Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary Jacky Faber, Ship's Boy by Meyer, L.A.

I loved this book. People around me are sick of me talking about how awesome this book is. It is fast-paced book with tons of action. There are pirates, and thieves, good people and bad. All about Jacky trying to keep her cover and not get discovered.

This review isn't doing it justice, mainly because I am exhausted, but this book was faboo. If you love a lot of action in a book, I recommend this book. I did it as an audio and I used it as my hiking book. I couldn't wait to get on the trails each day. I liked it so much I requested the second book in the series.

I feel it would appeal to both boys and girls, but towards the end you are more aware that Jacky is a girl, but she earns her nickname. Any boy can appreciate what she does to keep up the deception.

Getting in touch with your inner bitch by Hilts, Elizabeth

Again, my version of a trashy novel...or so I thought. I picked this up because I wanted something fun to read. The fact that it was mostly pink almost turned me off. I took a chance, and I'm glad I did.

Hilts talks about toxic niceness, something many people suffer from because they would rather please others than say what was on their mind. The quotes were fabulous all from good strong women. I have flagged pages with quotes I want to reread, pages I loved comments on, I even went so far as to WRITE in this book. I know the horror.

It's a quick read, but something I needed to get me out of my reading funk.

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Gilman, Susan Jane

This book was AWESOME! I think everyone should read or listen this book. I would recommend listening to it because it was abridged and I didn't feel that much was missing from the story.

This is a great tale of youth and the naiveness that happens so often with youth. Two young women decided to backpack through China shortly after they open the borders to Westerners. This book reads like a thriller at times and often you find yourself saying "no they really aren't going to do that." Only to find out that they really are.

Their luck is impressive and I am sure I wouldn't have had a similar situation.

It is a great look at China back before it became commercialized.

Highly recommended.

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Adams, Douglas

Ok I loved this book. It is another one I did as an audio. While it was clearly a science fiction, it didn't feel like it. It was funny and enjoyable. The reader of the book captured all the characters perfectly.

I would definitely suggest this book to people who don't like Sci Fi. It is a nice easy read that pulls the reader along.

The best part is at the end of the book you find the answer to the universe.

Mighty Queens of Freeville by Dickenson, Amy

After reading the "good for me" Pride and Prejudice, I felt like I earned a fun book. I love Amy Dickenson on the Public Radio show, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me so I figured I would give her book a try.

Once again, I put it on my iPod and hiked to Maplewood State Park. I loved it. While the audio was abridged, I found it funny, uplifting, and delightful.

Amy also writes a column called, Ask Amy. She took over for Ann Landers. Amy tells her life story about her heartbreaks, her frequent trips to her small hometown, and he ability to "fail up."

Her life was facinating, and like everyone's life we have these quirky family memebers that make life interesting. There were stories about her father, her ex-husband, but mostly about the strong women in her family. Her life in the city of Washington, DC and in the small town of Freeville.

Her storytelling is top rate. I highly recommend it. If you don't read it for any other reason, read it for Peanut Jesus. :)

Kabul Beauty School : an American woman goes behind the veil

Title: Kabul Beauty School : an American woman goes behind the veil

Author: Rodriguez, Deborah.

Publisher: Random House

CIP

To aid Afghan women, an American runs a beauty school in Kabul.

Comments

This was a thought provoking book. Ms. Rodriguez goes to Afghanistan to help women better their lives and the lives of their families. In this strict society she faced challenges in teaching the students how to perform the most basic beauty techniques safely. Most of these women were using products that were harmful to their health or that were too old to use any more. It was interesting watching how this one American woman gave up so much to help so many women.

After reading the book, I heard an update on NPR. Then it left a sour taste in my mouth. I felt that the author was careless with the women's lives and safety for her own gain. Now I don't know where I stand.

Either way it is a good read. I would love to know what you think.

Harry Potter and the half-blood prince

Title: Harry Potter and the half-blood prince

Author: Rowling, J.K.

Illustration:Mary Grandpré.

Publisher:Arthur A. Levine Books

CIP

The war against the Voldemort is not going well and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort -- and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.

Comments

Finally after years of trying to get this book read, I achieved it today. When this book was published I had a month left of grad school. By the time I got around to reading it in Missouri, I moved. I have been trying for a few months to read it before I go to bed, but I would fall asleep and then the hard covered book would smack me in the head. A friend of mine finished her paperback copy and was nice enough to loan it to me.

I know this series isn't for everyone, and that is ok. But Harry Potter is one of those characters that has a special spot in my heart. It is because of him that I discovered the fun of working in a library. It is because of him I went to grad school.

I have to admit, the book started off a little slow. I finished a number of other books in between when I started it and finished it. But the last half of the book was non-stop action. There are hundreds of other reviews you could read to find out about the plot line. I am more fascinated by Rowling's ability to give readers a character they can understand and sympathize with.

One of my 2008 goals might be to listen to each of the books. I have a lot of painting to do in the next few months, what better way to pass the time than with an audio book read by someone who has two Guinness World Records, nine time Audie Awards and much much more. Jim Dale is one of a kind.

The watchman

Title: The watchman

Author: Crais, Robert.

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

CIP A former Los Angeles police officer becomes the bodyguard of a troubled heiress marked for death.

Comments

Crais is one of my favorite authors. He writes the Elvis Cole series that I discovered years ago. Cole's partner is a man named Joe Pike. While you don't need to read the Cole series it does give you a little more background about Pike. On the same line of thought, this book provides more of Pike's history than any other book Crais has written.

He is hired to protect an heiress, and as usually where Pike goes trouble follows. He does everything possible to keep her alive. At one point he can't trust anyone but Elvis. Elvis provides him what he needs with no questions asked.

It is a fast-paced, action-packed novel. Anyone who likes James Patterson should give Robert Crais a try.