Sunday Salon

Welcome to the new Sunday Salon. A weekly update post about my boring life. ;)

Weather Small Talk: Well, it's snowing up in the mountains but luckily it's just raining in the valley. Actually, as much as I hate snow, we really haven't got much this year and I wouldn't be heartbroken to get a little more.


Music Discoveries: I'm actually going to share the song I, despite my hot fella's resistance, call "our song".

On The Idiot Box: You guys who have followed my blog through the years and seen all those TV posts I post are going to laugh but...My hot fella really doesn't like TV so my TV watching has taken a huge hit. What's going on in Vampire Diaries? What new mess have Sam and Dean in Supernatural gotten themselves into? I have no idea! Can you believe it?! Me neither. We did watch some TV series recently, though. We watched the first two seasons of Boardwalk Empire and enjoyed it and also the first two season of American Horror Story. WEIRD!

Weekly Reads: I've been struggling through the first chapters of Into You by Riley J Ford. I'm just not enjoying it. Maybe I'll try again later and try something new??? I don't know.



Crazy Kitty: I'm sure some of you "cat lovers" may be wondering how my kitty likes my hot fella. Well, at first she was outright terrified of him but now...well, let's just say she likes him better than me now. The other morning I woke up to find her right by his head and he had his arms around her. I asked if she was bugging him and he told me she was shivering so...Ain't that cute?!!

This Week: Work has been same ol', same ol'. My hot fella is starting his own business and spent most of the week hanging door hangers door to door. Oh, this starting a business thing is stressful!!

Movie of the Week: Good grief. I don't watch many movies either. I will give a shout out for Saving Mr. Banks, though. So good!

Food Talk: Ah, so much has changed. My little healthy eating ways aren't doing so good. I'm trying, though. I really am! Sniff Sniff

Soccer Sightings: :( My work schedule stole my beloved soccer from me! I hate it! I only vaguely now what's going on with my boys. I do, however, plan on watching the World Cup this year come hell or high water!!

Plans For The Week: I'd really like to exercise more this week. Shhh, don't tell anyone, but I miss it.

Review: Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy #3)

Title Shadow Kiss (vampire academy #3)
By Richelle Mead
Genre YA Supernatural/Paranormal
Pages 443

First Sentence His fingertips slid along my back, applying hardly any pressure, yet sending shock waves over my flesh.




Synopsis
Rose is back. With things growing trickier and trickier with Dimitri and Lissa life is never dull for Rose but when she starts seeing ghosts she's about to learn what being shadow kissed really means.



What it has going for it
Oh my, things are surely getting tricky now. This one was on the longer side but I found myself, once again, totally immersed in the story. I can't really put my finger on why I like these books so much. They're not amazingly written or anything. They are, however, well thought out story lines with one big story line weaving through all the books that is carefully put together. I like that immensely. I like that the world Mead creates makes sense. There's no questions about it or things that just don't make sense. (I'm looking at you Wither) Anywho, I also just like the characters. They are each fleshed out and individual. K, I'm even starting to bore myself. I want to scream and rant about this ending of this one. The cliffhanger. The drama. The soul wrenching horror of it all but maybe, just maybe, you haven't read this series yet and I don't want to give it away. So I'm really trying to just stay neutral. Sigh!

What's lacking
I'm sadly, oh so sadly, starting to lose interest in Adrian. I liked him so much in Frost Bite but, somehow, he lost his snarkiness. I wanted more from him. He seems like a pathetic drunk in this one. Also, through no fault of the author, but instead from a ridiculously annoying coworker, the shocking ending of this one was given away before I got to it. Not that that's something "lacking" but it certainly took away from the book a little.

Favorite Moment 
I liked the ending. I liked Rose's hard decision. Watching her make it was refreshing.

Yea or Nay?
Yes. Read this series for the entertainment factor and hopefully, I haven't given away the ending like that damnable coworker.

Review: Odd Interlude

Title Odd Interlude
By Deak Koontz
Genre Adult Horror
Pages 279

First Sentence They say that every road leads home if you care to go there.

Synopsis
Crazy, Evil adventures always seem to find Odd. It was supposed to be a simple one night stay in a small town but Harmony Corner is anything but harmonious. With and evil presence controlling the bodies and minds of the entire town's inhabitants and a secret, underground, deserted government lab, Odd is in for another creep adventure to save the day.



What it has going for it
Oh, Dean, your sick twisted imagination never ceases to disturb and delight me. I'm always so entranced in your creepy worlds and captivated by your horrific creations. How do you come up with such interesting ideas? Too many nights watching The Twilight Zone? No. Your creations are much more disturbing than anything TTZ could come up with. I love Odd. I really do. He's such a humble hero. No one in this world could compare. I'd risk living in his scary world if it meant I might meet him. His sense of humor and wit amuse me. His selfless deeds astound me. Poor Odd. My heart aches for his loss and the trials he goes through. Thank goodness he has his dog friends to keep him company. Thank goodness he saved Harmony Corner. I never doubted he would fail.

What's lacking
Nothing

Favorite moment
When Odd hijacks the semi. Hee hee!

Yea or Nay?
Yes! Don't let this one slip you by or any of the other Odd books. Rumor has it there's only one more to come.

Review: The Lucy Variations

Title Thea Lucy Variations
By Sara Zarr
Genre YA Contemporary
Pages 309
Recommended by I'll read anything by Sara

First Sentence "Try harder, Lucy."

Synopsis
Lucy used to play the piano. Not just play but perform, compete. She used to. After the death of her grandmother and the constant pressure from her family she gave it up completely. Now, watching her brother go through what she did with a teacher that has some real passion, Lucy thinks maybe she wants to play again.



What it has going for it
It's a Sara Zarr book. I can't turn down anything the woman writes. Even though I saw a few negative reviews I still has to read it. And...well, it wasn't that impressive. Don't get me wrong, it was OK. I love a book where the main character grows up and learns something about themselves and the world. Love watching their decisions and choices change those around them, as well. This one lacked some of the passion and deep thought provoking moments that Zarr's other books possess in my opinion but all in all it still had me reading and not wanting to put it down.

What's lacking
 Well, I sort of told you. It lacked the depth and angst and rawness of Zarr's other books. Lucy bothered me. It's hard to respect a girl that desires praise of adults so much that she goes looking for it in older men. Speaking of older men...The teacher. Yuck! The man drove me nuts. And not his crazy ass obsession for the spotlight and praise but his instant inappropriate actions with Lucy. Yeah, just not my favorite Zarr book.

Favorite moment
I liked all the moments...even the bad ones, with Lucy and her brother Gus. I just liked their relationship.

Yea or Nay? 
If you're a fan of Zarr then yes, of course read it. I'd love to hear what you all thought.

Review: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Title Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
By Jamie Ford
Genre Adult contemporary
Pages 290
Recommended by Book club

First sentence Old Henry Lee stood transfixed by all the commotion at the Panama Hotel.


Synopsis
Jumping from Henry's present and past comes the story of a Chinese boy in America during the Japanese American interment. Henry's relationship with a Japanese girl is threatened when she and her family are taken away during the interment.

What is has going for it
Well, this one was an easy read. I was neither dying to pick it up nor dying to put it down. I guess what I mean was the story was interesting and engaging. I liked the romance aspect. I loved seeing the history unfold in such a bright, vibrant way and I liked Henry...to a point and it is, after all, important to like the main character, wouldn't you say?

What's lacking
Honestly this one just felt slightly off. Slightly fake. Too convenient. I despised the fact the poor Ethel was settled for. This above everything else infuriated me. I also thought the whole internment thing was...I don't know, lacking in passion and sadness.

Favorite moment
When Keiko and Henry go to the jazz club.

Yea or Nay?
Personally I preferred the book Snow Falling On Ceders...if you want a book about the Japanese American Internment.