Wolf Hall Read Along: Half Way There!

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Wow, it's been an interesting trip so far down British history lane! Not sure how to define the experience that this book is. But here's what I'm thinking so far.

The writing is unlike anything I've ever read before. Strange mix of awesomeness and confusion. It's kind of a stream of conscious book, you know. And you really need to be paying attention in order to know who's thinking what, who's saying what and what HE refers to whenever it's used. Very weird.

And yet, at the same time, the writing quite sucks you in and makes you feel there. Maybe it's the stream of conscious thing that can do that, but yeah, it's not really that hard once you get used to it. Very weird, indeed!

I've read several books about this period in history, so I'm really enjoying seeing it from a different perspective. I can't remember much about Cromwell from previous readings, he probably seemed like the boring character then. But I've a feeling I've always thought of him as the bad guy. And I tend to want to put all these players in this crazy story into some sort of bad guy/good guy category. So I'm finding it fun to actually like him and feel for him and want him to succeed in whatever he's trying to do.

But, that's the thing. What IS he trying to do?  Of course, I know that he is key in making the change that allows Henry to divorce the queen and marry Anne, but at this point, I see him waffling from one camp to the other. He is/was the cardinal's boy after all, right? And the cardinal is not for divorce? Am I right?

Yes, it's all confusing.

As always, though, I wish that somehow Queen Katherine could have won this fight. I do NOT like Anne Bolelyn, and have never felt very sorry for her, even if she really didn't deserve what she got. But none of them did. Someone was just a little head chopping happy, I'd say.

But now I'm getting ahead (ha, aHEAD, lol) of myself! And talk about stream of conscious! Sheesh, what's up with me today. I'm too tired I think. But you love posts like this, right?

Anyway, besides Cromwell, I'm totally loving his dude/secretary/helper/friend.... Rafe. Love him! Was he a real guy? Do you think he had such dry wit in real life? And how would anyone know anyway? It's the author making up his personality I'm sure. But I approve.

The human-ness we are seeing with Cromwell, his kids, his wife, his home, his pets, his love for his extended/adopted family. I love it. I hope that's how it really was. I'm scared for them all though. I know how this ends!

Now.. on to the second half of the book....

Oh, for Jessica's thoughts on the first half of this book (she's co-hosting this read along with me!) click on over here!

Character Connection: Roar from Through the Ever Night

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One of my blogging goals this year is to write a Character Connection every month! I love how this feature forces me to look more closely at a loved character and then try to verbalize exactly why I'm drawn to them. It's also fun to share my character loves with you! You should join with us every month over at The Introverted Reader!

My highlight this month:         


Roarfrom Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

(I have no idea who this is in real life
but this is just how I picture Roar
only wearing black of course!)

Well, actually we meet Roar in the first book, Under the Never Sky, and yes, he's cool in that book, but I was focused much more on Perry. In the second book, Roar has a much more prominent role and suddenly his coolness is right there in your face!

Why do I think he's so cool?

• He a sidekick character and it seems that in most cases, the sidekick is more swoon worthy than even the main love interest. He gives Perry the run for his money on this!
• He "has a prince's look but a pirate's eyes."
• He's dark and mysterious and wears black "from head to toe."
• He laughs... a lot.
• He hides behind the facade of his swagger, which he has going in spades.
• He is funny and witty and silly and crazy.
• He fights with knives.
• He has enhanced hearing, and can even hear Aria's thoughts if he's touching her.
• He's extremely suave and smooth with Aria, which makes you wonder what he really feels, but we know he is in love with Perry's sister, Liv. So, there's that.
• He sort of reminds me of Jacob in the sense that Aria, our heroine, seems to sort of need him to ground and center herself. 

Have you read these books? Do you love Roar too? And why?
There's a "middle of the series" book out that tells the story of Roar and Liv. I think I better snag that one!

January 2013 Reading Recap

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I feel like I sort of got back on track this month! Not a bad reading month at all! 

Here's what I managed:

What We Saw At Night by Jaquelyn Mitchard: A group of friends who hang out in the night because of a disease they have, see something strange at an apartment building that makes them begin an investigation they might not want to begin!

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan: A senior high school boy is left a set of cds from a boy from the previous year which recounts the tragedy that happened that year.

Case File 13: Zombie Kid by J. Scott Savage: What happens when you turn into a zombie? You enjoy it for awhile then make your friends help you fix yourself!

Reached by Ally Condie: After fighting a plague, the Matched trilogy concludes!

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss: Three stories come together in an unusual way, with a book the center of them all.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman: Seraphina discovers a big secret about herself and makes her think of dragons in a whole new light.

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi: The story of Aria and Perry continues as they try to find the Still Blue and save their people.

Among the Nameless Stars by Diana Peterfreund: What happened when Kai left the North Estage, a prequel to For Darkness Shows the Stars.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman: Allyson has a one day adventure in Paris with hot Dutch dude and ponders for the rest of the year about what really happened. (review to come soon)

Favorites of the month: The History of Love, Just One Day and Through the Ever Night, followed closely by Seraphina. Loved them all! 

Plans for February:

• finish Wolf Hall 
• start another read along: Vanity Fair (want to join in?)
• re-read The Scarlet Pimpernel for book club
• read Mind Games ARC
• read The Runaway King ARC
• read Old Man's War for a SciFi experience!
• read another lucky random new book waiting here on the shelves

How'd your first month of the year go?

Booking Through Thursday: Influences

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Wow! I haven't done a Booking Through Thursday question in forever! But today, I'm fresh out of blogging ideas and I don't seem to be finishing any books to tell you about, so I thought, why not go back to my blogging beginning and try a question! Ah, the memories!

Here's today's question:

Do other people influence what you choose to read? When a family member recommends something, or a friend says they hated a book you were planning to read … does it affect your reading choices?


I find that I'm influenced on the positive, but not necessarily the negative side of things. Meaning, if people (friends, you guys, sometimes family) say they loved something, I'm anxious to add that to the pile and read it. BUT, if the same people say they hated it, I tend to still want to read it (especially if I already had plans to do so) to find out for myself if I do or don't like it.

I was wanting to say that I hope I'm the one doing the influencing these days, but then, I remembered how often I see the buzz about certain books on the blogosphere and how then I think I HAVE to read it! Sometimes this is very true, but sometimes I'll wait until the buzz dies down and then I'll try it out a little later.
Is it the same for you all? Or do you find you are not influenced at all? Or that you respond to it differently?

Jane's Addiction Announces 2012 Tour Dates

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Jane’s Addiction has released news of a 2012 North American Janes Addiction tour to support their latest album called ‘The Great Escape Artist’. This album and tour are the first projects the band has done together in about 8 years. Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro will front the band as usual and as always, Farrell promises a show you won't forget. The announced tour is not long and the band is only playing small theaters.
If you're a Fan of Jane's Addiction, check out www.JanesAddictionTour.com for their latest tour dates, concert tickets, merchandise and more.

Mini Bloggiesta To Do List

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@bloggiesta#bloggiesta
I'm so exited to spend some time this weekend doing some bloggy business! I think most of the stuff I'd like to do during this Mini Bloggiesta (check out the Bloggiesta blog for details!) is just normal upkeep.

But here's a list if you are interesting on the specifics:

• update links in author/title archives (That wasn't so bad this time! It helps to not get so behind!)
• clean up email, again
• update links in books read page 
• print blogs
• decide what labels (and other things) in sidebar are necessary do you see what's gone?
• add to local author page and update links
• pin reviews to Pinterest
• do a couple of previous challenges that I missed the first go around
• maybe write and schedule a handful of posts is one a handful?

And that's enough for a couple of days work I'd say!
I hope you join with us in working on your blog this weekend! Be sure to come and chat on Twitter on Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

Currently: UnSuperbowl

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C  U  R  R  E  N  T  L  Y(as written on Sunday morning/afternoon)

Listening: at the moment? Not much. A quiet-ish morning house. But here's a song I want to share with you, a song I am loving so so much:
. 

It's a cover of a Bob Dylan song, and the one that they use for the show Parenthood, though they have changed it up so much in this version that I hardly recognized it. I LOVE what they've done with it. Gives me chills!!

Eating: healthy! Well, at least making a stab at it. Though I did have ice cream last night at a birthday party (passed on the cake though) and wow, it tasted good!

Loving: the mini bloggiesta this weekend! We TRENDED last night during the chat! How cool is that! And I thought it would be a "mini" thing with not near as many people, but you all TALKED a lot and it was great, so thanks for that and here's hoping all your blogs are looking shiny today! I have yet had a chance to really work on more things today, but I did a few things yesterday. So that's good.

Reading: Wolf Hall! Trying to finish up my segment of the week. I'm a bit behind. I'm anxious to jump into some other books now though. And some ARCs I've got on the Kindle! Anxious I tell you!

Feeling: quite good today! Last night I felt weird, but I feel much better today. Amazing what a little sleep can do!

Watching: NOT the Superbowl! But I'm still holding out hope that someday I can host an UN-Superbowl party! I think that would be fun, but, not sure how... or who.

But this week, it was "fun" to see everyone's reactions to the Downton Abbey episode that I endured all alone a few months ago when I watched it online! Wasn't that the worst???

And Vampire Diaries continues to intrigue! Sheesh, that show is crazy!

And I haven't watched any American Idol and it feels weird.

We watched Pitch Perfect over the weekend, rented from Redbox. I enjoyed the singing, but the story was debatable, and the kids were crude. I would love it, LOVE it is someone would be brave enough to make a movie about singing high school (or college as this one was) kids and leave out all the crap. Please?

Wanting: The Josh Groban CD... Tuesday! So excited! Yep, I'm still on board with this guy and his songs. Love.


Thinking: that it's impossible that kid #3 is turning 18 tomorrow. Not really happening, right? Someone stop this time thing! I'm tired of it going so fast!

Exercising: Not really. Zumba once. It's like I can only concentrate on either the food end or the exercise end. This week, it was the food I guess. 

What's new this week for you all?