A good read.....

I saw mention of this book on Rechelle's blog and I decided to check it out. So I went to trusty Amazon.com and looked it up. On their site they let you read a few pages if you'd like. So I did and I was hooked!

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Its set in the Middle Ages but don't let that scare you away. My favorite book of all time, Forever Amber, is set about 500 years after. I have a feeling that Pillars may end up in the same period as Amber before it ends.

If its written well, a novel set in this time period is extremely interesting.....much more than a movie. I don't know why I had never heard of this book before; it was written in 1989. I've also heard that this is one of Oprah's picks....and, if so, she finally nailed one that I am really enjoying. Its only 900 bajillion pages long....thick as a telephone book...but I can't put it down. I started it on Friday when I got it in the mail. I found it in used condition for only $2.85. I am 120 pages into it and already there has been death, birth, murder, an execution, assaults, and thievery. He wrote a sequel in 2007, World Without End, and I have already ordered that one used because I know I'm going to like it.

Just thought I'd pass this along to all of you that love to read. The characters are warm and real and even when you're not reading, you find yourself thinking about them. I can highly recommend this one and I have no idea how its going to end yet. Sigh ~ so now you know what I'm going to be doing with any spare time I have.

Big Comfy Armchair critic.....

I received some books for a gift and so I have read two of them already. Both books were not very big ones, so they were easy reads.

The first book was sort of a fun book, although she could have gone a lot more into things and made it a lot more fun. Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. Yep, this woman has problems, but she's also a hoot. I did enjoy the book but it left me wanting more. Its a very short book. No real plot here, just a true story about some of Carrie's life. She's done a lot of pills and a lot of alcohol and also has some mental problems, which they treated with electric shock therapy. I thought that went out with the dark ages, but she said it helped her. I like her....she's fun, but I wouldn't want to live with her.

The second book still has me in shock. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. This, too, is a true story. It put me through many emotions, mostly deep anger at her father and utter frustration at her mother. How these kids managed to survive is nothing short of a miracle. This should be the handbook of WHY SOME PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER HAVE CHILDREN.....although the kids seem like they have pretty much turned out OK, except for one that has some problems. I highly recommend it. If you work with children maybe a lot of it won't surprise you, but I still can't believe how this family managed to slip through the cracks and avoid any intervention from state authorities. I have to hand it to Jeannette. Never once does she show any bitterness toward her parents for the horrible lives they (her 3 siblings and herself) were forced to live. I'm not sure I could even speak to my parents if I would have had things like this to endure.

I'm about 100 pages into the third book. Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell. I've followed all of her books in the Scarpetta series and this one looks like it will be just as good as all the others, even though its larger by about 200 pages. When I'm finished, I'll give you my opinion.

I have gone through all my year-end records, balanced my checkbook and have pretty much all of my stuff in one spot, ready for tax preparation. Last year I waited way too long and filed at the last minute, which was STUPID, not to mention stressful. This year, I'm going to get my stuff over there as soon as I get all my statements and W-2 in the mail.

We received more snow last night but thank goodness the foot plus of snow that was on the ground melted away beforehand. The catalogs are now featuring spring attire and I cannot wait even though winter has only officially been with us less than 3 weeks. Stay warm if you live in the cold and if you live where its warm......I'm comin' to visit. LOL