Book-to-Movie Review: Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

I recently read Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie and I quite enjoyed it. I actually wanted to read it because of the movie that came out late last year by the same name. I normally am not a book-to-movie snob - I think most are adequately done especially considering time constraints. In this case...well...all I can say is that I enjoyed reading the book.

The movie fell extremely flat for me. If you read my review on the book, you'll remember that I mentioned that I watched the original version and I adored it. I am a little confused as to why Hollywood thought that they should remake the film. LEAVE THE CLASSICS ALONE!!! The original Orient Express was great as it was - there was no need to remake it, with a star-studded cast at that. I think that I (and perhaps others) got sidetracked by the fact that acting greats like Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, and Judi Dench were in the movie, that I neglected to even ask if it was worth my time to watch. There was so much celebrity in the movie that it overshadowed the essence of the Orient Express (for example, the unadmirable Hercule Poirot portrayed by Kenneth Branagh).

There is word that they plan on making additional Poirot adapted movies, like Death on the Nile. If it is going to be anything like the Orient, I'll pass.

Until we read again...

Review: Love Letters to the Dead

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira has been on my to-read list for quite some time now. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it at any of my local libraries, so I ended up buying it from Audible...I wish I just saved my credit.

It's not that I didn't like Love Letters, but I didn't love it. I didn't have any feelings towards it actually. It was just something that I wanted to read and then it was something that I started and needed to finish. The premise was actually very intriguing, but for some reason, I was not drawn to it beyond that.

The main character, Laurel, is given an English assignment to write a letter to a dead person. We soon learn that this is a difficult assignment because her sister, May, has recently died. She writes to Kurt Cobain, Judy Garland, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Janis Joplin and others as she tells her story. She talks to the dead like one might talk to a therapist. She details her days at school, her love life, how her and her family has been coping with her sister's death, and ultimately what led to her sister's death. This sounds like a great story, right? Well...I think that I just don't have an affinity for young adult fiction because it fell flat for me. I found myself dozing off and irritated at many times. It was frustrating for me that it took so long for the readers to learn what happened to May. Laurel's character was frustrating. The side stories were frustrating. I'm not sure that there was depth to any facet of this book - specifically the characters. I honestly have no other words to write except that this book was a complete let down.

Until we read again...

Review: The Bright Hour

I started this book as I was waiting nervously to give blood. I have the universal blood type so I strongly feel that it is my duty to donate blood - but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was nervous every time and wishing that I was doing anything else. Without a doubt, even reading the first few pages put things in perspective.

Nina Riggs was dying of breast cancer when she wrote The Bright Hour. She talked about how it was for her to progress through the disease (doctor's appointments, talking to her young children, consulting with a lawyer for her will, and even the struggles of having sex with her husband while possible) as well as her experience dealing with her mom's progression and ultimate demise from the same cancer. It was definitely a sobering read. I finished this book feeling reinvigorated about life.

As I say that, I also struggle with that thought. For the most part, my family lives to at least their mid-90's. I expect nothing less for myself. How is it that some people don't have the same fortune? Nina Riggs died when she was at the ripe age of 39. I am only 10 years away from that age. I can't imagine saying that my mid-life occurred when I was 19. I hadn't even started to live life at 19. With that being said, towards the end of her life, she seemed to be reconciled with the fact that it was inevitable that she was going to die from breast cancer and that there was nothing that she could do. She had a sense of humor that only those with a limited time on this earth could have. She appreciated the little moments in life that far too often many of us take for granted - like feeling the breeze in our hair. Furthermore, she lived her last days on her terms unapologetically.

If I was to die early, I would hope that I had a legacy to pass on like Riggs. Although she is not physically here with us anymore, she does live on through her book. You can feel the presence of her life through her words. I didn't personally know her, but I felt close to her as I read her dying words. Reading her book was the bright hour in my day as I refocused on what life is truly about.

Until we read again...

Total Money Makeover

I mentioned in my last post that The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey was one of my top read books in 2017. It really revolutionized the way that I think and operate with money.

For example, I racked up a lot of credit card debt in a span of 3 years - for no other reason than I could. 3 years later and I'm looking around trying to figure out what I have to show for it. No financial stability, that's for sure. So, as you can imagine, it was mind-blowing to learn that I can get out of it and that I too can "live like no one else" one day soon.

A big premise behind The TMM is that "cash is king". You only spend what you have in cash - beyond that and you are out of luck. If you don't have it in cash, then you cannot make that purchase. Initially, it was a culture shock to only use cash. I mean...it goes without saying that I don't touch my credit cards (they are locked safely and soundly away); but, I don't even use my debit card - cold hard cash only. The idea is that there is a greater appreciation of the value of your dollar when you spend cash and I can honestly attest to that sentiment. I double think just about every purchase I make when I use cash, because once it's gone...it's gone.

Since I've read this book last November, I've established my emergency fund (baby step 1) and I've paid off my car and three credit cards. I have 5 credit cards left and a student loan (baby step 2) - but I'm excited for the day that I can scream "1...2...3...I'M DEBT FREE!!!!"

For those that are struggling with any debt or are looking for ways to maximize your wealth, I strongly encourage you to grab this book TODAY! It's a simple read but the wealth of knowledge that you leave with will have you feeling like a millionaire in the making. For those that have read it, what were your thoughts? Have you been through The Total Money Makeover? Are you "weird" and how has your life changed from it? Leave a comment - I'm all ears!

Until we read again...

Top 10 Read Books of 2017

Since I did a terrible job of updating on my books read last year, here is a list of my top favorite read in 2017...

1. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

This book deals with race in a way that I would have never imagined. An African-American nurse helps tend to a newborn baby born to a Caucasian couple who are proud to be White Supremacists. They request that the nurse not tend to the baby due to their personal beliefs. The nurse ends up providing medical care to the newborn who needs immediate medical attention and unfortunately the baby dies. The events that follow are frustrating, devastating, and humbling. This is the first book that I've read by Picoult, but her grasp of human emotions and complex situations were enough for me to add her to one of my top 10 authors. My Sister's Keeper is my next planned read by her before her new novel comes out this fall.

2. The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian

Can you imagine a thriller based on sleepwalking? I, for one, couldn't. A mother and wife who is afflicted with sleepwalking has disappeared. Without giving much away, her family is left behind to figure out what happened to her - is she alive? Where did she go? Is foul play suspected? Little does the reader know, but the answer may be right in front of everybody's eyes.

3. The Shack by William P. Young

Unfortunately, I didn't hear about The Shack until I saw the movie trailer for it last year but some things are better late than never. This book is a CLASSIC! The main character, Mackenzie, is dealing with something that no parent should have to face. Dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts, he ends up on a spiritual journey that forever changed his life - and mine.

4. The Eli's Cheesecake Cookbook by Maureen Schulman

I am a huge fan of cookbooks. And yes...I read them from start to finish. This book had great recipes and I made several successful cheesecakes. The original with the shortbread crust is my go-to when I have a taste for cheesecake. My favorite part of the book? The science behind making the coveted desserts.

5. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I have been a huge fan of Liane Moriarty since reading The Husband's Secret. I wanted to watch the HBO limited series (never got through it, btw) so I needed to read this. Of course, like all of Moriarty's books that I've read, I loved it. She has a way of developing events and characters in a time of their own - not sooner than the reader needs to know and not a second later - that lends to an impeccable story to the very last page of the book. This novel was no different.

6. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

This is a new classic. Trevor Noah wrote such an eye-opening memoir that I was sad it ended. I learned, I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat...I went through just about every emotion while listening to this book. Yes. I said listen. Do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook. You will not be disappointed by Noah's narration.

7. Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn

It took me a while to get into this novel, but once I got into it, there was no turning back. Revolving around the unfortunate realities of Jamaican life, it follows two daughters who ultimately seek more for themselves - whether it's true love, self-acceptance, education, or wealth. This was such a heart-wrenching novel - prepare to be shocked, sad, angry, and hopeful for the two ladies.

8. Black Privilege by Charlamagne tha God

I've heard of Charlamagne before but I didn't really know who he was before reading (or listening) to his book. I was glad that I went with a recommendation to read it because I was humbled by his story. He truly worked his way up to being one of the best radio personalities in America and his lessons along the way are priceless.

9. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

I have debt - a considerable amount of debt too, so I read this book as a means to help me get back on track. Boy, did it! I probably read this book within a day - it's not a difficult read. Ramsey does a great job at explaining things in a sense that non-financial people like myself can understand. I haven't looked back financially since I've read this book. It has been a game-changer for me.

10. The Darkest Child by Delores Phillips

This book tugged at my heart. Dealing with racism and colorism, The Darkest Child details the difficult life of Tangy Mae as one of ten children during the late 1950's. Phillips writes so eloquently and passionately that you just want to grab ahold of her characters and tell them unknowingly that it will be okay.

Has anybody read any of these 10? What did you think of them? Do you agree that these were awesome books? I'd be interested in hearing what you think!

Until we read again...

Book Nook

In my dream home, I will have a library. I have never been in a home with a library and I've always wondered why more houses don't have them? I see plenty of houses with offices, game rooms, and multiple family rooms, but none with a library.

Because I live in an apartment, space is limited. I only have as many rooms as bodies necessary...but...I still want a library! So, I did the next best thing instead - I created book nooks for myself and my son. I wanted to create spaces that were conducive to reading. For my son, that meant having a comfortable chair with books readily available for him to read at anytime. It also meant creating a focal piece that he could look at that would get him excited about reading whenever he went into his room - hence the lighted book tree.

This was actually the inspiration for my son's book nook - his school library and their book tree. We need more books at home!

For me, on the other hand, it was about creating an atmosphere more than anything. I absolutely love to read outside (it's actually one of my favorite places to read).  I needed a space near a window, preferably with a nice view. I also love to have a nice drink and candle alongside so I needed some space to accomodate for those items. Voila! My book nook is nothing spectacular or even extravagant but it is perfect for me. I can easily be transported to anywhere in the world with my candles, view, drinks, and book in hand.

My nirvana - what isn't pictured is my bench that I can sit on. 

One day when I purchase my home, I will upgrade to a full blown library, but for now, our books nooks are the perfect spaces for us!

Until we read again...

Vulgar Favors

If you know me, then you know that I am just about obsessed with everything Ryan Murphy touches. Glee. The New Normal. American Horror Story. American Crime Story. When I watched the first season of American Crime Story, which focused on the trial of O.J. Simpson, I felt like my life had changed. Considering that I was no older than 5 or 6 when the "trial of the century" occurred, I was unaware of a lot of details behind the case. When I thought of O.J., I just knew that "if the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit"...that was, until the first seasons of ACS.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Ryan Murphy used Jeffrey Toobin's book "The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson" for consultation. I borrowed the book from the library and DEVOURED it. I mean, I absolutely devoured it. So, imagine my excitement when I learn that the second season is surrounding the murder of Gianni Versace! I know absolutely NOTHING about Versace except that he was the mastermind behind the fashion powerhouse AND I have another great book to read *insert side-eye roll*. Well...I still love Ryan Murphy, but...

I am disappointed that he decided to showcase a crime from a novel which relied greatly on hearsay and unsubstantiated theories. This season was based on the novel "Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History" by Maureen Orth and don't be misled by the title like I was. In no sense is this book about Versace. This book revolves around the confusing life of Cunanan. There was no substantial evidence as to why Cunanan murdered Versace - especially since Cunanan died several days later from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. As a matter of fact, Cunanan's involvement with Versace (which primarily consists of the murder) is a mere 100 pages of the 464 and much of those 100 pages talks about how Andrew was able to avoid being caught due to gross negligence of the FBI.

Perhaps because the first season of this show focused on a case in which there was so much evidence to be presented - whether you thought the evidence demonstrated Simpson's guilt or innocence - this season was thoroughly disappointing because the only evidence that has been presented is who Andrew Cunanan killed (they all died from the same gun, with the exception of Jeff Trail who was brutally bludgeoned to death). Andrew Cunanan told so many lies and left no details as to why he committed his crimes that his intent will forever be questioned. Just as Maureen Orth did in her book, Ryan Murphy took a lot of liberty in assuming what Cunanan's motives were, as well as details of specific events. With no witnesses alive to clue the public into these matters, we will never know. In my opinion, Maureen Orth did no justice to the lives lost. It would have been nice for Ryan Murphy to showcase a crime from a better book. "Vulgar Favors" read to me like a sensational piece from the National Enquirer...nothing to be taken too seriously.

With that being said, I am looking forward to the next season of American Crime Story. More importantly, I am excited to read the next book that Ryan Murphy will be consulting.

Until we read again...

Review: Murder on the Orient Express

Well, that was quite the hiatus - but I'm back!

My last post was talking about how I was in a reading slump and it pretty much lasted through the remainder of the year. Nothing was exciting me and I was so uninspired by what I was reading; however, since 2018 has started, I can say that I got back into my reading groove. Furthermore, I've read some great books since the year started...including Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.

I decided to purchase this book late last week when I remembered that I wanted to watch the movie that came out late last year. Interestingly enough, it wasn't until I was halfway into the book, that I realized that I have seen the movie before - an older version but nonetheless.

Agatha Christie, "The Queen of Mystery", writes a classic whodunit of a train murder mystery. Her favorite sleuth, Hercule Poirot, boards a train and is propositioned by a gentleman by the name of Ratchett, who believes that his life is in danger. Shortly after Poirot declines his offer, Ratchett is found dead in his train car. Who killed him? Why would anyone want him dead? Why would Ratchett feel as if his life was in danger? Was it another fellow passenger? Or could it have been a stranger?

Although I remembered watching the movie many years ago, I did not remember the events or the outcome of those events on the train, so I caught myself trying to work the mystery out with Poirot. If Christie's other mysteries are anything like this one, you will never be able to solve what happened because Poirot keeps key details to himself until he begins explaining his theories to others...at the very end. Nevertheless, when the mystery of who killed Ratchett was revealed, my mouth was hung slack in surprise.

While I enjoyed this book, it was not necessarily memorable for me in the sense that I am dying to read her other books. It could quite possibly be because of the fact that when I think of Agatha Christie, I think of Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote and I HATED that show (haha). Anywho...if anyone has read any of her other books, please comment as to which ones I should start next! I'd also love to hear what you thought of this book and its movie(s). I haven't seen the 2017 version yet, but it is on my never-ending list of things to watch.

Until we read again...

Reading Slump

I think every reader can relate to this - I am currently in a reading slump **cue the sad music lol**.

I have so many books that I want to read, but I don't have the time or energy lately. When I try to pick up a book, I get through maybe 10 pages (and that is not me at all). I try to chalk this up to the season - it's summertime and I'm out enjoying life, but still...it's taking me forever to finish a book that I would normally have finished in two days. I'll be glad when I get out of this slump!

Hopefully everyone else's summer reading is much more successful than mine has been!

Until we read again...

Review: Here Comes the Sun

Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn has just been added to one of my all-time favorite books. Dennis-Benn's debut fiction novel was so complex, so rich in story, and so well-rounded that it's hard to believe that this is the author's first book.

Here Comes the Sun is set in Jamaica and it follows the lives of Margot, her younger sister Thandi, and their mother Delores. Margot has been selling her body for years to help her mother make ends meet and in efforts to give Thandi a better education and therefore life. Thandi is not interested in the science that Margot wants her to do so well in. She wants to be an artist. Not only does Thandi struggle in what would make her family happy versus what would make her happy, but she also struggles with her self-image. She uses lightening creams to the extent that she shouldn't even walk outside without an umbrella to protect her from the sun. Finally, the matriarch of the family struggles with the notion that she is not a good mother but in fact has ruined her children's lives. For example, she spends a lot of time coming to terms that selling Margot to a man for $600 at the tender age of 14 was not in Margot's best interest.

While I cannot definitively say that this story is true to the native Jamaican experience, I can say that the story seemed so real. I could feel the characters, their pain, their emotions, their hopes and aspirations - they truly felt real to me. This could be in part due to the fact that the author is a native Jamaican and has probably witnessed first hand what happens on the island outside of the tourist experience. I honestly don't know; but, I do know that there was so much life in this book and in Dennis-Benn's words.

This is not an easy read and it is not for the light of heart. This novel took me out of my comfortable American mindset and forced me to once again realize that life is not to be taken for granted. I know that I can speak for myself and say that I take many things for granted - shelter, food, education, women's rights, and more. When you discover that others go to such extremes such as selling their bodies for an education, it is beyond humbling. This is the power that is in this book. It was an absolutely great read.

Until we read again...

Review: Finding Gideon

If you know me, you know that I am a HUGE fan of Eric Jerome Dickey. Besides Elin Hilderbrand, Kimberla Lawson Roby, and maybe a few others, he is one of the few authors that I closely follow. When one of his books come out, I try to read it immediately. I am that kind of fan of his...

With that being said, I was not that thrilled with Finding Gideon. I'm not sure if it was because it has been years since the last installment of the series came out or what. It's not hard to forget what happened in a series and that is exactly what I did...I completely forgot everything about the Gideon series, except for the fact that Gideon was an international assassin. There were characters that I should have remembered, but I didn't. Midnight was one of those characters. I struggled remembering his backstory. While Dickey did a great job of bringing his readers up to speed as to who Midnight was and his relationship with Gideon (because it was the focus of this story's plot), he did not necessarily do that with many of the other characters.

Another reason why I think I struggled with this book was that it was just difficult to read. Dickey has a way of writing in which he throws several allusions at you at once and you spend so much time trying to keep up with them, that everything just becomes confusing. Dickey is the KING of allusions - I just wish that he paced them out a little.

The plot itself, however, was very interesting. I am trying to figure out how Eric Jerome Dickey does not have a screenplay out there, because he could write the best action film in the world. This book was nothing but sex and action! Those moments in his book were the best. They read like a movie scene - but better than any I have ever seen. The premise of Finding Gideon is that Gideon discovers that his father, Midnight, is actually alive, even though he presumed him dead after he shot him in the face decades prior. Midnight wants to exact revenge and Gideon wants to finish what he started. This feud takes the reader to Brazil, London, and Smyrna, Georgia, as the two men and their posses battle it to the end.

Although this wasn't my favorite book by Dickey, I am still a huge fan. There is so much passion in his work that it is hard not to enjoy his writing. I'll definitely re-read Finding Gideon once I re-read the previous books in the series. In the meantime, if action is your thing, do yourself a favor and pick this book up! You will definitely be entertained!

Until we read again...

Review: I Can't Make This Up

Without a doubt, Kevin Hart has taken over the comedy world by storm within the last few years. He has been in several movies, has done stand-ups, and he has even become a fitness inspiration as a face for the Nike running club. Now he can add author to his accolades.

I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart is a memoir of Hart's life and basically how he has gotten to where he is today. He grew up in Philadelphia with his mom and brother and he didn't have many aspirations for himself until after he graduated school and someone told him that he was funny. It was then that he thought that he could make a career out of telling jokes.

As Hart details his upbringing, he drops some nuggets of wisdom along the way. For example, he said repeatedly that if it weren't for his humble upbringing, that he wouldn't be as successful as he is today because he would not have worked as hard and would have taken each opportunity presented to him for granted. Another of his life lessons was that you can't control what happens in life but that you can control your response and your outlook (something that I struggle coming to terms with!). This was a key theme in his life.

Although all of this sounds very serious and sobering, Kevin Hart managed to keep his book light. Although you're reading about the time his father got axed in the head for some ambiguous reason, you're not left feeling sad, disgusted, or in shock...it is more of a "WHAT!" Even when Hart discusses in detail his strained relationship with his ex-wife, you won't feel anger or disgust for either...you will laugh and say "WHAT!" He truly couldn't have made anything of this up! (Read the book and you'll understand! lol). I don't remember if Hart said this, but with each of these moments, he reinforced the thought that you just have to laugh at life and not to take it so seriously.

I can honestly say that I appreciate Kevin Hart so much more after reading his book. For the last year or so, he has just been annoyingly everywhere! But, now that I see how long it took him to get where he is, I get it. Even when  he was making it and making money, he faced many setbacks  - financially, in his relationships, and with his family, to name a few - setbacks so deep that he questioned everything. This was a very inspirational and motivational book (which I was not expecting) and it has given me the "umph" to keep pushing towards what I want in life.

**SIDENOTE** Don't read the print version of this book...listen to his audiobook, which is read by Hart himself. You will thank me later!

Until we read again...

Half Year Reading Check-In

How is everyone managing their reading goals so far? I made a goal to read 65 books this year and so far, I have read 42! 13 more books to go! Here's a list of my absolute favorite books that I have read this year...

1. Small Great Things - Jodi Picoult
2. The Sleepwalker - Chris Bohjalian
3. The Shack - William P. Young
4. Flowers in the Attic - V. C. Andrews
5. The Eli's Cheesecake Cookbook - Maureen Andrews
6. Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty
7. Born a Crime - Trevor Noah

Without a doubt, I highly recommend any of these 7 books - I don't know anyone who would be disappointed reading them. 

How many books have you all read so far this year? Are you on track to meeting your reading goals for 2017? Follow me on goodreads - it's pretty cool to keep up with what everyone is reading on the social site. 

Until we read again... 

Barnes & Noble Membership Benefits

For all of my bibliophiles out there, you should seriously consider purchasing a Barnes & Noble membership card, especially if you frequently purchase books. For only $25 a year, you receive a ton of perks, which are listed below...

1. Free shipping on online orders with no minimum order. This is YUGE! It takes the guilt out of online shopping for me because I can save money on gas and I still receive my books in a reasonable amount of time (1-3 business days). I recently bought three books for $13.88 from B&N and did not pay a lick for shipping! 
2. In-store savings. This is also a huge thing for me. Books can be expensive! Especially hard-cover books. With the membership, I receive 40% off on hardcover bestsellers (hello Elin Hilderbrand), and any other books that I purchase, I receive 10% off of those. 
3. Additional savings. Throughout the year, I will receive coupons to use in-store and online. These range from an additional 20% off one item, a percentage off of select items, and discounts on food from the cafe. 

It's easy to see that you receive a lot of benefit for only $25! This year alone, I've probably saved at least $50 by using my membership card! Quite recently, I discovered that they offer a kids club membership, in which you can save money on books as well. For every $100 spent on a kids book, you receive a $5 reward. I spend a lot of money on children's books throughout the year, so this works well for me. 

I'm not a huge fan of store membership programs but the B&N membership just makes sense for me and my family. We frequent the bookstore a lot and it saves us a lot of money. Does anybody else have a B&N membership? How is it working out for you? Are there any other membership programs that work well for you in saving money on books? Drop a comment below!

Until we read again...

Summer Reading Kickoff

Our local library hosts a summer reading kickoff event every year for the kids to get them excited to read. It's a pretty awesome event. They hire a children's performer who plays music, sings, gets the kids dancing, and has lots of bubbles (you can never go wrong with bubbles). In between the fun, he will encourage the kids to read. This year's theme for summer reading is to build a better world, so he was diligent in stressing this point. At one point, he told the kids that if they read and learn as much as they could, they could make a difference in the world - they could even become the president! Like I said, it is a pretty awesome event and very encouraging.

How's everyone's summer reading coming along? Hopefully, it is just as fun as ours is!

Until we read again...

You've Got Mail!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my son absolutely loves Captain Underpants. We finished the first book in the series and he was instantly ready to read the second book! Unfortunately, it's difficult to borrow it from the library due to the recent release of the movie, so I decided to order it online from Barnes & Noble. I have a membership with them, so I get free shipping - so yeah...basically it's worth having it shipped as opposed to driving to the store. Now they say a picture says a thousand words...





















The excitement on his face when he opened up his package was PRICELESS! Have you ever seen a child so excited to get a book? This is what reading is all about!

Until we read again...

News Worthy

http://ew.com/books/2017/06/12/hunger-games-girl-saves-friends-life/

How cool is this?! Who says you can't learn something from leisurely reading?

Review: Petals on the Wind

I finally finished the second installment in the Dollanganger series, Petals on the Wind by V. C. Andrews. I actually finished it a week ago but I've been at such a loss of words about it. When I ended this book, I was left wondering, what did I just read?

For those that don't have a clue who the Dollanganger's are, please stop everything that you are doing immediately and go read Flowers in the Attic (I promise that you won't be disappointed). For those that have read Flowers, Petals is the next part - in which the surviving kids escape the attic and are en route to Florida by bus. Before they even get out of South Carolina, however, they are forced to get off the bus and seek out a doctor, because Carrie is terribly sick from arsenic poisoning. They find their doctor, Dr. Paul, who nurses Carrie back to health and ultimately takes all three of the kids as his wards. This is where the story takes a turn for the interesting...

At this point, Carrie is of reasonable health, and struggles with her image. Cathy and Chris struggle with their feelings towards each other. Cathy is seeking revenge on her mother and grandmother. Chris would rather move on with their lives, start fresh and become a doctor. Relationships (many of which were completely inappropriate, in my opinion) pursue amongst each other, there are engagements, marriages, several more deaths, and plenty of heartache. This was the ultimate soap opera of soap operas! If you could think of the absolute impossible, then V. C. Andrews went 100 steps beyond that and wrote about it.

Overall, this book was just a mental mind screw. For all the psychologists/psychiatrists out there, you will have a field day with this book - some themes of this book were incest, the influence of money, the importance of health, and how one's childhood significantly affects their adulthood. I already purchased the next book in the series, If There Be Thorns, but I need a break - this book was wayyyyy too heavy for me.

Until we read again...

Review: Can I Say

Can I Say: Living Large, Cheating Death, and Drums Drums Drums by Travis Barker was one hell of a read (or listen in my case)! It's interesting that I even considered reading this book, let alone purchased it, because I have never been a huge fan of Blink-182 and I didn't know much about Travis Barker. I liked Blink's song "All the Small Things" and I occasionally watched "Meet the Barkers" on MTV, but there was nothing that stood out to me, except that I knew that he was a rockstar. After reading his autobiography, my perception of him has completely changed.

Barker starts his autobiography detailing his childhood; how he grew up in humble beginnings, how the end of his parent's marriage affected him, how his mother's death impacted him, and how he came about playing the drums. His early life was surprisingly very relatable - like, he could have easily been somebody that I went to school with. 

Beyond his childhood, he talked about how he came about drumming and more specifically drumming for Blink-182. I never knew that he was not a member of the band to begin with. He actually started with Blink-182 years after they were established, as he was filling in for their previous drummer. Not only that, but he was not exclusive to Blink-182. He played for at least 2 other bands simultaneously. Throughout the years, he also juggled a clothing line, a restaurant, his own band, and other side gigs. Very impressive. One theme that was resounding in Barker's book was not to judge a book by it's cover. He detailed several occasions in which people expected him to be some lazy stoner that was in and out of jail; yet, he turned out to be one of the hardest working men in the industry! 

I think I really picked up this book because I was interested in the plane crash that he, DJ AM and two of their friends were in. I remember when it happened and that Travis Barker suffered PTSD from it and it ultimately was a factor in DJ AM's death, but beyond that I didn't know much. Barker did a great job describing what happened and it was unbelievable. I never knew that he had 3rd degree burns over 65% of his body. He ended up having to get over 20 surgeries because of the crash, yet, he managed to persevere through it all. If anything, the plane crash is a huge testament to the strength and willpower that Barker has.

While this was a great story, it wasn't the best to listen to. I do not recommend listening to the audio version of this book - at all. Throughout his book, Barker has important people in his life tell stories of their own about him and in the audio version, it was difficult to tell when their story ended and Barker's continued. There was no significant pause indicating that their anecdote was over, no change in inflection on the narrator's part...nothing. So every once in a while, it became confusing. 

If you are/were a fan of Travis Barker's or Blink-182, I encourage you to pick this book up. I can appreciate why so many people have so much respect for him and why he has been so influential in the music industry.

Until we read again...

Pros and Cons of Audiobooks

I know that I've briefly talked about audiobooks before, but I only really talked about why I liked them. I never really elaborated on the pros and cons of them...so for those of you who are still on the fence about whether to utilize them, here goes...

Pros

1. You can do virtually anything while listening to them. 

Like I've mentioned before, I typically am cleaning, driving, or doing something relatively passive while I am listening to audiobooks. As a working mother, I have a TON of things to do - my to-do list never gets smaller, it only gets longer. So, in order to read as much as I want to, I have resorted to audiobooks. This allows me to read (or listen) to as many as 20 extra books a year. Just think about it...if you have a daily commute to work that averages 30 minutes a day, each way, that is an hour of listening you could do. You could listen to a 5 hour audiobook in a week! I know some people who train for half marathons or marathons and they listen to audiobooks while they run. Depending on how fast you are running, you could almost listen to a complete audiobook!

     2. Better reading experience for auditory learners.

Just as many of us probably know, there are many different styled learners. This also applies to readers! Some readers prefer the actual act of turning pages and visually reading words, whereas other readers may prefer being read to. They are better able to process what they are reading when they are listening to someone else read the material to them. For those readers, audiobooks are your friend!

    3. Convenience.

Without a doubt, it can be burdensome to carry a 400 page book along with me every where I go. Yet, I always have my phone on me! As an Audible subscriber, I am able to go anywhere I want with my purchased books. So, that means that I can listen to my books wherever I am. On the plane, on the beach, in my car, at the park, in the grocery store...wherever. I no longer have to worry about lugging J. K. Rowling's hefty masterpieces with me in order to read them - I can keep them conveniently in my back pocket!

Cons

     1. Hard to focus.

Sometimes (even for myself), it can be hard to focus on what is being read to you - especially if it is a slow story or the narrator has a less than desirable voice. There have been plenty of times that I have unknowingly drifted off to sleep while listening to an audiobook. It's actually quite frustrating; however, most times, I attribute it to the book that I am listening to. There are some books that are simply not meant to be read.

    2. It's hard to judge your progress.

One thing that many people, as well as myself, enjoy about reading, is watching the progress being made while you are reading. It is rewarding to see a bookmark being placed further and further through the book, until voila - finished! This is a little harder while listening to audiobooks. Sure, you can gauge it by the time elapsed and time remaining but it isn't the same. There is nothing in this world as holding a 400 page book and feeling the accomplishment of getting through it (for anyone who has ever read Don Quixote...you know what I mean).

     3. You become a recluse.

It's hard to engage with others with headphones in your ears. Sure, while you are reading a print book, that is indicative to others that you don't want to be bothered, but people tend to feel more comfortable interrupting you in that scenario than when you have headphones on. As a result, while listening to audiobooks, you tend to take on an anti-social approach, especially if you listen to them for long amounts of time. I know that I have to catch myself sometimes and force myself to stop listening so that I can interact with others; however, if it is a book that has caught my attention and the narrator is doing a phenomenal job ("Flowers in the Attic" by V. C. Andrews, narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan), it is hard to pull yourself from those headphones. 

The audiobook that I am currently plugging through. I listened to almost 4 hours yesterday (anti-social, I know)...review to come soon.

For those of you still on the fence about whether to try audiobooks or not, head over to your local library and rent one first. You may be pleasantly surprised! In my experience, the best audiobooks are biographies that are read by the author, fiction with action (like the Hunger Games trilogy), and humor; however, it goes without saying...whatever floats your boat. It truly is all about preference.

Until we read again...