Saturday, December 29, 2012

Can you be trusted ??? lol


My half way through review on Love Wins by Rob Bell

So I am reading this truly amazing book by this truly amazing pastor/author. I have read my fair share of Christian books that have attempted to answer questions that we as member of the faith have long battled with. But none of the books have answered these questions like Bell has. The main concept of the book is how is God suppose be loving and still willing to commend people to hell. And how does hell factor into the world that we live in today. And who will be the chosen by God to ascend to heaven. These are questions that our pastors have tried to answer from time to time. Bell uses a combination of scripture and theological history to explain what Christ really meant by "hell". He also offers up a very different view of heaven, not as some place far away but as here on earth. Where the earth is made whole and renewed. He waives in how our talents, our reactions to the world around us; as well as how we treat others will help to determine what role we will play in heaven. The concepts are mind blowing and a-ha moment producing...I found myself highlighting (which I never knew was possible on my nook) and writing/tweeting several passages . I am so glad that I have read this book and I can not wait to share my thoughts and reflections of it chapter by chapter very soon.

LOVE WINS !!!!!

Here is some information on Rob Bell

http://christianity.about.com/od/christiancelebrities/a/Rob-Bell.htm

(his website was having problems so I posted the above information about him)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Something inspiring for the new year

As a christian it is hard for me to find good christian books that are not preachy and are not pushing a certain few point, so when  Rob Bell's Love Wins was recommended to me by a very close friend I was very skeptical about reading it. That was until I downloaded a free sample of the book on my Nook. I was surprised....here is why....


Description (from www.goodreads.com ):  Millions of Christians have struggled with how to reconcile God's love and God's judgment: Has God created billions of people over thousands of years only to select a few to go to heaven and everyone else to suffer forever in hell? Is this acceptable to God? How is this "good news"?


If you have read the description of the book then you will know why it is surprising that a Pastor would right such a thing. The argument is compelling nonetheless. I can't wait to see how Bell uses scripture to explain what this means. I can't wait to tell you guys all about this book as I read it. I will be taking notes in my book journal as well.

My most recent read

Review: This was my first time reading anything by Rick Riordan and I was pleasantly surprised. I found the book to be well written and extremely funny at times, as well as very action packed. I really can't wait to see what becomes of Amos (after his hosting of Set) and what will happen with the training of other Godlings. And of course I am wondering if Desjardins will ever get his head out of his behind long enough to help the kids face down Chaos. Also will Set keep his end of the deal and will Bast make to the end of the series? I really can't wait to dive right in to the next book.  (concluded reading 12/19/12)

Monday, December 17, 2012

Just a thought

I chose to live my life with books instead of without them...they give us hope, provide us with hours of entertainment and allow us to dream a little bigger. Books are the best invention to ever be bestowed upon humanity !!!

Venture into Ebooks/Nook books

So I have decided that 2013 will be the year that I use my nook a little more often. I got this marvelous gift last year but I have been hesitant to use it because I love the feel and weight of a book. So as a way to force myself to use it I am ordering free books (mostly classics) and a few reads that I know are out of print. (Though I am still disappointed that several of Lani Diane Rich's book are not available yet). Here are a few of the books that I have purchased so far...all free...

The Book of DeaconNearly DepartedThe Prince



Sunday, December 9, 2012

New book purchases

Description (from Goodreads.com) : 
A reluctant voyager crossing the Pacific in 1850; a disinherited composer blagging a precarious livelihood in between-the-wars Belgium; a high-minded journalist in Governor Reagan’s California; a vanity publisher fleeing his gangland creditors; a genetically modified “dinery server” on death-row; and Zachry, a young Pacific Islander witnessing the nightfall of science and civilisation—the narrators of Cloud Atlas hear each other’s echoes down the corridor of history, and their destinies are changed in ways great and small.

In his captivating third novel, David Mitchell erases the boundaries of language, genre and time to offer a meditation on humanity’s dangerous will to power, and where it may lead us.

Description (from Goodreads.com) : 
Here is the unbelievable yet true story of Sybil Dorsett, a survivor of terrible childhood abuse who as an adult was a victim of sudden and mysterious blackouts. What happened during those blackouts has made Sybil's experience one of the most famous psychological cases in the world.

Description (from Goodreads.com) : 

The Andreas family is one of readers. Their father, a renowned Shakespeare professor who speaks almost entirely in verse, has named his three daughters after famous Shakespearean women. When the sisters return to their childhood home, ostensibly to care for their ailing mother, but really to lick their wounds and bury their secrets, they are horrified to find the others there. See, we love each other. We just don't happen to like each other very much. But the sisters soon discover that everything they've been running from-one another, their small hometown, and themselves-might offer more than they ever expected

Plans for 2013

Howdy all..(not that I think anyone really reads this thing) ,
I have been on a short trip to nowhere land. Just a lot of personal drama going on and I have not been reading/writing or committing myself to anything fun these past few weeks. But that is all about to change with the new year approaching. I have made a conscience decision to write at least once a day. And to do at least two full (500 word) book reviews a month. With that said I am almost committing to a writing goal and weekly word limit, which has yet to be determined. 2012 has been a roller-coaster year and I am hoping that 2013 will be a year fulled with creative accomplishments.
I am starting the ball rolling a little early by selecting the next reading title for the Book Babes reading circle...I am going to work with the girls on recruiting and book selections for the next calendar year. I am also going to create a group page on Facebook. I hope that the exposure will help the group grow and keep me on my toes at the same time. Well that's all the plans I have for now...more to come soon...

Happy reading...
Nyeisha aka The Book babe <3

Friday, September 14, 2012

Book haul September 14th 2012...

I got a chance to do a little book shopping after work at a new book store here in my home town. I came out with two books from my wish list and two books that I have only recently discovered. One by an another that I have heard some very good things about. This trip cost me 13$ and it took me less than 45 mins to shop for the newest additions to my library. Well here is what I got today...along with the prices...and description (as provided on www.goodreads.com).

1) White Oleander by Janet Fitch (Oprah book club edition ) - used $4.00
  Everywhere hailed as a novel of rare beauty and power, White Oleander tells the unforgettable story of Ingrid, a brilliant poet imprisoned for murder, and her daughter, Astrid, whose odyssey through a series of Los Angeles foster homes-each its own universe, with its own laws, its own dangers, its own hard lessons to be learned-becomes a redeeming and surprising journey of self-discovery.

2) Dark Places by Gillian Flynn - used $4.00
I have a meanness inside me, real as an organ.
Libby Day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in “The Satan Sacrifice of Kinnakee, Kansas.” As her family lay dying, little Libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing January snow. She lost some fingers and toes, but she survived–and famously testified that her fifteen-year-old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, Ben sits in prison, and troubled Libby lives off the dregs of a trust created by well-wishers who’ve long forgotten her. 

The Kill Club is a macabre secret society obsessed with notorious crimes. When they locate Libby and pump her for details–proof they hope may free Ben–Libby hatches a plan to profit off her tragic history. For a fee, she’ll reconnect with the players from that night and report her findings to the club . . . and maybe she’ll admit her testimony wasn’t so solid after all.

As Libby’s search takes her from shabby Missouri strip clubs to abandoned Oklahoma tourist towns, the narrative flashes back to January 2, 1985. The events of that day are relayed through the eyes of Libby’s doomed family members–including Ben, a loner whose rage over his shiftless father and their failing farm have driven him into a disturbing friendship with the new girl in town. Piece by piece, the unimaginable truth emerges, and Libby finds herself right back where she started–on the run from a killer.

3) Along Came a Spider by James Patterson - used $2.50
A missing little girl named Maggie Rose . . . a family of three brutally murdered in the projects of Washington, D.C. . . . the thrill-killing of a beautiful elementary school teacher . . . a psychopathic serial kidnapper/murderer who is so terrifying that the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police cannot outsmart him - even after he's been captured.

Gary Soneji wants to commit the crime of the century. Alex Cross is the brilliant homicide detective pitted against him. Jezzie Flanagan is the first female supervisor of the Secret Service who completes one of the most unusual suspense triangles in any thriller you have ever read. 

Alex Cross and Jezzie Flanagan are about to have a forbidden love affair--at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji is playing at the top of his game. The latest of the unspeakable crimes happens in Alex Cross's precinct. It happens under the noses of Jezzie Flanagan's men. Now Alex Cross must face the ultimate test: How do you outmaneuver a brilliant 
psychopath

4) Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman - used $2.50
For more than two hundred years, the Owens women had been blamed for everything that went wrong in their Massachusetts town. And Gillian and Sally endured that fate as well; as children, the sisters were outsiders. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, but all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One would do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they shared brought them back-almost as if by magic...

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Recent book hauls....11 books for 36.89

I have found a new mecca for books...Ollie's discount ware house. The most I have paid for a book was 3.99 and the least was 1.99. A lot of the books have I have purchased where purchased within the last few years and all of them were on my wish list. Here are a list of the books I purchased and the prices. :)

The Circle Series by Ted Dekker.....
 - Black : Book One (2.99)
 - Red: Book Two (2.99)
 - White: Book Three (2.99)

The Book Lovers Devotional by Barbour Publishing (1.99)

I also got several Max Lucado books :)

In the Eye of the Storm  (3.99)
Facing Your Giants (3.99)
No Wonder they call him the Savior (3.99)
Experiencing the Heart of Jesus (3.99)

Magdalene by Angela Hunt (1.99)
The Visitation by Frank Peretti (3.99)
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (3.99)

If you have an Ollie's near you please go stalk their book shelves you will find some really decent buy. And perhaps discover a few new authors you never knew existed.

The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson (review)


Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review as posted on Goodreads:
I was very skeptical about this book because of the author and because I found it in the History section of a book store. I'm not saying that Mr. Patterson is not capable of writing non- fiction; I am just saying that this book is clearly a work of Historical fiction. I loved the interweaving of Tut's & Carter's life.... However Patterson's interruptions with his hunches about A murder plot made me want to skip ahead. Thank God they only lasted a few pages. Also whats with Chapter 99! Its like he (Patterson) dropped the ball by naming Tut's beloved wife a will participant in the plot to kill him. This was particularly nerve wrecking because Patterson had set the plot up in such a way to have the reader believe that Tut's Queen was faithful and loyal to him. Not to mention that she feared for her life as well as the well being of her country. She took steps that led one to believe that she was protecting herself and her nation from her husband's conspiring General & Scribe. I think he missed the mark on proving the wife as a conspirator. All and all I found the book very enjoyable and will definitely recommend it to friends.

Writers digest 12 day writing prompts

Hey everyone...I have started my 12 day writing challenge....basically everyday you write a new prompt based on questions. I have done several prompts before, just to challenge me into getting back into writing different things. Here is the link below just in case you want to try these too....i'll post what my progress is as I do each one... :)

http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/a-12-day-plan-of-simple-writing-exercise

Sunday, July 22, 2012

First nook book purchase...Cure for the common Life by Max Lucado

Max does it again... He gets you thinking about the bigger picture. He asks you questions that you may or may not have ever asked yourself; about your life and the things that bring you joy. This boom gives you some simple tips on how to find and maintain your " sweet spot". This book has really left my mind wondering on how my sweet spot can bring glory to my wondrous creator. I'd recommend this book to recent college grads and anyone struggling to find a sliver lining ;).


I read this as a Nook Book....

The Lincoln Lawyer by Micheal Connelly

Mickey Haller is a defense attorney with an edge. He is smart, witty and one hell of a defense attorney. He's a two time divorced attorney with a child he rarely gets to see. The story takes him through a trial with Lewis Roulet, the lying/client from hell. Mickey also has to right a wrong and play a very deadly game with Roulet that leaves him questioning his decision to practice law. 
Overall I thought the book was awesome. Because I saw the movie first I didn't think I would be able to enjoy the book. But, how wrong I was. Connelly made Mickey Haller extremely likable and very believable as a character. He's the type of character that a reader really wants to get behind and root for. And Roulet is the type of character you just want to beat the hell out of. I can't wait to blog about my reading experience and tell my friends about this book.




I really do suggest reading this book if your into legal thillers....

Monday, May 14, 2012

My Sweet....Sweet Fifty


Omg!!!
I have just finished the Fifty Shades series and what can I say other than OMG! This was one of the best series I have read in a long time. I loved the writing style of the author. I loved the plot. I loved the characters. Even Ana. Which is strange because most female characters of late lack a back bone. But not Ana. She was firey, determined and she her personality did not yo-yo all over the place. Like many of the other popular romances of the last few years. I really found the story one that could be believable. The flaws of the main characters where raw and fluid. I have never read anything quite like this series and I am sure I will not read anything like it any time soon. It was a really wonderful escape and I can not wait to read more for Mrs. James.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Sylvia Plath reads "The Applicant"

Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath..(a new favorite)


I have done it again.
One year in every ten
I manage it--

A sort of walking miracle, my skin
Bright as a Nazi lampshade,
My right foot

A paperweight,
My face a featureless, fine
Jew linen.

Peel off the napkin
O my enemy.
Do I terrify?--

The nose, the eye pits, the full set of teeth?
The sour breath
Will vanish in a day.

Soon, soon the flesh
The grave cave ate will be
At home on me

And I a smiling woman.
I am only thirty.
And like the cat I have nine times to die.

This is Number Three.
What a trash
To annihilate each decade.

What a million filaments.
The peanut-crunching crowd
Shoves in to see

Them unwrap me hand and foot--
The big strip tease.
Gentlemen, ladies

These are my hands
My knees.
I may be skin and bone,

Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman.
The first time it happened I was ten.
It was an accident.

The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shut

As a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.

Dying
Is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.

I do it so it feels like hell.
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I've a call.

It's easy enough to do it in a cell.
It's easy enough to do it and stay put.
It's the theatrical

Comeback in broad day
To the same place, the same face, the same brute
Amused shout:

'A miracle!'
That knocks me out.
There is a charge

For the eyeing of my scars, there is a charge
For the hearing of my heart--
It really goes.

And there is a charge, a very large charge
For a word or a touch
Or a bit of blood

Or a piece of my hair or my clothes.
So, so, Herr Doktor.
So, Herr Enemy.

I am your opus,
I am your valuable,
The pure gold baby

That melts to a shriek.
I turn and burn.
Do not think I underestimate your great concern.

Ash, ash--
You poke and stir.
Flesh, bone, there is nothing there--

A cake of soap, 
A wedding ring,
A gold filling.

Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.

Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Well loved....

You can tell a book is well loved by its " battle scars" the little paperback on the right has had its spine cracked, been written / highlighted and well guarded... <3

Books always brighten my day



The past weekend was terrible for me. I meant a guy that I really thought was decent and he turned into a toad. I was crazy busy at work, only to find out that I didn't make as much money as I thought I had. And to boot everyone was getting on my last nerve. To make a long story short that only thing that made me happy was finding these four books (for $3.50) at the local used book store. I went in on a mission to find a copy of The Great Gatsby; not only did I find it but I also found  a copy of On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft in hard back. As well as a new book/author to explore this spring. Finding a replacement copy for my well loved paperback, just made me smile. My day was further made better by spending my afternoon sitting by the lake reading. I got to get out in the sunshine and got to enjoy one of my favorite places. And I can honestly say that It did me some good.....and next week I am planning another date with that bench and a new book. :)



Story Ideas

For a while now I have wanted to work on a Greek Mythology inspired short novella. The idea sprung from an episode of Supernatural of all things. If you follow the show you will know that they have used several characters that are based on Greek Mythic creatures, such as Sirens, Lilith, and the fates. I am very interested in weaving a tale about the fates or sisters. I would love to tie them into the story of a young, strong willed character. Perhaps a woman that is coming to them to save the life of her family etc. I have some ideas that seem really awesome and would love to develop them here on my blog. Well....we shall see how it all works out.

Friday, March 9, 2012

New book Purchase

In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Why I bought this book: Of course I standing there in Walmart looking at books and there's this sign that says..."Done reading the Hunger Games? Want to find you next favorite book? Try Divergent by Veronica Roth".  Of course I loved Hunger Games so I decided to pick up the book and read the description. I was like wow, this looks different. Of course the society Beatrice lives in kind of reminds me of other books I've read; with that being said I am going to have to approach this book with a fresh set of eyes and no preconceived notions.   Also the books had a "GoodReads choice award" sticker on it (Which kinda sealed the deal for me).

Of course I have a timeline for when I plan on reading this book. I'll probably get it to in May...I have Cleopatra to get through this month and W.E.B Dubois and one other to get through next month. Hopefully this book lives up to all the hype.

Adventures to find a new book....at walmart

Well a few weeks ago the second (and only surviving) book store in my home town closed its doors. There is no way of knowing whether or not we will see another major bookstore here in Dover. So in order to feed my book addiction I have to run off to either Target or Walmart. The thought of only having two damn shelves to choose from frustrates me beyond belief. Unless I drive almost an hour to Barnes and Noble I am shit out of luck for getting a good book shopping experience. Book shopping does for me what a good massage does for others. Its my heavenly, out of body, gotta have a cup of coffee or tea while- doing- it - thing. I am truly happy when I  am surrounded by millions of words and tons of different stories and ideas. For this reason I believe that using a Nook or e-reader is going to be hard for me. It takes the joy out of grabbing a book off of a shelf and flipping it over to the backside, just so that I can read the info. Here's to hoping for another bookstore opening within a year or so. Until then I am FORCED to use Walmart/Target and the internet in order to feed my addiction (sigh).

Friday, March 2, 2012

New book


I've started reading a new book....Cleopatra: A life by Stacy Schiff. At first glance the book is just another bio of the Queen. However, after reading the first chapter you get the idea that Schiff is going to be able to keep your attention with all the torrid details of Cleopatra's love affairs and family life. I learned so much more than what I expected within the first forty pages of this book. I really can't wait to see what other revelations come about....

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

He always speaks the truth

One of my favorite authors says that in order to write (and i would add to write well) one must read...if you don't read you will not have the tools to write. For a long time I have always believed that I was a strong writer, well at least of research papers (lol). However, from time to time I have been known to pen a good story or write a pretty poem; but I have never been content with anything that I've written. I always (as with most things in my life) find the flaws in my writing. It could be that the story is not paced correctly, or even the name of a character I just have to find something wrong with it. I believe that any good writer has to shovel some major BS on to paper sometimes just to get something out; however, most often a good writer will go back and rework the BS in order to come out with something extraordinary. However, some authors (which will remain nameless) often  take this BS and give it to their agents/ editors; and it ends up on the shelves of libraries and book stores across the country. Of course, we readers go out and borrow or buy these books because they are best sellers or because someone recommended this author to us because he or she enjoyed their latest literary feat....however once we read it and put it away in the book case (or in my case throw it in the trash) we find ourselves wondering why did I waste my money and time reading this crap! My point is this....when I finally take the leap to send something to an agent/publisher I want to be able to say that I'm proud of the story that I've worked it out the best that I could and that the finished/polished piece is what I got for my trouble. I am a creature that likes their writing (as well as my reading experience) to be uncomplicated. I want my reader to understand the character, their motives, and the plot clearly. I think this is what stops me from reading bestsellers or even books people recommend. Lately, I've found myself being dissatisfied with the books that are out there. It seems like authors are running out of  ideas.....so what to do when this happens...Stephen King puts its simply....if you finish a book believing that you could write something better than that's exactly what you need to do (paraphrased). So...hey, at age 28 I am asking myself why the hell not write or develop something that might lead to something better, greater than I've ever produced before.

Another quote from King that I love...
“There are books full of great writing that don't have very good stories. Read sometimes for the story... don't be like the book-snobs who won't do that. Read sometimes for the words--the language. Don't be like the play-it-safers who won't do that. But when you find a book that has both a good story and good words, treasure that book.” 
― Stephen King

The Hunger Games....

Wow...I've been missing out. After reading several young adult series...such as House of Night, the Twilight Saga and Harry Potter I have finally gotten to the Hunger Games. I can say that I really enjoyed the book and found myself really drawn in by the plot and really rooting for District 12. I think that what really made me a fan of the series is the strong female protagonist. Katniss Everdeen is strong and determined, she's intelligent and has the ability to do what it takes to make it out alive. In the book her task is simple....to keep here promise to Prim and to come back home a victor; which by default will give her sister (and mother) a better life. However, her teams win will also cost her greatly. I am really looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Peeta Mellark and Katniss works out. I'm hoping that Katniss comes to her senses about him, but you never know. One thing I can say about this book is that not sense the Harry Potter series have a found myself so drawn to a series. To me Suzanne Collins comes a very close second in writing and plot pacing to JK Rowling.