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Archive for January, 2013

Book 2 in the 2013 Book List: The Stand

Monday, January 28th, 2013

2. The Stand by Stephen King
Finished: January 28,2013
Ok, so it took a lot of persuasion for me to sit down and read this book in its entirety, but I’m glad I did it. This book fits in nicely with King’s Dark Tower series and was quite enjoyable. I tried reading this book once before a few years back but, the beginning was just a bit too graphic for me. My suggestion is if you have a weak stomach, try and muscle it out through the first few hours (or chapters) of this book and you will be glad you did. I will say this was not my favorite King book, but it was definitely worth the read. The version I read was the unrated and uncut version and I believe that it was best that way. I could not imagine any of the book being left out and still liking this book as much as I did. So, thanks RO, Ricardo, and Taylor for highly suggesting I read it. I did come away from the book with some new favorite phrases.
“You don’t tell me, I’ll tell you.”
“M,O,O,N that spells Tom Cullin, everyone knows that.”
“laws yes”
“You believe that happy crappy?”
Just a few phrases that will stay deep in the memory banks for a while after the book is finished.

I did not write enough to do this book justice, but I’ve been deathly ill and wanted to get this post out as soon as I finished the book.
Go read this book all you King lovers, and even those who don’t like King!
TaTa,
Amanda Ellen

Not how I thought things would be now, when I was 16

Monday, January 21st, 2013

So, I saw this prompt on Twitter and it caught my attention. I want to give this a shot.
Here it is:
“When you were 16, what did you think your life would look like? Does it look like that? Is that a good thing?”
First of all, when you are a 16 year old girl, your thoughts of the future are very romantic. Not romantic in the lovey dovey sense, but romantic in the true meaning of the word which is to say, you have your “perfect life” planned out.
I cannot say if the same applies to 16 year old boys since I have no experience there. HAHA
So, when I was 16, wow that seems so long ago.
When I was 16, I thought that right about now I would be married, have a college degree, a few kids… and be living happily ever after.
Well, I got part of it right didn’t I?
I mean, I will have my bachelors degree this May. Start grad school in the fall…
I’m not married, I don’t have some fabulous job, and I certainly don’t have any kids as of yet…
But, I tell you I am living somewhat happily ever after in my own little part of the world.
One thing that my 16 year old self never planned on is me typing this entry out while something is talking to me telling me what letter and words I’m inputting into my computer.
My 16 year old self never thought that in 2 years from that point I would be blind.
But you know what, I don’t think I so much mind it most of the time.
Sure, there are times when I get frustrated and say “If I could just see this task would be a hell of a lot easier.” But honestly, I don’t think there are many blind people who don’t say that from time to time…
But thanks to going blind, I have my wonderful guide dog Leah and I have my awesome boyfriend Taylor…
I won’t ever strain my eyes with all my reading because all I have to do is listen to read.
Plus, audio books give each book a sense of being a minature movie.
My text books, well, I can use the “Find” feature where a sighted person can’t use that on their print books.
I mean to say it’s not all bad.
So, 16 year old self.. I know you had big dreams and big hopes…
But don’t worry, we’ll get there, we just have to take a different route.

Well, almost 10 years after turning 16, I have to say that even though things haven’t played out like 16 year old me thought they should, I’m pretty damn happy with who I am, how far I have come, and the prospect of things to come!

TaTa,
Amanda Ellen

Starting the 2013 book list with Harry Dresden “Summer Knight” by Jim Butcher!!!!

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

Well, I didn’t forget about this thing after all!
Thanks to RO I will do my best to do a 2013 book list.
If for nothing else than to help you fine folks find some new reading material! I also really want to know how many books I find time to read in a whole year, and this is the best way to do it!
I will do my best to remember to link each books title back to Audible or something similar when I can, that way you have quick access. 🙂
*Writers Note*
The numbering of these books does not reflect how I would rank these books, it merely states in what order I finished them.
Also, this will serve as a warning that I have a completely random tastein books and there is no telling what book genre the next title will be.
You’ve been warned. 🙂
*writers note end*
So, I’ll kick it off with my first finished book of 2013:
1. Summer Knight: The Dresden Files, Book 4 by Jim Butcher
finished: January 14
This is book 4 in “The Dresden Files” series by Jim Butcher. I think I got into this series by finding the first book in an Audible sale.
After the first book was better than expected, I was drawn in!
Harry Dresden is a wizard, but he’s also a private eye of sorts and a consultant for the Chicago PD.
He consults with Murphy (a female cop) on the “weird” crimes that happen in Chicago.
I really enjoy the magical twist Jim Butcher has put on routine cop stuff.
If you like cop and murder mysteries, and you don’t mind or even like a little bit of magic, then check this series out.
I don’t know how to emphasize enough how much I like this series and cast of characters more.
“My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk.
I’m a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago.
As far as I know, I’m the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country.
You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards.
Believe it or not, I’m the only one there.”
That’s a piece of the publisher’s summary that caught my interest in the first book.
Right now, I think there is 14 books or so in this series, and I like to interchange them with Harry Bosch… but that’s a series I’ll get to later.

Anyways, that’s it… my first completed book of 2013!
Hope you enjoy and find a new good book to read here. 🙂

TaTa,
Amanda Ellen