new books!

It has been forever since I posted a book, and yes I have been reading.  We have started a book club in our ward so I thought I would post the books here just in case anyone wanted to read them also.  Our list looks like this:

Oct - The Giver - Lois Lowry 

 

Nov - One Day - David Nicholls 

Jan - The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

Feb - Pope Joan - Donna Woolfolk Cross

March - Peeps - Scott Westerfeld

Breaking dawn- Spoiler Alert

Ok I have read the book and I was a bit disappointed. I did like how the story ultimately ended because I would have hated for Renesmee to have died, but I wish there had been some fighting or something more during the climax of the story. Bella being super controled as a vampire was great since it was the last book, but a bit more struggle would have been cool. I mean she didn't try to chase more then one human, it took the rest of them a life time to gain that control. I almost wish that she hadn't ended the serious just yet. Maybe gone on the write one more book about her daughter and Jacob. It wouldn't have to be a really long novel, but tell about her struggle between jacob and the other half vampire or something. So those are just a few of my thoughts.

Latest Read

I actually read this about a month or so ago and haven't posted about it yet. It's called Confessions of a Slacker Mom. I absolutely LOVED it! It's quick and fun to read. This lady grew up on a HUGE ranch outside Jackson Hole where she learned the value of work and how to entertain herself. She thinks (as do I) that kids don't know how to work and life is generally too easy for them, making LIFE too hard. Loved it. Can't remember the author, I'll have to check. You'll like it, promise!

Catch up

Wow I am behind on posting my readings! Let's see I have read The Color Of my Words by Lynn Joseph, it is a quick read and is about a young girl who just wants to write down her thoughts. I thought it really interesting and read it in a few hours.

I also read The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield this was my Mexico read and was good. It is a mystery book about a famous author who hires a lady so she can finally tell they story of her life, which she hasn't ever told anyone. It doesn't end the way you think it will and I thought it was good. There wasn't bad language or anything. Good read. You should get it from the library and read!

I did read Atonement, the movie was rated R and so was the book. So now you have been warned! Ok so if you have any other questions about these books let me know and I will try an answer!

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet, I am really not impressed with this one. There was very vulgar topics and boring sections. He could have written this one in one page and just said it is about monks and building cathedrals and rape with a few happy parts thrown in, The End. Don't waste your time or pollute your mind with this book. I don't understand what all the hype was and why on Earth Oprah would choose this book and then rave about it.

What I'm Reading Now

These are the two books we're reading for our ward book club this month. I am loving them! They are quick easy reads, middle school age reading probably. They are set during the depression. Two kids from Chicago are sent to live with their Gramma for a week each summer and in the second book the daughter goes for a year since her dad is out of work and they lost their apartment. There are funny stories about the things these kids do with their Gramma; she reminds me a lot of my Gramma Cooke. I think I'll be buying these two for our collection.

Rigby 8th Book Club

Book club for our ward was last night at my house; it was a hit! We had read My Sergei by Ekaterina Gordeeva; one of my very favorite books. It's about Ekaterina (Katia) Gordeeva and Sergei Ginkov, arguably the best pairs skaters of all time (they won gold in 24 of the 31 competitions they entered and got 2nd at the rest). They were married, had a daughter and then tragedy struck in 1994 when Sergei died (at 28) from a heart attach during a practice session for Stars on Ice at Lake Placid. Very sweet story!!! She has since then married Ilia Kulik (also a Russian skater, supposedly the best jumper) and they have a daughter. They coach and choreograph and skate a little but they no longer compete. A MUST READ!

We had the second largest showing since we started over a year ago; the largest was last summer.... drum roll please, also at my house when we read The Pianist! It was great to have so many people there, the kids went to Gramma's with Travis, and everyone loved this book.

We had an awesome veggie tray, if I may say so. Mostly because that's what I crave when I'm "with child". But also because I tried to find a yummy Russian treat and found ZIPPO!! They eat pretty nasty stuff over there. I also made super good artichoke dip, which was a big hit too. So here's the yummy recipe:

Artichoke Dip (I ALWAYS double it cause it is always devoured!!)
1 can artichoke hearts: drained and smashed or chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup parmessan (I think that's spelled wrong)
crackers

Mix em all together and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes; though I usually have to go about 40. Until golden brown on top. Serve with Club Crackers or other favorite.

I love book club!!

Phantom Review

Okay, I finished Phantom of the Opera. It was interesting to read and compare the book from the play/movie. However, I had more things I didn't like than things I did. Raoul seemed like a whiney crying pansy, not the dashing brave and endearing hero he should be. Christine and he don't hit it off with fireworks; and Raoul cries every time! And Raoul doesn't even go rescue Christine alone, there's a Persian who leads him down to the house on the lake. Madame Giry isn't anything the same; she's a toothless homely woman, yuck!

It was pretty cool to read in more detail about the Opera building and the world below. There are a lot more traps and crazy things than can't all be put in the play/movie. So that was pretty cool. But the characters were not endearing in any way. So to sum it all up: don't waste your time with the book; watch the play/movie!