00.001-05:002009-04-30T09:49:51.557-05:00Firefly Lane<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1472878.Firefly_Lane" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Firefly Lane" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f1uAx67EL._SX106_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1472878.Firefly_Lane">Firefly Lane</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54493.Kristin_Hannah">Kristin Hannah</a><br/><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/52675113"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 3 of 5 stars<br/>Lately I've been reading two books at once. Well, not actually "reading". In order to find more opportunity to get reading in and make my commute more bearable (it's not that bad, really) I'm listening to audiobooks. <br /><br/><br /><br/>In the past, I'd only listened to audiobooks on long trips because I couldn't stand the interruptions on short trips, but I've found that if you're listening to a "light" novel and otherwise engaged in another activity (driving, cleaning, etc.) an audiobook is perfect. Firefly Lane is one of those books that makes a perfect audiobook in small doses. <br /><br/><br /><br/>Onto the story...<br /><br/><br /><br/>Kate and Tully meet in the 70s when they are 14 and Tully moves across the street. During that year they become almost immediately inseperable. The story follows their friendship through adolesence, college, and adulthood. <br /><br/><br /><br/>The story has a LOT of references to each time period, which brings the story together in an interesting way. It sets the scene with all the visual details (big shoulderpads in the 80s, changing hairstyles, popular music of the times) that bring back so many memories for us 70s kids. (Okay, a little before my time, but I can still relate)<br /><br/><br /><br/>In the end, Tully and Kate choose different life paths: Kate a wife and mother, Tully a famous, driven career woman. Will an act of betrayal end their decades of friendship?<br /><br/><br /><br/>Another side story is the relationships between Kate and her mother and the difficulty of raising a teenager, then being the mother who understands how difficult she was to raise. <br /><br/><br /><br/>If you're looking for a somewhat light book that will probably make you cry at the end, this is it. <br /><br/><br /><br/><br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-carrie">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-79205488260787400522009-03-01T12:01:00.002-06:002009-03-01T12:02:23.696-06:00Are you more literate than the BBC<span xmlns=''><p>Here's something that's been going around Facebook for a while now. It's been proven to be not true, but a fun competition anyway, and I'm in favor of anything that motivates people to read more. Here it goes:<br /></p><p>BBC believes most people will only have read SIX of these 100 books. How many have YOU read? Be honest!<br/><br/>Instructions:<br/>1) Look at the list and put the ones you've read in <strong>bold</strong><br/>2) <span style='text-decoration:underline'>Underline</span> the ones you LOVE.<br/>3) <em>Italicize</em> those you plan on reading.<br/>4) Tally your total at the bottom.<br/><br/><em>1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen<br/></em>2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien<br/><em>3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte</em><br/><em>4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling</em><br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee</strong></span><br/><strong>6. The Bible</strong><br /> <br/>7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte<br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell</strong><br/></span>9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman <br/><strong>10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens<br/>11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott</strong><br/>12. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy<br/><strong>13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller</strong><br /> <br/>14. Complete Works of Shakespeare <br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier</strong></span><br /> <br/><strong>16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien <br/></strong>17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk <br/><strong>18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger <br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'>19. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger</span></strong><br/><em>20. Middlemarch - George Eliot</em><br /> <br/>21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell <br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald <br/></strong></span>23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens<br/>24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy <br/>25. The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams <br/>26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh <br/>27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky <br/><strong>28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck <br/>29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll <br/>30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame <br/></strong><em>31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy</em><br /> <br/>32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens <br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis <br/></strong></span><em>34. Emma - Jane Austen <br/>35. Persuasion - Jane Austen</em><br /> <br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis <br/></strong></span><em>37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini <br/></em>38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres <br/><em>39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden<br/></em><strong>40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne</strong><em><br /> <br/></em><strong>41. Animal Farm - George Orwell <br/>42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown <br/></strong><em>43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez <br/></em>44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving <br/>45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins <br/><strong>46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery <br/></strong>47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy<br/><em>48. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood</em><br /> <br/><strong>49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding <br/></strong>50. Atonement - Ian McEwan <br/><em>51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel</em><br /> <br/>52. Dune - Frank Herbert<br/>53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons <br/><em>54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen <br/></em>55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth<br/>56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon <br/><strong>57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens <br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'>58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley <br/>59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon</span></strong><br /> <span style='text-decoration:underline'><br/></span>60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez<br/><strong>61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck <br/>62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov <br/></strong>63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt<br/><em>64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold <br/>65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas <br/></em>66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac <br/>67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy <br/><em>68. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding<br/></em>69. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie <br/>70. Moby *** - Herman Melville <br/>71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens <br/>72. Dracula - Bram Stoker <br/><span style='text-decoration:underline'><strong>73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett <br/></strong></span>74 . Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson <br/>75. Ulysses - James Joyce <br/><em>76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath</em><br /> <br/>77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome <br/>78. Germinal - Emile Zola <br/>79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray<br/><em>80. Possession - AS Byatt</em><br /> <br/><strong>81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens <br/></strong><em>82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell</em><br /> <br/>83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker <br/>84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro <br/>85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert <br/>86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry <br/><strong>87. Charlotte's Web - EB White <br/>88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom <br/></strong>89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle <br/>90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton <br/><strong>91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad <br/>92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery <br/></strong>93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks <br/>94. Watership Down - Richard Adams<br/>95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole <br/>96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute <br/>97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas <br/><strong>98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare <br/>99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl <br/></strong>100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo <br /></p><p>18 on my TBR pile, 34 I've already read. <br /></p></span>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-82498982562162938192009-03-01T09:38:00.002-06:002009-03-01T09:42:42.920-06:00Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse Series, book 1)<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/301082.Dead_Until_Dark?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1211990969m/301082.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/301082.Dead_Until_Dark?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Dead Until Dark</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17061.Charlaine_Harris">Charlaine Harris</a><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/47875292?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 3 of 5 stars<br/>This book was very entertaining - no wonder it's been made into an HBO series! Sookie Stackhouse is an entertaining main character who has her quirks, being telepathic and having a interest in vampires being the most defining of her character. <br /><br /><br/>Sookie's telepathy is a hindrance in her love life, because as she points out hearing someone think about your butt being big puts a damper on a romantic moment. Being able to hear what everyone is thinking at all times also impacts her ability to concentrate in school. This leads her into a career as a waitress in a local bar in her hometown, Bon Temps, a small town near New Orleans. Which is how she meets Bill, the local vampire trying to assimilate into society by drinking synthetic blood. <br /><br /><br/>Perhaps because Bill is technically dead, Sookie can't hear his thoughts. This makes him an ideal companion, and added to his romantic appeal. Of course, there are plenty of drawbacks for a human in a the world of the undead, which makes the book even more interesting. <br /><br /><br/>If I had one criticism though, it's that the characters lacked some depth. Maybe this is intentional, so that there will be some mystery that we can find out further along in the series. I found it difficult to sympathize with Sookie when she worried Bill might be hurt, or that her brother would be framed for the murders of local girls. The book was exciting and held my attention, but I have the next two books Sookie Stackhouse series on my nightstand, and yet I'm still debating over what book I'll pick up next. <br /><br /> <br/><br />Dead Until Dark in 6 words or less: Love bites - dead boyfriends are trouble.<br /><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-Carrie?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-49148542035775372022009-02-21T10:58:00.000-06:002009-03-01T11:04:34.059-06:00Catcher in the Rye<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5107.The_Catcher_in_the_Rye?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Catcher in the Rye" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165517671m/5107.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5107.The_Catcher_in_the_Rye?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Catcher in the Rye</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/819789.J_D_Salinger">J.D. Salinger</a><br/><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46699146?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 2 of 5 stars<br/>I so wanted to love Holden Caulfield, in all his teenage angst glory. Somehow in school I avoided this classic, perhaps there was a negative connotation to teaching it in school since it's been declared a banned book. (Which is pretty laughable considering how tame the story is).<br /><br/><br /><br/>The story takes place in just a couple of days, where Holden decides to spend a few days in New York on his own, before his parents can find out he's been expelled from ANOTHER school. In his emo, teenage angst that's the undercurrent of the novel, he describes why he won't tell his life story, "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them." <br /><br/><br /><br /><br/>Holden's biggest hatred is reserved for "phonies", which could be either his teacher or anyone he happens to run into that feels the least insincere. The best thing this novel does is capture the alienation due to conflicting feelings when a teenager has trouble relating to adults. <br /><br/><br />I found it difficult to relate to Holden, even though I was once an emotional teenager filled with angst. Other than his commitment to not be a phony, I found little to like about him - his self-loathing and confusion about life just reinforced that I didn't like him as much as he didn't like himself.And if he said "I'm not kidding, I'm really not" one more time, I think I would have thrown the book across the room. Overall, I'm confused as to why this is such a beloved book. It's an original story, probably the first of it's kind written from the point of view of a teenager. But I don't want to be a teenager again, or be friends with them. I couldn't put this book down fast enough.<br /><br/><strong>Catcher in the Rye in 6 words or less: </strong>Expelled, angsty teenager visits New York. <br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-Carrie?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-55877082372309964362009-02-04T15:26:00.000-06:002009-02-21T15:34:43.377-06:00Water for Elephants<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43641.Water_for_Elephants?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Water for Elephants" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170161179m/43641.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43641.Water_for_Elephants?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Water for Elephants</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24556.Sara_Gruen">Sara Gruen</a><br/><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36443672?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 4 of 5 stars<br/>Upon the suggestions of many of my fellow book lovers, this book has been on my TBR list (to be read) for quite some time. I’m not sure what prevented me from picking it up before; perhaps it was the circus theme which instinctively led me to think of clowns. (Yes, having a fear of clowns as an adult is completely irrational, but there are much worse things to be afraid of and besides, it hasn’t inhibited my lifestyle so far.) Luckily for me, there are no clown subplots in this story. But I digress - onto the story.<br /><br/><br /><br/><strong>The characters</strong><br /><br/>The story is told from the point of view of Jacob at ages 23 and 90 (or 93). Present day Jacob is a resident in a nursing home who reminisces on the time he joined the circus. Young Jacob is an Ivy League veterinary student who leaves college abruptly during his final exams following a tragic accident that leaves him an orphan. Wandering aimlessly, homeless and without money, family or a place to go, he jumps onto a train and is unexpectedly met by circus workers. Luckily, an older worker befriends him and allows him to work alongside him for the day in hopes that he can secure a job with the circus. During his first day at the job he sees a horse trainer that reminds him of his college girlfriend. Later, older worker brings Paul to meet the circus owner, Uncle Al. <br /><br/><br /><br/><strong>The story</strong><br /><br/>During the “interview” Al asks Jacob if he’s ever seen a circus, and if he’s seen their show, the Benzini Brothers. Prompted by his friend to the answer-Al-wants-to-hear, Jacob lies and says he’s seen Ringling Brothers but they were nothing compared to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. This does not interest Al, and just about the time Al is ready to dismiss Jacob, he finds out Jacob is a last year veterinary student. This intrigues Al, because Ringling Brothers has a vet on staff, and more than anything else in the world, Al wants to be Ringling Brothers. Jacob is brought on with the direction that he can stay as long as he keeps the sick horse alive. <br /><br/><br /><br/>The horse has an incurable ailment and ends up dying. Jacob ends up staying on, befriending both the “elite” group of performers and the respect of the working staff. Love begins, first for the animals, and then for the wife of the ill-tempered masterofanimals. August and Al shows their evil natures, both toward people and animals. Marlena, the beautiful horse trainer, grows deeply attached to Jacob. Relationships grow and become more complicated, both in the present day and as Jacob reminisces about the past. Filled with suspense, the end of the book takes a somewhat predictable turn which is no less gratifying even though it was expected. <br /><br/><br /><br/><strong>Why you should read this book</strong><br /><br/>I enjoy stories with a lot of character development and can empathize with the protagonist. A circus vet is an unlikely hero, but not in the least unlikeable. The book has something for almost everyone – empathetic characters, vivid scenery, a sprinkling of romance and plenty of suspense. Another surprising plot device is the animals themselves, in particular one very charismatic elephant. <br /><br/><br /><br/><strong>Totally off topic to a book review but interesting anyway</strong> <br /><br/>This bestselling novel was written in a month! NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is to writers what a marathon is to runners. Participants in NaNoWriMo pledge to write 50,000 words in the month of November. It's sometimes incomplete, and rarely published so it's a real jem to find a writing project written with such fervor that turned into a bestseller. Also, it's also one of my goals to participate in NaNoWriMo this year after a year of reading a book a week.<br /><br/><br /><br/><strong>Water for elephants in 6 words or less</strong><br /><br/>Not quite Ringling, love without clowns. <br /><br/><br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-Carrie?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-40678309593534574342009-01-25T20:24:00.000-06:002009-02-05T20:29:21.623-06:00Rebecca<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12873.Rebecca?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Rebecca" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166512466m/12873.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12873.Rebecca?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Rebecca</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2001717.Daphne_Du_Maurier">Daphne Du Maurier</a><br/><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41356602?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 5 of 5 stars<br/>"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."<br /><br /><br/>Something about this book seemed eerily familiar from the first chapter. The opening line is famous, and with good reason. I don't recall another book whose opening is quite so immediately enchanting with DuMaurier's gothic style.<br /><br /><br/>Perhaps the familiarity stems from the main character, an insecure and timid young girl who falls madly in love with a handsome, rich, complicated older man while employed as a companion to a boorish American woman, Mrs. Van der Horne.<br /><br /><br/>I know Stephanie Meyers SAYS she got inspiration from Wuthering Heights, but honestly, there are SO MANY parallels between Twilight and Rebecca.<br /><br /><br/>The (unnamed) narrator in Rebecca was self-depreciating, clumsy, insecure, had a vivid imagination and was in a different class than her love interest. I actually called her Bella in my head. :)<br /><br /><br/>Maxium was handsome, rich and mysterious. He had a dark secret and was a bit elusive with the 2nd Mrs. de Winter. She was constantly haunted by Rebecca's memory, the incredibly beautiful person who was so well suited to Maxium's world. (coughTanyacough)<br /><br/><br />This book was written so much better than Twilight, but it was impossible for me not to see the parallels. <br /><br /><br/>But onto the story...<br /><br/><br />Supposedly Maxim was a dashingly handsome romantic interest that ladies of the time were swooning over, but I think he sounded like kind of an ass. When the 2nd Mrs DeWinter was spending time with him in Monte Carlo, it was difficult to see why she was falling in love with him. Other than that he was handsome and rich, he didn't seem all that interesting. The distant moodiness and the constant brooding was just kind of...eh. Where was the passion? Granted, this was in a time when feelings were repressed in Britan - perhaps feelings were a bit more muted. <br /><br/><br />I was thoroughly annoyed with Maxim when he was telling Mrs DeWinter that she could either stay as a companion or come and live with him at Manderly and the duties would be the same. Uhh...ok? No thanks...<br /><br/><br />He then said that it wasn't exactly the proposal that she dreamed of, that she should be in a white dress and he should be making love to her violently behind a palm tree. Much better but still - not exactly swoon worthy.<br /><br /><br/>Meanwhile, the incredibly romantic narrator sees Maxim like this:<br /><br/>"His face was arresting, sensitive, medieval in some strange inexplicable way, and I was reminded of a portrait seen in a gallery I had forgotten where, of a certain Gentleman Unknown." <br /><br /><br/>And like this: <br />"Could one but rob him of his English tweeds, and put him in black, with lace at this throat and wrists, he would stare down at us in our new world from a long distant past—a past where men walked cloaked at night, and stood in the shadow of old doorways, a past of narrow stairways and dim dungeons, a past of whispers in the dark, of shimmering rapier blades, of silent, exquisite courtesy." <br /><br/><br />It's as if the word "dashing" was invented just for him. Though the book didn't cause me to fall in love with Mr. DeWinter, I did fall in love with Manderley, and with Daphne Du Maurier. Soon I will be going back to Manderley again, to wrap myself in the enchanting tale of a gothic romance I'll never forget.<br /><br/><br /><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922-Carrie-Marshall?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-70579834005742114582009-01-11T15:19:00.001-06:002009-01-11T15:22:12.729-06:00Along Came A Spider<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13145.Along_Came_a_Spider?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, Book 1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166543106m/13145.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13145.Along_Came_a_Spider?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Along Came a Spider</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3780.James_Patterson">James Patterson</a><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42590535?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 3 of 5 stars<br/>Ah the lure of mass market fiction... I often refer to Patterson novels as "TV for your brain". Page turning, edge of your seat excitement? Yes. Intellectually challenging? Not particularly.<br /><br /><br/>This is the first introduction to character Alex Cross, a DC detective whose differentiating characteristic is his intrinsic morality, love of his children and his doctorate in psychology. A failed attempt in private practice leads him to policework.<br /><br /><br/>Cross lives with his grandmother Nana and 2 young children. There is occasional mention of his late wife, who was killed in a drive by shooting a few years before the start of the book. Cross' partner Sampson and Nana are two likeable characters in the book. Cross himself is a worthy hero for the series, with an interesting character and southern charm. <br /><br /><br/>The major theme of the book opens with a kidnapping of 2 famous children by their teacher. Consequently, a brutal murder of a family in a poor neighborhood remains unsolved. Cross manages to tie both cases together, for an interesting plot change toward the middle of the book.<br /><br /><br/>The book frequently alludes to racial themes, but doesn't really dig deep into them. They exist more as a setting in the story than an actual developed part of the plot. (For example, Cross begins an interracial romantic relationship with an FBI agent. During one scene, Cross gets into a heated confrontation with a bystander who makes racial slurs regarding toward the agent. What was the conclusion to that? He goes home angry. There was a lot of opportunity for plot development with this scene, but wasn't central to the action of the book, so it was left alone.) <br /><br /><br/>Perhaps I have been getting spoiled with my choices of reading lately, but I didn't feel like I got a lot out of this book. For pure entertainment value, this book was excellent. However, if you're looking for something a little deeper or something worth having an intellectual discussion about, keep looking. <br /><br /><br/> <br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-32781307438517245042009-01-08T11:07:00.004-06:002009-01-11T15:26:38.151-06:00The Book Thief<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1118668.The_Book_Thief?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Book Thief" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1181145582m/1118668.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1118668.The_Book_Thief?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Book Thief</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11466.Markus_Zusak">Markus Zusak</a><br/><br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40922741?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br /> rating: 5 of 5 stars<br/><br/><blockquote><em>I am haunted by you humans</em>.</blockquote><br /><br/>So ends one of the most captivating books I’ve read in years, and I am similarly haunted by the trance of this book. In fact, I’ve been unable (or unwilling, perhaps) to pick up another book since. <br /><br /><br/><strong>Overview</strong><br /><br /><br/>The Book Thief is set in Nazi wartime Germany. In an interesting twist, Death (of Grim Reaper fame) is the narrator of the story. Captivated by a young girl, Death follows the events in her bittersweet life story, from the time she is given up from her birth until her death. It’s a story built of love and humanity in the most unlikely of places.<br /><br /><br/><strong>The Story Unfolds</strong><br /><br /><br/>Intertwined throughout the book is a passion for both books and human life. Liesel is an enduring, unlikely heroine - a school aged illiterate girl who loses her brother at the time of her separation from her mother and steals a book from his graveside. She quickly befriends a neighbor boy (Rudy) and together they commit small acts of defiance (from book and apple thievery to giving stale bread to starving Jews walking to Dafur) in an attempt to settle the score between the unfairness of the time. <br /><br /><br/>As Liesel’s love grows for her foster father and her best friend, so does everyone around her fall in love with her. Her reading improves to the point where she reads books in the shelter to keep everyone calm during air raids. She sits in the enchanting library of the mayor’s home. She brings gifts to the ailing Jew hiding in their basement. She is a worth opponent in soccer tournaments in the streets with the boys.<br /><br /><br/> Zusak touches on difficult times in history with a novel approach. From Death’s eyes, we see both virtue and malevolence in humanity. "So much good, so much evil. Just add water." Death occasionally interjects personal opinions into the book, which breaks the flow of the story. I found these anecdotal interruptions added to the depth of Death as a character, but some readers found this style distracting. <br /><br /><br/><strong>The end (spoilers)</strong><br /><br /><br/>After an air raid flattens the neighborhood unexpectedly at night, no one survives but Liesel. Death alludes to the possibility many times, which made me believe that when my favorite characters finally were ripped from the story, it wouldn’t be so painful. I was wrong. After you have fallen in love with Rudy, Hans and even warmed up to Rosa Hubermann, you miss them terribly. The tears on Liesel’s cheeks become your own. <br /><br /><br/>Zusak literally put the mayor’s home on a hill – the rich were quite literally put on a pedestal. Liesel chastises the mayor’s wife for living in such affluence while others were living in poverty. One of her acts of defiance is to steal books from the mayor’s library. As the story evolves, it’s clear that the mayor’s wife has intentionally let Liesel steal the books, and shares her love of literature. In an interesting twist of fate after the air raid, the mayor’s wife comes to find Liesel and brings her to her home. While visiting Rudy’s father’s store, Max walks in and the two find a happy and tearful reunion. <br /><br /><br/>There are happy and sad times in life, as there are opportunities for great heroism in times of tragic adversity. Zusak has captured them beautifully, and captured my heart as well.<br /><br /> <br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8996106592871668414.post-88265276850134345032008-12-30T21:22:00.003-06:002009-01-04T13:55:21.773-06:00Bel Canto<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5826.Bel_Canto?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Bel Canto" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165551537m/5826.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5826.Bel_Canto?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Bel Canto</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2531.Ann_Patchett">Ann Patchett</a><br/><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40049089?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br />rating: 4 of 5 stars<br/>Because I just returned from a trip to Machu Picchu, it was obvious to me that the "anonymous" South American country was modeled after Peru. The references to the terrorists who lived in the jungle, their desire to eat guinea pigs (which are really not all that tasty - not recommended) and the prayers to Saint Rose of Lima made it obvious the book was loosely based on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_embassy_hostage_crisis">actual history</a>. <br /><br /><strong>In a nutshell</strong><br /><br />The back cover names this book a "tragicomedy". I honestly didn't see much humor in this book. In fact, the first 150 pages or so were so hopelessly dry that I'm amazed I actually made it through the book. Patchett spends a bit too much time developing her characters (which truly, I didn't believe was possible) but when the plot starts getting going you won't be able to put it down. Relationships that would have only been possible during extreme circumstances emerge, and characters develop believably in ways far beyond what is possible.<br /><br /><br/>The endless character development and lack of comedic relief didn't make Bel Canto any less appealing. The book was written in language almost like poetry. Not exactly poetry - more like music. (I'm sure this was also intentional, as "bel canto" translates to beautiful music in Italian). The characters were setup so it was obvious that Patchett loved her characters and her story line. She didn't do it in a way that some authors do (cough, Stephanie Meyer, cough) which would compromise the story. <br/><br /><br />The end result was so very worthwhile. I don't remember the exact moment when I started to enjoy the book more than wonder when it was going to get interesting. The characters - terrorists and hostages alike - made you fall in love with them in a way that was completely unexpected. It might be intuitive that over the period of 6 months the lines between hostages and captors might be blurred, relationships would emerge, and even the most unlikeable of Generals could become someone you wanted to see pull through. Gen, the brilliant translator who weaves his way through seemingly impossible relationships, said it best - that after months, there was not one person (of the terrorists) he was willing to sacrifice. <br /><br /><strong>The End (spoilers)</strong><br /><br /><br/>At first, I was disturbed by the shockingly abrupt ending. Then I realized that the plot turn mirrors that of an actual Opera - blindingly quick with a bang. How I managed to be surprised by the ending, even though it was obvious from the start how it might unfold, was yet another way Patchett showed her literary talent. An educated man and a girl from the jungle could only meet under these circumstances. A lover of Opera and the worlds greatest opera singer, neither of whom could speak one another's language, could only fall in love here. Or could they? Just before the end I started to believe that happily ever after might be possible for the seemingly mismatched couples. My heart broke when not only Carmen, but also Katsumi, were gone with one bullet, and the hope of both couples disappeared. <br /><br />One of the frequent criticisms of this book is the epilogue - Gen and Roxanne get married. There was nothing in the book to that point that showed either had any romantic feelings for one another, and after all the time Patchett spent on character development, that motivation seemed contrived to keep the characters together. The only possibility that brought these two together is the knowledge that they were the only ones in the world who could understand what they went through. I didn't buy it though, and the book would have been better without the confusing epilogue.<br /><br />For any of it's shortcomings, though, the book was excellent. The title of the book couldn't be more fitting with a subtle irony about life and music - Bel Canto is truly beautiful music. <br /><br /><br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1592922?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15843626509476335247noreply@blogger.com2