reading

Happy Father’s Day to my Favorite Reader!

AngelaLeave a comment

I think one of the things that makes me so happy about the relationship I have with my Dad, (and there are many), is that I can buy him books, and he does not roll his eyes at me. I buy him books for Christmas, of series that I have read, and I know he will enjoy. And since we get hard winters here in Michigan, he has a lot of time to read.

Last Christmas it was Percy Jackson. He tried to give the books back to me, but I had to explain to him that I already had all of those books. So he donated them to the library in his very small town, and the Librarian was so happy, she hugged him 🙂 Which makes me feel even more happy!

So this year it is Harry Potter. I already told him he was getting them, and that once he starts, he will not put them down.

They get snowed in; a lot; so they have weeks at a time where they know they are not getting out of their driveway. He seemed a little intimidated when I told him each successive book is longer than the last, but I know he will love them.

And then I get to look forward to the phone conversations, and the visits, and the conversations about all things books, which makes me more happy than anything!

So here’s to you Dad, and our future Harry Potter conversations. And well beyond that, Thank You for ALWAYS being my rock, my support, my ear to bend, my bail-her-out-of-whatever-jam-she-got-into.

I am truly Blessed, and love you for it!

Do You Still Read “Real” Books?

Angela25 Comments

At least, that is what I was asked. I am pretty sure that they were referring to e-books versus physical books, but I did have to chuckle. I always swore I would never have an e-reader, and only read “real” books.

I also could not count the number of books; really, really good books, that I have read that were only in an electronic format. I would not have had the opportunity to read those books if I completely relied on printed books.

Now, I also still have every intention of having a library in my home when I have the spare room available for it. I could think of nothing I would enjoy more than a comfortable chair, a soft light, fluffy rug, warm fireplace, and every wall full of bookcases stacked with books. My favorite books, the classics, and books I have not read yet.

One of my favorites!
One of my favorites!

I certainly have a good start on the bookcases and books. Now I just need the room.

Where do you keep all of your books? Or have you decided to go the e-reader way to save yourself some room?

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon – Stephen King

AngelaLeave a comment

I was told by a few of you that I would love this book, and you were right! This was definitely along the lines of classic Stephen King, and it has set me on a new mission: to read all of the older Stephen King books that are seldom talked about and I have somehow not yet managed to read.

B&N 6-10-2015 006

As a side note; I still like “From a Buick 8” the best. I am going to have to pay close attention the next time I read it, which will be soon, to see if I can figure out what exactly it is about that one story in particular that makes me like it so much!

Trisha McFarland goes from being a normal 9 year old girl, with an irritating older brother, and parents who just divorced, to suddenly fighting for her life when she gets lost in the woods. Having a 10 year old daughter myself, I was often wondering what she would do and how she would handle each new situation that Trisha encountered as she walked for miles, trying to find her way out of the woods.

The one thing that saves Trisha’s sanity, at least for the most part, is listening to the Boston Red Sox on her Walkman, and telling herself that when Tom Gordon gets the save, it means she will get saved. This is classic Stephen King all over the place, but how much of it is in Trisha’s scared, starved, exhausted mind, and how much of it is really out there in the woods, watching her?

If you like Stephen King, you will enjoy this story. At less than 300 pages it is a quick read, and the only thing I did not like about it was that the chapters were so very long! I like to try to stop reading at the end of a chapter, but sometimes I just couldn’t because they were so long. I would have to put it down about halfway through a chapter, and then skim through the page before when I picked it up to refresh myself on what was happening since I was in the middle of something big going on in the story line.

I have already started Stephen King’s new story, Finders Keepers, but this one will be a bit longer of a read. I am still trying to get my blog in top-notch working order so I can attach my store, and I do have to go back to work tomorrow!

May your Sunday be full of great stories!

Why Is This So Difficult?

Angela6 Comments

I am still fine tuning some things using WordPress.com for Business. I am pleased with the variety of things I can do with my theme, and I have access to all of the WordPress themes. Which is way more options than anyone needs!

But for some reason I was able to get my store attached and functioning before I switched my theme. I found a theme I like that has multiple menus and also allows me to post videos and have a store; everything I am looking for. But I am having some issues navigating around, and I hope it is strictly due to me being a bit tired today.

Because I only have about 6 more free days of figuring out if I want to keep the Business account before I get hit with the hefty yearly fee they are going to charge me for using their Business platform.

So I think it is time to get my cat, turn on Netflix, and watch Once upon a Time reruns in my bedroom and hope for a good night’s sleep. I will be back at it tomorrow, hopefully with more success than I have had today.

I am currently without a book to read, so I am going to go through the list of books you all suggested for my summer reading and start getting some of them.

More to come, and thanks for your patience! You are likely to see a different theme or two on a daily basis until I find just the right one!

It’s Time To Change Things Up; Again!

Angela4 Comments

Or at least I am going to try to get some things changed on this site. The last time I tried to move over to Bluehost, I lost all of my followers, my posts; pretty much everything.

So I was thrilled to see that WordPress has a business site that means I do not need to move my domain and blog.

Okay, it is a bit pricey per year, but after the stress I went through when I tried this the last time, I am more than willing to hand over the cash to save me any headaches I would again cause myself by attempting to do this on my own.

I used to be computer-savvy: not any more.

So do you use WordPress.com/business? I hope if you do, you have wonderful things to say about it 🙂

I will likely be spending some time this weekend getting things set up exactly how I want, and with a 2 week free trial period, I can’t go wrong. If I don’t like the way it works, I can just go back to what I am doing now until I find something else. I am going to have to change my theme (which I really like!) because it will not support the menus and pages I want to add. So you will be seeing a new, polished Books & Opinions page very soon!

To Kill a Mockingbird T-Shirt; Quote!

Angela4 Comments
To Kill a Mockingbird T-shirt
To Kill a Mockingbird T-shirt

I have a t-shirt forthcoming from Teespring, and I will show it to you as soon as it arrives 🙂 Which leads me to the reason I received an email about the T-shirt above, and I am sure I will continue receiving these emails until I figure out how to get myself removed from their mailing list. With that being said, I love “To Kill a Mockingbird“, and I adore this quote from Atticus Finch. The t-shirt I am waiting for is also based on “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Teespring is a site where you can design and have your t-shirts made. You can check them out here: http://teespring.com/

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – L Frank Baum

AngelaLeave a comment

Those of you who have been following my blog for a while know that “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” holds a special place in my heart! First published in May of 1900, the book is celebrating its 115th anniversary.

photo courtesy of history.com
photo courtesy of history.com

The movie adaption was released in 1939, and is a timeless classic, also thought to have been viewed more than any other movie released to date (history.com). I have read the book enough, and watched the movie enough, that yes; I can recite the movie from beginning to end.

photo courtesy of history.com
photo courtesy of history.com

I have read all of the books in the series, but never enjoyed any of the others as much as I love “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” For a book to be 115 years old, and still read anew by young readers is a testament to the wonderful quality of this story. It really does reach hearts both young and old alike.

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Over You – Christine Kersey

AngelaLeave a comment

This was a fun, quick read that I really enjoyed. Labeled as a romance/suspense novel, it delivered as promised.

Over You cover image

Jessica Stevens has just broken up with her boyfriend Alex, after he was seen out to dinner and kissing another woman. Needing to get away, she goes and stays at her favorite Aunt’s house. Running into Kyle, her ex-fiancé, was the last thing she had expected, or wanted. Having him remodeling her Aunt’s house had her seeing him much more than she wanted to.

Kyle seems to have a girlfriend, and Alex can’t stay away from Jessica. He knows he made a mistake, and wants to make it right. Not being able to figure out her own personal life and feelings, Jessica begins investigating a mystery that seems to have taken place in her Aunt’s house. 50 year old love letters start Jessica on a hunt for answers that may come with a price she doesn’t want to pay.

I do not want to give away any spoilers to this story, but I certainly recommend you read this if you like romance or suspenseful stories. Free of profanity and sexual content, there are no worries here about having to struggle through awkward sex scenes that seem to be very difficult for anyone to get right.

There is a sequel to this story, called Second Chances. which I have purchased. Over You is free where e-books are sold. I am currently reading another story, and have another one I will be starting today as well. The review for second chances will be posted in the near future.

Second Chances cover image

Have you read Christine Kersey before? Let me know what you thought. She has several novels and I will be choosing some of her other works as well.

For more information on Christine and purchasing her books, please visit her website here: http://christinekersey.com/

The Life & Times of an Incorrigible – G.M. Roberts

Angela14 Comments

GM Roberts Cover ImageG.M. Roberts tells a straight-forward story of his life, in the first-person, from his birth, his lack of enthusiasm for learning, school, or being to what to do, to his Military career, his marriage, and what he did after he was once again a civilian.

I’ve not heard very many people say they wanted to go to Vietnam during the war. Okay, I have never heard of anyone saying that. G.M. was most comfortable in the Military. He may not have always been able to have the job or position he wanted, but it was certainly the career he was meant to have.

Civilian life was not all it is cracked up to be for G.M. He had a career, and people contacting him to work and teach for them, but after losing his Emy to cancer, nothing was important anymore.

This story had me laughing out loud, and feeling great sadness. The story about the sloth still has me cracking a smile. The descriptions of the rappel demonstrations will not soon be forgotten. G.M. certainly knew how to have fun no matter what he was required to do.

Life lessons are shared throughout the story, and are lessons that can fit anyone, in any situation. They are not cliché, or redundant, or untimely. They are important. G.M. questions the influence he had on the many troops who he trained, mentored, taught, and watched both come and go in the Army. I think it is safe to say he likely influenced and helped more people than he could ever realize.

This was a very smooth, easy read for me. It was like talking to a relative, and listening to their stories of what their life was like, the things they experienced, and how it helped shape their life. I highly recommend this story, especially if you are a veteran, currently serve in the Military, or are somehow connected to someone who is.