Thursday, July 21, 2011

books at the beach

 the last time i visited our local library, i hit the mother load!
& the funny thing is, i have a kindle.
i took a few of these to the beach because i didn't want to get oil & sand all over my kindle.
i'm practical like that.


pioneer woman's book was cute & very laugh out loud funny.
but truth be told, i didn't finish it.
only because i was rapidly approaching the due date & feared another epic
fee if i didn't get a few of these turned in before we hit the beach.

i took 2 books with me to the beach
& knew i'd buy a new one at sundog books in seaside.
i buy at least one book there every year.
& i usually love whatever book i purchase there.
of course.

i started out reading "Best Friends Forever" by Jennifer Weiner.
i should set myself up with an arbitrary page number
that if i'm not completely in love with my book by the time i hit it,
then i'm all done.
i have an issue with not finishing a book that i start.
i guess i just need to have that sense of closure.
( although clearly i got over that with PW's book, which i'm certain ended well)
but anyway
this book just didn't do it for me.
i kept thinking it would get better.
it never did.
so i sped read the final 100 or so pages.
sigh.
life's too short to do that again.
moral of the story.
only read books you love.

the next one i read while dealing with the scorching africa heat
that made reading quite a challenge.
think sweat pooling behind my sunglasses
was " Heart of the Matter". my first Emily Giffin.
i loved that one.
finished it in a day or so.
redemption from the bff disaster.
next up was my sundog books purchase,
sure to be a winner.
"Bloodroot" was recommended by a couple of folks
& is good so far.
i started it on my last day & have just not had a freebie evening to finish it.
but it's good.
i just have to work through the mountain dialogue issues.


"a Southerly Course" is a gorgeous southern cookbook.
i think i read that the author, Martha Hall Foose
will be the food stylist for the upcoming movie, "The Help".
which i can't wait to see!



i'm also reading & thoroughly enjoying "The Fitting Room" by Kelly Minter.
cruising along with the bloom book club.
(button is on my sidebar)

i'm thinking about re-reading the Harry Potter series.
all 3,400+ pages.
again.

a friend recently asked me about the books
& mentioned she wanted to read one sorta on the fly.

for those of you who haven't read the series,
let me offer my unsolicited humble personal opinion.
& let me also throw in the disclaimer that i was not a literature major.
or you can feel free to just bypass the next paragraph.
these books really do require your attention.
in other words, not good books to just read here & there
or on the fly.
there are a plethora of characters~
wonderful characters that you will really want to get to know.
the characters will weave in & out of each of the stories
some showing back up in the final pages that you were introduced to
early on.
there is fabulous, creative terminology exclusive to the series.
the books are hard to follow if you just read a few pages
then don't pick it up for a few days. 
i don't think you'd enjoy your reading experience
unless you can devote yourself to them.
& honestly, the series is amazing
& you should devote yourself to it.
i'm considering a tattoo of the Hogwarts coat of arms.
teasin.
just seeing if you're still with me.














18 comments:

Coastal Health and Home said...

Uh, Paige. I had to do a double take at the picture of you and
Caroline. I thought it was one of the girls.

I'm serious!

Have a great day.

Best,

Coastal Blue Ocean

(word verification "readgenp")

Free Art Printables said...

I just picked up bloodroot a few days a go and am about half way in so I know what you mean bout the mountain language issue thing. It is so sad sometimes. My heart is breaking for those people in there.....

Kelli said...

I love your book reviews! I read Heart of the Matter and really liked it as well. I also have read Something Borrowed (and the follow up) and enjoyed them both. I don't like not finishing a book either but sometimes you just have to put it down. Love the pictures of the beach...I want to go back right now :)

Tracey Bower- Bower Studio said...

How was Men and Dogs? I read Girls in Trucks a few months ago...

Unknown said...

Love reading about your summer books Paige :) I am exactly the same in that I can't not finish a book even if I am not getting into it, I have started speed reading too just to get to the end!! My book pile never gets any smaller, I need to be tougher about passing books on that just aren't doing it for me!!

LOVE your photos...Caroline's swimwear is adorable, I want to wear something like that - altho that's never going to happen LOL!! You and the girls look beautiful and how handsome does Dan look, great b&w shot :)

Have a lovely day my friend xx

Jennifer said...

How was Reading Jackie?

Tracey @ BellaSky said...

I love your book posts, I am a book junkie......cant get enough, i have ENORMOUS fines due at the public library. They havent gotten me yet since they have self check out so I am good to go! I actually have a list of your reads in my iphone so I have the list on me at all times! LOL! your fam s gorgeous, love your pics!

Heather said...

The beach pictures are great! I absolutely loved Bloodroot. I agree with you on Best Friends Forever - meh.

Unknown said...

Good morning from the west coast Paige....

Agreed about Best Friends Forever, didn't like it but finished it anyway - I'm like you that way! And I have enjoyed other Jennifer Weiner books!

We are BIG HP fans in our house too! Have not made it to the latest movie yet - too much soccer and other activities going on around here....

Love your beach photos - such great memories for your family.
xo~Jill

Alecia said...

Great pics as always...your girls are precious.
I read Heart of the Matter a few months ago...you should read Something Borrowed & Something Blue for sure...they're great reads.
I appreciate your book reviews...saving my precious time and all by reading the bad ones before I do...that's a good friend! LOL :-)

Kat said...

Loving lil bit's suit. Too cute. Those pictures are all super fun and I LOVE the Southerly Course! Such a gorgeous cookbook. You know me and my cookbook obsession.

Jboo said...

Always love reading about your book selections and your beach photos -- fabulous!! We were at the beach last week and it was SO humid and windy, my camera lens totally fogged up. UGH!! Not very many good photos! Bummer -- guess that means, I need to plan another trip! You and your girls are so pretty!! :)

Janet

Lisa said...

Where o where did Caroline get hear darling bikini? Love all your beach pictures!

Unknown said...

Love all the pictures! and, I love your book posts. I've read two from you list but going to look into the others!

Ava Lu has the same swimsuit as Caroline. How fun! I need to send you a picture of Ava Lu in the Lilly fabric halter dress of Caroline's that we purchased. It looks so pretty on her.

Kelley said...

I believe it was Fitzgerald who said, "Life is too short to read bad books"....my sentiments exactly!

Jill said...

Love that you're honest about books not really tripping your trigger..! I give myself 50 pages and if I'm not into it, I'm done. I'm in a bit of a slump after reading The Help and then Water for Elephants back to back. So far nothing I've picked up is nearly as good.

Jodi said...

Thanks for the book reviews; I love an insight on a book before I read them.

I read the Pioneer Woman, very cute book. I have seriously thought about picking up the Harry Potter books, but now I am not sure I have the time to devote to the book right now. Maybe this winter when things slow down a bit.

Take care!

Jodi

Rachel said...

I need to add some of these to my list!

And by the way, your girls are so beautiful! I think I say that all the time, but seriously. What photogenic girls you have!