reading

It’s Official; I Have a Book Addiction. Or Is It a Tattoo Addiction?

Angela9 Comments

Okay; it is both.

Yesterday was my 1st of 2 appointments for my latest tattoo. Okay; my 10th tattoo. But is is actually my first tattoo (of more to come) that will be based on the stories I have cherished for as long as I have been reading. Which is a really, really long time.

I wanted to start with Narnia, and I knew it had to be Mr. Tumnus and the lamppost. I also wanted to include my favorite Bible verse (Psalm 119:105), so this was the perfect tattoo to start with.

There are several versions of this Bible verse, but this is exactly how I wanted the wording.
There are several versions of this Bible verse, but this is exactly how I wanted the wording.

It had to be old-school; an image that was in the original book. A little searching had many great ideas. Luckily my long-time tattoo artist is fabulous at drawing what I ask for, so I literally had no idea what this tattoo was going to look like when I walked in yesterday for my appointment. I had absolutely no concerns about how it was going to look.

I only wanted Mr. Tumnus, but I wanted him to be fairly large, instead of drawn into the right side of the image between the lamppost and tree stump.
I only wanted Mr. Tumnus, but I wanted him to be fairly large, instead of drawn into the right side of the image between the lamppost and tree stump.

Mr. Tumnus image

I got the outline and shading done yesterday, and have an appointment in 3 weeks to get the light coloring added in. These are the best pictures I could get, being the only person home and the tattoo reaching from the top of my shoulder to my elbow.

Tattoo on FB post

tattoo 9-26-2015

Do you have any tattoos that show your love of books?

Are You Sure You are Right About What You Are Writing?

AngelaLeave a comment

Or is this just a rite of passage you are trying to get through, and it does not matter if you are right, or wrong?

Because I can write about these (not)interchangeable words all day long, but that does not mean I am right.

Oh. My. Goodness. I am not right-handed, I like to write in my journal, and I have never had to do a rite of passage. And if you would like to get technical, we always have the Wright Brothers. But usually you will see this one as part of a word; such as playwright.

I wish I could give you some great cheats and hints to keep these words straight, but I really have nothing.

If you are writing something, think “W”. If you are correct about something, think “R”.

These seriously have to be some of my least favorite words in the English language.

Your Only Alternative, is to Find an Alternate…

Angela1 Comment

…or you cannot compete in the contest.

Seems easy enough, right? We have a verb, and an adjective. But enough of that boring English lesson stuff. When I have seen these two words interchanged, it is because the writer used the verb as an adjective, and the adjective as the verb.

Some ideas to help all of us out. You can be an alternate in the spelling bee. You can alternate turns of who washes the dishes.

If you do not want to wash the dishes at all, you need to find an alternate, or better yet, come up with an alternative plan. Such as eating out. Then no one is washing the dishes. Well; no one except the employees at the restaurant.

Alternative is a substitution; a different choice besides the one proposed.

Alternate means take turns, and alternative means a different choice.

Catacomb: An Asylum Novel – Madeleine Roux

Angela1 Comment

Book 3 in the Asylum series, this installment was as enjoyable as the first two. You can find my review of Asylum here: https://booksandopinions.com/2015/03/01/asylum-madeleine-roux/

My review of Sanctum can be seen here: https://booksandopinions.com/2015/03/10/sanctum-madeleine-roux/

I apologize for the links not working as they normally do; I need to investigate why my website is having a bad day.

Catacomb cover image

This story picked up with Dan, Abby, and Jordan making one last summer trip before they all head their separate ways for college. It seems as if once again, the troubles they found at Brookline are still following them and not ready to let them live in peace.

If you haven’t read these stories yet, I think they are a great story that is easy to read with lots of action, suspense, and some pretty creepy photographs scattered throughout.

I would love to hear what you thought of any (or all) of them if you have had the chance to read them!

We Were Not All Meant To Be Writers…

Angela7 Comments

…because if it was not for us readers, you would all be working for nothing!

Reading Glasses Image

And that is just my way of saying Thank You to all of the authors who have been so kind to share the stories, the triumphs, the heartbreaks, and the challenges; all with me. Me being someone who wanted nothing more than to read what they had to write.

I look forward to another horrible Winter in West Michigan, with lots of coffee, Earl Grey tea, and great books to keep me comfy!

Write on my friends; write on!

Where Are You Going To Wear That Outfit?

Angela2 Comments

There is a third “ware”, but is generally not used any longer, so I just decided to leave it out of this post. But back in the day, before retail stores were on every corner, people used to go door-to-door to sell their wares.

Now, I have also seen people use we’re when they should have used where, but since that is so far beyond even being related to where, I will discuss that in another post as well.

So what exactly are these two words? One is a verb, and one is an adverb. You can wear something, which is an action, or verb. You can wear a frown, you can wear a jacket, and you can wear your hat.

But you cannot where you hat. Unless if you lost your hat. Then you need to know where your hat is. Where is an adverb. Where is a destination, a place, or somewhere you want to be.

B&O 9-18-2015

Unlucky 13: The Women’s Murder Club – James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Angela4 Comments

Another great installment in The Women’s Murder Club Series, I had this read in a day. And was at Barnes and Noble today to get #14, which was nowhere to be found… 😦

Unlucky 13 Cover Image

Lindsey Boxer is enjoying life as a new wife and mother, but a person from her recent past is determined to put an end to that. Yuki and Brady find themselves experiencing their own nightmare on their honeymoon cruise, and Cindy is set on getting the breaking story of her career. Claire has a smaller role in this story, but the suspense is there, and you will not want to put it down!

Up next, I am reading Catacomb, by Madeleine Roux, book 3 in the Asylum series.

Do You Accept, or Except?

Angela4 Comments

This is another set of words that I see misused often. In news media, magazines, and yes, even in print. Your editor really is your best friend!

Instead of explaining the ridiculous English rules, I try to find ways to help you, and me, remember how to use these words correctly. They are not interchangeable.

Accept means you allow something; you agree; you take it as it is.

Except means “only if”; it is a type of condition you set upon someone or something.

I accept your proposal. I cannot accept this gift.

(If you said “I cannot except this gift”, it would make no sense). 

You can either accept, or not accept, something.

I agree, except for the part where I do not get paid.

Everything looks good, except for your references.

Most of this looks good, but there is an exception. There is a part I do not agree with.

Accept means to agree (mostly), and except means you agree, but for one part.

Unfortunately, they both seem to be interchangeable. The best way I remember is accept means yes, and except means no. It will not work in every situation, but it will work in most.

The White Princess – Philippa Gregory

Angela2 Comments

Although this is normally not the type of story I would pick up and read, once again the sale shelves at Barnes and Noble had me stacking random books into my arms. Now that I have read this one, I need to go find the rest of the stories in “The Cousins’ War” novels.

The White Princess Cover Image

This story is fiction, but it does revolve around facts, and several rumors, about the British Monarchy and how it operated in the very early years. 1400’s early.

Henry Tudor comes to the crown by killing the King, and therefore gets to marry the Princess of York. Because he won the Monarchy through violence, and not being a rightful heir, he begins a life of fear, doubt, and mistrust of everyone around him.

The Queen stands by him through all of this, vowing to always be on his side defending him, whether or not she believes he deserves the crown he stole.

This is a great period drama, and although it took me a bit to get it finished (a week to read a book for me is a long time!), it was well worth the read.

From a Buick 8 – Stephen King

Angela3 Comments

Yes, this is what I was finishing up yesterday. I am not positive on the number, but this has to be at least the 8th time I have read this story. I still pulls me in now the same way it did when I first read it.

From a Buick 8 cover image

I consider this “classic” Stephen King. We tend to hear that a lot, and say it often. We compare stories we read now to the first stories Mr. King wrote. We even try to find the timeline of his “drunk” writing, and his “sober” writing. We want him to explain to us how he dare to write something we did not like.

Have I read stories he wrote that I did not like? Absolutely. But it does not mean it is time to put the pen down and do something else. I read a story that he wrote that literally made me cry, it was romantic and horror all at once. I cannot remember the name of the book, and I do not own it. I just remember a man being in love with a younger woman and she was killed in the end…

From a Buick 8 is intense, supernatural, and all about family and friends. A young man is struggling with the death of his father, and it seems like no one can give him the answers he needs. The answers that will allow him to accept what happened, and move on with his life.

No spoilers here, as usual, but we are talking about a car that showed up out of nowhere, with a driver that disappeared, and became the unfortunate property of Pennsylvania State Police Troop D.

It spit out horrors, and tried to pull them each in. And friendships lasted, friends died, and life moved on, with or without answers that one young man so desperately needed.

If you have read this story, I would love to hear what you thought of it!