The Last Song
Restaurant at the End of the Universe is done, and I'm moving on to The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, which was lent to me by my mom. I hope to go back eventually and read the remaining Hitchhiker's Guide novels, but I need to take a break and read something different. I think a change of pace will help me get back into the groove, and that is what I really need right now.
This isn't going to be a long post, as my reading life has unfortunately been slow and unexciting lately...I'm hoping for a book that really captures my interest and attention the way the Percy Jackson series did recently. Nothing else to do but to keep reading.
I Call Mercy!
Okay okay, I need to switch to a new book before I finish this series. Hitchhiker's Guide is good, don't get me wrong - but I think I'm just not in the right place for it or something. I'm having a hard time really getting engrossed in it, and as a result, it is taking me forever to get through. I usually don't spend this much time on one book (or two short ones), so it is actually causing me to get a little frustrated with myself.
I guess that is my poor excuse for the lack of updates. I'm on the second book of the series, Restaurant at the End of the Universe. I can't lie, the novels in the series are good so far and I love Marvin, the Paranoid Android (who doesn't want a robot who reminds them of themselves sometimes?). I really can't explain why I can't get into them. My inner geek (semi-related to my inner fat kid) is really ashamed of me right now. I'm pretty sure she is revoking my passport to Geekdom as we speak.
Thankfully, I have some other really great books lined up to read next, so I'll get started on one of those after I finish up the last 50 pages of this one. Now if you don't mind, I have an inner geek that I need to go show who is boss around here...I hate when she gets all uppity...
Slowly Moving Through the Galaxy
I finally finished the first in the Hitchhiker's Guide series...and it took me a lot longer than usual, despite the short length of the novel. I would love to make up some really great excuses, but I'll restrain myself.
My book pile is growing. I have a lot of books that have been lent to me and a lot of books that have been recommended. I feel really lucky to be surrounded by people who have good literary taste (or at least enough knowledge of my taste not to offend my delicate sensibilities with subpar materials).
A few of the people around me have gotten Kindles. I have been contemplating the pros and cons of owning one, and the greater impacts that the device may or may not have on the publishing industry and traditional books. In the end, I have come to the conclusion that until I can safely use one to read in the bathtub, I'm not interested. Amazon, I look forward to your bubble bath model.
Hitchhiker’s Guide and Lightning on Film
I'm making my way through Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Even though I'm more of a fantasy geek than a sci-fi geek, I have been wanting to read it fro a long time. I'm glad to finally be taking the time out to read it..which actually brings me to my next thought, I haven't been taking as much time out lately to read (and blog) and I really need to get back into the habit.
On the topic of not reading like I'm supposed to be, I went to see the film adaption The Lightning Thief on Friday night. While it was a good movie in its own right, I would really love to know what book the filmmakers read when working on it. I felt like a good deal of the phone was changed without what felt like any good reason. I understand that in adapting a novel into film, there will always be edits that are necessary to tell the story well on the screen. However, a lot of the changes that irked me with The Lightning Thief were changes that made no sense. If something needs to be taken out or altered for clarity or time or to make it more appropriate for a certain demographic - then I can understand that. When the entire middle portion of the novel is drastically changed for no apparent good reason, major characters are missing, "rules" are taken out only to be replaced by rules that make less sense, and a smattering of other awkward changes take place, it is a little distressing for fans of the original work.
Honestly though, I will recommend the movie to my friends and family - I might just tell them to watch the movie first (so it will be properly enjoyed) and then read the book (so they can properly appreciate how much better it is).
Shutter Island…What just happened?
Shutter Island is a good book. It sucked me in, haunted me, and as promised, had an ending that I didn't see coming (which I thought was awesome). I expect to read over the last chapter again off and on the past few days to really soak in the ending. There are a couple different ways that I am interpreting it, and while I enjoy the opportunity to really immerse myself in analyzing the words, I also like to really know what the author intended the ending to be. I tried to Google it and find out earlier (after I finished the book, I promise!) - but I couldn't really find the information I was looking for. I'll have to keep searching!
Finishing Shutter Island means something exciting - starting book #10!
It is getting pretty late, so I won't make this a long one. However, I will say that I'm starting the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams and I'm really looking forward to it. The novels are pretty short, but I got the "Ultimate" edition when I picked it up at Borders and it seems to have some extras in it that I can read to go along with it. I've heard lots of good things about the series, and it is right up my alley, so I'm really expecting to enjoy it! I think it stands a really horrible chance of me not liking it...
Thank Goodness Tomorrow is Friday…
It feels like this week has gone on forever! I finally had a decent chunk of time tonight to sit and read - and ended up reading well over 150 pages and finishing Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson (and now don't have enough time to watch an episode of Lost - oh bother). First, let me say that the text in the novel seems to be a little larger than usual, and a lot of pages have a good deal of white space - so 150 pages is not the feat it really sounds like. Second, I realized why I don't read books like this - no matter what the ending is, I'm still upset that a dog died in the first half. Really? Did the dog need to die? The rest of the sad things are bad enough! I cried when the dog died. Did I mention I was upset about the dog dying? Saying that isn't giving away a major plot point really, so I don't feel bad going on about it.
However, I can see how and why my mom liked it. The story is moving and has a good lesson to teach, even if it is a bit predictable (and at times, a little hokey). Sometimes I guess you just get through rough times by knowing that there will be a little happiness at the end. It is a pretty good way to get through some of the times that seem impossible to make it through.
I'm starting Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane tomorrow so I can hopefully finish it in time to go see the movie when it comes out this month. It comes highly recommended by my friend Sarah, and it does sound really good - so I'm pumped to get started on it - but after my mini-marathon this evening, I think I'm going to give my eyes a break when I go to bed tonight instead of reading a few chapters before turning the light out!
Oh and PS - My friend Sarah lent me The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly - so I can add that to the short list...er...pile... Yay!
2/5/2010 edit: I gave in and started Shutter Island last night before going to sleep...My eyes are angry today.
From Fancy White Trash to Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas
Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling was my book #7 and I just finished it today...which is really amazing, considering I realized season six of Lost started tonight and I'm not even halfway through season five on DVD (thank goodness for DVR). However, it was a great book and well worth reading. There are parts I found frustrating, but I think that comes with the territory when reading young adult novels as an adult (at least for me), I find myself getting annoyed or frustrated when characters make mistakes in the things they do or say that I think are stupid - and then I realize that if I were their age in their situation, I probably might have at least considered doing or saying the same thing.
The book itself revolves around the life of 15-year-old Abby Savage and her best friend Cory. I would have liked a little bit more resolution to some of the things that were mentioned multiple times throughout the book - but perhaps the ending given is better than a tacked-on epilogue or "extra" chapter just to wrap up loose ends. I'd really like to read another book or two about Abby and Cody. Characters really stick with me and I'm always sad to see them go at the end of the book - I think I've said with just about every book I've read that I want to read more about the characters, and it's true!
I have been really lucky so far in that I have enjoyed the time put into reading every book so far. I hope the streak lasts as I venture into book #8, Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson. It is a book that is bringing me outside of my reading comfort zone, but I'm trying to do that throughout the challenge, and it was lent to me by my lovely mom...so I'd like to make her proud and read it!
Time for Book #7
I wrapped up the Percy Jackson series this morning, and I have to say, the series is satisfying, from beginning to end, and I'm not disappointed in it at all. I just hope there will be additional series in the future by Rick Riordan that follow other demigods on their adventures. The fifth book definitely left it open for more series, which makes me very happy!
Now that I've wrapped up the series, I'm stuck on which book to read next. I'd like to pick it and get started tonight - I've got a few books lined up thanks to a mini-spree on Amazon. I swear, that site is evil for book lovers. Evil. It is like going to Target, you can not go in and come out with just one thing. It is mentally and physically impossible. If you try this feat, and by some chance are successful, you are punished by fate by realizing later that you suddenly need something that you didn't buy.
Well anyway, back to my doomed venture on Amazon, I went for one book on hypothyroidism, and ended up with a book on hypothyroidism, and three additional books that have absolutely nothing to do with the topic, but have piqued my interest in the past, but I've never given in and just bought them before. Now I have, and I'm excited to read them all...which leaves me trying to decide which to read...
I have it narrowed down to three books: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson (which my mom lent me, and would be a book I normally wouldn't read), Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (another series), and Fancy White Trash by Marjetta Geerling. There is still the rest of the day to decide. I'm off work today, so I'm off to find an excuse to get out of the house!
One More Adventure with Percy
Then I must move on to a completely new book. I'm a bit sad that I've finished The Battle of the Labyrinth and I'm starting The Last Olympian, because it's the last of the Percy Jackson series. I won't reflect too much on the series as a whole yet, since I'd like to finish it first, but I will say that The Battle of the Labyrinth may be my favorite so far. They have all been great books, though, and I'm glad I saw that trailer for The Lightning Thief that sparked my interest.
Another positive aspect of the series is that without even trying, I've been speeding through the books at a better pace than I think I would normally be keeping. They're extremely hard to put down...Which is really great unless it is 11:30 at night and you have to be up early the next morning for work. I'm not going to own up to how many nights I've stayed up past midnight on work nights just to fit in one more chapter (that usually leads to two or three more).
How do you get a job reading for a living? I must go do research...
I’m Addicted to Percy Jackson
I would also like to say I'm pretty disappointed that there are only five books in the series, too - no more are coming. However, Rick Riordan did say on his website that he may write series revolving around other demigods in the future, so I guess there is always that hope to hold onto. I would personally like to throw out there that a series following Percy as an adult (I'm assuming he lives through the fifth book, being the main character of a young adult series and all - if not, I will have some strong words), or even a series following another demigod with Percy as a secondary character, would be really interesting.
I now have two people I know reading this series, and my plan to spread it around like a bad snot problem in a day care to even more people is developing nicely.
I've finished The Titan's Curse and I'm moving onto The Battle of the Labyrinth tonight before I fall asleep. I'm feeling a bit under the weather, so I'm hoping that I can squeeze in a little bit of quality reading time before I just pass out on the pillow. Wish me luck!
