Breaking Bad: The Complete Series

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

This hard hitting release from the landmark drama Breaking Bad includes all 62 episodes of the show, following the epic story of a cancer ridden teacher who, in desperation, discovers his uncanny talents in the horrifying world of meth.

 

My thoughts:

Last month my husband and I decided to give this series a try.  We borrowed it season by season from the library and binge watched the shows.  In just a few weeks we watched all but the last eight episdoes, which the library did not have.  Then AMC ran a marathon of all the episodes so we were able to watch the last eight, if we were willing to start after 6pm and not finish until after 3 am.  We did it, but I felt horrible the next day as our children still got up at normal time and I will admit that I need much more sleep than that to feel like myself!

 

Watching Walt evolve from a frustrated chemistry teacher  who is turning fifty and has been diagnosed with cancer to a meth cooker laundering money and hiding his secret life from his family was engrossing and scary at the same time.  How much of himself was Walt hiding even prior to becoming a cooker and dealer?  How could one character go through so many changes in such a short time?  Was it really because he was afraid he would leave his family unable to support themselves after his death?  How had such a promising chemist with such big ideas have ended up as a teacher?  Do teachers in New Mexico really get paid $43,000 per year?

 

I enjoyed seeing the scenery in the desert as it reminds me of the time my family spent in that area, but the drug culture and taking and making of drugs was scary to me.  I'm not sure how I feel about binge watching so much in such a short period of time as well.  I think having seen this story over the course of time it was aired might have made the changes seem less sudden but I am glad we gave this series a chance.  It was very well done!             

Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire Series #12) by Charlaine Harris

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

It's vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie's heart...

Growing up with telepathic abilities, Sookie Stackhouse realized early on there were things she'd rather not know. And now that she's an adult, she also realizes that some things she knows about, she'd rather not see—like Eric Northman feeding off another woman. A younger one.

There's a thing or two she'd like to say about that, but she has to keep quiet—Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), is in town. It's the worst possible time for a human body to show up in Eric's front yard—especially the body of the woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it's up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl's fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who's set out to make Sookie's world come crashing down.

My thoughts:
So far I am very on track with my goal for the new year of getting to the end of this series and I am getting so wrapped up in Sookie's world.  I spent a good part of the snow day we had on Friday reading under a cozy a blanket.  It was a good day for it as we decided after shoveling out that we were just going to stay home.  It was like a mini-vacation day!

Things seem to be speeding towards their conclusion in the next book.  Eric has been put in a tough spot by his maker, Bill still says he loves Sookie, the fairies and fae are up to something and gathered together at Hooligan's, people seem to be aware of the gift Sookie discovered from her dead fae grandfather and they want it.

I think I am going to be a bit sad when I actually reach the end, knowing that the series is supposedly complete.  I do know there are short stories out there that I will be able to find and there is a small book that comes after book thirteen, I guess to wrap things up, but up until now I always knew there were more books to read.  With also knowing that the True Blood series will be wrapping up it seems like Sookie is just going to disappear.  At the same time, I have managed to avoid reading spoilers about what is going to happen and the longer I go the more likely I will accidentally stumble upon something that gives things away.

This book gave a much more complete account of the hierarchy of the fae and the fairies and the way the Long Tooth Were pack operates, it closed up some questions perhaps in anticipation of the conclusion in the next book.  I hate spoilers, so I am not going to put any in here.  Now I need to decide if I can wait until later this month to borrow the checked out copy of the next book from the library or if I will use my Christmas gift card to buy it!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781937007447
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
• Publication date: 5/1/2012
• Series: Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series , #12
• Pages: 336

Saturday Snapshot- Lights!

 One of the traditions my family has enjoyed for quite a few years is going to a nearby Christmas light village.

 When you come upon it from the road it is such a great sight, with lights spread out in front of you and reflecting off of a pond.

 Some people even prefer to just drive by and see it from the road instead of walking through it, but my children enjoy walking through and seeing all the lights up close.

There are lots of decorated windows with scenes behind them and places to buy snacks and hot chocolate or visit Santa.

We went last month and had a really nice time walking around.

Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire Series #11) by Charlaine Harris

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover, Eric Northman, and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

My thoughts:
My second book of the year is another Sookie Stackhouse novel.  I am working towards my goal of finishing the series and finding out what happens to wrap things up in this small town!  The firebombing of Merlotte's sets off the grim circumstances our characters are finding themselves in.  Business has already been bad at the bar due to the opening of a new restaurant nearby along with t eh protesters from a church who have been coming out against the two natured members of society.  Fangtasia, Eric's club, is also feeling a decline in patronage due to the opening of a Vampire club in the area as well.

Firebombing, well meaning friends, jealousy in the nearby Were pack, complicated blood bonds and new and old enemies pop into play.  Sookie really wonders how much of the love she feels for Eric is real and how much has to do with them being bonded by blood.  She also knows he is keeping something from her, something Pam wants him to share, but he is unwilling to let her in making her feel less like his Vampire wife than he would like.

In cleaning out her attic, with the help of her fairy "cousin" and great uncle, Sookie discovers something her grandmother left for her that sheds a light on the past and opens up some new questions.  I think it gives Sookie a bit of closure on how her grandmother could have been unfaithful to her husband with a fae to begin with and helps her to see her grandmother as the loving, yet flawed person, she was prior to her death.

I'm not sure anyone is going to be the same after the way things go down in this book.  Relationships that seem strong and promising are dealt some blows, and some of the more questionable ones may not last.  Again, I know Harris must be building up to something, but I am still not sure where this will all lead.

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781937007355
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Publication date: 3/27/2012
• Series: Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series , #11
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 368

Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse / Southern Vampire Series #10) by Charlaine Harris

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Fae War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's mad. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new vampire king. And as the political implications of the shifters' coming-out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to one particular Were draws her into the dangerous debate. Also, though the doors to Faery have been closed, there are still some fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie...very, very angry...

My thoughts:
Shelia at Book Journey hosted a collection of readers first books of the new year with the suggestion that we each pick a book for a reason.  She has strong associations for her first read of the year.  I don't usually assign all that much meaning to what I select to read, but I thought about her challenge and decided that I really would like to finish out the Sookie Stackhouse series.  Each summer I pick up some of the books, read and enjoy, then find that I don't have the next book and jump on to something else.  So my goal for 2014 is to allow myself a chance to read these books, in order, to the conclusion of the series.

Sookie and Eric have a lot going against them.  Due to the Fae War Sookie is dealing with  PTSD from being tortured by the two water fairies, Bill  has silver poisoning , Amelia is moving back to New Orleans after the death of her boyfriend in the war, and most of the fae have gone.  Dead bodies show up, Weres are changing their chain of command, the blood bond between Eric and Sookie has it's pros and cons, and someone from Eric's past shows up.

I enjoyed seeing more of the history and abilities of the fairies.  Claude, Sookie's cousin, moves in with her and he is a full fairy who owns a strip club in a nearby town.  This selfish and vain man has an agenda, but at the same time having someone in the house with her is a bit of a comfort as it seems as though her life is in danger once again.  I do wonder how this will all resolve in the end.  I know the series ends in a few more books, but after seeing Sookie in danger book after book how will Harris deal with it?  How will she end things for all these characters?

I can feel it all heading somewhere, but I am a bit unclear as to exactly where it will all end up, which I consider a plus!

Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9780441020157
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Publication date: 3/29/2011
• Series: Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series , #10
• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Pages: 368

First book of the year!

Sheila at Book Journey is hosting a post for readers first read of the new year.  I decided to read Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris.  Every summer I read two to four of the books in this series while at the beach.  Then I come home and put the series down again for one reason or another.  I'd like to finish the series and see how Sookie resolves things in her life.  I actually already finished this book and will probably post a review tomorrow.  I started the next book as well.  With the book I just started, Dead Reckoning, I have three books left to reach the end of the full length novels.  I still wish the titles somehow included the numbers.  It is easy to get confused as to whether I've read the books yet and what order they go in especially as they have been rereleased with new covers.

Hatchet by Gary Paulson

Overview from Barnes and Noble:

ALONE

Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on his way to visit his father when the single-engine plane in which he is flying crashes. Suddenly, Brian finds himself alone in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but a tattered Windbreaker and the hatchet his mother gave him as a present — and the dreadful secret that has been tearing him apart since his parent's divorce. But now Brian has no time for anger, self pity, or despair — it will take all his know-how and determination, and more courage than he knew he possessed, to survive.

For twenty years Gary Paulsen's award-winning contemporary classic has been the survival story with which all others are compared. This new edition, with a reading group guide, will introduce a new generation of readers to this page-turning, heart-stopping adventure.

After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the Canadian wilderness, learning to survive with only the aid of a hatchet given him by his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce.

My thoughts:
My son's teacher read this book to the class and he really seemed to enjoy it.  Since this was not a book I had read before I decided to listen to it.  I wanted to read it partially because I was curious and also to show my son that I listen to his reading suggestions.  I suggest books to my children regulary and take them to the library to make their own selections, so I wanted him to see that I was willing to take their suggestions for books to read as well.

I can see why this book appealed to my son and I liked that Brian's survival was not smooth.  He found out that it was diffiuclt and he was not prepared to live alone in the widerness.  He learned important lessons and had to rely on himself.  He reached the point over and over again where he wanted to quit and felt sorry for himself and he had to move through it and try again.  The option to quit was removed if he wanted to survive. 

This book was a lesson not only of self reliance and persistence, but also in what it would really be like to be alone.  How would a child or even an adult adjust to having no one to rely on and not much in the way of tools to use to make a way through the days?


Product Details

• ISBN-13: 9781416936473
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
• Publication date: 1/23/2007
• Series: Brian's Saga Series , #1
• Edition description: Reissue
• Pages: 192

Meet the Author

More by this Author

• Harris and Me
• Brian's Winter (Brian's Saga Series #3)
• The River (Brian's Saga Series #2)
• Brian's Return (Brian's Saga Series #4)

Gary Paulsen is one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young readers. He has written more than one hundred book for adults and young readers, and is the author of three Newbery Honor titles: Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. He divides his time among Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, and the Pacific.