books...

ah.

books.

i'm one of those pathetic people that gets so wrapped up in fictional worlds i could forget to be present in my own.

  i want to start 'reviewing' more of my books here.

whacha think?

  so,

it is rare i find a book i can actually dislike.

therefore, my rating system would throw a high school teacher into despair.

this is how i'm gonna work it.

5*****= LOVE! on my favorites list.

4****= very good, i recommend it.
3***= good book.
2**= eh. take it or leave it.

1*= it stinks.

a note: though i try to read mostly clean books i do have a tolerance for stuff in books that i NEVER would in movies.

for some reason it's not near as bad in my imagination as when depicted on screen!

so a few i just finished:

Water for Elephants: ****.

by sara gruen

i really liked it.  it kept my interest, i loved the setting/time period.

cursing/ some sexual situations but nothing explicit/violence.

read it.

i can't wait to see the movie!

The Forgotten Garden:****

by kate morton.

a really fun book.
interesting storyline.

set in australia/england from turn of the century to modern day, follows a family of women through a maze of hidden secrets.

very clean.

the Secret Life of Bees***

by sue monk kidd

this was a good book.

very well written.

the story line?

eh. it was good.

the writing?

fabulous.

deep south issues set around the civil rights era.

i don't believe there was anything bad in it, but i honestly don't recall.

it was a whole month or so ago.

i do remember some voo-dooish element amongst some characters.

okay so now?

my list to read this summer!

1. Mocking Jay and Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins.

her first book in the series,

the Hunger games *****

was so good, that i am proud i refrained from rushing out to buy these next 2.

they are set in the future (not usually my cuppa), and are geared towards teens.
kind of a survivor meets the olympics.
but with death and gore.
like a train wreck, horrific but you can't stop looking.
but really good.
really.

2. the Galway Chronicles Series

by Brock and Bodie Thoene.

because it takes place in Ireland.

hello.

and i'll probably start it, not finish all the books.

3.  Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

cuz everyone says i should.

but no,
not jumping off any bridges here.
cuz i'm also a big wimp.

4. the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova.

because it was a quarter at a yard sale.

brand new.

hmmm...

maybe that should tell me somethin'?

i'm not sure what it's even about but it is by my bedside to start.

nevermind. read the back.  scary vampireness.
not light and sweet like Twilight sounding either.
into the 'sell' bag it goes...

5. Reread To Kill a Mockingbird

because for some reason i can't recall it from highschool(?!)

seriously.
i remember nearly all, but that one?
is it possible maybe i thought i read it and didn't?
seriously not too sure now...

eta:  i forgot that i've been trying to get into Winds of War  by Herman Wouk.
i'm about 1/4 way through, not getting really involved for some reason.

and also,

6. the Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott is on my list!

k girls, anything else i should add?

i should say i will also be reading some non fiction mixed in there!

  i'll keep ya posted!

and rating away:)

God Bless,

 Mandy

p.s. i never have spelled recommend right the first try.

that's all.

weekend away...

this is generally the only kind of shots of me on these trips...

and the ones of honey always seem to say"you are lucky i adore you so much mandy or that camera would be swimming with the seals"

yes, my 9 year old is a pyro in the making.

perhaps my nagging him every 2.5 seconds will help his wisdom in the future. 

no?

i think i heard "i know mom (insert eye roll)" every 3 seconds.

it rained.

just the drizzly kind.

it was perfect.

when i come into the money i'm buying a house on the Southern Oregon coast.

just don't hold your breaths.

God Bless,

Mandy