The Real Poop...

 

Bear with me here. This blog is about not only reading, but things that make my list.  One thing that is always on my list is how to make my bathroom smell better. I mean, I live with two little boys and one big boy. I clean my bathrooms everyday. I cannot imagine not doing this. I don't know if they close their eyes when they pee, but that stuff happens to get everywhere. Then it dries up and you have to scrub, scrub, scrub to remove it. I use lots of bleach and Lysol.

Pee is one thing, but poop is another. No matter what you spray, it never quite removes the smell.  I happened to be flipping through channels a few weeks ago and found myself watching QVC where they were selling this stuff called Poo-Pourri. 

"Poo~Pourri is not a chemical cover up! Based on aromatherapy principles, a squirt or two into the bowl forms a protective layer of essential oils that prevents nasty smells from showing up in the first place." 

People were calling in and saying how much it works; yada, yada, yada. I checked the QVC reviews and it got 5 star reviews that were mostly positive. So I decided to purchase some.  I got the 4 bottle set and it cost me $30.00 with shipping and tax. Expensive, but one bottle has over 100 uses and if it makes my bathrooms smell great, then it would be worth it.  The boys eagerly awaited the shipment in the mail...

Verdict is... it works! I mean really works. It is made from essential oils, so it smells like lemon or lavender or mint or whatever. Not that fake floral of a bathroom spray. Directions say 4-6 sprays, however through some experimentation, we have found that 3 sprays does the trick. 

 http://poopourri.com/

I will repurchase.  

The next "bathroom" related thing on my list is my own bathroom. A girl can wish...

New Toy... and some books!

Since I decided not to fly to Florida and run a half-marathon until my stress fracture is completely healed, I had some money burning a hole in my pocket. So I decided to buy a tablet. You see, I was the only tablet-less person in my house. Husband has a Nook Color, DS #1 has a Kindle Fire and DS #2 has an Ipad.  Frankly, they are not good at sharing their electronic devices.

I love my new tablet. It was so easy to set up as I have an android phone with a Google account. All I needed to do was enter my Google info and every app that I had purchased on my phone magically appeared on my tablet.

My favorites are of course the Overdrive App (which allows you to borrow books from the library collection for free) and the Amazon Kindle App (which now contains my entire e-book library).

I love the fact that I can check my e-mail and even blog without up having to start up the computer.

Onto books. I read some good ones over the past few weeks, one was actually really great!



When sheltered American good girl Allyson "LuLu" Healey first meets laid-back Dutch actor Willem De Ruiter at an underground performance of Twelfth Night in England, there’s an undeniable spark. After just one day together, that spark bursts into a flame, or so it seems to Allyson, until the following morning, when she wakes up after a whirlwind day in Paris to discover that Willem has left. Over the next year, Allyson embarks on a journey to come to terms with the narrow confines of her life, and through Shakespeare, travel, and a quest for her almost-true-love, to break free of those confines. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:
Loved this one. Exceptional. Great writing. Highly developed characters. Lots of growth. I wish that I could have traveled as an 18 year old girl. Paris was beautifully written. Cannot wait for the second book, which is written from Willem's point of view. Don't let this one pass you by.






 Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door. (Description from http://www.goodreads.com)

My thoughts:
I really loved Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins and was excited to read this one. I did not know that the stories would be connected; as Anna and St. Clair made an appearance.  It is such a cute, fun story with a quirky girl and a pretty desirable boy next door. I will read anything by Stephanie Perkins and am looking forward to the final companion story, Isla and the Happily Ever After which will be published later this year.


 





 

There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.(Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

I happened to be looking in the Kindle store and found this book for $0.99 and it had good reviews. I liked it more than I thought I would.  It is a New Adult Contemporary which would be appropriate for older teens (17 and up) due to mature sexual situations. The book was kind of addicting and difficult to put down.  Both of the main characters, Callie and Kayden deal with some heavy stuff; they are broken and they have a lot of secrets. Chapters alternate between the two characters and it is very clear who is speaking. Their pain is both pronounced and subtle at the same time.  The story had a nice pace...until the end. Cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. I need the sequel now!

Book Review: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

 

I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.

Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her.

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club . . . and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer. (Description from http://www.amazon.com).

My thoughts:

My best "Adult" book pick for 2012 was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Previously to Gone Girl, Gillian wrote two novels, Sharp Objects and Dark Places.  I happened to find Dark Places on the paperback shelf at my library, so I decided to read to see if her previous novels were as good (or better) than Gone Girl.

Libby is the only survivor of a horrific murder that killed her mother and two sisters. Her brother Ben was incarcerated as the killer, due to Libby's testimony.  Libby obviously suffers from various post-traumatic stress issues and happens to get involved in a secret society called "The Kill Club," whose members are obsessed with crimes. With the promise of payment, she will reconnect with her brother and find out what exactly happened that night.

Dark Places, for me, was just as good as Gone Girl. Loved it. Yes, it was another disturbing novel from Gillian Flynn, but oh so satisfying. One that I could not put down. I don't know exactly what is it about her writing that keeps me on the edge of my seat, but it does and I enjoy it.

Gillian Flynn does an amazing job of alternating between characters (Libby, her mom and her brother); both in the present day and in flashback. Never once did I need to go back and find out who was speaking, it was that clear.  All of her characters are rich and complex. The ending was satisfying because as so many times in life, things are never perfect.

If you are looking for a deep, dark and disturbing novel this would fit the bill. I love that in the end notes the author acknowledges her twisted thoughts by writing  "What do I say to a man who knows how I think and still sleeps next to me with the lights off?" Love it!

Anxious to read Sharp Objects and anything else that she writes in the future!

Book Review: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

 

Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he’s seen and about his friends Stella, an elderly elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. But mostly Ivan thinks about art and how to capture the taste of a mango or the sound of leaves with color and a well-placed line.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home—and his own art—through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it’s up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan’s unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope.(Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

I placed The One and Only Ivan on hold when I read that there was some Newbery buzz around the book (awards will be announced the last weekend in January at the ALA Midwinter meeting). Upon further review, it earned a lot of starred reviews and numerous places on "Best of 2012" lists.  The book has been compared to Charlotte's Web, which is a classic and a favorite of mine, so is a must read.

All in all it was a great book, for big kids and little kids alike.  As soon as I finished it, I stuck it in our library book bag and raved about it. I will be interesting to see who picks it up first and hopefully it will not spark some kind of battle as everything else seems to these days.

Based on a true story, Ivan is a gorilla who is living a primarily solitary life with a few friends; Stella the elephant, stray dog Bob, and Julia the caretaker's daughter.  Ivan's situation is so sad and he is just so sweet. Katherine Applegate really makes you feel Ivan's depression and humility the beginning of the story.  It isn't until the arrival of a new elephant named Ruby that challenges Ivan to turn his and her world around.  He had made Stella a promise and he intends to keep it. You then feel his determination and finally, happiness.

The book contains many short chapters and choppy writing. But it makes sense in this story. It is a first person narrative from the gorilla's viewpoint. Some people might find this off-putting, but I found it charming.  That being said, it probably would make a great read-aloud. Publisher states that book is for ages 8+ with a grade level of 3 and up, but I think younger kids would enjoy it read aloud.

Highly emotional and bittersweet, this book would make a great bedtime story or read-aloud. If you are an animal lover you will love this book.  If you have a heart, you will love this book.

Book Review: Flesh and Bone by Jonathan Maberry

Reeling from the devastation of Dust & Decay, Benny Imura and his friends plunge deep into the zombie-infested wastelands of the great Rot & Ruin. Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong journey through a fierce wilderness that was once America, searching for the jet they saw in the skies months ago. If that jet exists then humanity itself must have survived…somewhere. Finding it is their best hope for having a future and a life worth living.
But the Ruin is far more dangerous than any of them can imagine. Fierce animals hunt them. They come face to face with a death cult. And then there’s the zombies—swarms of them coming from the east, devouring everything in their paths. And these zoms are different. Faster, smarter, and infinitely more dangerous. Has the zombie plague mutated, or is there something far more sinister behind this new invasion of the living dead?
One thing Benny and his companions can’t afford to forget: In the great Rot & Ruin, everything wants to kill you. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)


My thoughts:

• I went into this book thinking it was the final book in a trilogy. But no! I read in the author's forward that this series is a quadrology! I have never heard that expression before.  

•  Jonathan Maberry is not only an excellent writer, but he is a thoughtful person. I loved the author's note that spoke of grief, because this series deals with it a lot.  I love that he told his young readers to ask for help if they are dealing with any kind of grief. They are not alone. Young people need to hear this more often.

•  The story starts about a month after the destruction of Gameland.  Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong are once again navigating the Ruin in search of that airplane. That search puts them right into the center of a war. Something that is possibly more horrifying that the zoms that surround them.

•  This war is going to make them question humanity.

•  Maberry is a great writer who understands character development.  The four main characters grow up amid chaos and are still very resilient.  Each on of them is so weak and strong in different ways (both physically and mentally).  They amaze me.

•  Maberry writes excellent secondary characters. Some are full of wisdom. All are quirky. They are all important to the development of the story.

•  The book contains a lot of action, violence, grief, sadness and some hope. Perfect set up for a great ending.

• Fire and Ash will be published September 26, 2013. Can't wait.

 

Book Review: Do or Di by Eileen Cook

A laugh out loud romantic comedy, from the author of Unpredictable and Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood. Erin Callighan has given up on the idea of a fairy tale romance. Having dated her own version of the Seven Dwarves (including Grumpy and Sleepy), she's letting go of the idea of Prince Charming and settling for Prince Good Enough. Erin’s focused on reaching her dream of having her own talk radio show, even if it means having to temporarily co-host with the annoying “Voice of Seattle”, Colin Stewart. To score points with her station manager, she agrees to be a part of the Positive Partnerships program that matches her with Diana, a troubled pre-teen who swears she's channeling the spirit of the late Princess Diana. She's supposed to be mentoring Diana, but the channeled princess has a lot to teach Erin about love and happily ever after endings. (Description from http://www.amazon.com)

My thoughts:

I had purchased this book for my Kindle months ago. I try to buy a free or "cheap" book to keep on there when I am waiting for something on reserve from the library. It is only available as an e-book from Amazon. You might think from the title that it is a mystery, but it is not. It is a contemporary romance with some quirky characters.  I loved Erin and Diana and their relationship.  Erin was supposed to be mentoring Diana, but Erin learns a lot more from this teen than she ever imagined.  Yes, the ending was predictable but the story read at a nice pace.  If you are looking for something to read on a snowy winter afternoon, this would be a good choice.

2012/Best Books/2013

 

2012 was a great year for me. I accomplished my goals, the most important of which were running a half marathon, starting a blog and reading more books than I ever have.

• I  never ever thought I could finish one half-marathon, and I did three. Very proud of myself for that.  In recap I ran 12 races; three half marathons, 8 5K's and the Manchester Road Race which was 4.8 miles and does not fall into any race category. I battled a stress fracture which caused me to drop out of one race which I really wanted to do. As far as my stress fracture goes, it had been feeling fine until just about last week. In late November and most of December I was doing more miles than I have since July (10-15 miles a week) which has proven to be too much. So I am feeling some pain and trying to be smart, which means taking a few weeks off from running. :( I was planning on going down to Florida to run Melbourne and Beaches again and I am glad now that I did not pay for a flight and additional registration. I have no races planned right now and I can't imagine doing any in the near future.  The goal is to get back to running without pain. Maybe I will never run a half again. So I'm going to remember this day and cherish it.

Melbourne Music and Beaches Half Marathon February 5, 2012

• Starting a blog was something I had been thinking about for years and I finally got the courage (and some time) to start one.  I mainly do it for myself and my friends who want to know what I read and what I like. I used to publish my "Books Read" list on Facebook, but now I can do it here and also do some reviews too. I wish I had more time to review every book that I read, but have to be happy with what I can put out. Being a good mom and wife is my main priority, along with my part-time job, the house, etc...

• In 2012 I read 175 books! Last year I read 107. I have some librarian friends who read upwards of 300-400, so 175 is pretty small compared to that. I don't know where I found the time to read so much, but I did. I guess it is a priority!

My favorite books of the year were:

Young Adult
 

Adult
 


Children's
 

New Adult

I am not much for making New Year's Resolutions, but here are a few goals of mine:

• Blog more
• Stop weighing myself every day (limit to once a week, it is really a bad habit)
• Keep my leg healthy, even if it means taking more rest days than I like.
• Order the Insanity program and start it.
• Become a better writer
• Run one half marathon
• Laugh and Love