Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Product Details

• Pub. Date: May 2001
  
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
  
• Format: Mass Market Paperback, 304pp

Synopsis

For years, Charlaine Harris has delighted fans with her mystery series featuring small-town waitress-turned-paranormal sleuth Sookie Stackhouse.

And with HBO launching an all-new show, True Blood, based on the Southern Vampire novels, the demand for Charlaine Harris and Sookie Stackhouse will be bigger than ever.

My thoughts:
I recently started watching the first season of True Blood and I had wanted to have this book read prior to starting it, but with all my other commitments I didn’t get around to starting it until I was almost done with the season. It was hard for me to get into at the beginning because it was so similar to the show I felt like I already knew what was going to happen, but as I got further into the book I started to enjoy it a lot more. I can’t wait to finish up some more of the books I have agreed to review so that I can read the second book in the series.

Since I had already watched the show I had all the actors from the HBO series in my head and wasn’t really able to develop my own faces for them. I appreciate that the show tried to stay with the book pretty well. I have also been watching The Vampire Diaries and that one is so different than the books that it can be a bit frustrating to watch. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t follow the book exactly, but most of it is very similar. I am wondering if the character Tara, who is Sookie’s best friend on the series but does not exist in the book, was put in to make the show more diverse and to compensate for some of the characters who got cut out.

I liked Sookie and probably would not have guessed who the killer was in the book, in the series I think it is even less obvious, but my husband had read the book before me and he let it slip. He is terrible with things like that, he likes to know surprises in books and movies ahead of time whereas I like to see it happen on my own. It doesn’t ruin it for me, but I am less likely to read or watch something if I already know all the twists. For me that is part of the enjoyment. I still have two episodes to go for season one and then season two doesn’t come out until this spring. Maybe I’ll make time before that to read the next book!

Biography

Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, Charlaine Harris is best known for her paranormal mysteries -- a sly, wry blend of humor, horror, that has been called "cozies with teeth."

Beautiful Blogger Award

I want to say "Thank you" to Melissa at Spellbound by Books for the Beautiful Blogger Award.

Here are the rules:

Thank and link to the person that gave you the award.
Pass this award onto 15 bloggers you've recently discovered and think are fantastic
Contact said Blogs and let them know they've won
State 7 things about yourself



Here are 15 blogs I've recently discovered:

A Mom Money and More

Moms Mutterings

Fang-tastic Books

Book Crazy

Hilary Wagner

Jessicas Vision

The Door to Wonderland

Tweezle Reads

Tina's Book Reviews

Giveaway Girl

Sometimes Love is Worth Risking Your Neck

One ARC Tours

Book Magic

Kelly at Home

At Home with Books

7 things about me:
1. I love books and everything about them, it doesn't matter if they are old or new.
2. I enjoy spending time in nature.
3. My laundry seems to be a never ending mountain, even when I finish and put it all away in the morning by evening the hamper is almost full again.
4. I spend most days wearing jeans and t-shirts.
5. When I was little I didn't like icing but now I love it.
6. My favorite place to go on vacation is to the beach.
7. I love to snack and read even though it isn't a smart idea!

How to Never Look Fat Again by Charla Krupp

Product Details
Pub. Date: March 2010
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 253pp

Synopsis
The new groundbreaking style-guide from bestseller author Charla Krupp on how to look 10 pounds lighter, 10 years younger and 10 times sexier every day, all year--in summer, winter, at the gym, even in a swimsuit!

You'll never get dressed the same way again once you discover:

*smart, easy ways to hide arm flap, a big bust, a muffin top, back fat, Buddha belly, a big booty, wide hips, thunder thighs, and heavy calves-and that's only half the book.

*which fabrics, colors, and styles make women look fat

*absolutely the best shades, shapes, and brilliant buys to make the pounds invisible

*clever solutions for special fashion situations--workout gear, evening wear, and even swimsuits!

*which products, fashions, and services you shouldn't waste your money on

*the top ten tips that will make you look thinner by tonight!

So, if you've ever put on a piece of clothing and asked "Does this make me look fat?" Finally, here is the book that will answer your question.

My thoughts:
How to Never Look Fat Again is so much more comprehensive than I was expecting. I hadn’t realized it was a follow-up book to another one entitled How Not to Look Old. While we all want to look good there are some simple mistakes women can make on an everyday basis that can make us look heavier and looking heavier even a little can affect a woman’s ability to get a better job or receive raises. She does qualify that this book is geared for women who are in their normal weight range or slightly overweight, not for anyone who is obese.

Krupp includes a list of clothing and fabrics that she considers high-fat, low-fat and no-fat as well as a quiz for the reader to use to see how the current clothes she has in her closet fit into this rating system. I have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed when I started chapter one and it was asking if your face shape, hair, or make-up was making you look fat. But the common sense is there and I skimmed areas that didn’t pertain to me. For example, while not having bangs might add weight to my face I can’t stand them, they drive me nuts, so I will take any extra weight it adds for me to be comfortable.

I did like her pages of vows of what not to do. Reminders about not parting hair in the middle or dying hair black or wearing cutesy hair accessories jumped out at me. Plus I like the swap outs in each chapter suggesting that instead of one thing you do another similar but slimming thing instead, like instead of a boat neck you try a scoop neck to elongate your neck. Also the use of the same model showing do’s and don’ts make more of an impression than just reading about it. Seeing someone making different choices and looking much slimmer was eye opening.

One trick I’ve seen before but have to admit needs repeating is get sized for a new bra in the correct size and make sure it is supportive enough. By making your midsection as long as possible (by having your breasts in the right place not down at your elbows) makes a big difference. I see this all the time when out in public and it is something I am very conscious of. One thing I disagree on is putting jeans in the dryer. I love my jeans when they are first washed because that is when they fit the best, by the end of the day they have stretched out again and I can’t wait to wear them from the dryer again. Because of that I try to buy them a little longer than I need so they have room to shrink.

One of her reminder messages to all of us is that as we age we can no longer eat as much as we could when we were younger. It is so hard to get used to eating less though. She tells her own story of how she used to be able to use the Weight Watchers plan and with 18 points a day she could easily drop extra weight, but she recently discovered that that plan wasn’t working for her anymore. When she saw her weight Watcher coach she found out that 18 points was now too many and that she needed less. This is particularly hard with eating out because at restaurants the portion of food is so much more than most of us need, but hard to resist when it is sitting on the table in front of us especially when you are socializing and not as focused on the food.

My favorite part of the book was at the end. While I know I should go through my closet and remove clothes that aren’t flattering I am a bit too frugal to do it all at once. I tend to wear things until they wear out (last month I finally threw away a pair of jeans that had a hole in one back pocket, a hole in one front pocket, and a hole in the knee. What landed them in the trash was that when I was folding them the button from the front fell off, at which point I decided they were beyond repair!). That said, I am going to be more selective next time I go through my closet and weed out more items that I rarely wear because I don’t like how they look. Back to the book though, she gives ideas for what to do with your cast offs (eBay, clothing swap, donate) and then 37 tips to be thinner. Who knew putting cinnamon on things helps to burn calories? I am making better choices at the grocery store, I keep walking to the pantry to find chocolate or chips but they are no longer there, so I am able to stop myself from eating them simply by not having them available.

I think I will be using her tips as I add new clothes to my wardrobe and as I decide what to discard from what I own, but I do not plan on replacing everything even if it isn't the most flattering. I wore a sweater today that probably made me look heavier than I am but that for some reason I just love. Since I really like it I am willing to look less than my best to enjoy wearing it, that balances out any negatives about it's appearance for me!

Biography

Charla Krupp has done more than 100 style segments on The Today Show and she has appeared on Good Morning America, Oprah, The View, Dateline NBC, and has been a regular on The E! Channel and Home Shopping Network. She was beauty director of Glamour, editor of In Style, beauty editor for People's Style Watch and executive editor of Shop Etc. Magazine. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, InStyle, Glamour, Shop Etc., People, Cosmopolitan, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and Time.

Book details: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780446563956.htm

Excerpt: http://software.newsstand.com/bookrdr/hbg-live/BookBrowse.html?a=0U%2F1d9f4lZWEKnI3ui%2Fbuv2EE12V7wnaMtjPCXF5XXlFdAoq1a9CciorpvSARCliWfzn8G8W6wdSVPUefqOK487wwOe4LsmB2asdMzJtAYs7TVOtxvsdUMQX0YrFB0VZ&z=hbg

Video: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/_swf/hbgusa_lightwindowFlvPlayer.swf?quickStart=true&swfPath=/_swf/hbgusa_lightwindowFlvPlayer.swf&flvPath=/_swf/video/adults/HowtoNeverLookFatAgain.flv&titleCard=&=&

Author Website: http://charlakrupp.com/content/index.asp

Twitter: http://twitter.com/charlakrupp

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/HOW-TO-NEVER-LOOK-FAT-AGAIN-CHARLA-KRUPP/289932520885?ref=ts

Vegas Attractions

Even though we are starting to feel spring in the air, I still feel a little jealous when I read friends posts on Facebook about Las Vegas. Yesterday I took my children to our local zoo for a birthday party for two of their otters. It was so nice to be outside and not freezing, but when I read the paper and look at the weather and temperature in Las Vegas I remember how much more we were able to do outside at this time of year when we lived there. The Vegas Attractions offer a lot of options for both indoor and outdoor activities.

There were a lot of mornings when we first relocated to the east coast where I would wake up considering taking my children to one of the local attractions that were no longer local to us. One of our favorites was Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. It was so great to go to the pools where you could reach in and touch some sea animals, but my favorite part was the large exhibit at the end where it looked like you were in a sunken ship and through the windows to the sides, above and below you could watch sharks and other ocean animals swimming around. At times it felt like they were a bit too close it was so realistic!

Some other vegas_attractions that we enjoyed were the dancing fountains at the Bellagio. The way the water is choreographed to music is so neat to see. I love that so many movies set in Las Vegas that feature the Las Vegas Strip show the water moving. The one deceptive thing about the Las Vegas Strip is how big all the hotels and casinos look. I recall walking between hotels and thinking that it looked like they were so much closer than they actually were, the size of them added to the optical illusion that they look closer than they are!

While I was looking around on the web I found a video on youtube.com with tips for making your trip enjoyable and fun. The one thing that people often don't consider is that Las Vegas can be a trip for not just adults, but for children too. Obviously children are not allowed to be part of the gambling, but there are plenty of attractions that are exciting for both parents and children. There are roller coasters at the New York, New York, the Stratosphere and the Sahara. I think the MGM Grand has an amusement park, although that we never got around to trying it out. The dolphins and animals at the Mirage's Secret Garden are fun. Then there are loads of things outside of the casinos, from museums to factories that kids enjoy like the Lied Children's Discovery Museum and the Las Vegas Zoo.

It has been almost five years since we moved from the area and I would like to go back again to visit friends and to show my older children where they were born. I keep considering planning a trip back for our annual family vacation, but want to wait until our youngest is a bit older so he can get more out of it. For now we love our regular trip to the beach. I am already looking forward to it and it is still months away. So, for now I will remember the fun things in Las Vegas by reading friends post of Facebook!

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

This was the sixth story in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Once again I listened to it on audio CD while in the car. In this installment Eustace returns to Narnia with a schoolmate, Jill, and meets Aslan on a mountain. Aslan blows the children to where a ship is leaving on a voyage and gives just Jill four signs they are supposed to use and follow. The children have a very tough time with each of the signs for one reason or another. Caspian makes an appearance too, except this time he is an old man nearing the end of his life rather than the vibrant young man we left at the end of “Voyage of the Dawn Treader“.

I enjoyed this adventure with Jill, Eustace and Puddleglum the Marshwiggle. They travel north into the giants territory, where they meet the Lady with the Green Kirtle, a black knight, and giants. They travel through bad weather and even take a trip through an underground world all while seeking to find Prince Rillian, Caspian’s son, who disappeared ten years ago. C.S. Lewis does a wonderful job of describing and creating both the giants and their castle as well as the underground domain of the Lady in the Green Kirtle. It will be interesting to see how the series wraps up in “The Last Battle”. I am currently listening to both that and “The Swan Thieves” depending on who is with me in the car.

Clear Away the Clutter Challenge hosted by The Neverending Shelf

Clear the Clutter Mini Challenge is hosted by The Neverending Shelf at
http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/2010/01/clear-clutter-mini-challenge.html

I think this challenge will be very good for me. I copied the rules and guidelines from The Neverending Shelf below:


Clear Away the Clutter's purpose:

If you are like me, you have an abundant amount of review and TBR books that need desperately your attention. This mini challenge will challenge you to read and do something with those titles once they have been completed.

Your goal is read as many titles as you can and pass along those that you do not absolutely want to keep. This means that if you do not plan to reread a certain book at least once or twice... get rid of it, it is just clutter.


Guidelines:


•The mini challenge begins March 1st and ends May 31st. You can join at anytime once the challenge as begun.
•Anyone is welcome to participate in the mini challenge.
•By the end of the challenge, you MUST get rid of all the titles that you do not absolutely love. You can hold a contest, donate, give to a friend, etc. Your ultimate goal here is to clean off your shelves.
•You do not have to have a blog to participate. If you are interested, please email me at neverendingshelf@gmail.com for more information.
•Please create a post for titles you plan to read. You can of course update and modify this list at any time.

•Once a novel is completed, let us know what you plan to do with it. You can put this information beside the title in your challenge list post. Right now, I am planning to host a large contest for all the novels that I read and do not absolutely love at the end of the challenge.
•Crossover with other Challenges is welcome.


Levels:

•Packrat: Read and clean out 5 titles
•Mini-packrat: Read and clean out 10 titles
•Organizer: Read and clean out 15 titles
•Cleaner: Read and clean out 20 titles

While I really hope to be a Cleaner and get through 20 books I know I will definitely be at least a packrat. As of tomorrow I will be mailing out three books, two that I sold on ebay and one that I am trading on paperbackswap as part of my overall year long goal of lightening the amount of stuff in my house. Plus I donated an ARC to a book tour and that should be going out later this week as well.

Here are 10 books to start and maybe I will revisit this on April 1st and double the list:

1. Seized by Max Hardberger

2. Who Owns the World

3. The Twilight Gospel- passed along

4. Power Points

5. How to Never Look Fat Again- passed along

6. Here Burns My Candle

7. Alice I Have Been- passed along

8. Eternal On Water-passed along

9. The Last Song

10. The Poacher's Son-passed along

Here is my current update for clearing away the clutter:

Mailed Out these books so far through Paperbackswap:

1. The Search for God and Guiness

2. Shadow Blade

3. Jordan

4. The Power of Respect

5. At Home in Stone Creek

6. Before I Fall

7. Power of Respect

8. Alice I Have Been

9. Eternal on the Water

10. How to Never Look Fat Again

12. Interview with the Vampire

13. The Vampire Lestat

14. Another Anne Rice (can't recall the name right now)

15. Dead Until Dark

16. Tempt Me If You Can

Sold on Ebay

1. Dinosaurs Before Dark

2. Mummies in the Morning

3. Knight Before Dawn

4. Pirates Past Noon

5. Tigers at Twilight

6. Ghost Town at Sundown

7. 6 More Magic Tree House Books

8. 10 Goosebumps Books

9. 10 Babysitter's Club Books

10 12 More Magic Tree House Books

11. 10 Pony Pals Books

12. 20 Goosebumps Books

Gave to Friends

1.Schooled in Lies

Donated:

1. 12 Nora Roberts Books

Current number of books that I have cleared away: 102

Current number of books from original list of 10: 3

I'm not sure how with the number I have cleared away I still have so many books! I am going to keep plugging away at it. I hate to give up a book I know I want to read but just haven't had the time to get to yet, but sometimes I feel like I am living in a not very organized library!

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Product Details
Pub. Date: March 02, 2010
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 480pp
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9780061726804


Synopsis
What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world’s most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High, from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12 should be just another day in her charmed life.

Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Fortunately, she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing.

My thoughts:
This book really got me thinking and drew me in. I read it as part of Barnes and Nobles first look book club and after the first four chapters I just couldn’t stick to the reading schedule, I wasn’t able to stop myself from reading further! The book starts with the main character telling you that she is dead but will be reliving her last day seven times. This intrigues me right from the start, I wondered why Sam had to relive the day and if it was possible for her to correct whatever the problem might be and be able to cheat death. The day she relives seven times is Friday, February 12 (which coincidentally we had this year and was during the time I was reading the book) which is Cupid Day at Sam’s High School. A lot of emphasis is put on how many flowers you receive which is then linked to popularity.

Sam is part of the in crowd along with her friends Lindsay, Elory and Ally. Lindsay is the queen bee of the group who drives a Range Rover and kind of calls the shots for all of them. While each day is technically the same different decisions lead to different outcomes. On one day they are early and get the last close parking spot, causing a girl on the swim team to park farther away and be late therefore exempting her from a swim competition. Sam is able to take what she learns about her friends and classmates with her from day to day. On one of the days she is very angry with Lindsay about something that happened the prior day, but her anger doesn’t make sense to her friends as they are living the day for the first time.

These girls are hopefully a bit exaggerated stereotypes of teenagers, but along with being quite engrossing the story also brought to light a lot of issues teenagers face that they might not be ready for. Premarital sex, underage drinking, skipping classes, lying to parents, smoking and bullying. On one of the repeats of the day Sam does not drink at a party and sees for herself that while everyone who is drinking thinks they are cool they actually are acting stupid. These kids think they are invincible but no one is. I am hoping that it isn’t really this easy to skip classes and obtain alcohol but I know those things really do happen.

One of the biggest issues for me was the bullying and how it really does affect the victim. Bullying is such a problem, it always has been present in schools and social situations, but I think it has been getting worse. There have been numerous stories in newspapers and magazines about children and teenagers who feel so hopeless from the constant bullying that they resort to suicide. This is one of the things I would most like to see addressed in schools, and while I think schools are trying, I am not sure it is enough and I don’t know that as adults we can see how harmful this behavior really is in the long run.