Fruits Basket Volume 9 by Natsuki Takaya

Obsessed. I am obsessed with this series. This may the best thing that you are not reading (given that you haven't discovered furubu yet).

When I first came across this manga, I was turned off. I thought to myself that if they couldn't even bother to correct the title to read "Fruit Baskets", then I did not want to even know what was inside. Curiousity got to me (once again) and I purchased Volume 1 on a whim two summers ago.

I absolutely fell in love with Tohru Honda, who is the main character among a cast of many. She touches your heart like no other. I'm serious about this. Ms. Takaya has developed characters that stay with you long after you finished reading the manga.

Right now, I dread reaching the end. I think that there are 10 more volumes in the series, but I may be wrong.

Ms. Takaya is an amazing mangaka. I find myself reading each frame and then looking at the art, relishing the details in the drawings. The characters are each unique. She has developed their different personalities with each volume. The Sohma clan are possessed by spirits of the Chinese Zodiac (minus Tohru and her two friends). If a member of the opposite sex hugs them, they turn into the Zodiac animal that they represent. I know this sounds silly; it did to me. You just have to read it. Trust me, you will not regret it. There is a reason why this is the most popular manga here in the United States as well as overseas.

I am definitely a furubu maniac!!

Gossip Girl #8: Nothing Can Keep Us Together by Cecily Von Ziegesar

This one wasn't as great as the other books in the series, but it was still very good.

I am addicted to this series and am not ashamed to say it. There is nothing like escaping into a short read about rich Upper East Side teens who have everything at their fingertips and all their blatant antics.

This was a quick and fun read! I recommend it, as well the other books in the series ;)

The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death

* Unfortunately, I could not find artwork for this book

I read this book after a recommendation by Zachary of Invisible Ink. He raved about it, recommending it as a good read when you're in a reading slump. Curious about this, especially because of the title, I borrowed it from the library. I had been stressed out due to a project I was working on for my studies and nothing that I was reading was appealing to me. I was stressed, frustrated, over-whelmed, and frankly, not happy. That night, I pulled the book out, stared at the cover for a while (which had an odd drawing of three teens, making it all the more tempting), and proceeded to read the first chapter. It opens with a 14 year-old boy sitting in class, just spewing forth thoughts on his surroundings. I was hooked.

The premise of the book revolves around "snarking out", which means sneaking out of your house late at night, hanging out, and sneaking back home without getting caught. The characters had it measured to a science.

I really enjoyed this book! I was surprised that I did as it was not something I would normally pick up on my own. There some parts that literally made me laugh out loud, while other parts had me giggling at some of the odd occurrences that showed up frequently. It was a great distraction - it was odd and I could not put it down.

I'm glad that I read it. Sometimes I have to reach out beyond my boundaries to find something that I can truly enjoy. It wasn't pretentious, serious, heart-wrenching, or educational. It was a good read that I will re-visit again. :)

Luxurious

Art by Jordi LaBanda

I Am...

If I was a literature classic, I would be

J.R.R. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings. You are entertaining and imaginative, creating whole new worlds around yourself. Well loved, you have a whole league of imitators, none of which is quite as profound as you are. Stories and songs give a spark of joy in the middle of your eternal battle with the forces of evil.


I got this quiz off of BookGirl's Nightstand. Take the quiz, too! You know you want to know! Sooo, which literature classic are you?

I wish I had....

I wish I had more time in the day to read everything that I want...

I had a paper due on Saturday which was supposed to be a persuasive essay of about 500-1000 words. I ended up turning in a 17 page paper. This truly baffles me! When I need to write a 15 page paper, I hem and haw and stress to get it done. I change the font and line spacing so that I can stretch it out to at least 14 1/2 pages. Then when I am assigned a rather small paper, it turns into a couple of chapters. Why??!! I know my professor is going to look at it and be like, "What the heck??!!" I really needed to get my point across, though. I could not stop until I answered every single issue she wanted addressed and incorporated relevant sources. I'm obsessed with getting an A. I'm obsessed with getting an A in all of my courses. I attribute this to my Virgo trait of being obsessive. Oh, if I have not mentioned it before, I am working on my Master's in Health Administration. I thought that it would be relatively easy. I was soooo wrong. This program is kicking my butt left and right. Up and down.

Between working full-time and studying for my Master's, I find myself looking for pockets of time to read. I cannot go to bed without reading. I sometimes fall asleep with my eyes open (seriously) and only when the book falls and smacks me in the face do I realize it's time to call it a night. Also, when I start trying to detangle warped sentences that I am trying to read (you know, all of the lines start morphing into one) do I realize that I need to pack it in. But I definitely need to read a couple of pages before going to sleep.

So...I wish I had more time to read. Really. This is making me sad.

Walk the Line

If you have not seen this movie, then please go do so now. Please try not to fall in love with Joaquin Phoenix as your heart will be broken. I have first dibs, and there will be no leftovers.


Ode to Joaquin
Oh Joaquin
though you may cover
your piercing blue eyes
your gaze still
penetrates
to my very soul

Why did I not
say hi
the day you were filming
"The Yards"
in my dormitory?
Why did I have
to be
so shy?
I trembled as you looked
my way
a moment
in time
forever
in my mind


* I still love you Alex!!

Joaquin Phoenix

My new obsession

Four things....

I got this meme off of BookGirl's Nightstand, which I love love love! Iliana was actually that first person to post on my blog and I was in awe. I mean, she's a celebrity in "book blog world", so I was very exicted! Thanks for stopping by my site and leaving me postings, Iliana!!

Here goes....


Four jobs I've had:
1.Retail Associate at Barnes & Noble, which was bad because my whole paycheck went straight to book purchases!
2.Medical receptionist
3.Medical transcriptionist
4.Office Manager (presently)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1.Sleeping with the Enemy (I don't like Julia Roberts, but I cannot stop watching this movie. It can come on at two o'clock in the morning and I have to watch the whole thing!)
2.The Crow
3.Kama Sutra
4.Cruel Intentions


Four places I've lived:
1.Okinawa, Japan - I am a military brat
2.Oahu, HI - ...still a military brat. I also lived in San Diego & Jacksonville, NC
3.The NYC (for almost 20 years)
4.Scottsdale, AZ (presently)


Four television shows I watch:
1.Lost
2.The L Word (on DVD)
3.Law & Order: SVU - my husband and I kind of pretend that I'm Olivia and he's Elliot. I cannot get enough of that show! Too good!!
4.Real World/Road Rule The Gauntlet 2 (because it helps me get my aggression out. I mentally fight with them and it feels really good... It also helps to take my mind off of work and my studies)

I also love to watch shows on the Fine Living Channel and the Food Network, as well as any documentary that I can catch. The last one I watched was Country Boys on PBS. If you haven't watched it, it's a must!


Four places I've vacationed:
Riviera Maya - on my honeymoon...

Writing this, I feel seriously deprived.

Four of my favorite dishes:
1.Arroz con gandules (rice w/pigeon peas w/ lots of flavor!)
2.My Martha Stewart Chicken Salad (it does not have lettuce, tomatoes or mayonnaise. It's amazing!!)
3.Mediterannean Salad w/grilled chicken from Tutto Bene
4.My husband's shrimp. Too delicious!


Four sites I visit daily (aside from my links):
There are too many to list...one would be my school's website. That is a daily ritual.


Four places I would rather be:
1.In my bed, sleeping
2.In my bed, reading a good book
3.In NYC, browsing the shelves of Strand Bookstore, Shakespeare & Co., etc...
4. 2 years into the future, with my Master's under my belt, in a nursing program & one step (of the many steps) closer to becoming a physician), and my baby that I plan (God willing) to have next year, staring at me with a smile on her/his face :)

Okaaayy...if you've read through this, then consider yourself officially tagged!

Kenneth J. Harvey

Yesterday I received an e-mail from author Kenneth J. Harvey in regards to the article that he wrote for The Times - UK edition. First off, I was so excited!! I mean, was it really from him or was someone playing a joke on me?! I was honored - truly :)

I had read the article earlier in the day, thanks to a link provided by Danielle (who has an awesome book blog. It's so pretty, too!) Mr. Harvey gives us his take on the whole James Frey debacle, while also addressing Banville's The Sea and the claims that this work of fiction might actually be based on truth/facts. It's a satirical piece that I really enjoyed!

The article is really funny. Take a look at it here.

The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives by Sarah Strohmeyer

Yummy. Delicious. Juicy. Loved it!

After reading Kris's review on her bookblog, www.notenoughbooks.blogspot.com, I had to get it. By the way - you should check out her blog. She reads a lot of good books, so make sure you only open her site on payday because you will be spending some serious cash after reading her recommendations!

Sarah Strohmeyer also writes the Bubbles series (which are also great). She did a great job with this book as well. Not only do you get to look into the quirky lives of privileged wives (some of their antics will make you laugh out loud), but you also get to learn what goes on behind closed doors. Throw in some scandal and you have a fun getaway from everyday life. It was nice to read this - a great escape from work and my Master's studies. :)

Diary of a Married Call Girl by Tracy Quan

Well.

I have to say this book is not for those who squeam at sex scenes or blunt language.

I really enjoyed this book. I had read Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl a couple of years ago and loved it.

This books continues with the main character, Nancy Chan, now married but still continuing her profession. The profession - being a call girl. And boy does she make it ever so interesting. Her job is as serious as the next girl's. She has theories that will blow your mind and her ethics are out the window. I did not agree with Nancy's decisions and was baffled by how she made her choices in life.

I definitely reccommend this book. It's not your typical fare. Ms. Quan's writing is straight forward and sometimes that's how I like it. What you see is what you get, and what you see is oh so interesting.

Candy Apple Dead by Sammi Carter cont...

This was a really good read. Nice and cozy getaway. The main character, Abby Shaw, had inherited a candy store from her aunt. She is also recovering from a divorce due to infidelity on her husband's part. Brandon Mills the local hottie and bad boy is murdered and her brother is accused of the crime. The novel revolves around Abby try to solve the murder and clearing her brother's name.

I would recommend this book to mystery readers, or anyone who just wants to solve a mystery minus the gore.



Please note that all of this information can be found on the back cover of the book. I make it a point to not give away the story.

Narnia

Last night I went to see Narnia. I have to say that I loved it. I know that some people panned it. I have never read the books so maybe that made a difference. Either way, I thought it was great! The little girl who played Lucy was adorable. Too cute.

I remember as a child having fantasies that I was a long-lost royalty. I used to imagine that there would be a knock on the door and two men dressed in black would inform me that I was of royal descent. Of course, there was much more detail involved, but I won't bore you with that...

This movie sort of plays into those childhood fantasies. I used to love a show called The Littles. I used to imagine that there was a family, so small that they could fit into my palm, that lived in my house. I used to watch the corners of my house hoping that I would catch sight of them. I also believed in elves, magical four-leaf clovers (I used to search through batches of clovers determined to find the one with four leaves), and the guppies (does anyone remember Amazing Stories?? The one about bad kids and guppies in the closet??)

I recommend this movie. It really is enjoyable.

Candy Apple Dead by Sammi Carter

I just started this first in a new cozy mystery series last night. So far, I really like it. The main character, Abby, has inherited her Aunt's candy store, Divinity. Abby is learning to gain the trust of the townspeople as business has trickled down. The setting of the book is in Colorado. I have only read the first 15 pages and have not reached the obligatory "mystery murder".

I'm looking forward to continuing with it. :)

Books on order....

I have lots of yummy books on order coming in. Mmmmm....

The Accidental by Ali Smith
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
All The Way Home by Wendy Corsi Staub
Last To Know by Wendy Corsi Staub
The Great Influenza by John M. Barry
Wifey/ Smart Woman by Judy Blume
Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke ( I love her books!!)
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel
For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (I'm a Hemingway virgen)
Brothel: Mustang Ranch and its Women by Alexa Albert
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Out by Natsuo Kirino

The Reading Woman Calendar

This list does not include the many other books that I have purchased within the past few months. Let's just say that I have, well, 51 books piled by the side of my bed, not including the ones on shelves and in bins in my closet. These are all To Be Read. I've said it before - I am a certified Bookaholic.

Yummy Yummy Books Books

I have to say that I am disturbed by the number of book blogs that are being published. YOU GUYS ARE KILLING MY WALLET!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love to peruse through these blogs to find out what's being read and whether or not it's a keeper. Of course, when the blogger raves about a book, then I get curious about the book. If it looks like I, too, will enjoy it, then I close my eyes and "Buy with 1-click" at Borders.com. Do you realize how detrimental this is to my wallet and my sanity? I cannot control myself. I can't stop buying books. I have a serious issue.

Lullaby and Goodnight cont...

I finished this book a couple of nights ago. For the most part, it was really good. The premise consists of a faceless sociopath who preys on pregnant women. We are introduced to Peyton, a strong and independent woman who is pregnant. She has been chosen as the next prey. What the stalker has in mind I will not tell you as I do not like to give away too many details when reviewing books.

I was not satisfied with the ending. I think that the author could've given the reader a little "extra" in tying things together.

All together, it was a very good book. Lots of suspense. A very good thriller.

The L Word

Borrowed from www.thelwordonline.com




I am seriously obsessed with this show. I'm not kidding.

I'm in the middle of watching Season 2 on DVD. I purchased it when it first came out, but I had to re-watch Season 1 and then start Season 2. I cannot get enough of this show.

It airs on Showtime I do not have this channel. I might reconsider this given that Season 3 will commence in January.

When I tell people how good this show is, they kind of look at me funny and then tell me that they don't need to watch a show about lesbians. Of course, this is very rude and also naive. Yes, it does involve lesbians but it's also got some awesome storylines. It's about women. And the show was created by a woman and is written by women, which is pretty rare. It's good to see something from a female perspective. The characters are strong women who know what they want.

Lullaby and Goodnight by Wendi Corsi Staub

I bought this book for two reasons: 1. My sister thought it looked good and therefore made me buy it so that she can borrow it when I am through and; 2. I wanted something a bit intense and within the mystery genre.

I'm on page 52. So far, so good. Plotline is still being unraveled at this point, so a summary would be worthless until I at least reach the half-way point.