saraslibrary's 75 Books Challenge for 2010 (Part 4)

Welcome to Part 4 for books #76-100. The other parts are here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, & Part 5.

My Other Challenges:
* Paranormal TBR Challenge
* 1010 Challenge

76) Crystal by V. C. Andrews
Read: June 22, 2010 - Feb 14, 2011
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: ALL SHE WANTED WAS A FAMILY SHE COULD CALL HER OWN.... As an orphan girl, Crystal was one of many -- and utterly alone. But she still dreamed of a shining life of love and happiness, and freedom from the dark legacy of her past...
My Tags: fiction, series, orphans, orphans miniseries, family life
My Notes: (none)

I am here once again!

Oui, and before I had time to post it on my previous thread. You're speedy quick! :)

I am here too.

Yay, it's a party! :)

(And, of course, just as I'm getting ready to go to work.)

Where's the pizza? I demand pizza at all my parties!

Ah, good time for a new thread, maybe I can keep up with it now ;-)
(and for a while put off catching up with the previous one(s))

Starred you. Someone has to keep an eye on you in case you start talking to yourself. ;-)

#7: Yeah, who forgot Stasia's pizza?!

#8: I could say the same with your thread. You've turned into quite the reader lately! I'm impressed. :)

#9: Like I talk to myself. (rolls eyes) Ok, Sara, back to work. What now? Yeah, break's over. (sigh) Fine.

See Stephen, I told you it would happen. It always does. It's a good thing we're not crazy like that. By the way, remember how last night your pillow was whispering obscene and violent messages into your ears? Haha, sorry man, that was me, I was just screwing with you...

*Ahem* So...V.C. Andrews...my library has the entire Dollanganger series, I'm going to read them eventually...

LOL! Oops, let that one out of the bag, did ya, Stephen? Better blame it on your pillow. You'll sound more *sane* that way.

Ah, yes, so back to book talk.... "Eventually" when you read the Dollanganger books, hopefully you'll like 'em. Flowers in the Attic is probably her most popular, but the second one (Petals on the Wind) was my favorite, because it was the first V. C. Andrews book I had read. Just be ready for some incest and nutty, religious family members. Woo hoo, sounds like a Jerry Springer episode! Good times.

77) I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert
Read: June 22 - 27
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Congratulations--just by looking at this webpage, you became 25% more patriotic. From Stephen Colbert, the host of television's highest-rated punditry show The Colbert Report, comes the book to fill the other 23¿ hours of your day. I Am America (And So Can You!) contains all of the opinions that Stephen doesn't have time to shoehorn into his nightly broadcast. Dictated directly into a microcassette recorder over a three-day weekend, this book contains Stephen's most deeply held knee-jerk beliefs on The American Family, Race, Religion, Sex, Sports, and many more topics, conveniently arranged in chapter form. Always controversial and outspoken, Stephen addresses why Hollywood is destroying America by inches, why evolution is a fraud, and why the elderly should be harnessed to millstones. You may not agree with everything Stephen says, but at the very least, you'll understand that your differing opinion is wrong. I Am America (And So Can You!) showcases Stephen Colbert at his most eloquent and impassioned. He is an unrelenting fighter for the soul of America, and in this book he fights the good fight for the traditional values that have served this country so well for so long. Please buy this book before you leave the store.
My Tags: nonfiction, politics, humor, essays, tv tie-in
My Notes: LT predicted I wouldn't like this one. Sure, I'm not really into politics, but this is definitely a must-read if you have any funny bone in your body. It's just too bad the book's not waterproof. Some of it will make you laugh so hard you'll pee yourself, or some beverage will come shooting out your nose, or you won't be able to stop drooling over the gratuitous pictures of dog testicles (hey, he started it!). Besides the "Is He Gay or Not?" flow chart game (hint: he's always gay), I loved the little Stephen Colbert Award stickers (ooh, stickers!). I wanted to put them on some of the library books at work, but I'd probably get fired (or worse--made to work the front desk). So, read it if you're not the highly-offended type and/or I've bullied you into it. Either way, enjoy! :)

I don't know why I haven't tried that yet, considering I think Colbert is the funniest man on the planet. :D

13: Funny book! I read it all in one helping and laughed through the whole thing. Colbert's sense of humor makes for a good book (and TV show). Glad you enjoyed!

Wow, I leave for awhile and the party gets into full swing. I may have to look for that Stephen Colbert book. I watched his show one night when I was over my daughter's boyfriends place and loved the show.

#14: You should. And no "eventually" either! I demand you read it. Now. This second! ;) Seriously, you'll love it.

#15: If I didn't have to work/sleep/etc, I could've easily finished this one off in a day, too. It's so funny; it's hard to put down. I knew I would enjoy it before I bought it. I flipped through it a few times at work when it first came out, but it was only recently that I found/bought a copy. Lucky me! :)

#16: Want to know the weird thing? I remember him from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, so I vaguely know who he is (plus I loved him in Strangers with Candy), but I've never actually watched The Colbert Report! I really need cable in a bad way! (But then I probably wouldn't get any reading done.)

ETA: I just put a hold on "The Best of the Colbert Report" and "A Colbert Christmas" (both DVDs), so at least I won't feel as clueless by next week. :)

Sara: You know what, I think I might just get it with my next batch of library books, assuming I'm not overloaded already by the time I get to that part of the library...

Ha! I was messing with you about that. But yeah, if you have extra arm, go ahead and add it to the pile. It's hilarious! :)

78) Fendi, Ferragamo, and Fangs by Julie Kenner, Johanna Edwards, and Serena Robar
Read: June 27 - July 10
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Meet the vamps of the Vamps, Inc. modeling agency: Olivia, straight-A nerd turned overnight star model--unfortunately, her boyfriend doesn't know exactly how much she's changed...Big and beautiful Veronika, the new plus-size model for Vamps, Inc. on an all-blood diet...and Sydney, misunderstood bad girl and whispered-about tabloid sensation. It's about time that the undead live it up...
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, horror, romance, short stories, modeling, vampires, new york
My Notes: I didn't particularly like any of the girls, or rather, none of them really stood out, other than maybe Veronika, just because she was the only plus-size model (just curious: which one is supposed to be the plus-size model on the front cover??). The vampire aspect was very much an afterthought. Foremost was the modeling, developing crushes on various guys (some vamps, some meals), partying, etc.; then came the fangs in maybe the last 3/4 of each story. It was kind of disappointing that way. But if you're more into romance, then you might like this anthology better. I did notice each story was linked together by the title; that is, each one had to use the words "fendi", "ferragamo", and "fangs" at least once. At first, being the designer ignoramus I am, I thought the girls' names were Fendi, Ferragamo, and Fangs (hey, at least I admit my stupidity, ok?). So, overall, this was a fun horror lite anthology in that shallow, bubble gum way (0-calorie, of course! we're talking models here). Out of the three, I liked "Sydney's Story" by Serena Robar, mostly because of the ending, involving the "vampire authorities" ('bout damn time), and the fact Sydney was from Seattle, WA (what, not Forks? j/k bad Twilight joke ;).

79) Soultaker by Bryan Smith
Read: June 29 - Dec 22
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Rockville, TN, seems like a normal small town. But in reality it's become a nest of evil, the home of the Lamia, an ancient shape-shifting creature that survives by harvesting souls through seduction and manipulation. The Lamia has managed to enslave many of the young men in town, and many of the young women have become her priestesses.
My Tags: fiction, horror, tennessee, lamias, demons
My Notes: (none)

Thanks for your excellent comments on the Colbert book. It sounds spot on!

No problem. :) It's defintely one you should read if you're into that type of humor. I loved it.

80) Luuurve and Other Ramblings: Groovy Phrasebook and Fab Magnets by Louise Rennison
Read: July 6 - 6
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Speak the language of luuurve with Georgia's megafab magnets and 'Georgia speak' phrase book. Decorate your locker, mirror or even your fridge with these hilarious 'Georgia speak' magnets. Use them to make up your own Georgia-tastic sentences and let your creativitosity run wild and free! For the very dim among you, there's also a fabbity-fab guide to 'Georgia speak' with her tip top bon phrases and advice on when its best NOT to use the rudey-dudey ones! So let out your inner Billy Shakespeare. You know you want to!!
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, humor, england, romance, confessions of georgia nicolson, reference, dictionaries
My Notes: I luuurve this gift set! True, some of the Georgia-isms are defined in the back of each book, but this holds the majority (if not all) of her weird British lingo. Definitely a must for any Georgia Nicolson fans. The magnets, of course, are megafab (there are approximately 100 of 'em!); I could spend hours making dirty sentences out of them. Seriously, I'm that pathetic. :D

81) Model: Volume 6 by Lee So-Young
Read: July 6 - 6
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Time and tragedy weave a tangled web of passion and loss, and old questions are answered while new ones emerge. Jae begins to understand more clearly about the one who made Michael into a vampire. As various pasts collide, heartbreak emerges, and Adrian may be the missing link that ties it all together. But love can tear it all apart--the next step in Jae and Michael's forbidden relationship begins to unfold...
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, horror, romance, manga, series, model, vampires
My Notes: At times, I was confused by who/what everyone was (female? male? ghost? vampire?). But that's probably my own fault, because it's been about 8 months since I last read Volume 5 (which I really should've perused beforehand to get caught up with the plot).

82) Model: Volume 7 by Lee So-Young
Read: July 7 - 7
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: A lifetime of deceit and pain is exposed to Jae! The truth about Adrian is revealed...but what will it mean for Ken? And as for Michael, the years of loneliness and emptiness have taken their toll. Can he allow himself to hope for something more with Jae--or will this truly be the end of it all? The final volume of Model will reveal everything!
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, horror, romance, manga, series, model, vampires
My Notes: Same as above for Volume 6. Maybe one day, I'll find Volumes 1-3 and re-read the series from the beginning (I had started at Volume 4 last year). Maybe it'll make more sense then.

83) Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business by Barbara Park
Read: July 9 - 9
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: It's pooey on B-A-B-I-E-S until Junie B. finds out that her new dumb old baby brother is a big fat deal. Her two bestest friends are giving her everything they own just to see him. And guess what else? Maybe she can bring him to school on Pet Day.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, humor, siblings, series, junie b. jones
My Notes: It's redundant to say, but I just love this series (and even LT predicted I would like it, too ::mock gasp:: ;). It'll be a sad, sad day when I finally read the last one (just 5 more to go ::heavy sigh::). For now, this is probably one of my top faves in the series, because of how Junie B. mininterprets what her grandmother says into thinking her new baby brother is actually a monkey. (Aren't brothers synonymous with monkeys anyway? ;)

>24 saraslibrary:: Oh my GIDDYGODS, I had no idea there was a magnet GIFT SET!!!! That is DOUBLE COOL with knobs, I'm vair vair excited and I must off to buy several sets, one for me and one for my bestie!

#28: Tres awesome, I know! I didn't know there was a magnet gift set either. And good luck finding it! I think it's only available in the UK (I tried searching for it on US booksites and couldn't find it), which is just odd, because I bought it new (it was still in its shrinkshrap) for $3 at my local Half Price Books. Let me know if you want me to buy one off me for the same price (as long as HPB keeps them in stock, of course).

ETA: Found some online bookstores that sell it new: Alibris (for $28.48!!), Allbooks4less.com ($6.99), Bookcloseouts.com ($6.99), and Bookdepository.com ($8.21). eBay probably sells it too; I didn't check. Good luck! :)

84) 101 Salivations: For the Love of Dogs by Rachael Hale
Read: July 13 - 13
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Rachael Hale's signature style catches the eye of everyone who comes across it. Featuring 101 color photographs of Chihuahuas, Great Danes, and everything in between, 101 SALIVATIONS presents dogs in all sorts of wonderful poses that bring out their most endearing characteristics. Rachael's secret to capturing a dog's soul is to focus on his eyes--whether they are wide and shining, or heavy-lidded, in the throes of slumber. Within this book we can see the soul of our own best buddies staring back at us. In between irresistible photographs, the books is peppered with humorous and touching quotations from well-known authors such as A. A. Milne and Fran Lebowitz. This whimsical compilation of heartwarming portraits celebrates the quirky character of our canine companions. 101 SALIVATIONS: For The Love of Dogs is a tribute to the animals who have stood by us for centuries and continue to be our best friends.
My Tags: nonfiction, animals, dogs, photography
My Notes: I "read" Rachel Hale's other book, It's a Zoo Out There, a few months back, so it was deja vu with a few pics in this book. And like with It's a Zoo Out There, LT predicted I wouldn't like this one either (go figure), but, of course, I did (5/5 is usually a good thing ;). I love this quote especially by Andy Rooney: "The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." Plus I could really relate to the dedication (summarizing: to the dogs we love, past/present/future), since I lost my little guy on May 5 and am now dog-sitting two others (they're not a replacement, but they're still great comfort).

#28 & 29 I didn't even read your review until I read post #28. Then I went up and read the review for the book. Now you have my curiousity peaked on the Georgia-isms

#31: The whole series is hilarious (well, as far as I've read up to, which is book #5). If you're into junior chick lit, then you should definitely check it out. It'll make the Georgia-isms make a ton more sense (eg, "boy entrancers" are fake eyelashes, "nunga-nungas" are . . . well, breasts). And those are just from the titles. Let me say, most of the words that come out of her mouth, don't make much sense until she explains them.

Okay I did a little searching and see that there are books by Louise Rennison at Borders. I am assuming they are the Georgia-isms books because the girls name in the book is Georgia. I will definitely looking at getting them sometime. I have a gift card for Borders still and I haven't been able to decide what to buy with it. (I know hard to believe that I can't find anything to buy) :)

I think the Georgia books are the only things Louise Rennison has written, but I don't want to tell you something not true. Here's a quick list of the books (somewhat in order) if you were interested: http://www.librarything.com/series/Confessions+of+Georgia+Nicolson .

You still have an unused gift card??! Yes, I am shocked. Usually those things don't last a day with me. :D Happy shopping!

> 30: Sara
I am sorry you lost your dog :-(
(((hugs)))

Thanks, Anita. Yeah, it's been very weird without him around. We had him for a very long time (around 10+ years), so I guess I should consider myself lucky. His death is probably the only thing I wish I had made a different decision about. He was going through liver failure, and I thought he'd pull through it; but now I think I should've had him put down, so he didn't have to go through all the pain he did.

On a happier note, here's one of my favorite pics of him lying in my lap getting a belly rub. Great shot up his nose. :)

What a cute dog! He looks like he was a good friend to you, Sara. I am sorry for your loss.

It's hard losing the little ones, isn't it? Last year I lost a dog I had for around 15 years. I was a little boy when he was born, so he was a major facet of my life. Friends come and go, and you usually only see them so much, maybe a couple nights a week at most...but I saw him every day of my life, like family, since I was about 5-7 years old. I'd lost animals before, of course...but the house seemed very empty without him, he'd been there so long...

Here's a picture. He was a lazy ol' mutt in his old age, it looks like I either woke him up while taking that picture or it was taken after a long day of chasing the cats, or possums, or raccoons, or deer... :)

#38: He reminds me of Beth's dog, Skittles!

Stasia: Haha, wow, they do look a lot alike! Except Skittles is about 20 times bigger than poor, little ol' pewee was! (He was the runt of the bunch, and we had two dogs named Princess and Peppers, so we had to think of a name that started with a "P" and that fit! :D)

#40: Skittles is not all that big either. She weighs less than 25 pounds. I am really dreading the day that the girls' dogs die even though we have only had them for a couple of years.

#37-41: Thanks, you guys. Love the pics, btw, and yes, the two dogs do almost look alike.

Ape, I'm sorry your dog died last year. That must've been rough having him since you were a kid. I think the younger you are, the more attached you can become to a pet. I still remember random family pets as a kid. Can't remember their names, but I remember them.

And yes, Stasia, my dog was probably my closest friend (no offense to my kitties, of course), because I don't know of anyone else I would feel as comfortable with sharing my food or bathing/changing in front of, etc. :)

> 36: Sara
It is always very difficult to decide it is the end... and he had a chance to pull through, so don't blame yourself for it, I am sure he would not blame you.

He looks very cute and happy in the picture :-)

#43: Absolutely! It's one decision I wish I'll never have to make again, but I'm sure I will (I have several more pets, most middle-age to geriatric). That's just it--he was in the middle of having tests done, and the vet never once mentioned the option of putting him to sleep, so I figured he had a shot of recovering. I know he wouldn't blame me, but it's the worst to feel so helpless when your pet is shaking and panting in pain, and the vet won't prescribe pain meds till it's too late (liver damage + Rx's are a no-go, I guess).

Btw, thanks! :) Yeah, a few people (mostly kids) thought he was a puppy, because he was so small and yappy, but he was in his mid-teens. Even he thought he was a puppy at times, despite his arthritis, slipped disk in his back, and chronic heart trouble! Sometimes I'm amazed he lived so long.

#42: Sorry the picture is so large, Sara. I could not figure out how to make it smaller!

85) Wuzzles #11: Koalakeet Saves the Day by Jeanette Steiner
Read: July 17 - 17
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: (none)
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, picture book, series, wuzzles, animals, tv tie-in
My Notes: Confusing: my copy says this is book #5 on the front cover; however, another Wuzzle book I own is #5 as well (Hoppopotamus Plays Detective), and all the info I found on Koalakeet Saves the Day says it's book #11. Just odd, but I'm going to go with the flow and label this as book #11 for now. And yes, I obviously loved the Wuzzles cartoon when I was a kid. How could you tell? ;)

I think maybe the 5/5 gives it away?

Ya think? ;)

Just a hunch I have :)

You should play Lotto then--and give your Very Best Friend (that would be me) part of the wins. That would only be fair, I think.

I guess I better tell my husband I have a brand new Very Best Friend :)

42: Sorry the picture is so large, Sara. I could not figure out how to make it smaller

You just add a "size" tag in your code. Like, the normal code is (I can't use arrows so I'm using {

{img src="URL"}

Except changed { to the arrows.

If you want to change the size, just do this:

{img src="URL" width="500"}

ETA: Ok, had the code wrong at first but now it's right.

I am sure I will have forgotten all of that by the next time the problem rolls around, but thanks, Stephen :)

Stasia: You can practice it on the above post with Skittles! The picture is so big it's actually stretching the screen too big for my small monitor, so I'm having to scroll back and forth to read the thread. Would be helpful if you shrank it a little...p-p-please? :)

#54: Better?

Yep! Thanks, now it'll be easier for me to stalk/lurk Sara here, so I'm sure she's happy to. :P

Great, you just got me in trouble with my new Very Best Friend, lol.

Gah! I don't know whether to say "congrats", Stasia, for figuring out the html or "hide me" instead. (scurries off to her cave) :P

Ah, a nice dark cave with lots of shadows to hide in, PERFECT! :P

Eek! Play nice or I'm sicking my cats on you! (grows wings and flies behind some stalactites)

86) Esio Trot by Roald Dahl
Read: July 17 - 18
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Shy Mr. Hoppy devises a plan to win the heart of his true love by teaching her a spell to make her tortoise grow bigger.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, animals, tortoises
My Notes: I hate to give this one a 4 (especially since all of the other Roald Dahl books I've read are 5-ers), but Mr. Hoppy was a little too devious and obsessive for me. I mean, really--buying 140 tortoises to secretly switch out with his next-door neighbor's runt of a tortoise, so she believes his growing spell works--that's love? That's just plain creepy, if you ask me. But since this is a kids book, I can understand the whole cuteness of the story (despite the saccharine ending), and loved the back story to tortoises in England. Also (mainly for me to remember), Esio Trot is not the critter's name, but simply tortoise spelled backwards.

#58: I will take the Congrats and leave the hiding up to you :)

:D Some friend!

Rethinking the new Very Best Friend thing, are you? lol

Yes, I take the title back and give it to this bottle of fruit juice. So there! ;)

I hope you two will be very happy together!

LOL! We will . . . until my bladder tells us otherwise.

60: It's okay Sara, it seems you have tricked me. I've posted enough times now I guess I probably don't count as a lurker anymore. Foiled again!

Just popping in to say I've found the magnet set over on the BookDepository, thanks! And since I have a coupon, I will now drain my bank account purchasing sets as gifts for people who I will need gifts for in the near future. Oooh I am vair vair excited!

#68: Oh, yeah, technically you aren't a "lurker" anymore. Now you've entered the "stalker" realm. :D j/k! Stalk away. That's what the Internet's for.

#69: All right! Glad you found a copy ... er, copies. :) I'm sure your friends'll love 'em.

70: I don't think I would make a good stalker. I'd keep to the shadows, silent as a hawk, my eyes narrowed as I stalk my victim, with creepy thoughts in my head, and then I'd trip on my own shoestrings and make a racket! D'oh!

Nope, I think stealth is required for that. I'm too clumsy. I'm more like a lost puppy who keeps following you around everywhere, minus the big adorable eyes and a floppy ears!
(At least, I don't THINK my ears are floppy... :P)

LOL! Yeah, you'd make a bad burglar too. Bummer. All that stolen loot wasted. ;) Puppies are a-ok with me, though. I'm a sucker for anything furry, feathery, whatever.

87) Horrid Harry's Classrooom Cooties by Francesca Simon
Read: July 18 - 20
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Most kids get lice. Only Henry would actually give them--intentionally--to his whole class! Read that story and more in this latest collection about the most entertaining antihero around, Horrid Henry.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, horrid henry, humor, short stories, england, museums, clubs
My Notes: Not as good as the first Horrid Henry book I read this year (Horrid Henry and the Bogey Babysitter), probably because Moody Margaret was front and center in two of the four stories (obviously, she's not one of my favorite characters; she's too much of a brat). But the other two stories ("Horrid Henry's School Trip" and "Horrid Henry's Head Lice") were full of mischievous fun, especially the lice one.

I'm a sucker for anything furry, feathery, whatever.

That's it! Gah, I feel so stupid. No wonder I've been so unsuccessfull, I've been going about this whole 'dating' thing the wrong way. I just need to grow feathers! Of course, it all makes sense now...thanks for the tip Sara! The ladies in Ohio won't know what hit them!

...

...

*ahem*

These children's books are making me want to go back and read my old favorites. :)

Your last review reminded me of working in my kids' elementary school office. Occasionally a kid would be sent down to be checked for lice. After they went back to class or home (as the case warranted) we would all be aware of scratching our heads. Ick!

> 74: Stephen
My husband always told me that taking a puppy (or a very cudly grown dog) with you does wonders with most women :-)

#74: Exactly! Wear a furry or feathery costume. The chix'll just looove it! XD Well, you might get the attention of few oddballs who're into the whole fur fetish thing, so good luck weeding the sane from the insane. Might want to bring some pepper spray with ya. ;)

I know--I really need to stop reading so many kids books. I feel myself getting dumber every day.

#75: Oooh, lucky. I wish I could work with lice-infested kids all day. j/k ;) I still remember Lice Day back in elementary school. I was just horrified, thinking I was covered in bugs and I'd have to be quarantined and everything. Man, what an overactive imagination I had back then.

#76: I totally agree with that, Anita. And yes, key word: friendly. Nothing repels a girl more than a rabid dog. However, I do have to add my measly 2 cents: I usually end up paying more attention to the dog than "that other thing" still holding the leash. "What, you're still here? Can't you see I'm playing with your dog?" :P I think that's just 'cause I like animals better than people; that's my problem.

Does this count as cuddly? :D

Most definitely! With gorgeous eyes like those, the women (and, ahem, some men) will come running--but preferably the 2-legged kind. ;)

> 78: YES :-)

I stole this from LauraBrook's thread. Steal away if you want. (I'll answer the questions when I get home. Am @ work right now--on break, of course! What kind of slacker to do you take me for? ;)

---

1) Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?

Almost never. Usually I sneak in a read while I'm on the bus, at work, before bed, doing chores, on the toilet, etc., so usually there isn't any food handy. (Thank god I don't keep snacks in my bathroom, right? :D )

2) What is your favorite drink while reading?

Well, favorite drinks, period: anything carbonated and water.

3) Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

(shudders @ the thought) No. Writing. In. The. Books.

4) How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ear? Laying the book flat open?

Bookmark, of course (scrap of paper, whatever). Or if I've lost mine and it has a dust jacket, I'll use one of the flaps.

5) Fiction, Non-Fiction, or Both?

I used to only read fiction, but I try to read some nonfiction to "expand my horizons" and all that cheesy nonsense. I still prefer fiction, though.

6) Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

Depends. Usually I like breaking between chapters.

7) Are you a person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?

lol, no. And it always amazes me when people claim to do this. I guess I'm just not the violent type.

8) If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?

I used to as a kid, but now I don't really care what a word means, as long as I get the gist of what the author's saying.

9) What are you currently reading?

I almost don't want to answer this one, because the list stretches back to 2009! Let's just say I'm reading 2 or 3 from last year, and about 6 this year.

10) What is the last book you bought?

Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks

11) Are you a person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?

I usually read a bunch at a time, especially anthologies, because sometimes I want to read something scary one moment, fluffy the next, etc.

12) Do you have a favorite time/place to read?

Bathroom, daytime, because my critters don't usually bother me in there. Wonder why? :P

13) Do you prefer series books or stand-alones?

Depends. Some books are fine as stand-alones; sometimes I love stories that stretch on and on.

14) Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?

Not off the top of my head. I try not to push my books on other people, because I know they're crap. :D

15) How do you organize your books? By genre, title, author's last name, etc?

Author's last name, when I can (space constraints).

88) Halo and Sprocket: Volume 1: Welcome to Humanity by Kerry Callen
Read: July 24 - 24
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: What do an extremely powerful angel, a socially inexperienced robot, and a young, single woman have in common? Apparently, aside from the house they share, not very much! Logic, metaphysics and human nature collide in Halo and Sprocket, the quirky, critically-acclaimed series about the idiosyncrasies of life.
My Tags: fiction, humor, comics, series, halo and sprocket, angels, robots
My Notes: I was hesitant about buying this book today, because I thought it would be another accidental religious buy. I mean, there's the obvious angel as a main character, and review words like "touching" and "heartfelt" on the back cover usually aren't the words I'm looking for when choosing comics. But after a quick flip-through and seeing some good old-fashioned potty humor (the mouse feces scene in 'The Little Things' is priceless), I gave it a go--and I'm glad I did! The stories only get better as it goes along. And yes, some of the stories are actually "touching" and "heartfelt", which works for this comic. Even though it's not intentionally meant for kids, the content's ok for them, though some bits might be a bit too philosophical. Out of the three characters, Sprocket would have to be my favorite, since he reminded me of a slightly better-behaved Bender from Futurama. And it's kinda too bad this book wasn't titled "May I Borrow Your Flaming Sword of Vengeance?" as the author mentions in the Story Notes. I would love to get me one of those thingies. ::laughs maniacally::

#82: Uh oh! If you are laughing maniacally that cannot be good :) Anyhow, that looks like a fun one, so I will see if I can find a copy of it. Thanks for the recommendation, Sara.

When is a Flaming Sword of Vengeance ever good? :D But yeah, I would definitely recommend that one. I'd never heard of it before, so it was a relief to find something new and funny. Good luck finding it! :)

I found it available on Barnes and Noble's website, but I think almost $12 for it is a bit steep. I put it in the BlackHole for now and will come across it eventually, I am sure.

Ouch! $12 is too steep for any book, imho. I don't know why graphic novels/comics have to be so pricey when they take less than a day to read. I think I paid 50 cents for mine. Believe me, if we had a second copy, I'd send it your way. Bummer. :(

No problem. I will keep my eyes peeled. Unfortunately, my local library does not have a very good stock of graphic novels.

There's always inter-library loans, if your library does that. But I wouldn't say Halo and Sprocket's something you have to just run out and read right away. If you find it, you do; if you don't, oh well, life goes on, Flaming Sword of Vengeance or not. :)

#88: Yeah, that is pretty much how I feel about it.

I don't know why graphic novels/comics have to be so pricey when they take less than a day to read.

I think the ones that are in color are expensive because it probably costs a lot to print them that way. Most black/white comics are much cheaper, and I guess just because it takes someone a day to read them doesn't mean it took the author less time to write it. I'm no artist, I can barely draw stick figures, but I imagine it takes a fair amount of time to draw a whole book!

Anyway, that one sounds hilarious! :)

I'm sure you're right. I guess they just make it look effortless. And I'm with ya on the barely able to draw stick figures thing. I think I failed one of my art classes in school, but I think that had a lot to do with not turning in assignments rather than crappy artwork. I hope.

And with keeping those "classics" in circulation at work, here's another Notable Read I checked out (I forget what number I'm on--2? 3?):


It's Happy Bunny: Life. Get One. by Jim Benton
Read: July . . . uh, twenty-something. A couple days ago is all I remember.
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Everyone's favorite bunny with attitude presents words of wisdom for all life's endeavors, like: When life gives you lemons, squirt lemon juice into the eyes of your enemies. Is the glass half-empty or half-full? Who cares? Learn to focus on the things that truly matter--like yourself and money. In this charming collection of ancient bunny wisdom, you'll find painfully honest twists on age-old advice as Happy Bunny shares the secrets to a happy and rewarding life. YEAH, RIGHT.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, humor, comics, series, it's happy bunny
My Notes: Worth the read, but not the price. Buy used, borrow, or check out at library. See? I actually checked out a book from work! (mock gasp) "This is a book. Unless you don't read, then it's a coaster." So true. This Happy Bunny guy is one helluva philosopher. ;)

89) The Wicked West: Volume 1 by Todd Livingston, Robert Tinnell, & Neil Vokes
Read: July 24 - 25
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: How The West Was Weird. Texas. 1870. An ancient evil has descended upon the remote frontier town of Javer's Tanks, resulting in an epidemic of bloodless corpses. And the man the townspeople are determined to hang for these crimes is in fact the only one who can save them...
My Tags: fiction, horror, western, historical, texas, colorado, graphic novel, vampires, series, the wicked west
My Notes: Kudos for getting me to read a western--just add vampires. :D This is probably one of a handful of westerns I've ever read, that is, if you include Stephen King's Dark Tower series, which kind of has a western feel to it. Can't wait to get my grubby little hands on the second one, especially with the way this book ended.

93: That looks...AWESOME!! :D

Oui, it is! I loved how the story is kind of split in two--one is the real bloodier version, and the other is the glamorized on-screen version (with a Vincent Price look-a-like starring the lead vamp--ha! love it). I seriously wouldn't pay the $9.95 it's marked at, though. I paid 50 cents for mine, and I'm happy with that :)

Wheee! Because I'm the Queen of Procrastination, here's another quiz thingy (you answer with the title of a book you've read this year), this time stolen from Ape's thread:

1) Describe yourself: Zombie

2) How do you feel: Dead Until Dark

3) Describe where you currently live: The Wicked West

4) If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Away Laughing on a Fast Camel

5) Your favorite form of transportation: The Ghost Train

6) Your best friend is: The Not-So-Jolly Roger

7) You and your friends are: A Living Nightmare

8) What’s the weather like: The Coast of Maine

9) You fear: The Other Side of the Mirror

10) What is the best advice you have to give: Every Day's a Holiday

11) Thought for the day: It's a Zoo Out There

12) How I would like to die: Falling Up

13) My soul’s present condition: Cut

90) Groovitude: A Get Fuzzy Treasury by Darby Conley
Read: July 25 - 29
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Debuting in 1999, Get Fuzzy has rocketed to the top of the charts. Now appearing in more than 200 newspapers, including the San Francisco Examiner, the Chicago Tribune, the L.A. Times, the Boston Globe, and the Detroit Free Press, Get Fuzzy has become a hit cartoon with its bitingly funny portrait of single life with pets. And why not? The laughs come fast and furious. Get Fuzzy features Rob Wilco, a single, mild-mannered advertising executive who's the so-called guardian of Bucky and Satchel, anthropomorphic scamps that still live by their animal instincts. Bucky, a temperamental cat who carries a boom box and goes on spending sprees, definitely calls the shots in this eclectic household, while Satchel is a kindly canine with a sensitive soul who tries to remain neutral, even though he bears the brunt of his feline companion's mischief. Between the three of them, the Wilco household faces a whole host of trials and tribulations that classify them as family. Satchel wants his boundaries respected. Bucky refuses to eat vegetables but insists on snarfing up Rob's plants. Rob tries to meet women, but his pets continually subvert his efforts. In every frame, Get Fuzzy depicts the hilarious war between the species, giving the animals an equal footing in hilarious one-upmanship. Get Fuzzy has become the comic strip for everyone who loves their pets with an attitude. That said, Groovitude is Get Fuzzy at its finest.
My Tags: fiction, humor, series, get fuzzy, comics, animals, cats, dogs, omnibus
My Notes: I must've checked this one out from work eons ago, because I still recall reading the preface. (It's amazing what my brain remembers and forgets--IN goes the Get Fuzzy preface, OUT goes my ability to do simple math.) Better to get this one, since it combines both The Dog Is Not a Toy: House Rule #4 (book #1) and Fuzzy Logic (book #2).

The quiz thingum is fun, isn't it? It's interesting to see what books people will find to fit the questions!

Yep, but then I'm highly entertained by the simplest things--ooh, look, something shiny on the floor!

There is at least one more quiz making its way through the group as well, Sara, so you can be on the look out for it too.

97- Gotta love Get Fuzzy... :)

#100: Thanks for the warning, Stasia. :D I'll wait for it to make its round.

#101: Absolutely! It's one of my fave comics. :)

I love "Get Fuzzy" and have had 2 of their cartoons on my fridge for years, Halo & Sprocket sounds good (will keep my eyes peeled for it at used book stores), and I used to LOVE the Wuzzles! I mentioned it not too long ago to a friend of mine and she didn't remember the cartoon at all! C'mon, they were so cool! Now I'll have to youtube them and see how much time I can waste.

BTW, I've had Esio Trot on my shelf for a few years now, and I was going to have to read it just to find out what the title stood for. So thanks for saving me a must-read-because-I'm-annoyed book! (I'll still read it, but now it's not calling me from the 2nd bedroom bookshelf.)

(edited because typing this late on such little sleep leads to a LOT of spelling mistakes!)

#103: Me too! I just love Bucky--he's so evil with his little fang and cat-itutde. And yeah, Halo and Sprocket was surprisingly good. We don't have it at our library, so that's partly why I was a little hesitant about buying it--new things scare me. :D

And how could your friend not remember the Wuzzles?? If she didn't grow up in the 80's, then I could understand it, but... it's The Wuzzles! And for some bizarre reason, I always got the Wuzzles and Popples mixed up. Don't know why. They're both cute, I guess. Ooh, and you gave me the best time-waster for work tomorrow--YouTube 80's cartoons. Thanks! :D I'd YouTube 'em on my own computer, but this thing is so freakin' slow, I'd fall asleep before it could download anything.

I know--the title Esio Trot used to drive me nuts whenever I saw it. I know Roald Dahl pretty much comes up with his own words, but I couldn't for the life of me figure it out until it's explained in the book. Cute story. It almost made me want to go out and buy a tortoise, except I'd be afraid my critters would harm it or vice versa.

Oh, yeah, sleep. That thing I need to do before work tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me! :D But there are so many movies to watch tonight... and I just started another manga series (Pet Shop of Horrors)... and I need to finish my Bowflex exercises. Aargh! Maybe I should call in sick tomorrow. (cough, cough) It might be contagious. ;)

91) Pet Shop of Horrors: Volume 1 by Matsuri Akino
Read: July 27 - 31
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Welcome to Chinatown! During your visit, be sure to stop by Count D's pet shop, where love and dreams are sold in the form of mythical creatures--but not without a catch. The buyer must adhere to a set of rules, which if broken, may result in death...or worse.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, horror, manga, series, pet shop of horrors, animals, lamias, rabbits, dogs, shapeshifters, magic, monsters
My Notes: Going by this volume alone, I'm liking this series already (more of a 4.5). I had to smile at the beginning re: the customer leaving with a little critter that was "allergic" to water, bright lights, and eating after midnight. (*ahem* Gremlins) And then there's Alice and her brood of killer rabbits (wouldn't that have made an interesting twist in Alice in Wonderland?) Even though 3 of the 4 stories ends pretty bloodily (is that a word??), the last one wraps up the book nicely, so it's not all gore and tragedy. That's probably why this series has been labeled horror (the gory, tragic endings and--duh--'horror' being in the title), because I thought this book was more fantasy-ish than scary, maybe due to all the mythical creatures in it.

My public library has tons of those manga thingers...but...I don't really like the art style. :(

Manga thingers?? LOL! I'm going to use that terminology next time I talk to a patron; see what kind of weird(er) looks I get.

I'm with you on the style, though. Manga's not really my thing either (sometimes it can be too manicky, and then there's that whole thing of learning how to read "backwards"); but I've always wanted to try it, and now I'm pretty much hooked. Plus my local bookstore has TONS of them on sale, so I can't help myself. (sighs) I've really turned into a lazy "reader" (if you can call graphic novels something to be read; I know my old school teachers wouldn't think so).

92) The Evil That Men Do: FBI Profiler Roy Hazelwood's Journey into the Minds of Sexual Predators by Stephen G. Michaud & Roy Hazelwood
Read: July 28 - (currently reading)
My Rating: ?/5
Synopsis: Profiler Roy Hazelwood is the world's leading expert on the strangest, most dangerous of all aberrant offenders--the sexual criminal. In a fascinating career spent investigating and studying these macabre outlaws, Hazelwood has encountered every type, from sexual sadists to serial rapists. His cases have ranged from autoerotic deaths to staged suicides, and have included famous investigations from Toronto's notorious "Ken and Barbie" sexual killings to the Atlanta Child Murders and the fatal explosion that killed forty-seven sailors aboard the USS Iowa.
My Tags: nonfiction, true crime, psychology
My Notes: ?

#108: I have read another of Hazelwood's books. I will be looking to see what you think of that one.

I've never read any true crime books. Whenever I wander into the area in my public library I see all the titles and book covers and think they look ridiculously corny, and so I never try them... :(

I know I know, silly, maybe I'll try one, errr, some time...maybe...

#109: Oh cool. Which one of his did you read? From what I've read so far of a few traumas he's gone through as a kid, he sounds very interesting. I may look for more by him after this.

#110: Really, corny? I guess I don't look at it that way. True, Ann Rule's titles do look kinda romancey (Every Breath You Take, Empty Promises, etc.), but the few true crime books I have read (The Most Evil Women in History, The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer, etc.), have hardly been light reading. Some are truly disturbing.

And no, you don't have to read true crime (nobody does really), so I won't bully you into reading this one. ;)

(Fixed touchstones. I think....)

Maybe my library just has a poor selection, none of those seemed that bad. I would be highly interested in criminal psychology and whatnot, but my library just seems to have the "Oh my goodness this lady killed her children and this man ATE someone eek yucky isn't it gross?" shock value kind of stuff. Like the book equivilant of that "Snapped" show or something. Nothing wrong with that for those interested in it, but I'm more interested in what was going on in the person's head, rather than the actual events...I guess. *shrug*

The Evil That Men Do looks good though, and my library has it, so if I ever do try the subject, maybe I'll go for that one. Probably not any time soon though.

#111: Dark Dreams.

#112: That's usually what happens--the good books are already checked out, so it's just the rejects left on the shelf. I don't have cable, so I have not a clue what Snapped is, but I'll have to look into it. Sounds interesting. And I'd be totally lying if I said I don't read true crime out of morbid curiousity. Some of the criminals I've read about I just don't understand--but then, people confuse me anyway--so it's kind of my way of making sense out of something senseless.

I was going to read a forensics book before The Evil That Men Do (The Illustrated Guide to Forensics, or possibly 100 Most Infamous Criminals or Piercing the Darkness: Undercover with Vampires in America Today to fill in my Vampire category challenge--hmmm... decisions), but this one was something I "accidentally" started reading during a bout of insomnia one night. I blindly reached for a book near my bed, and that one just happened to be it. Lovely. Let me say, it did not help with my insomnia. :D

Btw, I edited the touchstones for #111, because Every Breath You Take actually does link to a romance novel. Oopsy.

#113: Thanks, Stasia. I'll have to look for that one.

(after quick look)

Wow, two books. He's not very prolific, is he? ;) I would think he could fill VOLUMES!

If you like those kinds of books, Sara, I would also recommend John Douglas' books such as Mindhunter to you.

That one does look like something I'd read. And the name John Douglas does sound very familiar. Thanks, Stasia! :) (adds to her Wishlist)

#116: Douglas has written quite a few books, so your wishlist will be expanding a ways.

It always does! :D Now I remember why his name sounds familiar--it was Inside the Mind of BTK I really wanted to read. I heard it was excellent.

#118: I have not read that one yet so I cannot comment, but I have enjoyed the other books of his that I have read.

Well, something tells me you'll probably read it before I will, you speed-reader you. ;)

Well, I would, but my local library does not have a copy.

93) Pet Shop of Horrors: Volume 2 by Matsuri Akino
Read: Aug 2 - 7
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Welcome to Chinatown! During your visit, be sure to stop by Count D's pet shop, where love and dreams are sold in the form of mythical creatures--but not without a catch. The buyer must adhere to a set of rules, which if broken, may result in death...or worse.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, horror, manga, series, pet shop of horrors, animals, christmas, dragons, cats, mermaids, shapeshifters, magic, monsters
My Notes: Not my favorite of the two books I've read so far, but the mermaid story ("Delicious") was devilishly fun, despite the romantic vibe (not a big romance fan here). Some interesting secondary characters as well, like in "Dice" with a customer looking for the same kind of cat as the King of Morocco and--unfortunately for him--finding it. I think I forgot to mention in Volume 1 that Count D is actually male, though very androgynous-looking by the front cover. At the beginning, he's seen "juggl{ing} an insane, sadistic dentist girlfriend with a mafia-boss boyfriend", which are definite "woah, wtf?" moments! :) Also, the first volume's cover seems to match this book better, seeing as this one involves a very hungry sea creature masquerading as a mermaid. (Gotta love mermaids, even e-vil little ones like this.) And yes, I realize that Volume 1 & 2 have the same synopsis. That's not a typo by me; both books have that on their back (front?? depends on how you look at it) covers.

94) Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman
Read: Aug 8 - 14
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Limpy’s family reckons humans don’t hate cane toads, but Limpy knows otherwise. He’s spotted the signs: the cross looks, the unkind comments, the way they squash cane toads with their cars. Limpy is desperate to save his species from ending up as pancakes. Somehow he must make humans see how fabulous cane toads really are. Risking everything, he sets off on a wart-tinglingly dangerous and daring journey to . . . the Olympics? This is the epic story of a slightly squashed young cane toad’s quest for the truth.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, fantasy, humor, animals, toads, australia, series, toad rage, physcially handicapped, sports
My Notes: Contrary to how long it took me to read this book, Toad Rage is very short (165 pages) and fast-paced. It also has a lot of lowbrow, morbid humor--like Limpy's "neat pile of rellies" in his room: "Uncles by the bed. Aunts in the corner. Cousins next to the mud patch." and the ever-popular sport of swallowing mud worms alive so they'll wiggle out the other end--which gets a (gross!) thumbs-up from me. I was relieved to find out this is the first book in the series, since I usually end up reading books out of order; but unfortunately, I don't have any others. Will have to add them to The List.

Haha, love the title and cover art for Toad Rage! :D

Me too! Isn't it hilarious? :) And it's sooo morbidly funny, like how the lead toad (Limpy--love the name; so un-p.c.) keeps a collection of his dead, squashed relatives in piles in his room. XP Just hilariously gross!

...wow, I think I might actually have to add that one to a wishlist...and I don't do that with YA/children's books! :o

Happy hunting for it.

My library has a copy, I just have to work up enough courage to go into the *gulp* children's section. With its cutesy decorations and toys and screaming children. Eek...

Maybe if I shave just before walking in and wear bright colors, I can pass myself off as a 14 year old...

Ha! No book is worth that much trouble. But if it makes you feel any better, I work in a library and still don't like the kids section. You just know those little monsters never wash their hands, and they love to touch EVERYTHING! (shudders @ the thought of all the nasty, slimy things she's touched in the past--and never quite known what it was.... XP)

Btw, I should've been done with Toad Rage by now (it's small enough to finish in one day if you have the time), but I've gotten so lazy with my reading. :/ So many movies to watch....

Oh yes, the germs are terrifying. But the worst part is being an adult man walking into the children's section, which is right by the librarian-lady's desk. I shudder at the thought! Maybe I can pay off a little kid to run in and grab it for me! :)

(laughing) Oh no, that's probably not a good idea--giving a kid money to do you a "favor"! Seriously, you'll probably be tackled by the stern library lady and put into prison where you'll have plenty of time to read all the books you want. And all because you wanted to read that particular book. Poor Ape Man. :D Good luck! Better dash in, then dash out.

Oh dear, and what will the guys in PRISON think of me reading a children's book, this keeps getting worse and worse!

Better dash in, then dash out.

I'll have to try that, but I don't know where things are in that section so I'll have to stumble around and look like a fool before embarrassing myself by asking the librarian where the toady book is!

Ha`ha! Not goin' there, but I'll give one word of advice: curl into a fetal position and think happy thoughts! ;)

Or you could do what I do (the lazy Sara way), just put it on hold, make the staff locate it, then all you have to do is pick it up. Voila! No prison time for Stephykins. :) And believe me, asking for a "toady book" is hardly out of the norm. One of my favorite questions was, "Where are the herpes books?" Worst thing, though: I knew exactly where they were! :D What does that say about me??

Oh! I know where the herpes books are too! I'm always in the area searching for a good microbiology nonfiction, so I can walk you right to them. :P

I can't put it on hold without going to the library (no way to do it online) and so there's no escaping the humiliation of the children's section. I just have to put on my big boy pants and suck it up...

I can see it now. I walk into the children's, calm and cool, trying not to attract attention. I'm scanning the shelves, keeping an eye on the librarian to see if she is giggling at me, and in through the door walks one of my high school friends. YE GODS! I duck behind the shelves, shaking, 'he didn't see me he didn't see me he didn't see me.' A little girl walks up and looks at me strangely. I fear she is going to scream, but instead she just rolls her eyes and trots off, grabbing Toad Rage for herself while I shudder and cringe on the library floor.

...doesn't sound too bad, does it? ;)

Yay, so I'm not the only freak who knows where the herpes are. Errr . . . that didn't sound right.

And that's pretty much how I imagined it would happen too (give or take a few charges being filed ;)! Or you could always say it's for your kid/niece/nephew/brother, etc. We get those a lot too. "It's not for me, it for my _____ ." Or if you want to avoid the Toad Rage-stealing munchkins, go in the evening time when they're *supposed* to be in bed. But then it's still summer vacation, right? They'll probably still be up. Hmm, this just isn't going to work for you, huh? You could always wait till school starts.... :D

Yay, so I'm not the only freak who knows where the herpes are. Errr . . . that didn't sound right.

One might say: I frequent the area where the herpes are commonly found.

Yes, doesn't sound right at all...

Hmm, maybe I should just stop being a big baby and waltz right in there and grab it myself! ... I'll just wear knee braces in case my legs go all wobbly and give out...

#136: You could always do what I normally do, Stephen: put the book on hold so the librarian pulls it for you.

Yep, that's what I told him, Stasia, but would he listen? Nooo. ;) That way, Stephen, you won't get kiddy cooties looking for the book; the librarian'll get 'em!

#138: I guess since he will not listen to our free (and good!) advice, we should just not bother talking to him any more :)

Hey, no fair. I said there was no way to put books on hold in my library, without doing it in person. They don't have an online option. :(

#140: Tell the librarian in person then!

Haha, but if I'm going to go up to my fellow adult, in all my adult manly manliness, and say "oh oh oh I want that one children's book with the froggy* thing on it!" I might as well just go grab it myself! ;)

Seriously though, I'll check it out sometime.

*Yes, I know frogs and toads are different! >:(

#142: Uh huh. When you are 112 and past caring. I can see it now :)

>142 Ape:: Oh, come on now... if it's a book you want to read, who cares if they give you a strange look? (...and they won't!) It's no skin off their nose if you want to read a children's book! Plus, you can just give them a raspberry if anyone questions your selection (make sure you're standing close enough for it to be effective).

Or, uh, you can just go get it yourself...

>142 Ape:: I doubt they'd think anything of it, even if they knew you were checking it out for yourself, but they'd probably assume it was for your child. Go get that froggy toady book thing!

143: I'll leave it in my will; 'and his last request: Somebody please get me the froggy book from the library please!'

144: Raspberries, yes...hmmm, maybe I should use the techniqe when they look at me funny when I ask about the herpes books too! :D

145: Oh, my child, perfect. I'll just knock someone up and I'll be able to check it out in a decade or so. Yes!!

...

...ok, it looks like I hijacked Sara's thread by accident. Let's steer the conversation back to her, mkay? Hmmm, aren't her socks colorful!? :D

#139: LOL! Oh, harsh, Stasia! Naw, I'll still talk to Stephkins, but I'll talk to him in an itty-bitty wittle baby voice. I bet you'd wike that, wouldn't you, wittle Stephkins?

#140: Yeah, I forget some libraries don't give their patrons that option. That just sucks (my uber-professional library verbage there ;)! You can even reserve Internet computers at ours online (which always seemed kind of odd to me, especially when people do this from their own computer at home). Makes life a lot more simpler for us at least.

#142: Woah, I read that waaaaaay too fast. For a second, I thought you said I might as well just go grab myself! XD Yeah, you won't get any help doing that--well, other than getting "help" exiting the door.

#144 & 145: Exactly! What they said. And really, Ape Man, a lot of library staff read kids books; no joke! Some of us (not me this time; no pet-sitter) went down to Florida for a whole Harry Potter convention thing. And some of my coworkers and I went to see Eclipse several weeks ago when it came out. No biggie. We love books, no matter what age group it's for, so we understand when adults ask for chapter books, picture books, etc. We're really pretty open-minded. You kind of have to be to work in a library. :)

#146: LOL! Will do. Whether you're in the ground or in ashes, I'll find that darn book and read it to you in a little froggy voice--ahem, toady voice, I mean. ;)

Ha! Yes! Ask where the herpes books are first, so then when you ask for a kids book, they won't think twice about it. They'll just always refer to you as That Patron With Herpes. :D

Hey, I lie about having kids sometimes, usually when I want to get rid of a guy. "Sure I have 6 kids--all by different fathers. Want to see them?" ::pulls out her wallet:: Lucky for me, they never hang around to see that my 6 kids all have 4 legs and tails. ;)

Oh, hijack away. Have a few guns and some walktie talkies while you're at it, too, so you'll look the part. ;) j/k I've been so busy with my work, critters (one sick kitty, in particular), and whatnot that I haven't kept up with a lot of online stuff. Sorry!

aren't her socks colorful!?

And smelly! XP Sadly, I had to retire those old rainbow toe socks a looooong time back because they finally got a hole in them. (sigh) Now I'll just have to wait till someone buys me some more tacky socks. They make my day, more than any fancy shmancy underwear! :D

You can even reserve Internet computers at ours online

Haha, that is definitely...interesting! :D I guess some people are like me though. I have extremely slow dial-up, and perhaps people reserve library compuers from home for the speedier connection?

You can't do much at 2-3kbps, which is what I run. !!

It's probably best that I can't reserve books online. I know I'd over-reserve and have to bring a U-Haul truck with me to carry my books home every time I visit. (In fact, I could use one anyway...)

Yep, some patrons say our computers are faster than theirs @ home; plus some people still don't have Internet, which is unfathomable to me. I mean, cell phones I could live without, but not my free porn--ahem--stock quotes! :D j/k I stay after work sometimes to use our computers (not for that), because they're so freakin' fast. I use dial-up at home, too, which just sucks hairy monkey butt, but at least 1) it's cheap, and 2) I exercise, do chores, etc while I'm waiting for stuff to load, so it kinda works for me.

I thought it might be kinda fun and convenient (for me and those oddball lurkers out there ::peers through her computer screen:: "You know who you are!" ;) and post my current book buys I usually post @ another LT group: What Did You Buy Today?. I'll still post on WDYBT? of course, because I love seeing what other people buy (bad for the wallet though! lol).

AUGUST 13
Where: work/library
Amount: $4 (including 1 DVD: "Open Water")

Our Friends of the Library are so freakin' awesome (and, no, I'm not just brown-nosing); they let me dig around in the back room where all our donations are so I could buy the following today:

1) The Uncanny by Andrew Klavan -- Horror . . . ghosts . . . what's not to love? ;) I also have his other book, The Animal Hour, which I really need to get crackin' on. (LibraryThing thinks you will love The Uncanny (prediction confidence: low)

2) Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr -- (YA fantasy) Reasons for buying: 1) I've seen this checked out lots @ work, 2) the character has the same name as one of my best friends as a kid, and 3) I haven't read too many faerie books. I'm sooooo relieved to find out this is the 1st book, so hopefully I'll read this series in order. (LibraryThing thinks you probably will like Wicked Lovely (prediction confidence: very high)

3) Kiss Me Forever & Love Me Forever by Rosemary Laurey -- (paranormal romance omnibus) I was kind of hesitant about buying this one, because 1) I didn't really like her other book, Be Mine Forever (2/5 stars from me), and 2) I wasn't sure what kind of paranormal romance it'd be, since there's no synopsis on the back cover. :/ Vampires, I hope! (checking) Yes, it is! Sweet. :) (LibraryThing thinks you will love Kiss Me Forever AND Love Me Forever (prediction confidence: low)

4) The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy -- (YA) Reasons: 1) I love realistic fiction involving female friendships, 2) I thumbed through it and loved how it was written, and 3) character's name is Sarah :). (LibraryThing thinks you will like The Wild Girls (prediction confidence: low)

5) The Informers by Bret Easton Ellis -- (fiction) I started this one today, but I had to set it aside. I have soooo many other books I'm working on right now, I need to focus on them instead. Besides, I wasn't too crazy about American Psycho (3/5 from me). We'll see.... (LibraryThing thinks you won't like The Informers (prediction confidence: very high)

1-> 2-> 3-> 4-> 5->

95) Even God is Single (So Stop Giving Me A Hard Time) by Karen Salmansohn
Read: Aug 13 - 13
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Tired of hearing the same old question: Why aren't you married? Never let anyone dare question your single status again. Inside this therapeutic little book, you'll find 26 good, snappy single-girl comebacks to fling at anyone who makes you feel like you're half of a person just because you're no half of a couple. Plus, a philosophy of why it's better to hold out for a soulmate instead of settling for a cellmate.
My Tags: nonfiction, humor, feminism, self-help, conduct of life
My Notes: Probably the only book I own with "God" in the title*. :D Definitely one I'll be leaving around when nosey relatives stop by. I wouldn't recommend buying it at the listed price ($8.95??!!) however, since it's so small and silly at times (eg, "Married people are not necessarily better catches . . . Hitler got married. Frankenstein got married. Linda Trip got married."; "I can get a husband any time I want. Like that woman's husband...or that woman's husband!"; or "All the really sexy, sensitive, stylish, just-plain-swell guys already have boyfriends."); but I'd definitely recommend it to most straight single ladies (sorry, lesbianas, it doesn't really apply to women in that regard).

*Oops, I lied. Did a quick catalog search and found more "God" in my titles: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, The Six Ways of Atheism: New Logical Disproofs of the Existence of God by Geoffrey Hugh Lewis Berg, Thoughts of God by Michael Kanaly, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume, and, of course, the epitome of holiness: On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison.

#151: LOL at the footnote :)

150: Oh no, not only did she post a big list of books, but she posted PICTURES, which makes the post impossible to ignore. *hides wishlist so he can't add more to it.*

:)

#152: I know, I have quite a few religious books there, don't I? ;) lol

#153: Five books for me is considered Very Good! :D And I love posting pics (in case you haven't noticed ;). I'm kind of a visual person, so it helps me remember books by their cover. As for your wishlist, you'll probably be safe from wanting to add those 5. Most of them are kind of girly books, except for maybe The Informers or The Uncanny.

(steals Ape Man's wishlist and adds Toad Rage to the top)

You know what to do. Now start heading for that library! ;)

Ha! I'll have you no girliness never stopped me before. I happen to think this book seems rather interesing, despite its girly cover!

...or...am I talking about a different kind of girly? :P

#155: LMAO! XD Yeah, I think we're thinking of totally different definitions of the word "girly". My definition (from TheFreeDictionary): suited to or designed to appeal to young women ("a girly night out"). Deep Inside . . . well, judging by the title, subtitle (Extreme Erotic Fantasies), and cover, I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume you probably meant this other definition: displaying or featuring nude or scantily dressed women ("a girly magazine"). Still, I'd still read it. Looks mucho interesting-o. Adding it to the ol' Wishlist.

(And yes, I was a total nerd and looked "girly" up. Laugh @ me all you like. :P)

AUGUST 16
Where: work/library
Amount: $2.50 (including 1 DVD: "The Princess Bride"--yeah, yeah, don't laugh; I loved it as a kid)

1) Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?: More Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Whiskey Sour by Mark Leyner -- Loved the other book by him (Why Do Men Have Nipples? Hundreds of Questions You'd Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini), so I had to buy this one.

2) Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton -- Slooowly building up the ol' Anita Blake series.

1-> 2->

156: Oh, don't worry, I look up words all the time! I love that google has that definition feature now (if you type a word with "definition" after it, the definition pops up right there in the window. Very convenient!)

:)

#158: Phew, glad I'm not the only one. Thought I was getting dumber there for a sec. No comment on that, thank you! :P I'll just blame everything on computers. Technology is making me stupid--er!

Hmm, I do it a little different, but it's probably the same thing. I type in a word like "define:ape" in the Google bar, and it gives me a page of various definitions. One of my favorites is at the bottom:

Dog ape, bitch ape.
www.bartelby.com/81/7067.html

LOL! Woah! Now, aren't you glad I'm Such A Nice Person and haven't thought up new nicknames for you??! :O

Haha, yes, I think I'm fine with Ape Man now... :P

Took my kitty in yesterday for her ultrasound and had to destress by shopping . . . .


AUGUST 17
Where: Big Lots
Amount: $5.00 (excluding tax, of course, and 1 other book, which is going in my Private stash)

1) The Loveliest Dead by Ray Garton -- (horror) It's horror: what more can I say? :) Might start his other one I have--Live Girls--since I kind of like vampires over ghosts.

2) Ghost Monster by Simon Clark -- (horror)

3) Soul Stealer by Martin Booth -- (YA fantasy) Wasn't sure I wanted to buy this one, since it's a sequel and I don't have the other one yet. Still, after thumbing through it, I liked how it read. Another "eventually..." book, once I read the first in the series.

1-> 2-> 3->

#161: I hope your cat is OK, Sara. Congrats on the books from Big Lots!

Looks like you have very morbid tastes when you are de-stressing. Remind me to keep sharp objects out of your hands when you've had a rough day! =P

Okay, it sure is bad when you don't have a computer for a few days and you can't log on to see what is happening in the threads on here. I come back and look at all the posts. You guys sure had fun.

I fell like I lurk in your thread a lot Sara. Some nice purchases you made there. Happy reading!!

#162: Thanks, Stasia. I wish I could say she's going to get better, but they found a mass in her abdomen after draining her of a quart of fluid. If it weren't so serious, I'd laugh--it's like kitty liposuction (including the price! ::gulp::).

#163: Har har! ;) Yeah, I noticed that too when I got home. I also bought some DVDs, all horror.

#164: Oh, feel free to lurk, Monica. I read threads sometimes and never comment on them, just because I don't have the time. Does this mean your computer's fixed already?? :)

Sorry to hear the problem is so serious. :( Hope she is ok!

Where: Big Lots

Wait, this must be a local store, right? I know there is a big chain store called Big Lots, but I didn't think they sold books, especially for that cheap!

Yes Big Lots does sell books. I have found a few at our local one. I just can't stand the way they have them on the shelves. The books are literally thrown on the shelves in no order. That just really bugs me. I would just like to either have them in a nice row even if they aren't seperated by certain authors or anything.

Yes Sara my Mac is fixed. I was on the internet for about 4 hours last night. I had so much to catch up on.

Big Lots...sells books...

There's a store in my town...that sells books? That isn't Wal-Mart?

...ug oh! I'm in trouble. Please tell me Sara lied and the books are actually really expensive $20 hardcovers and not somehow $5 for 3 books because because because...*gulp* I'm going to be broke...

*resists urge to go to Big Lots*

It has been awhile since I looked at the books in Big Lots because the one time I went they had only one book there and I wasn't interested in it. I can't remember what the price was for the book either.

I think I may have to go and have a look at our Big Lots just to see how cheap they are.

#166: Thanks, Ape Man. However, I think this might be the thing that does her in, though she also has a thyroid problem, but we've been maintaining that with pills. She's not looking so hot, but at least she's still interested in eating and drinking, so that's one plus.

And yes, Big Lots has books. Shocking, I know. I think they're towards the back of the store, where nobody goes. :D

#167: I just can't stand the way they have them on the shelves. The books are literally thrown on the shelves in no order.

Gah! Me too. This time they were at least partially shelved. A lot were up on the tippy-top shelf, so it kind of pays to be tall. I was *almost* gonna start climbing. :D j/k

(applauds Monica's computer getting fixed) Yay, finally! Glad to have you back. :) Four hours? Pshaw, that's nothing. I could do that easily on the weekend. ;)

#168: Wal-Mart . . . no, definitely not Wally World. I've been in that store maybe once or twice, but never bought anything. They're really not that well priced like everyone keeps saying.

Please tell me Sara lied

Lol! No, I didn't lie, BUT it was actually 4 books for $5 (one I didn't list for personal reasons).

(pats The Ape on the head--"There, there"--then pushes him towards Big Lots)

I won't promise they have the best selection, but a lot of them are fairly current. Good luck!

#169: Yeah, that was one reason why I stopped by, because I hadn't been in there in ages. Usually they have junk I don't need, but this time they had a good book/DVD selection (imo, anyway). And I thought it was funny: the two paperbacks I got--The Loveliest Dead and Ghost Monster--were the most expensive @ $2 each, and it was the two hardbacks that were 50 cents each. Go figure!

...I'm still awestruck...Big Lots has books...at these prices...

I'll have to check it out...sometime...

#171: sometime...

Ha! You sound like me. "Oh, sure, I'll read that." Under breath: "Eventually."

I'm surprised @ their prices too. The books aren't used (as far as I can tell), but they're not all #1 sellers either.

Yeah the books are ones that you don't find at the big name book stores very often. The one I had seen was some political book that just looked really boring.

I didn't make it to Big Lots today. I may try tomorrow since I have to go to the Library to pick up a book I reserved for myself. I reserved Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. Now I also want to get the book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. I went and saw a play tonight and now I am in the mood to read the book.

Now Walmart is a store you have to know what you are getting. Some prices are good and some are rip offs. I know some people that work there so they let me know when there is a good sale. I was behind a woman once and she bought these t-shirts about 4 and her total bill came to 4 cents. That was cheap and they weren't bad shirts. For 4 cents I would have bought them too.

Now I think I need to get to bed because I am extremely tired and my kitty cat went upstairs and she will be waiting for me.

#173: Well, yeah! For 4 cents, I'd wear just about any kind of t-shirt. (rethinks that) Unless it had tassles or sequin or was smaller than my bra.

Another book I remember buying a long time back @ Big Lots was Hell's Belle by Jane Holleman. Or maybe it was Killer Gorgeous. Hmm, now I can't remember which one it was. Doesn't matter really; all I know is that it was cheap. :)

I do regret not buying a couple Daughters of the Moon books I saw last week (instead I traded them for some DVDs), because I later realized I didn't have them in my collection. D'oh!

Good luck with Julie and Julia. Did you see the movie already? It's not really my thing, so I never checked it out, but I see a lot of our patrons putting holds on both the movie and book.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde . . . hmm, I'm ashamed to say I've never read that one yet. I've seen plenty of remakes of it though. :) Maybe you'll find a copy of it at the library tomorrow.

172: Ok ok, I'll have to go sometime soon! ;)

Yeah suuure. I'll believe it when I see it. ;) j/k. Hope yours has a better selection!

I adore you dear, but really? Yet ANOTHER place where I have to avoid buying books? And of course there's one a few miles from my house that I rarely go into, but now, NOW, I have no other option but to enter and purchase cheap books. Because they're there, if for no other reason.

You are officially a Bad Influence. And I LOVE IT! :-)

#174: I have seen the movie and that is why I decided to read the book. It don't really think it is something I would buy to own that is why I borrowed it from the library. I did find a copy of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at the library except it also had all these other stories in it so I decided to buy the book instead at Borders. It was only $3.95 and than I purchase more books to use up my $30 gift card that I have be patiently waiting to use for books I really wanted. I have never read Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and I am a lot older then you so don't be ashamed in not having read it yet. I only want to read it because of the musical I saw on Friday night. The story just looked fantastic during the show, I think the guy who played Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde did an awesome job and just made the story even more interesting.

Happy Reading!!!

(Sorry, belated!.)

#177: Yes, that is my plan, you see? To make everyone go into as much debt as me with purchasing books they don't really need. ;) Moi, a bad influence?? LOL. I really need a tshirt that says that!

#178: Good luck with those two books. And I'm impressed you can hold out on using your gift card. When I get one, I usually spend it within a week, if not a day. :D

(Another belated post. Better late than never, right? ;)


AUGUST 19
Where: work/library
Amount: $4

Obviously, someone donated a lot of old kids books. Nobody else reads them, but I love 'em. :)

1) Desdemona--Twelve Going on Desperate by Beverly Keller -- (kids) Of course this would be book #2 and I don't have book #1 yet. Still, I might just go ahead and read this one out of order.

2) The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes -- (kids) I thought I had read this book as a kid, but apparently not. Maybe it was another Eleanor Estes book I was thinking of? Hmmm.

3) The Boonsville Bombers by Alison Cragin Herzig -- (kids)

4) Your Former Friend, Matthew by LouAnn Gaeddert -- (kids)

5) The Journals of Eleanor Druse: My Investigation of the Kingdom Hospital Incident by Eleanor Druse -- (horror) I never watched Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital, but I figure *eventually* since it's Stephen King.

6) Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer -- (YA paranormal romance) I'm debating on whether or not to read this one this year. I've been averaging one Twilight book per year (that's about all I can handle), so it's about time to wrap this series up, I'd say. I just don't want it to take me months to read like the last one.

1-> 2-> 3-> 4-> 5-> 6->

---

AUGUST 20
Where: work/library
Amount: $1

1) Horns by Joe Hill -- (horror) One of the nice things about not having any coworkers who're into horror: there's no fighting over donations. It's mine--BWA HA!--all mine! And this one's oh so very tempting to want to start too. Must resist though. I have half a dozen other books I need to finish first. (covets from across the room)

1->

> 180:
maybe Ginger Pye or Pinky Pye, I read those two by Eleanor Estes.

I've been wanting to read Horns for awhile. My library has a copy, so it's on my "I'll get around to it eventually" radar.

#181: (takes a quick peak) Nope, unfortunately, it wasn't either one of those. :( It may not have even been a Eleanor Estes book, come to think of it. All I remember is there being "dresses" in the title or on the cover, so who knows. Thanks, though, Stasia! :) I'll have to peruse the "dress" tags on LT now and see if I can figure it out.... (And I hope that didn't sound sarcastic. For some reason, everything I write today sounds sarcastic. Hmm.)

#182: I've been doing that with his 20th Century Ghosts book. I don't know why, but I keep avoiding it, probably because I've already flipped through it and wasn't entirely won over. I think I was unintentionally comparing him to his father (Stephen King), which isn't fair.

Horns is another story. It's captivating right from the first page:

Chapter One

Ignatius Martin Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke the next morning with a headache, put his hands to his temples, and felt something unfamiliar, a pair of knobby pointed protuberances. He was so ill—wet-eyed and weak—he didn’t think anything of it at first, was too hungover for thinking or worry.

But when he was swaying above the toilet, he glanced at himself in the mirror over the sink and saw he had grown horns while he slept. He lurched in surprise, and for the second time in twelve hours he pissed on his feet.*

And that's it of page 1 and chapter 1. Now you can officially say you've read some of Joe Hill. Or at least the first chapter. :)

*© joe hill and all that legal mumbo-jumbo. Don't want to get sued now, do we? ;)

Hi - Horns is a fun read, as is his Heart-Shaped Box. Funny, I've had 20th Century Ghosts on my shelf for a couple of years and haven't read it yet. I don't know why I'm avoiding it.

Joe Hill is an author I have been wanting to read I just never take the time to read his books. I have Heart Shaped Box to read.

Now Sara about the Twilight book Breaking Dawn I personally loved that book out of all of them. I don't know why I just did. I hope you are able to read Breaking Dawn faster then you have read the other ones. I know alot of people don't care for the books for many reasons. I just loved the books as a nice fluff read for me more then anything else.

#184: I also have Heart-Shaped Box by him (I'm with ya--I'm avoiding it, too, for some odd reason), but I think I'm going to read Horns before all the others. I don't know. Like you said, it sounds like a fun read; and what's not to like about a revenge story with the devil? :D

#185: Oh, awesome. We should all put that one on our TBR list for this year or next then! :)

That's what I heard about Breaking Dawn (it being some people's favorites). I tried to tune out my coworkers when they'd talk about it, but unfortunately, I already know what's going to happen in some of it. :/ Grrrr. And yes, the series is no classic like The Lord of the Rings, but I'm always surprised at how much some people hate the Twilight series. My main gripe is how looooong the books are, but it's mostly "nice fluff", like you said. I love vampires, werewolves, the Washington setting (since I live here), and I've really gotten into the movies. I even own a couple Twilight t-shirts my coworkers and (some) patrons love. :D

96) Dogwitch: Season One: Direct to Video by Daniel Schaffer
Read: Aug. 27 - 29
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Meet Violet Grimm, arcane sex symbol extraordinaire. Exiled to the Banewoods for practicing the most dangerous form of Molotov magic, this seductive former starlet continues to entertain by releasing underground videos of her terrifying exploits. But Violet's quickly learning that fame's not all it's cracked up to be! The only way to fend off deranged fans, malevolent dolls and frisky demons? Get back to B-movie basics: hack 'n' slash a-go-go!
My Tags: fiction, horror, graphic novel, series, dogwitch, witches
My Notes: Freaky as hell (in a good way), especially when Violet accidentally gives birth to mini-Violets. Oh, and who can forget the chainsaw-wielding skunkdevils? It all makes for interesting nightmares.

arcane sex symbol extraordinaire

I'm sold! :)

I got bad news. My town has no Big Lots! Yep, it closed. It was in the far side of town, not a lot of business in the area, everything that opens up down there runs out of business real quick. Krogers and Big Lots have been the only successful businesses around there. As it turns out, Big Lots has closed recently. Didn't even know it. It's a really tiny little mini-Sears now. :(

So, it's official again, no books in my town! None!

#188: Such a sweet girl, huh? :D Just the type to take home to Mom and Dad (if they were blind and deaf, of course, but preferrably comatose ;).

No Big Lots??! (gasps) The horror! How could they not have one near you? And Sears--yeah, I doubt they'll have books there, even in the "softer side" of Sears. Ooh, Krogers. Love them! They're the only place I can find tofu shirataki noodles. Ours is called Fred Meyer's or QFC out here, though. It's all the same company. Totally got off topic there. Sorry. :) But really, I think it's all a big conspiracy to keep everyone illiterate, especially people named Stephen. Take their Big Lots away, and no more books. Hmm, something tells me I'm on to something. Or smoking something. Or hearing something. Ha!

I hate to rub it in, but I found a TON of books yesterday--not @ Big Lots this time, but Half Price Books. Please tell me they have one near you, even if you're lying! :D Everyone needs a cheap bookstore like this nearby.

I posted my buys on another group thread, but here's my loot (sorry if the touchstones don't work; I'm lazy today):

* Trickster's Queen by Tamora Pierce
* Down Sand Mountain by Steve Watkins
* The Twilight Companion: The Unauthorized Guide to the Series by Lois H. Gresh
* Dogwitch: Season 1: Direct to Video by Daniel Schaffer
* Crawl Space 1: XXXombies by Rick Remender, et al.
* The Toxic Avenger and Other Tromatic Tales by Lloyd Kaufman
* Redrum 327 by Ya-Seong Ko
* Pretty Face #s 3 & 5 by Yasuhiro Kano
* Death: At Death's Door by Jill Thompson
* Arm of Kannon: Volume 5 by Masakazu Yamaguchi
* Nobody True by James Herbert
* Us by Richard Mason
* Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber
* Paperquake by Kathryn Reiss
* Blood Rites by Elaine Bergstrom
* Stuff On My Cat by Mario Garza
* Dust of Eden by Thomas Sullivan
* Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters
* Never After by Laurell K. Hamilton, et al.
* My Zombie Valentine by Katie MacAlister, et al.
* Hunting the Hunter by Shiloh Walker
* Why Do Men Have Nipples? by Mark Leyner, et al.

Oh, yeah, and here's my buy for today @ $3 (plus tax), which was kinda pricey for me (I don't like paying more than $1 for a kids book):


97) Bossy Bear by David Horvath
Read: Aug. 28 - 28
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Bossy Bear is very bossy. He wants everything his way and he wants it NOW! In his picture book debut, the founder of the hugely successful Uglydolls franchise has created an irresistible new children’s book character. With bold graphic art and hilarious, simple text, this book will have young readers recognizing -- and laughing at -- their own bossy tendencies.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, picture book, friendship, humor, animals, bears, series, bossy bear
My Notes: I bought this one at Fred Meyer's today after reading it in the store, taking me all of 5 seconds to finish. Why buy it then since I've already read it? Well, duh, my inner bossy bear told me to, and you have to appease that little sucker--or else! Plus it says "Mine" on the front cover, so obviously it's mine. :P

#189: Wow! Great haul, Sara!

Thanks, Stasia. My checking account's really feeling it, though. :D (wonders when her next pay day is)

#192: Oh well, it's only money, right? And what better to spend money on than books!

I don't make enough to be that carefree, but you do have a good point. Two things I don't mind going into debt over--books and my pets.

Clearly, I'm padding this thread so I can hit 100 and move on to Part 5, so bear with me through another couple brainless reads. . . .


98) Stuff On My Cat: The Book by Mario Garza
Read: Aug. 29 - 29
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: It began with a handful of digital photographs of office supplies, toys, and spare computer parts thoughtfully placed on Mario Garza's snoozing cat, Love. Over time, the objects became bigger: remote controls, shoes, empty pizza boxes. And then cat owners everywhere were sucked into the Internet phenomenon that is defined by a simple motto: stuff + cats = awesome. From Stuffonmycat.com (the amazingly popular website that redefines hilarious and that was named one of the coolest sites of the year by Yahoo! And GQ magazine) comes Stuff On My Cat: The Book. Culled from the thousands of outrageous photographs submitted by mischievous animal lovers, here are 200 of the most unbelievably entertaining images of cats with all manner of things on them: wigs, Easter eggs, dogs, cheeseburgers, cookware, gummi bears, action figures, tiaras, beer cans, pinecones, a statue of the Buddha, and much more. An introduction by the site's creator explains the Stuff on My Cat philosophy, and playful illustrations and graphics are sprinkled throughout. Just try to keep a straight face.
My Tags: nonfiction, humor, photography, animals, cats, series, stuff on my cat
My Notes: "LibraryThing thinks you probably won't like Stuff on My Cat: The Book (prediction confidence: low)." Seriously, LT, what are you smoking?! Me? Not like a cat photography book?? Pshaw! I'd like to see the day. Btw, this is a re-read, and I use the term "read" loosely, because there are almost no words except for maybe the intro. I checked it out from work a year or two ago, and luckily found a copy to buy a couple days ago, so I can stop flipping through it at work. (*ahem* Like I said: "stop flipping through it at work." ::taps foot:: Stop it, Sara. I said stop! Get back to work.) Definitely recommended to the Lolcat/Bad Cat fans. Now I just need to get my paws on the sequel--More Stuff on My Cat: 2x the Stuff 2x the Cats = 4x the Awesome--and I'll be a happy monkey the cat's meow.

Sara the happy monkey. . .

LOL! Well, you definitely have the hair just about right first thing in the morning. Thanks for the image!

I actually thought that since the book was about cats, you should have said that you were going to be the cat's meow or some such :)

Ha! I really should say that, shouldn't I? (scrolls up to scratch out "a happy monkey" and inserts "the cat's meow") Brilliant thinking, Stasia.

ETA: And now that you mention it, I just realized I typed in "paws" instead of "hands". Major "d'oh!" moment there. But I'm leaving it. I'm too tired.

Off to search for cat. . .

I was looking for a happy cat, but think this might suit you better :)

LOL! Agreed. Besides, "happy" and "cat" just don't go together. Thanks again for the awesome pic! I R now goin' to bed. . . .

'Night, Sara!

189: Well...no, no Half Price Books. There are officially NO books in my town outside of the public library and...Wal-Mart. The nearest town with books is probably about 30-45 minutes away. *shrug*

There was a used bookstore here years ago, but they moved out. It was probably for the best, a few months after they moved to a different city the house it was operated in burned down. It's too bad, because it looks like it was a pretty cool place. :(

#204: It does look like a cool place!

#203: G'nite, Stasia. And good morning. (Ha! I'm awake before noon on a weekend. Won't my mom be pleased? But now the question is "will I be showered and dressed before noon?" Ha! Not likely. Never happened when I was a kid; it's not gonna happen now I'm an adult. ;)

#204: (passes out from shock) It's official, Stephen: "they" are in a conspiracy together--"they" being the public library and Wal-Mart, of course. I say you camp out in front of one or both buildings and picket them and don't read another book until they get a Half Price Books store out there in Backwoods, Ohio. That'll learn 'em. Or you could just drive for 30-45 minutes. Either way. ;)

Great Expectations looks awesome, btw! What's not to like about a place with a giant neon "Open" sign in the bedroom window? :D (thinks she needs to get her one of them thingies) And they actually serve food I can eat. Nice! Too about the pyro party in it, though. :( At least no books were harmed. Oh yeah, or people. ;)

(shoos developers287 out the door) Stop that, stop it! You're getting flagged, my friend.

not to like about a place with a giant neon "Open" sign in the bedroom window? :D (thinks she needs to get her one of them thingies)

Ha! Yes, it would be very convenient if more ladies had those on their bedroom windows! :P

Surely the public library isn't involved. It's all Wal-Mart. And since everything there is made in China...IT'S CHINA'S FAULT!! :o

I think they do already. It's called the red light district in Denmark. ;)

China, of course! I knew someone was to blame for EVERYTHING. I needed a new scapegoat anyway. Canada was getting kind of old. (sics her angry monkey on China)

#210: I don't know, but I think I like my angry cat more, lol.

Oh oh oh! I wanna play. What about an angry gorilla!!



GRRRilla, gotta love it! :)

LOL! Yes, let's put bets down on who'll win. I say my angry monkey can beat all your furry beasts!

Nope, that angry cat would claw the angry monkey's eyes out :)

Unfortunately, I think you're right. :( Can I say my monkey has rabies at least? So he can kinda win when the cat gets it and then passes it on to the gorilla (ahem, I'm sorry, GRRRilla). Or would that just be score 1 for rabies? Hmm, technicalities.

LOL!

99) Sweet Valley Kids #43: Jessica Gets Spooked by Francine Pascal
Read: Sept. 1 - 2
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Stories about a goblin who haunts the local amusement park don't scare Jessica Wakefield! She can't wait to go. It will sure prove to Charlie Cashman that she's no chicken. Will the goblin get Jessica? Or will she get the goblin first?
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, sweet valley kids, bullies, carnivals, halloween
My Notes: Goblin? What goblin? And the title (Jessica Gets Spooked) is very misleading. "Jessica Gets Bullied" would've been more appropriate--SPOILER--since she's not really spooked as much as annoyed as hell by a boy classmate who has a crush on her (no surprise there) and figures harrassing her will get her attention. END O' SPOILER Oh yeah, harrassment is always such a big turn-on. (eye roll) One thing that seemed so out of character, though, was Elizabeth keeping a secret from Jessica. I could see Jessica doing that to her twin, but not angelic Liz. Summed up: this was a pretty disappointing Halloween book (just mentioning goblins, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating doesn't make a book scary), but hey, it's Sweet Valley (one of my guilty pleasures), so I'm going to be nice and let it slide with a 5 this time.

100) Sweet Valley Kids #49: Jessica's Mermaid by Francine Pascal
Read: Sept. 2 - 2
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Jessica's claim to have seen a mermaid during a class trip to an ocean preserve may lure her to her social death with her disbelieving friends, and the osprey-eyed girl must find the mermaid in order to convince her friends of her tale.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, sweet valley kids, animals, nature, beach, california
My Notes: Gotta love the "social death" bit in the synopsis. :D Jessica Wakefield: social pariah--and she's only in elementary school! All in all, typical Jessica: crying wolf just to get attention and overdressing for the beach.

I'm all for giving the points to the microbes! :)

Congratulations, Sara, for reading 100 books!!! :)

I will add my congratulations to Stephen's. Good job in hitting 100!

Congrats Sara!!

#219, 220, & 221:

BIG ENOUGH? lol

Sweet Valley Kids books as actual reads?? Ha! I think not. Well, I mean I did read them, but only to pad up this thread to 100, so I could move on to another one. This one's getting too loooooooong.

#219: Cool! Then it's agreed--RABIES WINS! Er, I never thought I'd say that!

I love the fact that you are reading Sweet Valley Kids books. I haven't tried these, but I'm very tempted to read them.

Aawww, well thanks, Linda! So I'm not a total dork? (No comment from you, Mr. Ape Man! :P) "Almost read them" is close enough anyway. There's nothing really spectacular about Sweet Valley books, but it was a nice trip down memory lane. I was just surprised at how many Sweet Valley books I own that are unread--or unrated, at least. Looks like I have a big project on my hands, because there are a couple hundred of those babies! :O

Good luck if you do start any of the series; there are about half a dozen of them: Sweet Valley Kids (when the Wakefield twins are in elementary school), Sweet Valley Twins (middle school), Sweet Valley Jr. High (ditto), The Unicorn Club (again, middle school-ish), Sweet Valley High, SVH: Senior Year (still h.s. and probably my favorite, because it's so "risque" for a SV book--there's underage drinking and even gay characters ::mock gasp::), Sweet Valley University, Elizabeth (set in England around university time) . . . my goodness, it just never ends! :D And I'm probably forgetting another spin-off series or two.

Oooh, and I just took a peek @ your profile. You read 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up last month? I love that book! I wanted to do their list as a book challenge this year, but I was already into a couple other challenges and didn't want to wear myself out. Maybe next year.

Woah, sorry for rambling there. :)

A challenge next year regarding 1001 Children's Books You Must Read sounds like a wonderful idea.

Nope, you are NOT a dork!

Haha, if you are a dork because you read children's books I don't wanna know what I am for what I read... ;)

Oooh! I didn't know there was a list of 1001 Children's Books You Must Read. I'm sure I'd be further along on that list than on the other 1001 list. (That list makes me claustrophobic.)

If The Hundred Dresses isn't on there, it should be. Definitely one of my favorite kids' books. (And probably also a factor in my undying love for Project Runway. :)

#225: You mean there isn't a challenge this year for that book? I'm surprised! I just remember back in January, there were so many challenges, I had to limit myself to just 3: Paranormal TBR Challenge, 1010 Challenge, and (of course) this one: 75 Books Challenge. I'd love to see someone get a 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up Challenge started. I'd definitely join, even now, this early in the game.

#226: Ha! No, I don't think you're odd for being interested in germs and whatnot. But I think if I read those books, I'd definitely turn whacko and start wearing a hazmat suit. My mom was always afraid I'd turn OCD on her as a kid, because I was constantly washing my hands. But hey, people's hands are FILTHY!

#227: Do you mean the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die? Yeah, I took a look at that list, and there's no way I could read all those books, and some I just don't want to waste my time on. Now a kid's version of 1001 Books is something I could probably finish in this lifetime.

I did a quick search at http://www.1001beforeyoudie.com/ for The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes and yes, it is on that list. :) Sweet! That'll put a fire under my butt to read it now. Never watched Project Runway, but it's always been one of those "eventually" shows I want to get to.

I did another quick search, and yes, there's already a 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up Group (thought so) @ http://www.librarything.com/groups/1001childrensbooksyo, if anyone wants to take a gander. There's also a helpful list of the books here on LT: http://www.librarything.com/bookaward/1001+Children's+Books+You+Must+Read+Before....

Ok, now, folks, let's play follow the leader and go here: NEXT THREAD! Hold hands, look both ways, and no pushing! :P