Staying Up All Night To Finish A Book!

Ok, that is kind of misleading as I didn't stay up all night to finish these books! Only because I had to go to work the next morning, not because I didn't want to finish!! OH MY GOODNESS!!
Loved these books...they were both so well written and kept you in suspense!
Good job, David Baldacci with The Innocent and James Patterson with Guilty Wives.
I have read these authors before and have enjoyed their work immensely.

Marcia Clark's new job!

Don't know if you all remember the OJ Simpson trial? Of course we do...so the Marcia Clark
in that trial is now an author...good new job for her!! I hope she makes lots of money and writes many many books! I have definitely enjoyed the two I have read so far....
Perhaps this week I will get back to the library...Mom in serious condition...in nursing home and not doing well at all..I know this is to be a blog about reading but my heart is hurting and this is a safe place to talk about this..I HATE the fact I have to watch my mother die by inches. I am trying to stay strong especially in front of her but I want to tell her that I can't do without her and that I love her so very much and I want to do more things with her and have more days with her as my friend. I do tell her that I love her but I can not and will not try to make her feel guilty for her decisions. She and my father have both said they do not want heroic measures taken. They feel they have lived long and full lives and when they can not function and take care of themselves, that is not quality of life. They have always said they are not afraid to die as their faith is strong and they know they will live with Jesus for eternity. I am so grateful they do have the faith in God that they do and I love them so very much for living their faith all their lives for their children to see.
Mom is 88 and fell one night. She hurt herself very badly and less than 10 days later she had a stroke. Now she is in a nursing home and is not eating or drinking much at all. Her daily intake of food each day has been a couple bites of fruit and some sprite and some coffee! She is very weak of course.
Today I noticed she has increasing jaundice. She tells me that she feels full all the time. She has chosen to drink unthickened drinks since her stroke. She has some swallowing issues but the thickened liquid is really not very thirst quenching. It has been explained to her that she has increased risk for pneumonia by drinking regular liquids, but she says she wants what tastes good. And I respect her wishes. It really is a matter of choosing quality over quantity at this point and I feel I would rather her drink something that satisfies her thirst rather than offering something that tastes nasty and causes her not to drink at all!!
My Dad is 86 and has dementia. He entered the nursing home last December because he was falling quite frequently. He is a very large man, 6'3" and about 200 lbs (he has lost about 50-60 pounds). Mom is 4' 9" and 119 lbs. So she was having great difficulty in the caregiving of Dad at home. Some times Dad knows that Mom is not doing well and then there are times he doesn't recognize her. (That breaks my heart, they have been married 66 years!).
I have been so blessed and thank God that he gave me the parents He did. They are amazing people and have been such a good influence in so many peoples lives. I know God loves them more than I do.
As my Mother has been praying "God's will be done." Amen.

Another Really Great Author

I finished the book by Bebe Moore Campbell...72 Hour Hold..
I loved and hated this book. I loved it because it was so well written that it felt like you were there
with a good friend. I hated it for the same reason. What people go through with the bipolar mental disease is amazing. What it does to families is horrible. I felt her pain so much through this book.
As a mom, I don't know how you have the strength to deal with a child with this problem. The sad thing is that medicine helps them so very much but after they are on the meds, then they feel there is nothing wrong and they don't need the meds any more....what a vicious cycle!!
I will be reading more of her works...
Enjoy my friends enjoy!

I stayed up to finish this book!

New author for me! Started and finished the book in one evening after work! Needless to say, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading her others.
Drusilla Campbell is the author of "the edge of the skye" . This is the book I read.
She has also written "Blood Orange" and "Wildwood".

AND the 3rd book in the The Walk series is out!!!!! I am so excited. I really want to check out
all three at the same time so I can re-read the first two and then read the third. Author --Richard Paul Evans.

I have books by 2 other new authors waiting on my reading....I have 2 books by Marcia Clark
"Guilt by Degree" and "Guilt by Association"
and then there is "72 Hour Hold" by Bebe Moore Campbell.....think I will start that one tonight!
Will keep you posted on how I liked them..pun intended!

and I am back....

I have definitely read many, many books since July. My life has been so busy and stressful at times that I read and don't think about recording authors and what I like about them for future reading. Oh well. This is a post for myself mainly so guess it really doesn't matter....
  I am currently reading Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig and I have to say, I am enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would. Presents a very different view of Rhett  and makes him much more likeable. It hasn't been a fast read but I will finish the book.

  I have also read A Reliable Wife by Goolrick ....have forgotten his first name already. I enjoyed this book very much. Had another of his checked out of the library and when it came up for renew, I had to return it
as someone else had requested it...So will try to remember to get it again..

Not on Vacation!

I have not posted in such a long time...not because I was on vacation and not because I haven't been reading. I have been very disinterested in posting about my reading....rather spend time reading than talking about my reading. So I probably will quit this....don't know if it will slowing fade away or linger in cyber-purgatory............see ya!

A long time since I posted about any books...have read, just haven't posted.
Have to tell you about the latest book I have read...an amazing book...one picked from the library by my Mother. She said she thought I would like and yes I did. Want to read more by this author..
A side note before I give you the book name...I love the fact that I find out about books from my Mother and my daughter!! They both read different books than I would pick out and I get some really good books that way. So thanks so very much!
Ok Ok!!
Healing Waters by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn...."for every woman struggling with self-worth"
Had some very good "quote for the day" type statements in the story...
"Am I a Christian the way ....thinks of herself as a Christian? No, I am not. Do I take myself before the Lord Jesus Christ every day and ask Him to show me how to live that day? Yes, I do!!
So read this for yourself and enjoy!

A Good Read and Worthy of a 2nd!

The Rules of Life, Expanded Edition: A Personal Code for Living a Better Life
Richard Templar
This is an amazing book...and one I read on my Nook!! I will definitely be going back to re-read certain pages and probably the entire book by the time I am done! Such good advice and common sense....why haven't I been doing this ALL my life?! To be honest, I have had some of the rules as my guide but so many I need to be very aware of and how living with these rules will have a positive effect on my life!!!

Can't get into this one!

A Southern Family  by  Gail Godwin   Cannot seem to get into this book and also have this feeling that I have read it before......so I am giving it a pass....

I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass    enjoyed this, ??have read it before??? but the ending kind of left you hanging or was really different than expected....
guess I am having trouble being entertained by books right now!
Will get back into books after a while I am sure....Later

Oh What a Wonderful Way with Words!!

The Author Kate Morton...what a storyteller!! I just finished The Distant Hours and it has so many twists and turns....I had thought her first book I had read would be my favorite The Forgotten Garden BUT I have to say this last one I have read kept me reading and reading and still surprised me!

Some quotes from this book to encourage "writers"...There are stories everywhere and that people who wait for the right one to come along before setting pen to paper end up with very empty pages. That is all writing is, apparently, capturing sights and thoughts on paper.
and the best quote ever for writers..."Write what is in your heart because you must, because it pleases you, but never because you want someone else to like what you have said!"

A long time waiting....

I have not posted in a very long time...have read some books but did not post about them. What can I say?
Depression has been rampant this winter...and to be truthful, haven't read all that many books.
My latest reads are: two more Kate Morton books, The Forgotten Garden is still my favorite so far.
Have finished The House at Riverton and did enjoy this book, was very interesting. Am currently reading
The Distant Hours and am enjoying this one very much.
Read Barbara Delinsky's Escape, and that was good but not what I expected, the ending kind of left you hanging.
Olivia Goldsmith's Dumping Billy was a fun read.
Now I need to get back to reading!

My Eyes are Blurry

Oh my are my eyes blurry....too much reading, or reading too long?
The first book I want to write about is a new author to me and one I will be reading more of her works.
Kate Morton and The Forgotten Garden   The book was a good read but one that was a little difficult to follow as she wrote about 3 different generations. Did not expect the ending! And that is always a good read. She has one other book The House at Riverton. Hopefully that will be as enjoyable as the first I read. Back to the library...

Phillippa Gregory The Lady of the Rivers    Another new author and another very good book. I do enjoy reading about the court life in the times of early England and the War of the Roses in the 1400's. I am amazed and intrigued at life in those times. I always remind myself that I would have been one of the peasants or serving wenches, not one of the royalty. And in those times, not sure which life would have been the hardest.

Jill Marie Landis    Summer Moon   Once I got into this book, I realized I had already read it but didn't remember how it ended, so read it again. So guess it is a re-read, but won't be again. Unless I forget again that I have already read this twice now! lol  This is an "escape" book.

I am also working on a workbook to help with my depression....

Oh Yes....Let me tell you...

Let me tell you about this book!
Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives  by Dr. Laura Schlessinger

There are SO many things in this book...should be required reading for pre-teen/teenager females before
they start any relationship!! I kept writing pages down that I wanted to post a comment about...and then
I decided instead of writing the book again, I would just recommend this book to anyone who reads this blog.
Just a little view of what I mean...pg 6 second paragraph  pg 7 When the French say pg9 Carol Tarvis  Lord Byron pg 11 last paragraph pg 17 pg 21 second paragraph .....see what I mean? Just read the book for yourself,
it is a good one!!

Alotta Books Read

Have read quite a few books and haven't posted any...have to keep up or I will be repeating books again!
The Wedding Quilt   Jennifer Chiaverini     good book, easy read
Love Come to Me Lisa Kleypas   a "no thinking" book...it was ok
Parenting the Office  Davidhoffs....ummmm quite a few interesting perspectives on employee/employer relationships...as well as siblings...wanted to copy a few to give to our office manager. (I did refrain :)).
Never Be Lied to Again   David Lieberman    yeah right!
The Burning Soul   John Connolly    good book, I have read most of his...

The BEST!!  The Hunger Games   Catching Fire  Mockingjay   Suzanne Collins
OH MY GOODNESS!! These books were written for "youth" readers....wow! Really looking forward to the movies (hopefully the movie doesn't ruin the book (s)) Hope to go with my daughter to see the movie.. there are some aspects of the movie I dread ..(I am so bad about "visual" versus mental).
If you haven't read these books....what you waiting on?? Hard to put down...will re-read but not right away.

Got a Nook from my husband but haven't gotten into the reading on the reader yet...part of it is that I am "cheap" and haven't bought any books to read on it...so the "free" books that are offered and loaded are not
my choices. Guess I need to find a book I want to buy and try it then..

The Hunger Games

Oh wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is an amazing book.....can't wait to read the next ones.....perhaps that is why
sales are good.....library has NO books to lend....the "hold" list is RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
guess I have to decide if I want to buy or wait...............hmmmm...guess if I buy, I can lend?
that is a thought...will contemplate for a while.......

A Bigger List

It has been a while since I have posted about the books I have read....didn't read for awhile due to stressors in my life that kept me from focusing on anything! Enough of that!
Books I have read in the last few days:
2 by Elin Hilderbrand and 2 by Kristin Hannah
The Castaways and Barefoot are both enjoyable reads. Elin is definitely an author I will be reading for pleasure.
True Colors and Winter Garden are very very good reads. True Colors, I enjoyed but related to perhaps a bit more than I liked! Winter Garden made me sad but glad....this is a book I will probably read again.
Next on my list is one by Tom Clancy  Against All Enemies.....I plan to begin this one tonight. I have had it long enough I can not renew it from the library again....as this is a very long book 700+ pages, perhaps I should not start it and check it out again at a later date.
Part of my "problem" is that my husband bought me a Nook....I can't decide if I like it or not...so far just going with the "free" Friday downloads so I don't have anything I personally have chosen to read. Time will tell.