Musing Mondays: Mid-Year Reading

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about mid-year reading…
Now that we’ve come to the middle of the year, what do you think of your 2009 reading so far? Read anything interesting that you’d like to share? Any outstanding favourites?

I am having a very slow reading year. I don't think that I will read 100 books this year. Last year I just barely made. So far, I have read 31 books. I really need to crank it, if I am going to come close to 100 books this year. Maybe I can get some reading time done on my vacation and pump up my numbers.

Challenges: I have not completed any challenges but I have read at least one book for all of my challenges except for the romance reading challenge. The plan was to read Nicholas Spark's books for the romance reading challenge, but it has not worked out yet. The review all your book challenge will not be completed because I have not reviewed all of the books I read so far.

I know part of the reason, I am having a slow reading year is that I have discovered Facebook and Twitter. For awhile they consumed all of my time. But the newness is wearing off, so maybe I can get a little more reading done. I just need to work on time management.

Reviewing my book list. These seem to be my standout books so far.

1. Axe of Iron: The Settlers by J.A. Hunsinger
2. Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center
3. Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughan
4. Uneasy Lies the Head by Jean Plaidy

Happy Reading

Micheal Jackson 1958-2009

Just my humble tribute the king of pop.

Michael Jackson - Thriller
Uploaded by hushhush112. - See the latest featured music videos.

This is my favorite Micheal Jackson video. This is probable the best video of all times. Love it. This was when Micheal Jackson was his best. I hope he has finally found the peace that he has been looking for in life. So glad that he has left us his music and his videos.

God Bless Micheal Jackson and his family.

The Sitting Swing Review Repost

Welcome to Irene Watson's Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tour.

Synopsis of The Sitting Swing by Irene Watson:

Irene Watson's pretentious life could go no further until she faced her past. Her moving and inspiring memoir begins at the end, in a recovery center, where she has gone to understand a childhood fraught with abuse a, guild, and uncertainty.

Two distinct parts of the book look at abusive child rearing and the process of recovery years later. This story shows change, growth, and forgiveness are possible. It gives hope and freedom to those accepting the past and re-writing life scripts that have been passed down for generations. It's never too late to change your life, never too late to heal.

Irene Watson goes into rehab with a chip on her shoulder. She cannot see how this will help her. She states that she went to Avalon, the fictionalized name of the clinic, because all her friends were using terms and ideas that came form Avalon and she wanted to understand what they meant. But as time goes on and the counselors see through her bs and they help her deal with her past and how it influences her present.

This was a story of one woman's journey in understanding who she was and how she got there. As well as the changes that she goes through to accept what happened to her and to find her happiness. As well as finding the strength to listen to herself as to what is important to her and doing it.

This was a thought provoking read. As I was reading about Irene Watson's life; I began to think about my life and the influences good and bad that shaped me into the person I am today.

I enjoyed reading about Watson's story of self-discovery. Parts of this book was sad and parts of it was funny. I feel that any one reading this book will get something out of it. I know I did.

About The Author:

Irene Watson holds a Master Degree in Psychology, with honors, from Regis University in Denver, CO. Her emphasis was spirituality and psychosynthesis. Irene's life has taken her on many paths, with breakthrough results and exemplar growth, to find her authentic and true self. She has designed and facilitated workshops and retreats in the United States and Canada. At present she is the managing Editor of her book review and author publicity company, Reader Views. She lives with her husband on the banks of Barton Creek in Austin, Texas along with their Pomeranian, Tafton, a rescued cat, Patches, and a rescued cockatiel, Clement.

This review was originally posted on 9-4-2008 on ReadingMama.

Salvation Army Book Sale

Sorry I have not posted any reviews lately but I am just taking a break. I wanted this blog to be fun for me and it started to lose its pleasure. Result a little break. In time I will post some more reviews.

Went to Salvation Army and they were having a book sale. 35 cents each for paperback. I spent $8.10 Here are the books I bought.

My Daughter's books (yes, I am raising another bookoholic.)
Two Suns in the Sky by Miriam Bat-Ami
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Play to the Angel by Maurine F. Dahlberg

Now for my books:

Meg Cabot:
Size 12 is Not Fat
Size 14 is Not Fat Either
boy meets girl

Nora Roberts:
Love By Design
First Impressions
Reunion

Jodi Picoult:
Second Glance
Vanishing Acts

The Secret Life of Bryan by Lori Foster
The Life of Thomas More by Peter Ackroyd (My love for anything Tudors)
Traitor's Kiss, Lover's Kiss by Mary Blayney (two books in one)
Big Girls Don't Cry by Brenda Novak



Mouth to Mouth by Erin McCarthy (daughter saw cover and gave it to me and said she could tell it was my type of book by the cover)
Brimstone by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
The Heart of a Ruler by Maries Ferrarella
Midnight Marriage by Victoria Bylin
Raintree Sanctuary by Beverly Barton

OOPs almost forgot a board book Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree by Eileen Christelow

Happy Reading