Anna Begins

Ya know, I'm reading the Kindle Sample and liking it already. I didn't know it was in the First Person, a style I am getting really fond of lately.

Thanks! Almost- it's about 2 hours from here, the closet coast is an hour away, in the Bay Area (San Francisco) I love your little girl- so cute! How old is she? Thanks! I think she was about 4 months in that picture!

Thanks for that! Although I might not get to this month, I definitely want to read it. I'm glad you are enjoying it- did you cry yet?

Was just thinking the same- I'm not sure!

Gosh, everyone here is so pretty- I hate to post! This is one of my favorite pictures of me and my daughter, in Monterey, California.

As a movie, 3/5 As a book adaptation, 3/5

So cool!!

I've been skimming this text book for my class and it is SO simple! I dunno what I'm going to do. I have to take the class now, but maybe I'm just psyching myself out. I mean, page 440 is about pronouns- who/ whom, etc. Great. I think I learned that in 2nd grade. And the book itself is constructed so so poorly. I ended up getting 3 ring binder things so it is put together now, but it just flops around the rings and one of the holes in the cover for the rings tore, so now the corner is ripped. Again, maybe I'm just getting apprehensive, but I'm really unhappy so far and the class hasn't even started yet. At least I can console myself thinking, at least my writing will get better. Tomorrow is the open house for Kindergarten. Last night, she was so excited, she could hardly sleep. It's all she is talking about. Me on the other hand, different story. Two days til school.

It is a stand alone book, fiction. But, yes, unfortunately, I have never been part of a book group. It's too bad short stories don't get much discussion... I almost picked The Lottery. I really wanted to say Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde, but everyone is already sick of hearing about it

I'm going to take the plunge and watch 12 Years a Slave. My friend is giving me tons of harassment, saying I can't watch Reservoir Dogs, but I'm going to watch 12 Years. I don't think Matthew McConaughey gets enough credit. I really want to see Dallas Buyer's Club: McConaughey lost 47 pounds (21 kg) for the role, going from 183 pounds (83 kg) to 136 pounds (62 kg). He reportedly stayed indoors in his Texas mansion for six months to become paler and ceased socializing. When he reached as low as 143 lbs, his eyesight began to fail. He began to feel extremely weak to the point that he would be sore from doing five push-ups and his legs would lock up after running 30 feet. Jared Leto lost over 30 pounds (14 kg) for the role and confessed to having stopped eating to lose weight quicker; his lowest record weight was 114 pounds (52 kg). BTW- It's good to see you around again, Frankie

I was wondering how to do that- thanks!

August 11th- Ideal for a book group I pick Dawn by Elie Wiesel, a short story that changed my life and I have never forgotten. Elisha is a young Jewish man, a Holocaust survivor, and an Israeli freedom fighter in British-controlled Palestine; John Dawson is the captured English officer he will murder at dawn in retribution for the British execution of a fellow freedom fighter. The night-long wait for morning, with its harrowingly taut, hour-by-hour narrative, Elisha wrestles with guilt, ghosts, and ultimately God as he waits for the appointed hour and his act of assassination. Dawn is an eloquent meditation on the compromises, justifications, and sacrifices that human beings make when they murder other human beings. 81 pages. I can't wait to see what everyone picks for August 18th- I read it to impress (and did it?).

Sail by AWOLNATION I love the creepy video too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaAWdljhD5o

I have Coraline in my Kindle Samples. I've been waiting to read it since I missed the movie. I will have to look up The Graveyard Book. Mostly, my library hasn't had the books I've wanted. And if they are good, I'm going to want them in my library... They do have all the Harry Potter's (of course) and I'm in such a debate about starting one. I'm not so much into magic/ fantasy. Looking forward to hearing what you think of Take Me With You... its an interesting plot! I can't decide which to read next, but after the Elie Wiesel Memoirs and Salt, I think it will be time for more of her There's like, 15 books I want to read immediately and I just can't fast enough!!

I gotta give it up for my Kindle. I love having a library that I can have with me at all times. I don't have enough room for all the shelves I have or need as it is! I have 300 books on my Kindle (and 280 Samples), I don't have that much actual physical space left!

Wow- good job! I'm glad you are liking it! I am 28% through Elie Wiesel's Memoirs and LOVING it. I need my computer handy though, while reading it

The book is SO much better, imo.

Tomorrow's theme looks good too- can't wait to see what you all have to say. I'm already thinking... Plus, I wanted to bump this up a bit Maybe some might want to post for past days.

Maybe I missed something in The Poisonwood Bible, because I thought it was just "a normal" read, but now when I think about it, I liked it and think maybe I should've given it a 4/5. My interest is peaked though- do you sometimes change your ratings later? Some of mine, I think I want to adjust- like they've become better in my mind since I read them.

I've been wanting to see this since it came out- was it good?

Nope not what's going on, its just me and my disease. Isn't that a song title? Seriously, when I have a cycle, it can be that way either manic or just a "eh" about everything and anything. I have no idea how long the cycles will last. I'm a bit more up to par now on reading- took me a few days with 12 years a slave because I was somewhat bored with it. But with Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands, I was almost at my pre- July levels. Should be interesting with this Elie Wiesel book (It's totally over took Salt atm), I'm really into it and think I might finish quickly...but then, there is school and I can't predict how productive I will be with this year's TBR.

Thanks! I'm getting sorta nervous about the class so any excitement on my part is looked upon as an excellent thing lol And oh my goodness about your ankle! At least the bright side is more reading! Hope you're ok?

That's just crazy! I did 103 last year, but I read constantly. This year, I'm not doing so well. July sucked big time. I'm at 40- something. I wonder how many you do get through this year. Do you count the manga (sp?) too?

Hmm.... I don't look up or watch best selling lists, so I'll use the link above. Memoirs of a Geisha and A Thousand Splendid Suns stand out for me. But then I saw To Kill a Mockingbird, and I just HAVE to go with that. It just speaks for so much (unfortunately) of my country's history. But the way Harper Lee tells the story, about mans treatment of man... it's universal. It's like she gave her all, just for that one story...her only one. (And oddly, I just added The Alchemist to my Kindle sample pile before I read the list- didn't know it was so short)

I guess it's handy if you don't want to carry the whole book. But I don't want to carry a bunch of random pages to school 3 times a week! I also just read on the inside, they have little online quizzes that go with the chapters! That sounds so exciting! Also super excited to do the "open day", it's like, the really first big parent thing I get to do! I cant wait to make her her lunch.