A New Leaf

I find it interesting to think that I am 'turning over a new leaf' on a day that is snowy. But after a long chat last night, that has been on-again off-again, with my hubs about him preparing himself for a job-change, I decided it has to start with me. 

He's going to go to school. This isn't going back to school it is just plain ol' going to school. He has no official degree. He has certificates and licenses. One of which I'm extremely proud of him for achieving. On the wall above our desktop computer desk hang three frames. Two are pictures he took of nature that are beautiful. The third is his North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, certifying that he has passed an incredibly challenging test that we both heard made most engineers with college degrees frustrated and they had to take it again and again. He took it once, and passed. On his way out, while the girls and I waited in a rented RV (this was an awesome trip by the way!), he spoke with a few others that took the same test. They were afraid that they didn't pass. He was not. He was confident that he knew the answers, that he did his best, and it felt so good!! 

So today, as I have actively chosen to make it easier for him to accomplish a goal, I also have embarked on a journey of discovery, and goal achieving. I will write. I will bring joy and laughter to others around me. While I provide my husband and children with a clean happy home. 

I will also read, and review, and blog. It might be at a snail's pace at first, as I negotiate these uncharted waters. But I will. For my family. For me. For us.

pics by Brianna Farr Taylor

Sidney Sheldon's After The Darkness by Tilly Bagshawe

Okay as a precursor to this review I'll tell you right off, this is my FIRST Sidney Sheldon book... and also my first Tilly Bagshawe. This is generally not my genre of choice, but I was dying to read something that I could read and not have to think about. And mom handed it to me. I'll get right to the point. It was a FAST read. It was like watching television (which is pretty much what I wanted). But there were a few things I had NOT anticipated, and I'll spoil it for you and just let you have those first off. A rape, violence, sex, and crime, oh and a bit of bad language... not the bad language you might just hear at my house, much worse.

So there you have that part. Then there is the good stuff. If you like watching Law & Order you just might like this read, if you can handle the crappy things. I liked the characters; I loved the main character Grace and the plot was dang good. A lot of twists and turns that Sheldon is well known for (or so I've been told). I loved that our heroine (is that spelled correctly??) was naive, and then came to her senses and really REALLY found herself through this journey... albeit a painful and disturbing at times.

The scenery and descriptive writing of the east coast and Nantucket (I think that is where they were!) were amazing and made me want to visit a lot more! She really dug into Grace's character and into the dynamic of being a prisoner, a victim, and an agent of change. I thought the ending was a bit, uh cheesy, but I'm not sure how to end it differently. I couldn't have done a better job, and I certainly would not want to have to fill those Sheldon Dynasty Shoes. Tilly did a great job and I tip my hat to her!!

The Host

The Host
by Stephanie Meyer.

Okay, So Vicki told everyone that I'm a Twilight fan, so yes...I am. Not hugely a fan of the movie's though. When my bestest friend told me she had bought The Host and couldn't get into it, I thought I would give it a try.

When I first started this book, I hobbled through the first couple of chapters. It's a Sci-Fi novel, and I have never been much into those. But as I kept reading it, more for something to do rather than interest, I found myself being sucked in.

It's a strange mix of reality and what-ifs about the universe. So without spoiling the book, I hope I can give you some insight. It starts out with the main character, Melanie becoming a "host" to the new aliens that have taken over the earth because they think us humans are too violent. The aliens get implanted into the back of the head and take over the brain. The person still looks and sounds the same, but instead of being mad at crazy drivers they stay calm and let everyone in..happy-hunky-dorey society. By the time people start figuring out what is happening, the world has mostly been taken over by these aliens. People start running from it, and end up in groups hidden away or fighting against them. Melanie is one of those who ran and hid with her little brother after her father and mother were turned into hosts. For the first little while it's really confusing, because Melanies host is named Wanderer, and Wanderer can't get Melanie to turn over her mind. So there's a lot of back and forth, but as the book continues on it makes more sense- Melanie and Wanderer become friends, and against all odds, they join a group (that is actually headed by Melanie's Uncle Jeb) of all Humans. Melanie/Wanderer finds her little brother, and her long lost love, Jared hidden in a bunch of caves that she almost dies trying to find. Most of the book takes place in this cave where she is bullied, threatened, and almost killed by the people she now loves and trys to protect.

In the end, she makes the hardest choice. Wanderer has fallen in love with someone other than Jared, and while Melanie is still a part of her conscience and still in love with Jared. Wanderer decides to end Melanie's misery and leave her body and end her own....but there's a catch. She leaves it to the doctor to carry out all her wishes and unknown to her the plan changes.

Here are a few of my favorite parts!

"Wanda." He said my name slowly-unwillingly, I could tell, though his voice was even and toneless." Is Melanie still alive- still part of you? Tell me the truth."
Jared, I love you, she tried to scream. I'm right here.

Ian squeezed my hand and leaned in to whisper through all the hair. His voice was low so I was the only one who could hear."I held you in my hand, Wanderer. And you were so beautiful."

These are only a few of my favorite parts, and maybe, if you're not into vampires, you'll try the aliens. I thought they were quite clever myself! I hope you take the chance and give it a try. Remember to push through the first 10 chapters...after that it's a gimmie!

Joyce

PS- If you decide to read it, leave me a comment on what you thought! I'd love the feed back!

The Last Song- Nicholas Sparks

Okay, So I'm new to this, so I think patience is needed. Here I go!

The Last Song

When I started this book, I had a hard time getting the previews of the newly release movie out of my head. I have a hard time with Miley Cyrus.... But the farther I got into the book, the more I realized I was relating to the main character in ways I didn't think I would. I'm not normally a Nicholas Sparks fan either...but here I am.

If I had one thing to say about this book, it would be- READ IT!

It's simple, easy to understand and relate to. It puts into perspective those out of control teenagers, and maybe the things that they're dealing with that I don't think parents understand all the time. It's set on a beautiful beach in North Carolina, has the typical handsome beach-guy, out of control terribly confused girl, and some other characters that cause a lot of trouble, a dad, a mom, and a divorce. Through the book I was continually surprised by the turn of events and resiliency of the main character, Ronnie. Her ability to adapt, change, recognize her faults, and realize that she's wrong is remarkable as is the glimpse of her first love. Of course, it turns out okay in the end, and in Nicholas Sparks fashion the guy and girl end up together. (I know... a spoiler....)

Over all, it's a fantastic book. I'm not a crier when I read, but some of you might be...in that case, grab a box of tissues, and read away!! I'm a hopeless romantic, and this took me back- and forward- to not only my first love, but also to falling in love with my true love.


~Joyce

Welcome a New Opinion!

I have finally recruited a second opinion!! I guess you could put it that way. My lil sis reads and reads and reads and somehow still makes time for her busy family and keeps her house clean! I don't know how she does it, but she does and I am so excited that she'd like to let her opinions of what she reads OUT into the blogging world! Joyce is a great sister and I'm so happy that she's joined me in puttin it out there! Thanks sis for your contribution!! ~Vick

PS. Yes she's a Twilight fan. I've chosen to not judge her for that. ;) And she is welcome as any of you to post her opinion here via comment or email me, then I'll post it for you. All I ask is that you be nice. If you can't be nice you can't play with us!! Cheers!

Eragon - by Christopher Paolini

I read this book almost a year ago. It was so good I read it again, out loud, to my oldest daughter. She loved every page.

Paolini is a brilliantly imaginative author of this fantasy series about dragons, family, war, warriors, maidens, elves, dwarves, and several other fantastical characters. I know I'm reading a good book when I become a better Spielberg in my own mind than what happens on an actual big screen. This book has been made into a movie. And there is still one more book in the series to be published.

Eragon, a young boy orphaned and given to his uncle as a babe walks directly into the path of nothing more than what seems to be a rock, a beautiful stone of curious workmanship. Thinking it is of some value, he brings it home hoping to sell it to the merchants to make up for a bad hunting trip. Then his life, his journey begins when that rock hatches a dragon, and together they becomes a force to be dealt with by the king Galbatorix and The Varden are seeking their help to free Alagaesia from Galbatorix's evil hand. This troubled, strong-willed boy learns quickly things he had only heard in ancient stories spun by an old story-teller in his village, Brom. Dragons are indeed real, and Galbatorix is indeed very evil, and life is not as simple as crops, hunting and long cold dreary winters.

"He felt like a ghost who had slipped out of the ether.

"Pure joy radiated from Saphira as she climbed into the sky. She loved this freedom to go anywhere. When they were high above the ground, she looked back at Eragon. He saw himself as she did, hanging on to her with a blank look. He could feel her body strain against the air, using updrafts to rise. All her muscles were like his own. He felt her tail swinging through the air like a giant rudder to correct her course. It surprised him how much she depended on it.

"Their connection grew stronger until there was no distinction between their identities. they clasped their wings together and dived straight down, like a speak thrown from on high. No terror of falling touched Eragon, engulfed as he was in Saphira's exhilaration."

This fast adventure story introduced me to a whole new world of fantasy. The idea of creating another world for a character to build and grow was new to me. I loved that Paolini could create in me a desire to create. But even more than that, a desire to read his entire series in just a few months. Thousands of pages that no doubt took him years to write, edit, rewrite and pour over again and again took me a fraction of time to devour and left me wanting more!! I can hardly wait for a release date of the fourth and final book in this series, Shur'tugal. You can find these books just about anywhere, including your local library. Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr.

The only thing that disappointed me was the naming of the books. It was just a tad frustrating to be reading the second and third books not knowing why in the WORLD it was named what it was. You figure that out in the final chapters of each book, excepting only the first book Eragon, which is appropriately named for the main character. Although I don't know that I would have named them anything different. They are named perfectly, and I guess a little suspense won't hurt me.

Enjoy a good read today!!
~Vicki

Books I Just Read...

Okay, this will be quick, I'll add the reviews later.

Cold Mountain.... um, cold, slow, painful.
The Last Lecture.... Wish my dad had written one of these.
The Warrior Heir... Good book, number one of three.
Eragon.... LOVED IT!!

I'll get back to these later.