Anna Begins

BB- I loved Stiff Finished The Girl On The Train early this morning and loved it! Glad I stepped out of my usual fare. Probably won't review it, as I don't think I can with out giving anything away! Continuing on with Philippa Gregory's Three Sisters, Three Queens which I am loving... after the disaster that was The Virgin's Lover. Glad to have Gregory back at her best!

Besides my nightly viewings of The Andy Griffith Show *swoon* who I have a major crush on, I'm thinking of taking up Game of Thrones... a total departure for me!

I haven't seen Green Mile or Shawshank, but loved Stand By Me... I've probably seen it a million times

Have you had a chance to read Stiff by Mary Roach?

I just read your review of Tanglewood Tales, it's free from Amazon so I picked it up. I grew up reading D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths which was such a neat book.

I'm glad you're enjoying your library books

I'm really enjoying The Girl On The Train- but I need to be dedicated to each character sections, so I'm reading it at night when I can read it without distractions. I've got 50 pages left, so looking forward to finishing it tonight. I got two of my preorders yesterday. Philippa Gregory's Three Sisters, Three Queens and Johanna Basford's coloring book, Magic Jungle. I don't color in them, just collect them . I started Three Sisters, Three Queens yesterday... I don't usually read two books at the same time anymore, but couldn't resist

It's great to see you around!! I loved The Green Mile. I read Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil and The Body (Different Seasons) right after it- that was an awesome reading period for me.

Lol

Lol I love Ayn Rand, but understand she is quite decisive

I liked Mr. Mercedes, I wasn't drawn to Finders Keepers, but I see I should read it. (I got distracted by your review of Poisonwood Bible )

Lol at that line

I haven't gotten into Wayward Pines yet. Byw, I'm loving The Girl On The Train!! Thanks again for pulling up your review for me, it gave me the push I saw you watched the movie about Niagara Falls... have you ever been there? I was little disappointed, and it's really easy to accidentally cross over to Canada lol. We got stuck at customs

I would love to visit UAE! Welcome

Although it's too violent to watch with my daughter in the room, I am finding time to watch it... I'm a huge Ben McKenzie fan, and I'm really liking Jada Pinkett. I enjoy watching Robin Talor too and I'm looking forward to seeing him develop as the Penguin.

I just bought the first season of Gotham from Amazon to watch on my Fire Stick. *sigh* Ben McKenzie *weak in the knees* It's a little violent though and quite dark.

Oh wow- I loved The Poisonwood Bible (Noll- read that one!), so if PS is preferred, I'll totally give it another shot! I can also say Animal Dreams, The Bean Trees and it's sequel, Pigs in Heaven are all good.

I agree, Noll, I'm definitely going to have to check out The Bees I finished Philippa Gregory's The Virgin's Lover this morning, thank god. I hated it, couldn't wait for it to end. 387 pages of 487 of misery. Review in my thread. Now I'm going to try The Girl On The Train... being that I never read psychological thrillers, I hope it takes. Edited because my spell check insists on correcting Philippa Gregory.

The Virgin's Lover (The Tudor Court Series Book 5) by Philippa Gregory (487 pages) This novel about Robert Dudley's wife, Amy, disappoints. Robert Dudley was the supposed lover of Elizabeth I and Amy's death remains a mystery to this day. Gregory paints one of my strongest female loves as weak and helplessly in love. In The Virgin's Lover, Elizabeth is debilitated in her passion for Dudley, beyond all reason and unable to make any decisions without him. Pale and picking her cuticles bloody when apart from him, she is portrayed as feeble and powerless. Supposedly a romantic tale, this book depicts Elizabeth as unsound and unstable. Amy's parts are the best part of the book, but come few and far between, even though this historical fiction is supposed to be about her side of the affair. Dragging on, Gregory attempts to throw in conflicts with France, Scotland, Mary of Guise and spatterings of Mary Queen of Scots. This falls flat as well, dealt with in a superficial manner, when in reality they shaped Elizabeth's reign. Lots of emphasis is put on women not being able to rule as a king or a man, which I found particularly insulting to Elizabeth's memory because she did rule as good- if not better- than any king. Taking great liberties, Gregory strays from the truth, unlike in her Cousin's War series about Elizabeth Woodville. Near hysterical throughout the book, Elizabeth is shallow and consumed by her love for Dudley and constantly wishes for Amy's death. I guess I just know too much about Elizabeth I to let this book take over. Giggling and "smiling like a school girl" Elizabeth is a fool in The Virgin's Lover. Probably the worst- definitely the worst- book I've read all year.

Good to know about Prodigal Summer. I bought it, just because I like Barbara Kingsolver so much and have tried it, but haven't been able to get through the first few pages. I was disappointed as I've liked everything else I've read by her.

Am I the only fanatical e- book reader??? Lol And I didn't know The Girl on the Train was being made into a movie!! Better get to it

Kell- you look beautiful!

I'll have to look out for Michael Woods... I see Amazon has one on India... I assume that is the same Michael Woods? Yes! It was his first!

Good to know- because it's $15! A bit too pricey. I'd love to see a documentary on China... I love documentaries. Ken Burns is my favorite, but his focus is on the U.S.- he has one about the U.S. in WWII, one about the Civil War and the one I'm watching now is on our National Park's.

I totally agree with Sylvia Plath- The Bell Jar is one of my favorite books. Such a tragic life.