2011 Book List

I know that there are lots of bloggers doing the same thing.  I decided that this was really my best route to keep my list and get some recommendations, sorry for the repeats.

As I said before, I love my Kindle and now I got 2 gift cards for Christmas that I am itching to use.  I still have 2 books that I mentioned before and I simply cannot get into them enough to finish them.  I hate forcing myself to finish something so I won't but I am going to keep them in mind to finish when my gift cards have run out.  Here's my plan for 2011 (not including pregnancy books)!

Hope in a Jar  by Beth Harbison	Mini Shopaholic  by Sophie Kinsella	Safe Haven  by Nicholas Sparks
Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisburger	Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisburger	The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson	The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson	The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen	My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult	The House on First Street by Julia Reed

That's my list!  I'm excited about it.  I've got one of the books in my bookshelf already and hopefully this weekend I'll go through and make a list of the books in my bookshelf that I haven't read.  I'd like to get those on a reading list as well.

Read any great books that you'd recommend?  Let me know!

2010 Book Wrap-Up

Remember how I recapped some of the books I read in 2010 and was working on several more?

Yeah, well, that fell by the wayside.  Disappointingly, I only finished 2 more books for the rest of the year.  I'm kind of disappointed in myself but I know that most of October/November I lost my desire to do anything.  I literally sat on the couch and did nothing, so I'll give myself a pass.

Firefly Lane

I absolutely loved this book.  I'm pretty sure that I sobbed at the end.  I could not put it down.  I would definitely recommend it to be on your reading list for 2011 if you haven't read it already!

Commencement

This was part of the bloggers book club, but I just couldn't get into it at first.  I ended up finishing it over the holidays.  I thought that it was ok.  For some reason it felt kind of 'choppy' to me or something, it just didn't flow.

I'm working on my reading list for 2011?  Did you have any successes in 2010 that you would recommend that I haven't read already?  Let me know, I'm working on publishing a list and my 2011 goals (late is better than never!).

Book Beginnings and Bookends - CeeCee Wilkes - Chapters 50 - 71

It's the last week for CeeCee Wilkes over at Book Beginnings and Bookends.  

1. At the end we find out Tim was sending Cory money because he thought she could be his daughter since he was having an affair with Genevieve. Did you see this coming?

I was suspicious as to who was sending the money and why if you remember back to when we answered questions a few weeks ago.  While I had no idea why he was sending the money, I was suspicious that it was Tim (and I still don't understand how he could send money if he was in hiding but that's a different story, he must have taken out all his money before the whole thing went down.)  I did not see it coming that he thought it could be his daughter though I was a little suspicious and felt that there had to be some motivation or something.

2. By the end of the story, what were your feelings about Eve? How had they changed since the beginning?
By the end of the story I was happy that Eve received the closure that she needed, she needed to change what was happening to her and it was the only way.  I think the life that she lived is very different from what she would have lived had she not had to keep this secret.  She was very cautious and not very open, now maybe she can live a little bit free-er and little happier.

3. Were you happy with the way President Russel treated Cory?
Yes, I understand where he was coming from in wanting justice for what happened to his family/his wife.  I'd like to think I'd be understanding of the other side of the story but I don't really know if I could be.  In the end, it was very commendable of him that he shortened her sentence and I hope that Cory is able to co-exist peacefully with both families.  Catch up on all the time missed with the Russel's and with her mother since they were so distant for so long.

4. If you were in Cory's shoes and had just found out all of this about the woman who raised you and who you believed to be your mother, how would you react? Would you forgive?

I have absolutely no idea.  I think, as Cory did, I would push her away at first.  I would feel shocked and angry and upset and fooled, like my entire life was a lie. I would want to hear every single detail and know everything that happened.  Then I'd hope that I could realize that my life wasn't a lie, that even though it wasn't what it would have been had this never happened, that I still had a mother and father and sister that loved me and that's what a family is.  

5. In your mind, how does this story end? Do they all live happily ever after? Does Cory go on having relationships with her old family and her new family?

In my mind, I kind of wanted to hear a little bit more about Eve's trial.  At least know what happened and what was said.  I think that they move on to live happy lives eventually.  I hope that Cory is able to go through some sort of treatment for her fears and learn to live a happy and independent life.  I hope that she is able to build new relationships with her new family and make them better with her old family.  She's been through a lot and deserves nothing but the best for her and her baby in the future.  

I hope that Eve is able to have as normal of a life as possible after everything that she's gone through.  I hope that she can share her mother's letter's with her daughters and maybe even see Ronnie again.

6. How do you think Cory has changed throughout the story? Have your feelings about her changed?

I kind of have a love/hate relationship with Cory.  I loved her because she was sweet, innocent and quirky.  Then got mad at her because of Ken and thought she was being kind of selfish and slightly over-reactive.  I'm so glad that she dumped Ken and I think that really helped her.  Her listening to Eve and forgiving her and helping Eve put me back on the love end again.  I hope she was able to find a good balance in all of her relationships.

Overall I enjoyed the book and participating in a book club was a different experience for me.  I certainly enjoyed it.  Hopefully I can join in again in the next go around. Can't wait to see what the next book is going to be!

You can link up here!

Book Beginnings and Bookends - CeeCee Wilkes - Chapters 36-50

I'll admit that I'm happy we're getting to the end.  I read ahead and it's getting heard to go back and answer questions from weeks ago!  I did enjoy the book though and I'm looking forward to participating again.

1. Have your feelings about Tim changed through out this last section of chapters?
I definitely had a better feeling about Tim in the last few Chapters.  I was honestly a little surprised that he didn't just toss her to the wolves and tell, but at the same time, I think in my heart I knew that he wouldn't do it though. Something in me saw a little good in him. 

2. Do you agree with Cory and her behavior as an adult and her life with Ken? Is she justified in cutting her mother and father out of her life?
I think that her behavior and life with Ken is just like she is trying to get away from with her parents.  Isn't he controlling her life almost like she thought Eve was doing.  I don't really like Ken much and I think he's kind of rude and almost a little controlling of her just as she is trying to get away from.
I'm not sure if I'll be in the minority with this, but I don't agree with her cutting her parents out of her life.  I think it's a good idea for her to distance herself a little but completely cutting them out just doesn't seem reasonable to me.

3. At what point do you think Cory decided to spend less time with her mother?
I think that Cory not getting answers from her mother really made her feel that she needed to distance herself from her parents.  I think she needed some answers to really gain some insight into her past and maybe that would help her to connect with Eve and not getting them really made her take a good look at things.


4. What do you think is Eve's biggest fear?

I think that jail is really not her big fear.  I think her biggest fear is distancing herself from Cory further, basically losing her and the possibility of losing Jack and Dru.

5. When the story about Genevieve's body came out, what would you have done if you were Eve? Just sat back and watched things unfold? Come forward? Would you tell Jack?

I think I would have gone crazy.  I mean as I've said all along, I don't know how I could have kept it to myself for that long, but now to have it resurface, years later.  She's made a new life for herself and a new identity.   I'm pretty sure I would have become consumed by it at that point and would have had to say something, just not sure if it would be to the authorities or just to Jack.  I mean, Tim didn't appear to be throwing her name in there, but I just think it would eat away at me.  Plus, I think this all has a huge impact on her illness.

6. Do you think Eve should tell Jack and confess? Why?

Jack is supposed to be her partner for life, in good and bad.  I think it's better if she tells him.  She needs someone to talk to about it.  Otherwise, I think she'll get sicker and it will consume her at some point.  I think that if she decides to tell Jack she needs to think about him too.  I mean they have been married for so long.  There are a lot of lies that have come as a result of this and they've been there since the start.  He might feel betrayed and unsure of what is really the truth.  

You can link up here!

Book Beginnings and Bookends - CeeCee Wilkes - Chapters 21-35

You can link up here if you have read the book too!  Can't wait to read everyone else's answers!

1. Do you think Tim is the one sending the money?
   I think that it's possible that Tim is the one that sent the money.  With the $5000 that he gave to CeeCee before, he has the money somehow.  If it's him though, I'm suspicious how he found out where CeeCee was.  And why he was sending the money, what was the connection?  Maybe I'm looking into this too much, but if he was in hiding I don't think that he would have been able to gain access to his money.
   
   
2. So far, there's been a lot of discussion on CeeCee/Eve and her choices. What choice(s) would you make differently from her?
   I think it's hard to say you would make different choices that what CeeCee/Eve made.  All along I've said I would make different decisions.  I don't think that I could have gone through with it to begin with, but if I had gone through with it, then maybe I would have made the same decisions as her all along.  Keeping it from Jack would have been tremendously difficult, I feel like at some point I would have had to tell someone, it just doesn't seem like a good way to start out a marriage.
   
   
3. What do you like about Jack? Are there things about him that you don't like?
   Jack seems so personable and likable.  It's hard not to like him, he just kind of swept in.  He seems like such a good guy and someone that would be great for Eve.  Very genuine and passionate about his acting career.  I don't think that there's much about him that I don't like really.  He might be a little pushy for my taste.
   
   
4. What are the differences between CeeCee/Eve's relationship with Tim and Eve's relationship with Jack?
   I think that this relationship is different then the one with Tim as Eve is a much more mature person now.  I think she has "learned her lesson" and doesn't easily let her guard down.  She is cautious and wary of new people.  I think that she needs this relationship with Jack to feel like a normal person again.  Her relationship with Tim was one of lust and immaturity where her relationship with Jack seems to me more based on love and feelings.
   
   
5. Do you think Eve is to blame for Cory's fears? What could she do, specifically, to help Cory feel like less of an outsider?
   This is kind of a hard question to answer, after reading the whole book I had a bit of a different opinion I guess.  But I do think that Cory's fears were started by Eve and how over-protective she was of Cory.  I think I'm forgetting parts of the book, but I don't remember specifics that Eve did to really make her feel like an outsider, other than being so over-protective.  Maybe I need to go back and brush up.
   I think that to help Cory, getting her involved in different activities would be the most beneficial so she is able to meet new people and make friends.
   
6. Do you think Eve appropriately answered Cory's questions about her father? Do you think Cory will question her father more as she grows older?I think she answered them the best she could.  As would most people, I think that Cory will have questions about her father when she grows older.  She doesn't look like her mother so she'll naturally be more curious of who her father is as time passes.  It's kind of ironic that Eve had to have the same questions answered about her own father by her mother.  Do you wonder if now that she has to tell Cory lies if she wonders if her own mother was telling the truth?

This book club is such a great idea, I'm really enjoying it.  I can't wait to see what the next book is!

Book Beginnings and Bookends - CeeCee Wilkes - Chapters 11-20

I love participating in the responses last week so I am glad to get into it again this week.  I will admit that it is hard to write some of these responses knowing the ending of the book.  


You can link up here if you have read the book too!

1. Where do you think Tim and Marty are at this point in the story?
   I think that Tim and Marty are somewhere in hiding.  Part of me thinks that the original plan was to just abandon CeeCee to begin with and never come back regardless.  I can't help but wonder if they have other plans that they didn't reveal to CeeCee already.
   
2. What were your thoughts as CeeCee was helping Genevieve deliver her baby?
   My heart was aching for CeeCee.  I wanted her to just have the common sense to get in the car and drive, drive somewhere.  I mean the authorities have to have some sort of sympathy for her if she gives in now right?  I knew that she wouldn't actually hurt Genevieve but she had no idea what she was doing.  She had no idea what she was getting herself into when she agreed to go to the cabin and this just made it 10x worse!
   
3. After Genevieve died, what would you have done with her baby if you had been in CeeCee's shoes?
   I would have taken the baby to a hospital or something.  I don't think I could have kept it a secret.  It would just gnaw at me forever.  This beautiful baby didn't have a mother and it was partially her fault.
   
4. Why do you think CeeCee/Eve is still holding onto hope that Tim will come for her?
   I think she is, she wants to think that Tim was a good person and that she made the right decision to help them.  Tim is her first love and made her think that they loved one another and that she was doing
   
5. How do you think Eve will establish her new identity in Virginia?
   I think that Eve will struggle at first to establish herself and let go of CeeCee.  She still holds onto hope that Tim will return and I think she doesn't want to accept her self as Eve out of hope that Tim will find her.  Deep down I think she knows that this whole ordeal will always be with her, whether she gets married again or whatever she does with her life.  I also think it may cause her to be a little apprehensive or men in the future.  Afraid that something similar might happen.
   
6. What do you think of CeeCee/Eve now after she has gone through with the kidnapping, the delivery of the baby, the escape, and the relocation?
   I think that she has grown up a lot over the course of this ordeal.  I think that she will constantly live her life in fear now.  That she will always be looking over her shoulder and will be very protective of the baby.  It's hard to know if she will ever shake that feeling that someone is looking for her.  I also wondered how she would be able to go on without letting this eat at her for the rest of her life.

Other/Notes:
I struggled with the fact that Ronnie didn't inquire and ask more questions of her.  It would have been interesting to hear more from Ronnie's side, about her roommate and friend who disappeared, to never return.  She left all of her belongings, her money everything behind, even the things she cherished most (the letters from her mother).  If it was me, I'd be looking for her or call the police or something.  


Hope you all had a great weekend!

Book Beginnings and Bookends - CeeCee Wilkes - Chapters 1-10

I thought the book club would be a great way to motivate me read a book in a timely matter and it definitely was.. . . . I'm done with this book already.  :-)  I'm going to try and answer the questions along with the rest of the bookclub and hopefully I can do it without giving anything away and still remember everything!

You can link up here if you have read the book too!

1. What was your first impression of Tim?
   At first reading about Tim, I thought he was a nice guy, but was rather skeptical of him, I thought it was odd that he left her large tips and always came into the diner.  At some point it became a little bit too much and I didn't trust him.
2. If you were in CeeCee’s position, would you be willing to help your boyfriend in the way that she is willing to help Tim?
   Absolutely not.  I know she was young and 'in-love' but there is no way that I would help him out.  At the point where he became more distracted by the 'project' I think I would have hit the road running.
3. Why do you think CeeCee is so eager to please Tim?
   Maybe this is a bit cliche' but, I think that not having a male influence in her life is part of the reason for the type of relationship that they had.  CeeCee was looking for someone to take care of her and he was more than willing to do so.
4. Who do you think has it harder? Tim or CeeCee?
   That's tough, in a nutshell both of them are on their own.  Tim's brother Marty is just too far gone to be there for him and CeeCee has been on her own since her mother passed away.
   
   I think that CeeCee has it a little harder than Tim, she has no idea what is going on or what Marty and Tim's plan is.  She hasn't been involved in the situation from the beginning so she is just hearing it all for the first time from Tim.  She doesn't know the other people involved and is just trying to be there for Tim.
5. What character trait(s) about CeeCee stuck out the most to you in these first ten chapters?
   Even though it's not upfront, her loyalty to Tim makes me feel like she has the desire to feel needed/wanted and to please the people around her.  She is a smart girl but she is just trying to make people happy and not let anyone down.
6. Do you think CeeCee is as mature as she seems?
   I think CeeCee is mature in some areas and not in others.  She is mature enough to know how to make a living and what is best for her future.  Emotionally though, i do not think that she is mature and in this case, her emotions are taking her over.

Other Notes:

There are a few things that drew me into this book.  

• One being that it started out in present day with Corinne and then went back in time made me want to keep on reading.  
• Another thing was that it was set in a location that I knew and could actually pick out on a map.  It really drew me into the storyline as I searched for more 'location' references, help me to relate in some ways.
• CeeCee's attitude reminded me of myself in someways.  The desire to feel that someone needed you.  The organizing/cleaning of the house, as strange as it sounds, that is definitely something I can picture myself doing.

Book Reviews

A lot of people asked about Eat, Pray, Love, so I thought I would do a quick recap of the last few books that I've read.  I'm not going to giveaway any details, no worries, just a few thoughts.


The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes

This is the book for the Book Beginnings and Bookends book club and I had heard a recommendation for it before so I thought I'd give it a try.  I started reading it on Sunday night and I finished it yesterday.  I read it during lunch, every night before bed, I couldn't put it down.  I absolutely loved it!  The story was captivating and the fact that the first part of it was set in an area that I know rather well, I loved reading about streets and places I knew.  I would definitely recommend it!


Eat, Pray, Love

My main motivation for reading this book is that I wanted to see the movie and I wanted to read the book beforehand to compare the two.  I'm not sure if it was just me, but it took me a long time to read this book, it really just didn't hold my interest.  I forced myself to sit down and finish it.  I think that it was interesting to read about the places and the different things she did, but there was something about it that just kinda felt a little boring to me.  With that said I still want to go see the movie to compare.


Heart of the Matter

I loved all of the prior Emily Griffin books so this was on the top of my list to read when it came out.  I have mixed feelings about the book.  It's definitely not my favorite one of her books to read, but I do enjoy her writing, I would say that the first two were the best.  The storyline was a little controversial to me, but I also know that it is something that does happen and to see how people handle this type of situation despite how upsetting it was to see people struggle in their marriages. 


Good Things

I read this book on a whim.  I had just finished Heart of the Matter and thought that it looked pretty good.  It was a pretty easy read and was similar to most 'chick-lit' but I liked it, and would recommend it.  It was a fairly quick read and was funny too.


The Help

When I saw this going around the web I was a little skeptical.  This was just not my kind of book to read.  A co-worker lent it to me and I was so grateful that I read it.  It took me the first Chapter or 2 to get into it but after that I loved it and couldn't put it down.  To hear about what it was like living in that Era was a real eye-opener and I anticipate that if I come across similar types of books, I will read them.


I read Nanny Returns and The Last Song as well earlier in the year.  And liked

I've had these 2 different books started for some time now and I just can't seem to get through them.  I'm going to make myself finish them and hopefully I will start to like them better.


I've been keeping track of other books I've read in an Amazon wishlist so I don't repeat.  So far I'm right on with my goal for the year I think.  If I can get somewhere with the 2 I'm reading, I'll be ahead.


So now the question is, what do I read next.  I've seen a suggestion for the Time Travelers Wife, but I didn't like the movie, is the book different?  What's on your nightstand?   Did you like any of the ones I've read or can you recommend any?  Have you read:   Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison or Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah?


*All images from Amazon*

Reading List

For my birthday last year my wonderful husband bought me an Amazon Kindle.  I have to say, I wasn't sure at first because of the price (yes, he bought it before the price dropped and missed the cutoff), but now, I can say that I love it and it was entirely worth it!  Maybe sometime, I'll do a review of the Kindle and a comparison to some of the new readers that are out.

One thing I love about the Kindle is the option to create a reading list and store it online and on the Kindle.  This allows me to go to Amazon and add things to my reading list and then see them when I am on my Kindle and vice versa.  I added so many books to my wish list off recommendations from Amazon, that I was getting lost.  I'm trying to pare down this list a little a add items based on personal recommendations.

I am setting a personal goal for myself of 1 book per month, so I'm hoping to add some recommendations to my list.  Here's what I have so far, let me know if you have any recommendations.

Currently Reading (February):

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
I pretty much love every Nicholas Sparks book that I have ever read, this one slipped by me as I usually read them right when they are released.  So far it's a great read.

Wish List:

Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin
Released in May, I have loved all of her previous books.  I would recommend them if you haven't read them already.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Recommended by Blue-Eyed Bride

Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin
I loved the Nanny Diaries and some of her other books, I'm hoping this one is just as good.

Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella
I have read all of the books in the Shop-a-holic series and loved them.

These are the top 4 on my list.  I have a few others that I've seen on lists as well.  I might go back to Blue-Eyed Bride's list and add a few more to my reading list that I haven't read before.

• Good Things by Mia King


• Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison


• Firefly Lane by Kristin hannah

Here's what I've got so far:

• January - I finished one in January but the name escapes me right now, I'll update later with the info!


• February - The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks


• March - The Help by Kathryn Stockett


• April - Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin


• May -Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella


• June - Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin


• July -


• August -


• September


• October -


• November -


• December -

Suggestions/Recommendations encouraged!  :-)   (Oh and yes I've read Twilight and loved them!) I have a stack in my book case at home that I've read that I liked, someday I'll pull together an all inclusive list.

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