88/100 (317 pages)

Life is Short But Wide by J. California Cooper


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is another book that I found in the library's "new" section. I picked it based solely on its' title. I didn't really love it at first, but in the heart of it, I really started to enjoy it. There seemed to be too much history and too many people at the beginning. And I still don't really understand the narrator's place in all of it. The story takes place in Wideland, OK in a predominately black area. Irene and Val are deeply in love. The have two daughters, Tante, and Rose. They also have a family live on their property: Bertha, John, and their crippled daughter, Juliet. I don't want to give too much away, but it is frustrating how much these people put up with. I finally started really enjoying the story when it focuses on Rose's daughter, Myine.

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87/100 (232 pages)

Perfectly Imperfect: A Life in Progress by Lee Woodruff


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I was at the library, so I decided to check out the "New Books" section. The title of this book grabbed me, so I picked it up. I remember the story of Bob Woodruff getting injured in Iraq, and I thought that it would be interesting to read about his wife dealing with that. Well, after 200 pages, I realized that Lee and Bob had ALREADY written a book about that. Whoops. So this book was really about being a mom. Totally my fault for having the wrong perception, but even so, I wasn't crazy about how separated it was. There was no chronological flow from chapter to chapter and they were rarely interrelated. I did enjoy the first chapter about amusement parks, and I can definitely respect Lee's struggles and the way she dealt with them.

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86/100 (535 pages)

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I had a hard time starting this book, simply because I had just gotten through with a book that took place in England and I wasn't sure I was ready for another one. But once I got into this book, I really started to like it. I especially enjoyed how each chapter was named after a particular character. The story really centers around Penelope, a woman in her 60's who recently had a heart attack. Two of her children start badgering her to sell her famous father's painting, The Shell Seekers, so they can financially benefit.

I found Penelope's children, Nancy and Noel completely appalling, disgusting people. They were utterly conceited and self-righteous and only out for money. Penelope's other daughter, Olivia, is marginally better since you can tell she really cares about her mother, but she is still repulsively selfish.

The characters you really care about are Penelope's young friend, Antonia, and her gardener, Danus. They seem like good, genuine people who deserve some happiness.

I don't want to spoil anything, but even though I thought the book was a little long, I thought it really wrapped up nicely. I would recommend it to anyone.

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1,001 Things in 101 Days- 1 Year Later

One year in, I am 34.7% done, so right on track. I also have read 85 books. Here is what is left:

# of Pages, not counting audio books or books not finished: 25,467

Self:

1. Have a baby

2. Get published

3. Enter a contest that requires a skill

4. Make 1,000 entries in a gratitude journal

5. Redo a piece of furniture

6. Go to 10-year reunion and look fabulous

7. EDIT: Complete one month of "Intuitive Eating" starting 7/26

8. Turn down something I don’t want to do without unnecessary excuses

9. Stand up for myself (ESY 2009)

12. Get together ten outfits I love and feel completely great in

13. Write a letter to myself at the end of each month to be read at the end of 1001 days (4/33)

15. Complete an entire day without saying anything negative

16. Go one week without cursing

17. Go one week without being judgmental

19. Be a generally happier person at the end of this project than I was at the start

Family:

20. Do something nice for Dave without him having to ask

21. Throw dad a party

22. Write a journal for my children

24. Do something nice for Matt

25. Find a new food that Dave will eat

26. Get Dave the planned 30^th birthday gift

27. Establish a holiday tradition

28. Cook dinner for someone

Others:

32. Surprise someone

34. Send 10 “Just Because” pieces of snail mail (1/10)

35. Write a positive service letter

36. Donate to Locks of Love

Health:

38. Drink 64 ounces of water every day for one month

39. Use sunscreen religiously

40. Floss every day

41. Go to dentist every 6 months

42.Take a CPR class

43. Maintain a healthy weight

44. Take vitamins every day for 30 straight days

45. Go one month without soda

Money:

47. Save $10,000

48. See a financial planner

Learning / Professional:

51. Complete my thesis

52. Get my Master’s degree

54. Learn sign language

55. EDIT: get a tattoo (8/5/09)

Travel:

59. Visit Alabama

60. Visit Alaska

62. Visit Kentucky

63. Visit Louisiana

64. Visit Maine

65. Visit Massachusetts

66. Visit New Hampshire

67. Visit North Carolina

68. Visit Ohio

70. Visit Tennessee

71. Visit West Virginia

72. Go to at least one state on the west coast

House:

74. Stop leaving clothes around in the bedroom – put them away immediately

Earth:

81. Successfully freecycle 10 things (1/10 entertainment center 7/23/08)

Fun:

84. Do a Murder Mystery dinner

85. Be an extra in a movie / TV show or audition for something

86. Go to a taping of a live TV show

89. Bake something beautiful

90. EDIT: Redo my whole wardrobe and sell/donate old clothes

91. Read 100 books (85/100)

92. Read 200 books

93. Read 300 books

94. Read 400 books

95. Read 500 books

101. Develop a signature dish

85/100

The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book is set in 1950's England. Young Penelope gets into a cab with Charlotte, a stranger, and her life changes forever. Charlotte is a dynamo with a great attitude. Penelope begins to spend more and more time with Charlotte and her family: her caring aunt, and her mysterious brother, Harry. Harry is in love with a newly engaged girl and needs to use Penelope to make her jealous. There are expensive parties, lots of drinks, rock stars, and mysterious men.



I found Penelope's mother terribly obnoxious and rude to her children. I thought Penelope also came across as pathetic to constantly be the ruse in the scheme. I didn't find this book very charming, but I did find myself thinking about it after I read it, which I suppose must mean something.


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84/100

A Dirty Job

by Christopher Moore

I have to start by saying that I can appreciate Moore's humor and sarcasm. But I really did not like this book at all. Charlie's wife dies at the beginning of the book, shortly after giving birth to their daughter. Charlie sees a man in the room of his dead wife that no one else sees. This leads to Charlie's discovery that he is a "death merchant." This means when someone dies, Charlie must fine the receptacle that their soul has gone to and find the new proper home for it. If he doesn't find the right object, people are attacked by "sewer harpies," or crows with unbelievable strength. In addition to the sewer harpies, there are tiny animals wearing clothes and walking on two legs. So stupid. I just couldn't take it. Sorry to the Moore lovers out there - I am not one of them.

I have to start by saying that I can appreciate Moore's humor and sarcasm. But I really did not like this book at all. Charlie's wife dies at the beginning of the book, shortly after giving birth to their daughter. Charlie sees a man in the room of his dead wife that no one else sees. This leads to Charlie's discovery that he is a "death merchant." This means when someone dies, Charlie must fine the receptacle that their soul has gone to and find the new proper home for it. If ...more I have to start by saying that I can appreciate Moore's humor and sarcasm. But I really did not like this book at all. Charlie's wife dies at the beginning of the book, shortly after giving birth to their daughter. Charlie sees a man in the room of his dead wife that no one else sees. This leads to Charlie's discovery that he is a "death merchant." This means when someone dies, Charlie must fine the receptacle that their soul has gone to and find the new proper home for it. If ...more

83/100

Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was having a rough night one evening, and had this book on my bookshelf. I started it around 10 PM and read straight through until 4 AM. I love a good mystery, and this book delivered.



The main character is a woman who suffered a horrific attack and is slowly rebuilding her life in a manner that the very skeptical and defensive would. It was interesting to see from a perspective like that.


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