Let the Games Begin!

I am going to take a moment,

step out of my adult world,

and join millions of teens by stating,

I LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES!

If you have not read them yet, you are missing out.

(I have even made my hubby start book 1)

And the movie?

CANNOT WAIT.

Anyone else excited to see this?

And with this post I have confirmed that this is my most random week of postings yet.  From boys grabbing themselves, to a new boutique in the OC, to chandeliers and now teen dramas.  I can only laugh and say "welcome to my world!" 

Weekend Read:The Red Queen

I have been terrible with reading lately.  Since my post on The White Queen, I have been waiting to actually read the follow up novel, The Red Queen.  I FINALLY got to it and it was fantastic.  I loved hearing the exact same story from the other side.  That is something to make note of.  Do not read The Red Queen until you have read The White Queen.  Philippa Gregory has a talent of captivating her audiences and understanding an era from so long ago.  I am really looking forward to the next book in this series as I am sure it is going to be just as entertaining. 

Weekend Read: Last Night at Chateau Marmont

LOVED IT!  If you were a fan of The Devil Wears Prada or Everyone Worth Knowing, you will love Lauren Weisberger's new book that takes a look at the question, is being famous all that it is cracked up to be?  Throughout the entire book I began to realize just how hard it must be to have your picture taken everywhere, people know everything about you (or at least they think they do), and how every move you make is documented (can we say Brangelina?).  It is a fabulous summer read!

Weekend Read: Heart of the Matter

Hmmm.... I am not quite sure what to say about this book.  I guess it hit a nerve.  One of the main characters in the book is a mother who struggles daily with the fact that she gave up her career to raise her children.  Meanwhile, her husband goes and cheats on her.  Don't worry, there is a lot more to the story, but that is what stuck.  Being someone that has put my career in the passenger seat and at times struggles with the fact that I have lost a lot of what I worked for, it sort of pissed me off that her husband felt that she had "changed" and found comfort somewhere else.  It did get a reaction out of me, which is what a book should do.  Totally get it.  And it does make you question, what would I do in this situation?  Stay with him?  Leave him?  We all have our opinions but you never know how you will react until it happens to you.  What did the main character do?  That is for you to read and find out....

Weekend Read: The Secret Daughter

I picked up this book at random one day while shopping at Target.  I had never heard of it but it was an international bestseller, so I thought I would give it a try.  It was nothing like I expected but such a wonderful story.  The constant theme throughout is a mother's undying love for their children and the lengths we will go to protect them.  It takes you down two extreme paths of motherhood and into the lives of these women and their connection.  Unexpectedly, I also learned a lot about the Indian culture, which I really loved.  Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Weekend Read: Bossypants

Bossypants.  It's funny.  It won't make you smarter but it will make you laugh.  Did I absolutely love it?  No.  Was it a quick read with a lot of entertainment?  Absolutely.  If you are a fan of Tina Fey, it will give a lot of insight into her life and how she got there.  She is known for her comical writing and that is what you get with this one.  I enjoyed it but would not say it was one of the best books I have read.  But I was not expecting that either.  If you are looking for a lighthearted, quick read, here it is.

P.S. How did I never notice that she had a scar on her face?  Apparently to others this has been obvious for years.

Weekend Read: The Help

I know, I know.  You are all wondering how in the world it has taken me this long to read a book that has been recommended for years.  I was given this book two years ago and FINALLY read it over the past two weeks.  All I have to say is "AMAZING".  Such a fantastic read and kept me captivated from start to finish.  I will not go into details on this book (because I am sure you have already heard them) but if you have not read it yet, you are missing out.

Weekend Read: Magazines, Magazines, Magazines

This weekend I am committed to catching up on all my magazines that have been piling up over the past two weeks.  Due to my inability to find time to read magazines (and my previous post on reading more books), I have cut down the total number that I subscribe to but I just cannot give up some of my favorites.  I absolutely love Harpers Bazaar.  This is followed by InStyle, and Elle.  Every now and then I will throw in Vogue and Vanity Fair.  Though I love reading books, I adore getting lost in a hundred pages of fashion and (believe it or not) some great short stories.

Weekend Read: The White Queen

King Henry.  Anne Boleyn.  Queen Mary.  Queen Elizabeth.  How I adore the Tudors.  And thanks to Philippa Gregory, I have been able to indulge my Tudor obsession through books like "The Other Boleyn Girl", "The Constant Princess", "The Boleyn Inheritance" and "The Queen's Fool".

If you have read any of these books and loved them as much as I did, I highly recommend "The White Queen", the first novel in Gregory's new series.  It brings all that I love from her books into an entirely new era, well before the Tudors were in power.  The "War of the Roses" has begun and I cannot wait to read the next novel, "The Red Queen".

And isn't this all even more appropriate with the Royal Wedding just days away?

Weekend Read: Water for Elephants

I love to read.  Always have.  But who has time to read with kids?  I have put books aside for some time now to focus on the million other things going on in our house.  It is something I have really missed.  Recently I have committed to stop watching all the crap that I do (i.e. Housewives) and start reading again.  I picked a fantastic first read, which was suggested by my sister.  "Water for Elephants" was one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read.  It captured my attention from the start and I loved the way Sara Gruen gave a real experience of being in the circus during the depression.  And who doesn't enjoy a good love story.  If you are an animal lover, be warned that there are some tough parts throughout the book with regards to the treatment of animals, but don't let that deter you.  It is about to come out in the theatre starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon so make sure you read it before you see it.  The book is ALWAYS better than the movie.