Sookie Stackhouse, #2 & #3

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2)

by Charlaine Harris

Published April 1st 2004 by Orbit (first published 2002)

Paperback, 279 pages
Synopsis:

Waiting tables, sweeping floors, reading minds and solving mysteries for the undead. It's all in a day's work for Sookie... 

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of real bad luck. First, her co-worker gets murdered and no one seems to care. Then Sookie is attacked - and poisoned - late one night by some weird and apparently mythical beast. She only survives because the local vampires roll up and graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it). But in return the blood-suckers need a favor. 

Which is why Sookie ends up in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire, on the condition that her undead friends don't do anything, well, vampiric while she's there. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly...

Holy Cow! I am addicted! I know I am addicted because I cannot stop reading this series! The only other series had this effect was HP and Steig Larrson's. It is fun and I like the fact that it is a fast and engrossing read. It is a happy get away and I am in no mood for "heavy" books right now! And you would be surprised I am done with the 3rd part as well...

Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, #3)

by Charlaine Harris

Published May 6th 2006 by Orbit (first published 2003)

Paperback, 274 pages

Synopsis:

Things between cocktail waitress Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill seem to be going excellently (apart from the small matter of him being undead) until he leaves town for a while. A long while. Bill's sinister boss Eric has an idea of where to find him, whisking her off to Jackson, Mississippi to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. When she finally catches up with the errant vampire, he is in big trouble and caught in an act of serious betrayal. This raises serious doubts as to whether she should save him or start sharpening a few stakes of her own ...

I liked this one too!But I thought it was a very stupid reason Bill had to be taken hostage for. Other than that... Go Sookie! Kick all of 'em hard! Oh and I really liked Alcide ;) :)


"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1) by Charlaine Harris

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse, #1)
by Charlaine Harris
Published March 4th 2004 by Orbit (first published May 1st 2001)
Paperback, 326 pages

Welcome to Bon Temps. It's just your average sleepy backwater town. You know the kind of place . . . a dime store, a trailer park, a diner, and a gang of newly 'out of the coffin' undead. 

Sookie Stackhouse is a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of 'disability' --- she can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. But then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome --- and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life. 

But Bill has a problem of his own: he's a vampire. With a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of --- big surprise --- murder. And when one of Sookie's co-workers is killed, she fears she's next . . .

My Thoughts -

 Ever since vampires came out of the coffin (as they laugh-ingly put it) four years ago, I'd hoped one would come to Bon Temps.

-pg.2 

I finally dug my paws into the much hyped, much dissected series on the Vamps. I was skeptical to say the least. There were just too many reviews and too many stars for this one! Some loved it and some are totally disgusted with it. For me... I think it is a winner! Let me explain.
Now I am sure I cannot tell you anything more about Sookie, Bill, Eric, Sam... that you don't already know. So I am going straight into what I liked about this book. I loved the pace. I was hooked to it all the time. There was no place where I was bored. I love Bon Temps and Merlotte, the settings are marvelous and the world that Charlaine has created is very much interesting! I have seen a couple of episodes of True Blood series and I usually kept on visualizing Sookie as the one in the series. The writing and dialog is interesting too. There is something fresh about it and I did not think of Twilight once after I started reading.

I liked Sookie! She is determined, confident and sometimes naive! Bill and Sam both are really good!

—that the creature I loved was lying somewhere in a hole underground, to all intents and purposes dead until dark.

-pg. 107

I know I have wondered about how cool it would be to read someone's mind. But now I really think I am lucky I am normal LOL!

So how did you like this book? I am already into the 2nd one :-)

Lovely Quote!!

Here is a quote that I loved a lot...

If Michael was in the bindery when an especially handsome old volume arrived, Mr. Albert let him hold it and always said: "Let your hands feel it, Michael. It's not just some old thing. It has a soul."

At first, Michael didn't know what Mr. Albert was talking about. 

"A book that has been handed down from generation to generation," Mr. Albert explained, "has had its pages touched by so many fingers and has been loved and cried over by so many people that it has a life of its own." - The Song of Whales by Uri Orlev 

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

Past Midnight by Mara Punrhagen

Past Midnight
by Mara Purnhagen
Publishing on September 1st 2010 by Harlequin
Paperback, 208 pages

With parents who have their own popular ghost-debunking TV show, it's hard for new girl Charlotte Silver to keep a low profile, especially when her parents' work follows her to high school in the form of two angry ghosts.

Charlotte Silver wants to live like a normal person, spend her senior year in one school and go around with normal people - well is this too much to ask for? Not for a normal person like you and me but for Charlotte, whose parents make their living by going to haunted places just to prove that they are not haunted this was a bit difficult. Once people found out about her celebrity status, she and her family were considered more of "ghost-busters" than ghost-debunkers. But when her family moves to Charleston and decides to be there for sometime, Charlotte starts to believe that there nomadic life would come to a temporary end after all. But all changes when she is to her brand new house, by 2 very angry, impatient ghosts, uhh no, not ghosts but "balls of energies" - as her parents like to call them. What follows is a quest to help them find what they are seeking through her.

I totally enjoyed Past Midnight. At 200 pages, it was fast, thrilling and I was anxious to know what was about to happen. It was slightly predictable but I am one of those who believes that the ride is what matters and not the destination. This novel is not just about real ghosts but also about facing our ghosts as well. It is about facing about facing your problem head on, I loved that. I loved the fact in the end Charlotte came to accept that she was never going to be normal, and she was happy about it. I loved how Charlotte evolved in this novel and I am looking forward to reading the whole series :)

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham

Hugh and Bess 
by Susan Higginbotham
Published August 1st 2009 by Sourcebooks Landmark (first published October 29th 2007)
Paperback, 320 pages

Forced to marry Hugh le Despenser, the son and grandson of disgraced traitors, Bess de Montacute, just 13 years old, is appalled at his less-than-desirable past. Meanwhile, Hugh must give up the woman he really loves in order to marry the reluctant Bess. Far apart in age and haunted by the past, can Hugh and Bess somehow make their marriage work? 

Just as walls break down and love begins to grow, the merciless plague endangers all whom the couple holds dear, threatening the life and love they have built. 

Award-winning author Susan Higginbotham's impeccable research will delight avid historical fiction readers, and her enchanting characters will surely capture every reader's heart. Fans of her first novel, The Traitor's Wife, will be thrilled to find that this story follows the next generation of the Despenser family.

Set in the 1300s, Hugh and Bess by Susan Higginbotham is a great historical novel about 2 people brought together by fate and there lives under the rule of Edward III. 

Elizabeth de Montecute (Bess) is not happy when she learns that she is to be married to Hugh Le Despenser whose father, Hugh Le Despenser the second,  was the lover to King Edward II and who was executed in a very gruesome manner along with his grandfather.  Young Hugh after the death of his father had to spend sometime in prison under King Edward III, but was released later on and served the King loyally since then. Hugh is always trying to prove himself and that he is nothing like his father and when the King suggests he marries Bess, daughter and heiress of the King's closest confidants, Hugh is not pleased but would never let this opportunity pass either. 

I loved every art of this story. I think I loved Hugh, inspite of him loving and leaving Emma. But I think what I loved most was "watching" Bess grow from slightly spoilt girl of 13 to a women who was loving, caring and well aware of her duties as a wife of one of the greatest Knights who has led England to many victoreis. 

I loved Susan's style of writing, it is smooth, it flows like the calm river and there are no ripples that I can really talk of. There was not even one phase where I was bored.  I was reading this book every waking/feeding/ semi-waking hour I could find with Aarya :). I definitely want to read more of her books. And my sister is escited to get to read this book as well. 

If you have not got around reading this one yet, you most definitely are missing out on a great historical fiction novel.  Susan Higginbotham definitely has found an ardent fan in me.  


Thanks to Dar, for sending this one to me. I won it at a contest at her lovely blog. 

Currently Reading...

Hi Guys, Sorry for being away for so long AGAIN :-)

I am just enjoying being on holiday and being a mom...Life revolves around our little angel and we have named him 'Aarya' :-)

He is 2 months old today and I am slowly getting ready to get back to work as well. He has started recognizing us and talks a lot about things he alone knows and you can high pitched screams when he wants to drive a point home :-)

He sleeps through the day and keeps us awake in the night, we are trying to bring him into our schedule... but I am sure it isi going to take some time :D

I have not been reading much but started recently reading ...

It is a lovely story set in the 1300's, here is a little about the book -

Forced to marry Hugh le Despenser, the son and grandson of disgraced traitors, Bess de Montacute, just 13 years old, is appalled at his less-than-desirable past. Meanwhile, Hugh must give up the woman he really loves in order to marry the reluctant Bess. Far apart in age and haunted by the past, can Hugh and Bess somehow make their marriage work? 

Just as walls break down and love begins to grow, the merciless plague endangers all whom the couple holds dear, threatening the life and love they have built. 

Award-winning author Susan Higginbotham's impeccable research will delight avid historical fiction readers, and her enchanting characters will surely capture every reader's heart. Fans of her first novel, The Traitor's Wife, will be thrilled to find that this story follows the next generation of the Despenser family.

Hope all of you are having a nice time out there :)

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

Update!!!

Hi Guys!

Sorry for being absent or so LONG! And I am going to be absent from the blog world for a bit more time... the reason?!

Our bundle of joy arrived on April 12th, 2010 at 1:50 PM

We have a baby boy and he is fine and doing great. I am fine too!

Here is a pic of him that we took on the 1st day :)

I hope all of you are having a great time... I certainly am having a helluva of a time being a mom!

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

The Song of the Whales by Uri Orlev

The Song of Whales 
by Uri Orlev, Hillel Halkin (Translator)
Publishing on April 12th, 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Hardcover, 128 pages 

From GoodReads.com,

Michael’s grandfather has a secret—a secret that’s almost too strange to share . . .

When Michael moves to Israel, he leaves loneliness behind and steps into the light of his grandfather’s magic. Like a sorcerer’s apprentice, Michael learns how to blur the lines between dreams and reality when his grandfather hands down the most precious of gifts—a gift that allows Michael passage into his grandfather’s dreams.

Written with a quiet simplicity that wins the reader over at once Uri Orlev writes in a style so sure and yet so unassuming that it is certain to linger in reader’s minds long after turning the last page.

My Thoughts

It is not always that you get to read about dreams. And this little book for kids does just that. This book is about Michael or Mikha'el (Mee-kha-EL - that's how his name was pronounced in Israel) who has to move to Jerusalem from Washington because his parents want to be near his old Grandpa. Michael is not like kids his age, he doesn't have friends his age and mingles well with grown - ups and likes to help them with there work. His parents who are always busy with work have little to no time for him. He is worried about the move, but soon comes to like the new place and his Grandpa too.  His Grandpa becomes his only and best friend and loves his house as well. But his Grandpa has a secret, he can take anyone into his dreams! And he takes Michael with him into his dreams as well. From them on, every now and them Michael and his Grandpa have fun adventures in his Grandpa's dream. They both enjoy it immensely and slowly Michael comes to understand and adore his Grandpa more than anyone!

More than anything, it is the simplicity with which this story is told that tugs at your heart. The importance of dreams and the need to "repair" the sad and bad ones is beautifully brought about. To put in a little sweetness in to a sad dream, or to mix in a bit of hope into it... that we have the power to change the dreams... is beautifully portrayed in this small story.

There is something very nice and sweet about this story and my review, I am sure, does not do it justice it deserves. But I would definitely want to get hold of the book and read it to my kid someday. I like to believe that this will definitely be something that we will both enjoy. 

Highly recommended for kids and older kids like me ;-).
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book. 

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

Cover Attractions...

Hello Guys! Today's cove attraction is for this very CUTE cover I found on GoodReads.
I just love the doggie on the cover :)  :)

Synopsis-

Everyone says the first year of marriage is the hardest . . . but what would you do if you found out that you were never really married in the first place?

In this irresistible romantic comedy from award-winning author Beth Kendrick, three wildly different women form an unlikely friendship as they try to decide whether they'd do it all again.

They've had the white dresses and the fancy receptions. But now that the honeymoon's over, Stella, Casey, and Erin have each had to face some hard truths about the men they've married and the lives they've chosen. So when the news breaks that the pastor who presided over their weddings failed to file a few critical pieces of paper, none of these newlyweds are rushing down to the courthouse to legalize their vows. Instead, the brides share their hopes, disappointments, and secrets while grappling with that pivotal question: Should they stay or should they go?

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster

Hannah's List By Debbie Macomber

Hannah's List

By Debbie Macomber

Publishing on April 27th 2010 by Mira

Hardcover, 400 pages

From GoodReads.com, 

Make time for friends. Make time for Debbie Macomber. On the anniversary of his beloved wife's death, Dr. Michael Everett receives a letter Hannah had written him. In it she reminds him of her love and makes one final request. An impossible request: I want you to marry again. She tells him he shouldn't spend the years he has left grieving her. And to that end she's chosen three women she asks him to consider. First on Hannah's list is Winter Adams, a trained chef who owns a cafe on Seattle's Blossom Street. The second is Leanne Lancaster, Hannah's oncology nurse. Michael knows them both. But the third name is one he's not familiar with - Macy Roth. Each of these three women has her own heartache, her own private grief. During the months that follow, he spends time with Winter, Leanne and Macy, learning more about each of them...and about himself. 

My Thoughts: This book traces the life of a 40 something Pediatrician, Michael who has lost his beloved wife, Hannah of 11 years and whom he loved immensely. Even after an year, he is still sad, broken from inside and not ready to accept her non-existence. He accepts the fact that she is dead, but it is not ready to let go. Hannah's brother and Michael's best friend hands him a letter from Hannah. Hannah had asked Ritchie to wait an year and then give this letter to Michael. In the letter, Hannah asks Michael to move on with his life and goes as far as listing 3 probable women he could date. Knowing him, she is sure he needs this help more than anyone else. And thus Michael to honor Hannah's last wish meets and spends time with the 3 women.

Michael is a guarded and stubborn person who is not ready to let go of the grief that he has in his heart because of the loss of his wife. He holds on to it and his past and is not ready to acknowledge the fact that it is futile. He feels that if he was happy again, he would be guilty. All through, Hannah just wants him to let go of her and remember their times together as beautiful and just move on. She wants him to let go off of his guilt and walk towards happiness.

I definitely thought this was a slow read in the beginning but on the entry of the 3 women and there individual stories it suddenly became interesting and a great read. Of course it is a bit predictable but I really liked all the 3 women. There individual relationship problems, were lessons from which I learned a lot. Of course, Macy is a favorite and her quirkiness is her charm and it is a great experience seeing Michael winning over his emotional struggle and feeling happy. 

All in all, it was a nice, fluffy and cozy read. I am sure it will put a smile on anyone's face and you get to learn a thing or two about relationships as well. Recommended.

                       

On a side note, I don't like that cover but it is relevant to the books plot :)

Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy.

"It isn't the big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."— Jean Webster