Royal Reads

The Almost Moon

I am not sure how many of you actually read this book, but I am going to proceed with the discussion anyway. Crossing my fingers that there will be someone here who can converse with me about this book because quite frankly, I think it rocked.
Alice Sebold amazed me when I read Lovely Bones. [...]

I am not sure how many of you actually read this book, but I am going to proceed with the discussion anyway. Crossing my fingers that there will be someone here who can converse with me about this book because quite frankly, I think it rocked.

Alice Sebold amazed me when I read Lovely Bones. She hasn’t stopped with Almost Moon either. I love a good plot with some weird twists and turns. Makes for good mind stimulation while I escape from reality.

Almost Moon takes place over a 24 hour period. Interesting concept for an entire book. I love how it kept flashing back to Helen’s childhood to clue us in to her emotions. Gave us what we needed to really get to know her. On some levels, allowing us to be able to almost rationalize what she did.

I am going to go straight from the guide questions provided with our book. Easier and hey, they are good. Feel free to post your input in the comments.

1. When you first read that Helen took her mother’s life, did you think she had a moment of madness or did you feel like what she had done was rational behavior? Did it affect how you reacted to her through the rest of the book?

2. What do you think spurned Helen to seek out her relationship with Hamish? Who fricken names their kid Hamish anyway?

3. Do you think Natalie had a right to be angry about their relationship?

4. Helen’s father at one point, compares Clair to the moon. Do you think this was an accurate comparison? Do you think hearing this from her father made Helen understand her mother better?

5. At the end of this book, do you think Helen is seeking to make amends for what she did?

6. Do you think, if you were Helen, that you would do or could do what she did?

A New Idea

I have been thinking that I need to breathe a little life back into this place. Spruce things up. Try some new stuff. Well, summer is here so I really don’t feel like starting a cyber work out group. It’s too fucking hot for that. Sooo…I have decided to start a book club. Right here [...]

I have been thinking that I need to breathe a little life back into this place. Spruce things up. Try some new stuff. Well, summer is here so I really don’t feel like starting a cyber work out group. It’s too fucking hot for that. Sooo…I have decided to start a book club. Right here on my blog. I am going to pick the reads. The hope is to get some decent convos happening about a bunch of different types of literature. I love reading. I think its a great way to learn and to relax.

Here is how it’s going to work:
I will post the title of the book we are going to read. Don’t panic. I am not much into frilly mushy sex novels. Nope. No Danielle Steele here. I like adventure and plot twists. Books that pull ya in and that make you not want to put them down. Guys and Gals are welcome to participate. We will have about a month to read the entire book. I figure that will be long enough for even the slow readers. I will be posting discussion topics about our title throughout the month. With the final “meeting” being posted on the specified date. After we are finished, I will give us about a week off before we start the next one.

Most of the books that I am going to suggest can be found at your local libraries or you can purchase them at places like Target and Walmart. I encourage everyone to check out the various used book shops in their areas as well as Book Swaps. Used books are one of my favorite things.

So…for July, we are going to read Almost Moon by Alice Seabold. I loved reading Lovely Bones and I hope that I love this one equally as much. Get on the stick if you are going to participate. I am looking forward to hearing all of your comments about this novel. The big discussion will take place on July 27 right here on the blog.

Like a Nascar Baby

We spent the day on Saturday working on our yard. It was both therapeutic and enlightening for me. The yard looks fabulous. I really enjoyed seeing my kiddos working right along side of us. Not that they had much choice but still, I loved seeing it. I found though, that I wandered around. A lot. [...]

We spent the day on Saturday working on our yard. It was both therapeutic and enlightening for me. The yard looks fabulous. I really enjoyed seeing my kiddos working right along side of us. Not that they had much choice but still, I loved seeing it. I found though, that I wandered around. A lot.

I had so much on my mind to get done, that I didn’t stay focused on one thing very long. If I had a task that didn’t take me more than a couple of minutes, I did great. Busted it out, got it done and moved on. But the tasks that took longer…I would start..move to something else for while…come back to the original…move on to a third task….come back to the first for a bit. I was drive by weeding. I had three to four things going at once. Hub even commented on my lack of focus. Then corrected himself. Saying “that’s just the way you are baby.” (I would like to note here that this is the exact trait that caused issues for Des in public school and THIS is why we started home schooling in the first place.)

He is right. I am that way. I never have just one thing happening. It’s always dishes running, dinner cooking, kids on school, while I do one thing or another. The fact is, I gave up my time to focus on one task at a time when I became a Mom. It just isn’t possible anymore. I have 3 kids. They all like different things and need to be handled differently. I also have a hub that I love to be with. I HAVE to multitask or someone always misses out. The issue now is that I don’t know how to NOT do it. It only takes 90 days to make a habit right? Well, I have been at life at this pace for over 13 years now. It’s more than a habit.

What happens when my kids are grown and I don’t have them to tend to anymore? What will I consume myself with? Will I be able to slow my brain and my bod down enough to relax and just do one thing at a time? I have no idea. I just know that right now, my 200 MPH brain works. It is what keeps the world a happy place. It is what I enjoy. I just hope that I get to make the decision down the road and it’s not my bod or my brain making the call for me.

Paradise Island – a review

I received this book from Misti. Her recommendation via Book Mooch. Sometimes, not having to research and just reading a book because someone you respect tells you that it’s decent is a good thing. It was the case this time for sure.
Here is what Amazon says about Paradise Island:
Handsome Luke Fleming is a serious [...]

I received this book from Misti. Her recommendation via Book Mooch. Sometimes, not having to research and just reading a book because someone you respect tells you that it’s decent is a good thing. It was the case this time for sure.

Here is what Amazon says about Paradise Island:
Handsome Luke Fleming is a serious marine archaeologist, but the media treat him like a sex symbol. He escapes to his private island off the Florida Keys to complete his latest project, one he’s working on secretly for the State Department. A raft drifts toward the island carrying a scantily clad woman whom he immediately suspects is a plant from the tabloids. She is badly burned, and when she regains consciousness she has amnesia and is unable to tell him anything except that she believes she’s in danger. He names her Jade after the unusual ring she is wearing and tries to maintain a gruff manner to fight off his attraction. Then an FBI agent shows up and claims that Jade is a married computer whiz who is illegally selling secrets, but Jade’s intuition tells her that the story is false. Intrigue abounds in this action-filled romance that will leave readers on the edge of their seats with its conspiracies and betrayals.

Here is what I have to say:
This book contained a bit more sex than I normally read but it was not what I call a smut novel. It was perfectly added into the plot to make the characters seem real. I think my draw to this book was that it took place right here in Florida. I could relate to the references made to the locations, the weather, the way things were being done. Although being stranded on a deserted island with a famous hunk of brilliance is not part of reality, I could relate. It was an easy read without being boring for me. Not an easy task. Gena Hale managed that beautifully. I, mom of 3, superwoman wanna be, picked this one up and literally devoured it in the midst of a busy schedule within 24 hours. So, thanks Misti. It was just what I needed.

For anyone that is interested in reading this one, I list all of my books on Book Mooch. A free site where readers swap their reads with each other. All free of charge. If you sign up, let me know so I can send ya a point or two to get started. If you want to mooch this one, find me on Book Mooch – QueenieD.

Kiss My Tiara – Susan Gilman

I have to admit, the title is what made me want to read this book. And…it took me for fricken ever to get through it. Not because it was boring. The author is actually pretty darn humorous..however, this book was pretty much my attitude about life – when I am feeling bitchy. Girl power. Laugh [...]

I have to admit, the title is what made me want to read this book. And…it took me for fricken ever to get through it. Not because it was boring. The author is actually pretty darn humorous..however, this book was pretty much my attitude about life – when I am feeling bitchy. Girl power. Laugh at penises. Men are dogs. And dumb.

Like I said, it was funny. There was some good advice for getting your head out of your ass if you happen to be a spineless waif. Other than that….Boring with a capital B.

I am giving this one 2 crowns just because it did make me laugh at points. Humor is always good.