Who has time to read when they're bloggin'?

I do!! Unfortunately I just don't have time to blog about what I'm reading. Which is why I am sooo behind on posting about the books I've been reading. I promised myself I would stay on top of this and keep track......*sigh*

Anyway, here it is. If you're a book lover hang around, if not go enter my giveaways and stay posted for more fantastic stuff from The Mom Nerd! (ha ha)

My reviews will be very short if not nonexistent because there are just too many.

Hard Times by Charles Dickens
I am going to be completely honest here. I had a really hard time getting through this book and actually read probably about three other books while reading this one just to have a break. But I set a goal to read "good", "educational", "classics" at least once in a while and this was just about one of the only ones in my library I hadn't already read. This book is very antiquated so I found myself having to use my dictionary more than I like to, and it was depressing. So yeah, I'm sure it had a good message about life and reality but I've already forgotten it if it did. I think for now I'll stick with Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. I love those!

Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage. I read Magyk, Flyte, and Physik.
I have been delving into the Junior Fiction section more and more lately. Partly because I've read most of what I wanted to from the Adult Fiction section and also because they are usually a fun light read with a good message and a happy ending, which I like. These books were fun and entertaining. A little too trying to be like Harry Potter for me, and a bit scattered, but worth reading. I definitely want to finish the series.

Her Good Name by Josi S. Kilpack.
This book is LDS fiction, another genre I like. It was an interesting story and opened my eyes to what Identity theft can really mean. I was a teensy bit bored with this book, but it was worth reading once.

Stormbreaker (the first in the Alex Rider series) by Anthony Harowitz.
Here is another junior fiction series. I actually remember when I finished this book I wanted to get the others but I forgot. Not sure what that means..... It was a fun book to read, and I just discovered they made a movie of it that I'll have to check out. I think this was the one I read that seemed a little too juvenile and farfetched for me but I can't remember very well. I'll have to read more in the series and let you know.

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong.
This is another first in a Juv Fic series. All I can remember about this book is that I really liked it and that I was mad that there weren't any more out yet in the series. I just discovered the next is out so I'm excited to read it. I can't even really explain what I liked about it. I tried this series a bit ago called Sweep or something like that and I couldn't even get past the first chapter it was so bad. But this one was interesting and I couldn't put it down. The Summoning is about a teenage girl who sees dead people and how she ends up in a home for "disturbed" kids. Turns out there's more to it than that...

Hand of Evil by J.A. Jance
I've liked JA Jance for a while. I'm not sure I'm quite in love with her Ali Reynolds series but still a pretty good read. My favorite is her Joanna Brady series.

Grave Secrets by Marlene Austin
I liked this book. I thought the main character was a little silly at times but a fun read. I could say more but I'm too tired.

Maximum Ride by James Patterson books 1 and 2.
Juvenile Fiction This book is about a group of kids that were kidnapped as babies and given wings of all things. It's a fun concept and a fun series, if you can call it that. Sometimes it drives me nuts to hear it from a kids perspective but once I got into the story I didn't notice it anymore. It's also pretty fast paced, I like books (and movies) that are not go go go all the time. But what it comes down to is that I am going to the library tomorrow to get the next one, if that says anything.

Only 11 books in two months......that's actually not too good for me. Guess I'm blogging too much. ;) I can't keep my eyes open anymore....

Books, and one that brought me to tears

Hidey ho! I promised myself that I would blog short reviews of my books this year but I've been slackin! Honestly, I've been spending way more time on the computer than reading. I guess I'm still reading but you know what I mean.....

So you can skip this if you're not into books or whatever, I won't cry. I promise.

Now this first book...... it did make me cry.


In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke with Jennifer Armstrong

I actually ventured out of the world of fiction for this one. (a miracle, I know!) It was actually the last one from the library in the last set of books but I had put it off until the end. The night that I posted about my other books I finally read it because I didn't have anything else to read. (that's how much I wasn't excited about non-fiction) Boy, was I wrong! I started this at about 10:30 pm and put it down, finished, a little after 2.

I can't remember the last time a book has affected me so deeply (that wasn't the scriptures). It's the middle of the night, I'm so tired, but I can't put this book down, and then I read these words: "It was not a bird. It was not a bird. It was not a bird." I started to physically shake to the point that I couldn't even hold the book and tears were streaming down my face. At that moment I was not in my bed, safe and sound. I was that mother, that was my baby.

I can't even talk about this book again without tearing up. You have to read it to know. I was filled with despair. If I didn't know what I know about why we are here, and where we are going, this part of the book could have sent me spiraling down into the depths. I still can't believe that it actually happened. I don't want to believe it. But it did, and all we can do is learn from it. And be comforted in the knowledge that our Savior suffered what those people suffered, and is there to comfort them.

Double Take by Catherine Coulter
This book is one in a series of FBI thrillers by Coulter that I have been enjoying for some time now. Exciting, fast paced, interesting, and a fun read. Sometimes her books get a little too graphic for me in the "physical" sense and definitely have more cuss words than I like but I do enjoy them.

Ever by Gail Carson Levine
I really enjoy reading Levine. This book was a little different from the others I have read by her but I still enjoyed it. It had a greek mythical feel to it and was a bit juvenile but it was a sweet story and I recommend it especially to youth.

Testimony by Anita Shreve
This book was horrible. I know that sounds harsh but I really pretty much hated it from beginning to end. I almost put it down after a few pages but I wanted to be able to give an honest review. This book represents for me everything that is wrong with the world today. And the attitude that people have of excusing themselves and bad choices. I do not recommend this book.

All's Fair by Julie Coulter Bellon
This book was very interesting. You start out with a bride who has just escaped her wedding and is trucking it through the woods in the rain. Then you pan to her brother serving as a doctor in Iraq. With some fun twists and turns their lives come together in ways you wouldn't expect, mingled in with romance, action, and good values. A good, clean, fun read!

Above and Beyond by Betsy Brannon Green
This is the sequel to Hazardous Duty that I talked about last time. Good book, clean, suspenseful, a little silly at times because you want to just tell the girl to stop mooning and play hard to get but a fun read! I look forward to the third and last this summer.

Books and blog anxiety

First off, I am having blog anxiety. Ridiculous, I know. My blog is for ME. It really truly is, or at least I'm trying to make it be. I'm not even sure what I mean by that, but I know that my blog should not be an added stress or a new way for me to feel bad about myself. And yet I always seem to find ways.

This week my sister had this on her blog: "Other blogs I read are so interesting. Like Melanie's, they are always so funny and she always has such cute pictures, or Stephanie's where she truly is a story teller. Or Sharla's where she has tons of cool giveaways and ideas or Becky's where you always leave the blog feeling uplifted."

Most normal people would read that and think, well, I don't know. Whatever normal people think. And yet I read that and think...okay, so I am not funny, don't have cute pictures, am not a story teller and do not leave you feeling uplifted. I just have cool giveaways which my sister has never entered (I don't even think she reads this blog.) Okay, I know that's not what she said. But I honestly don't think I have any family members who read this blog, and only very few that read my private family blog. I'm not trying to pout or be a brat, I'm just saying that I know I am silly for letting things bug me (imagined or not). I have met some amazing people through blogging, and just think, if I had never started a blog I would never have met them. Too sad for words.

So, I am glad I blog. But I need to learn to be okay if people don't read it, or don't like what I write, or think it's boring, or think it's all over the place, or think the colors are yucky. I'm going to suck it up and take it like a Momma. Tomorrow. (really I will, seriously, I promise)

Okay, on to the book business at hand for those who are interested in that. Only three books this week.

The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton
I have always liked Crichton. Sometimes he gets too technical which is not a bad thing, I like to be educated, but reading for me is an escape so I usually pick books that let me relax, not that leave me leafing through a dictionary. Anyway, this one was just fine in that area. It is very definitely dated. One of those books that is science fiction but a lot of the fiction is now fact kind of thing. The copyright is 1972 so a few years before I was even born. It is about a man who has a device of sorts implanted in his brain to help him with his seizures, which are really just bouts of violence after which he wakes up and has no recollection. Things definitely go wrong. It was interesting, I enjoyed it. What I liked, which Crichton has in all of his books, is the underlying message or even warning I would say about where we're headed as a society. His books are often out there, but there's always a message there that applies to all of us.

Yearbook by Allyson Braithwaite Condie
This book follows a group of students, teachers, and even the principal through a year of high school. Considering that this was Condie's first book I was very impressed. It was on a slightly more juvenile level than what I usually choose but I enjoyed it. Simple, sweet, touching, and worth reading.

Hazardous Duty by Betsy Brannon Green
Here was one of those books that you turn after the last page and can't believe it's over. And then I looked at the binding and saw the #1. So, it was the first in a series of three books that I am really excited to finish. This book had it all in what I like to read. Kidnapping, mystery, romance, and all of it well written in a book that is enjoyable to read (and clean). I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it wasn't one that really made me think or cry but it was a great escape from life and the kind of book I usually go looking for. I see the second book is out already so I better go find it.

Do you love me? Do I WHAT??!!

Okay, seriously you guys, I have so much to say I don't even know where to start and yet at the same time I don't have anything important to say. But now that I have subscribers...... oh yeah baby, I seriously do... I am a lot more aware of what I say and what I put on my blog. I want it to be interesting for you. But I have to remember.....although I love to have readers, this blog is for me. Sorry but it's true.

So, I have a few items of business to take care of in this post. First of all, I have decided to take part in a Valentine's Day Goody swap. I did a Christmas stocking swap and it was sooo much fun that I've decided to jump on the love train and give (and get) some v-day goodies. If you'd like to jump on the love train too check it out here. You might even get to send ME some goodies! Here is my questionnaire for this swap:

Questionnaire:

• What is your idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day? Romantic dinner at a nice restaurant without the kids. But since there are no nice restaurants here (or really any at all) maybe a nice candlelit dinner that I didn't have to cook.
  
• In reality, what is your Valentine’s Day really like? Varies from year to year. Usually a bit nicer dinner here at home with all the kids. Last year I got a root canal on Valentines day, bitter irony, huh?
  
• If you could have a lifetime supply of your favorite sweet indulgence, what would it be? Dove chocolates.
  
• Is there any sweet treat you absolutely do not like? Conversation hearts, black licorice(which hubby loves, blah)
  
• If you fell into a pool of chocolate, how would you get out? Why would I?
  

Secondly, I took this fun little survey about what kind of reader I am. Not really a huge surprise here. It's quick and easy if you want to take it too and see what kind of reader are you.... (bad grammar on purpose)

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Literate Good Citizen
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

That will be my little segue into my next item of business. As you can see, I am addicted to reading. Last year I kept track of the books I read from the library and I got to about 96 (I think). I've been debating about how I want to share what I've read. I know a review is good but to do a review for every book I read is a LOT of work. So.... I'm going to post about the books I read, maybe about once a week and give a small review for each. I will probably forget some because I read a book every couple of days but I do want to keep some kind of record and tell you all what's good as well. (At least in my opinion) I know I've read more than this so far this year but these are the only ones I've written down so far. And if you're not interested, no problem. You can just stop reading now. Just don't tell me you do or I'll be sad.

Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright
A SERIOUSLY amazing book! The best book I've read in a while, in so many ways. You can read my full review here.

Silver World and Silver City by Cliff McNish
I read the first in this series Silver Child last year. They were interesting but are written for Youth/teenagers and are really really weird. I can't think of a better word for them. I still can't decide if I really liked them or not.

Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
This is another youth fiction novel but I loved it. It is one of the series that started with Princess Academy. Similar to Levine's books these are fairy tales with a twist. I must say however that the book by this author that I enjoyed the most is an Adult Fiction novel called Austenland which is one of my favorite books ever. If you like Jane Austen you have to read that book! (actually, I want to go read it again now)

Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke (one of the Hannah Swensen mysteries)
This is the latest book in a series of murder mysteries featuring Hanna Swensen, a woman who runs a cookie shop and solves murders on the side. I have really enjoyed this series. I love murder mysteries and hers are always light and fun. Plus she has these amazing recipes at the end of each chapter. The only thing I wish is that Hannah would pick her man already! I look forward to the next one.

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (the author of Ella Enchanted)
I loved Ella Enchanted and I loved Fairest as well. This one is a spin off of Snow White and gives us great insight into the minds of young girls these days. It explores the importance of being beautiful from the inside and not just the outside. I would highly recommend this book, my husband even liked it!

Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz
I am a pretty big fan of Dean Koontz. I always look for his newest books and get on the waiting list at the library. I like books that surprise me. The only things I haven't liked that is especially prevalent in his older books is when he delves too far into the mind of serial killers and phychos. What I do love about his books are that they are strange, they can take any turn and that they end on a good note with a good feeling and a good message. However, this book is one of my least favorites. I just could not relate with the main character. Still worth reading once but I won't be buying this one. A couple of his I really like is Odd Thomas,The Strangers and From the Corner of His Eye.

The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
This one is definitely adult fiction. It starts out as an ancient Egyptian mystery and morphs into a modern murder mystery. I did enjoy this book, although this is the latest book I have finished and I already can't remember much about it which is not a good sign.

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for bearing with me!