Yay For Book Club!

This week, after a summer break, the book club I attend is starting up again. Whoohoo! There's something so fun about getting together with other book lovers and actually talking about books because I know there are book clubs that aren't really discussing books and  are just using it as an escape. Not that there's anything wrong with that but our book club is an escape, but it's a book escape, and I consider myself very lucky to belong to it.  Thanks, Suey, of It's All About Books for organizing and hosting and making it great!

This is why I'm really excited, check out the books we'll be reading.

September: Middlemarch by George Eliot
October: Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
November: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
December: The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
January: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
February: Atonement by Ian McEwan
March: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat
April: Watership Down by Richard Adams
May: Precious Bane by Mary Webb


Of all these books I've only read The Wednesday Wars and Middlemarch. I'm so excited for all of these books...well, except for Atonement, but that's just cause I hated the movie. Anywho, thanks for listening to me gush! I'm off to count down the days. ;)

Review: City of Bones

Title City of Bones (Mortal Instruments 1)
By Cassandra Clare
For Fun
Source I own it

First Sentence "You've got to be kidding me," the bouncer said, folding his arms across his massive chest.

Synopsis
Um, do I really need to tell you guys what this was about...really? Well, if you're the last person on the planet who hasn't read this series yet, don't feel too bad; I'm just getting started myself. Out with her best friend, one night, Clary witnesses two demon hunters kill a demon. If that isn't strange enough, Clary learns she shouldn't have been able to see them at all. Then Clary's mom is kidnapped and Clary must learn all about these demon (shadow) hunters to save her mom.

General thoughts
I'm sure there are a lot of you out there who probably think I'll tear these books to itty bitty pieces just because they're popular. Well, the truth is, besides the fact that I went in with incredibly low expectations, and already knowing the big "twist" at the end because I probably am the last person to read these books, I liked it. Are you shocked? So am I. I think this one had a whole Harry Potter vibe going for it. Now before you read that sentence again, let me explain. Girl isn't what she thought she was. Learns about a whole world she didn't know existed...you see where I'm going with this? Anyways, there was also something about the adverb heavy writing style that reminded me of HP too and, needless to say, I like those HP books, so it wasn't that far of a reach for me to like this one too.  I was warned the beginning was a little slow and I totally disagree; I was engaged the entire time. I liked the back story, I liked the adventure, I loved the snarky dialogue, and I think there was only one mention of how a guy smelled. ;) But that's a different post entirely. ;)

Characters
Clary: I really liked her She actually acts like a 15 year old. I liked her loyalty and I liked how she wasn't suddenly an awesome fighter just because she was a shadow hunter.
Jace: Meh, he had some good lines but I wasn't impressed with his golden halo hair and eyes. *eye roll* My opinion might have been tainted since I knew going in about the "twist".
Simon: Sorry, I haven't the faintest idea where these books will go, but I liked Simon better as a love interest. I always like the "good" guy....mostly ;)
Alec and Isabelle: I pair them together because I didn't feel like we really got to know them quite yet. I liked Alec but Isabelle is kind of a snob but I think that's her thing so...
Luke: Loved him!!!! There aren't even words.
Valentine: Perfect villain! You just can't help but hate him; even before you meet him.

Would I recommend it? 
Um, to whom? I think everyone else has read it by now. But if you haven't, then, yeah, I would.

What's In A Smell?

 Happy Friday, everyone! Today, I thought I'd discuss something the makes me roll my eyes every time I stumble upon it while reading.

Smell. Particularly guys that smell. *eye roll*  With the way I'm talking you'd think I was talking about a bad smell but I'm not. I'm talking about how every single author, (mainly YA authors) at some point, mentions the smell of the potential love interest for our female MC.  I defy you to find a YA book where it doesn't mention some guy's scent.

It's usually described as some manly pine, musky, scent. OK, the truth is I'm so sick of it I skim these parts with a exaggerated sigh and an accompanying eye roll. What is the freaking big deal about this apparently hugely important detail?! Personally, I kinda think guys stink and unless they're wearing my favorite cologne you aren't going to catch me swooning.

I'm thinking it has something to do with the advice you'll find in any how-to-write book these days. There's always a chapter on engaging all the senses: sight, touch, sound, taste, and the ever annoying smell. This is very good advice. It takes us as the reader further into the story and helps us imagine things even better than we might have, but does all that smelly detail have to be talking about a guy? All the time?!

I have two theories. Theory number one: Most woman are more particular about smell than I am and actually notice it. So when a mans smell is written about in a book they can relate and appreciate it. This saddens me for two reason. One, I'm starting to worry I'm not womanly enough and, two, why in the blazes are women walking around smelling guys and actually vocalizing it in their minds?! My sister informs me that she was very aware of her husband's "smell"  before they got married and she loved it so I'm starting to think that, in fact, I'm just not womanly enough. Sigh! Oh well, you woman can obsess about a guys smell I'll stick to admiring their calves.

Theory number two: I once read somewhere...actually I'm sure I read it more than once...that guys think other guys are stinky, but they think woman smell so good, almost flowery. So did some woman author out there decide one day that, that just wasn't fair? She probably enjoyed the manly scent of men and decided she would let the world know. Now there's some secret, underground group of woman authors who have made a blood pact that all their books must have a reference to a mans scent and that it must be a good scent, dang it! The female MC must swoon when she smells said scent. And  if any author goes against the pact...oh, you don't want to know what will happen. ;)

Anywho, those are my theories. There must be some reason it's in EVERY YA book. So, am I all alone in even noticing this in books? Cause if I am you can just smile nervously and click frantically away from my blog if you want.

R.I,P Challenge And An Invite

Alright, I wasn't going to join this fun...er...spooky challenge hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings because I had my fall reading schedule full but when I saw this challenge...

This Peril involves reading one book that fits within the R.I.P. definition.

...I decided  that was easy enough, I could squeeze in one book. So I shall be reading...

I've had this book on my shelf forever and I think it will fit in perfectly for this challenge. Also, I shall be doing this challenge...

Suey of It's All About Books and I have been planning to read this...

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away.

...and are inviting anyone who was planning on reading it anyway, or who, just now decided they wanted to read it, to join us. Just let either me or Suey know and we'll let you know as soon as we get going which will probably be the first of October...maybe sooner.

Happy Reading, everyone!

Mini Movie Reviews

So I hardly do movie reviews but the truth is I hardly see any movies, well, new ones. I have seen a few, though, and I thought I'd mention them.

I had to mention this one even though everyone else is too. To be honest, I didn't particularly love the book. I didn't hate it, not at all, but I didn't love it. Still, I wanted to see the movie and I enjoyed it. I think they covered all the main points and the casting was great. My favorite part in the book was the first date between Skeeter and Stuart. I was laughing so hard! It wasn't as great in the movie but that's OK. All in all, it was fine.

Hee hee! I went and saw this one with my sister and her husband and, um, it was totally made for guys to drool at. Nevertheless, my sister and I had a blast making fun little comments about it.

Yes, I JUST saw this one. I knew going into it that it wasn't a movie for kids because I'd heard about all the outraged parents. I didn't think it was THAT inappropriate but I'm not a mom so maybe that's why. There were several points I laughed right out loud. It wasn't the best movie ever but I enjoyed it. I especially loved the cameo by Timothy Olyphant. ;)

So those are my little movie reviews, um, not that you could really call them reviews but hey.