BOOK #67

As stated before, I'm slowly working my way through this excellent Travis McGee series. But for some reason, I got stuck on this one. For months. I know I started reading it in like August or September and I just NOW finished it. Which is so unlikely for his books. They are always a fast, well written, well paced, smart mystery thriller. This one was a bit longer than his previous books and the scenario changed about 3 times so that was a bit off putting for my attention span.

By the time, I got back to it, I had no idea what was going on but finished it anyway. These are the kinds of books you find in someone's fishing cabin and once you pick them up, you can't put them down. Thank god for PaperBackSwap as I can find most of the collection on there.

They are a must read series for anyone trying to read all the books you MUST read before you die. John D MacDonald is the one author all the rest of today's authors wish they could write like.

BOOK #66

Even in 2010, I find there is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a clean, good vibed, warm, charming home. Some days, it gets away from me but mostly, I do OK. And I believe in magick. All kinds. This book mostly talks about feng shui (the art of keeping good energy flowing through the house) and charms and recipes for keeping the house 'alive.' There wasn't a whole lot of new information for me. I already smudge my house about twice a month and keep things alive and charming with books, plants and animals.

But I did enjoy her section on crystals and the power that can be unleashed in the home and on unsuspecting people. So beware!!

book #65

I found this author when I saw work on one of Isaak Mizrahi's webisodes. She was enthusiastic and funny and helpful. This sat on my shelf for a while, I believe. And then I dragged it out when it was time to make myself feel better. I had no idea she was one of the "Housewives of Wherever".

Her theory is all about a little bit of this, a little bit of that but never alot of any one thing. Really makes sense. Just a more creative way of talking about portion control. She has some great recipes in here, as well.

I think this is a good book for anyone looking to change their way of eating enough to make a difference but nothing to make them feel like they are dieting. I enjoyed it.

BOOK #64

Ooh, such a source of controversy in my book club! Two of us loved it. Everyone else HATED it. Found it stupid and ridiculous and a waste of time. One of the members used the pages to wrap a Christmas gift. And you know I love it when this kind of drama goes down in book club. It's healthy for the book club to hate something every now and then.

I'm infamous for rarely hating any book. I figure anyone who actually gets a book published deserves some sort of credit. I do get angry at myself for getting sucked in to read an over-hyped book that doesn't deliver (hello Jonathan Franzen's "Corrections") and will hate a book for that reason.

I liked this book because it was such a dramatic departure from anything I had ever read. Was it well written? Probably not. It jerked around from scenario to scenario that I found skimming his words the best way to keep up with the story. He was a metaphor happy kind of author which, as a hobbyist writer, I found amusing yet annoying. Enough, already! We get it, you have a good grasp of the English language. Less is more, dude. Less.is.more.

I picked it for book club as I had heard more than once that it was fantabulous. And it fit our criteria of dark and twisted and batshit crazy. Which it was. But for all the wrong reasons.

Sorry, I can't recommend this to anyone. I gave it 3 bookmarks.

BOOK #63

As of late, I am drawn to books about being single and happy. There seem to be very few. This was a GREAT book for feeling empowered about being single and happy. So many people STILL find this to be impossible. And I don't mean the single people, I mean the unhappy married ones!

There are lots of us that LIKE being single - whether it's our choice or not. Which, in the end, is really OUR choice. Either consciously or subconsciously. I am perfectly happy staying up till 2 a.m. playing gin (albeit with my iPad) or having chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. For me, marriage always seems like a foreboding, restrictive, unhappy way to live. But again, depends upon the person you're tied to.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone having a hard time being single or looking for some good comeback lines to the never ending question ' why aren't you married?'. My answer has always been 'because I'm smarter than most!'