BOOK #59

I'm not gonna lie. I'm turning fifty in about a month. At the beginning of this year, I was freaked out by it. Not the actual age but the damn number. And I can proudly say I've never been afraid to tell my age. But something about the number is hateful. Once people hear it, in their minds, they are saying 'Oh, god, she's old.' When in reality, it couldn't be farther from the truth. I'm at least fifteen years older than all my friends and yet I'm the busiest and most social of all of them. But, in all fairness, I'm not married nor do I have kids - all I have is my freedom. And my aloneness. So perhaps, I'm only busy because I want to be.

Anyway, being naturally curious, I have started to read a lot of books like these. Life affirming stories about the second half (hopefully!) of my life and what I have to look forward to. I have a few relatives who, already at the age of 50, have clearly given up on life. All they have is their family. They don't socialize, they don't exercise (their brains or their bodies), they don't travel - they seemed to have just stopped growing. Up or out. And that's just not me. Nor will it be.

Some of these stories were sad but most were about starting over (a new marriage, a new habitat, a new job) and I'm no stranger to that. I think 'do-overs' are some of life's best surprise treasures. I think I've lost count on how many times I've gotten a do-over. I actually am in the middle of one now. It's a challenge. It's an adventure.

Don't let anyone tell you life stops at 50. If anything, it starts again.

BOOK #58

Aha! The last in my 'sizzling smut' series and I am sorry there aren't any more. It actually made being alone in bed fun again. Although this was the weakest of the five books, as far as the story goes, the incredible sex scenes were still crazy good.

And really, it's the only reason I was reading them.

BOOK #57

Every once in a while, I read a new author and instantly fall in love with their work. Joe Hill is one of those authors. I read his "Heart Shaped Box" and was hooked from the opening paragraph. He's twisted, he's dark, has a great writing style and an over-worked imagination. Said imagination works out great for him, though. And for his readers, as well.

"Horns" is basically one man's journey after waking up one morning with a growing set of horns. There seem to be many interpretations as to what's really going on in his life - best left up to a book club discussion. But oddly enough, we read this book in book club but there wasn't much of a discussion. It didn't seem to be too though provoking or maybe we just all loved it so there was nothing to discuss. I honestly don't know.

The great thing about Joe Hill's books is that they are always a fast read. And his pace is such that you find yourself thumbing the pages faster and faster to get exactly where he wants you to go. He clearly has a great grasp into what makes a great read. Did he inherit it from his dad, Stephen King? I highly doubt you can inherit something like that. I actually like him more than I do his dad and given he only has two books to his name, I'm looking forward to more in the future.

Highly recommend this book if you like the crazy.