Month: January 2010

Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill

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Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill: Audio Book CoverFinished audio 12-31-09, rating 2.5/5, fiction, pub. 2007

Jude Coyne is an aging rock star who goes through 20-year-old goth girls like candy.  When his assistant finds a ghost for sale online he knows that Jude will want it.  Only once Jude receives the old suit and the ghost with it bad things start to happen.  The ghost turns deadly and Jude must face his past sins and accept that they are directly responsible for what is happening.

9 cds, 11 hours and countless good reviews later and I confess that I really did not like this book.  The last two cds actually made me angry because I just wanted it to end.  Harsh, yes, but true.  This book was well written (by Stephen King’s son) but boring.  I did not care about the characters at all and because of that this story just dragged on and on.  I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but was disappointed.  My husband and I listened to this on our Christmas travels and we still had 2 cds when we got home.  I finished listening on the treadmill and Jason decided not to bother finishing at all.

I confess that I did not enjoy the audio and I think that could have something to do with my dislike.  It was so slow.  If I had been reading it I may have been able to move along at a faster pace, but that doesn’t really solve the problem of characters I didn’t like.  Hill is a talented writer and I would read another of his books, but not anytime soon.  A disappointing way to end the year.

I checked this audio book out of the library.

First Ladies Quiz & Possible Giveaway

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Guessing Closed.  I’ll draw a winner for the book tomorrow.

I read this book on the First Ladies and now I’m going to see if you can match up these women with one fun piece of trivia from the book.  These are hard, so if you all as a group guess all 38 (only goes through Clinton) I will randomly draw one of the 38 and I’ll send that person this book for free (the guesser not the First Lady!).  Leave a comment with the # and the name(s) of the First Lady.  Guesses are encouraged 🙂

1. The year of her husband’s death she began a 6 year term as a delegate to the United Nations.  Eleanor Roosevelt (Susan)

2. She exchanged 1400 love letters with her husband. She died of Bright’s disease in the White House.  Ellen Wilson (Heather)

3. She served as president of the Girl Scouts before her death. Lou Hoover (Em)

4. She started the library at the White House.  Abigail Fillmore (Nise’)

5. She got her nickname because she was born on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day.  Pat Nixon (Linda B)

6. She supported herself as a model before her marriage.  Betty Ford (Susan)

7. She was the only First Lady to be born abroad.  Louisa Adams (Kate)

8. Spent much of her White House time in mourning over the loss of her 3 sons.  Jane Pierce (Heather)

9. First president-general of The Daughters of the American Revolution.  Died of TB in the White House.  Caroline Harrison (Joy)

10. By the time she was 30 she was an invalid who would be confined to a chair for the rest of her life.  Ida McKinley (Heather)

11. Married in the first White House wedding of a President. Frances Cleveland (Em)

12. Met her husband when she was sent to interview him for the Washington Times Herald.  Jackie Kennedy (Susan)

13. 1st First Lady to possess a college degree.  Lucy Hayes (Nise‘)

14. Taught at the Clarke School for the Deaf until she married.  Grace Coolidge (Heather)

15. 1st First Lady to die during her husband’s term in office.  Letitia Tyler (Nise’)

16.  She was 30 years her husband’s junior.  Julie Tyler (Heather)

17. Suffered from a heart problem and Meniere’s disease.  Mamie Eisenhower (Heather)

18. Performed in 11 films.  Nancy Reagan (Susan)

19. Opened her home to the wounded and the refugees of the Revolutionary War. Abigail Adams (Heather)

20. Transformed a $30,000 radio & tv investment into a $5 million enterprise. Lady Bird Johnson (Linda B)

21. Graduate of Yale Law School. Hillary Clinton (Susan)

22. Prone to headaches & mood swings. In her later years her son had her institutionalized.  Mary Lincoln (Linda B)

23. Taught her husband to read & write after they were married.  Eliza Johnson (Nise’)

24. Helped arrange widowed President’s social engagements (not her husband).  Dolley Madison (Kate)

25. 1st First Lady who was on her second marriage. Martha Washington (Nise’)

26. served as the President’s personal emissary to Latin American countries.  Rosalyn Carter (Heather)

27. At her request the original walls of the White House were saved for reconstruction.  Elizabeth Truman (Heather)

28. Hosted lavish dinners of 20-30 courses at the White House.  Julia Grant (Kate)

29. Contracted malaria and was away recovering when her husband was shot.  Lucretia Garfield (Nise’)

30. Met & married her husband at 17. Elizabeth Monroe (Kate)

31.  Over her family’s objections she eloped with the future President. Anna Harrison (Heather)

32. When the President suffered 2 strokes she became the official acting president.  Edith Wilson (Linda B)

33. At her instigation the first social secretary was hired, allowing her more time with her family.  Edith Roosevelt (Heather)

34. Abandoned by her first husband she sought a divorce, a bold decision for the time.  Florence Harding (Nise‘)

35. Her religious beliefs put an end to dancing, drinking, and card-playing in the White House.  Sarah Polk (Heather)

36. Was in her 60’s when she moved into the White House and her poor health kept her mainly confined to her rooms.  Margaret Taylor (Heather)

37. Suffered a stroke 2 months after inauguration, but recovered. Helen Taft (Nise‘)

38. Her son’s dyslexia encouraged her to make literacy a national issue. Barbara Bush (Heather)

Some ladies may fit with more than one, but I think they will only all be chosen once in one way.  Good luck!  Answers to my last quiz here.

Monday Movie Meme – Sports

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This week’s movie topic is all about Sports…

I love sports and there would just be too many if I started listing favorites, so I’m going to pick some Olympic based movies I love.  Not sure how long this list will be until I get started, so let’s go.

Nadia DVD Cover Art

I love the Olympics and gymnastics are a favorite.  This 1984 made for TV movie was a favorite of mine growing up.The story of Nadia Comaneci, who scored the first perfect 10.  Haven’t seen it since I was a young teen, but maybe I should find it.

Running Brave DVD Cover Art

Another true Olympic story I loved was this one.Running Brave (1983) is the story of Billy Mills, a Sioux Indian who overcame many obstacles to run the 10,000 meter race in the 1964 Olympics. Stars Robbie Benson.

Cool Runnings DVD Cover Art DVD movie DVD video film reviewThe story of four Jamaicans on a bobsled trying to make the Winter Olympics is funny and sweet. And John Candy is great.

Miracle Hockey Movie

I’m not a huge hockey fan, but the USA vs. the USSR in the Cold War?  And we are David and they are Goliath?  Makes you proud to be an American 🙂

Cutting Edge DVD Cover Art DVD movie DVD video film review

And my last pick is not based on any real Olympic event, but I’ve seen it many times (just today I watched 30 minutes when I found it on tv).  Figure skating is always fun to watch, but I also enjoyed the sparks that flew between these two.  Sad, but true.

There you have it.  These are not the best sports movies ever filmed, but they are my favorite Olympics movies.  Did I miss a good one?  Why not visit the Bumbles and see everyone else’s sports picks?

The First Ladies of the United States, by Nicola Gillies

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The First Ladies of the United States by Nicola Gillies: Book CoverFinished 12-31-09, rating 3/5, history, pub. 1997

To date, there have been thirty-eight First Ladies, each different, but all possessing to various degrees the values of loyalty, compassion, strength, courage, and faith.

from the Foreword

I have a fascination with politics and people in power.  It is interesting to me to see where they came from, how they got to where they are, and what happens to them once they gain power, whether they sought it or not.  Some of these women were born for the role of First Lady and others did not want the job at all.  A surprising number had health issues that diminished their public role and some even died while in the White House.

This is a small book, with a picture of each woman and a small bio on her life, by small I mean a page for most and two pages for a few.  This book is a great overview for teens or a nice, slight book for the casual reader.  Obviously, its 63 pages do not lead to depth, but it does have some very interesting facts about each of the ladies.  Some Presidents did not have a wife and some had two during their term(s) in office.  On Tuesday, my first quiz of the year will be on the 38 women in the book (Clinton was the last one included) and there is a possibility of one lucky reader to win the book!  So, come back Tuesday for more detailed info on each of the First Ladies.

I chose this book from my personal library because I needed to finish one more book before 2010 to reach my goal of 130 books for 2009 🙂

FREE Books (and a puzzle) for January

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Leave a comment, tell me which book or puzzle you want and I’ll get it to you for FREE either by mail or personally if I’ll see you soon.  The first one to request each book or puzzle wins.  Once you’ve ‘won’ I can get your shipping address if I need it.  Also, you can come back and get a free book every month if you want.  These have all been read before.

(Isn’t the snow pretty from our front door?)

I love jigsaw puzzles.  I’ll probably offer one a month through the winter months.

1. The Japanese Footbridge, Giverny by Claude Monet.  2000 pieces. 38″ x 26″. It’s been put together once (by me).  for Charity

2. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John & Elizabeth Sherrill.  Mass Market. Pub. 1971. 241 pages.  This book has been read by who knows how many people and normally I wouldn’t offer a book that’s in poor condition, but it was one of my favorite books from last year, so I have to try to pass it on 🙂  When it was published in 1971 it cost $1.75.  for Sarah

3. Stories by O.Henry. Mass Market.  Contains 23 stories.  210 pages.  Not sure it’s ever been read.  for Em

4. Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. Trade paperback.  Published 1992. 263 pages.  It’s been read once I think. for Margie

2010 Goals and Challenges

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I’ve been blogging for two full years now and loving every minute of it.  2009 was different in that I became more involved with the book blogging community and because of it found the need to figure out how to use a Reader and to keep track of my ever-increasing Reading Wish List.  Last year I made a goal to read 130 books and did it by finishing #130 at 5pm yesterday.  I also wanted to read 30 non-fiction, but only ended the year with 19.  This was the only reading goal or challenge I failed last year 😦

In 2010 I am lowering my reading goal to 105.  I need to have a little less stress at the end of the year and I want to make time for some chunky books I want to read.  I’ll make my non-fiction goal 12.  I let you all choose 50 of the books I’ll read this year and I’m excited to see what you’ve chosen! 

I do have a few other things that will be happening in 2010.  My weekly quiz will move to Tuesday mornings so that I can participate in The Bumbles Monday Movie meme more often.  I will also continue to give away books on the first or second day of each month and give my 5 word movie reviews at the end of each month.  On Fridays (except for today :)) I’ll feature a favorite movie or an author interview.  And as I was looking over old posts I found one that I’d like to continue on a monthly basis, so look out!  And I’ll be posting about 2 reviews a week.  I think that’s enough to keep me busy, don’t you? 

Here are the reading challenges I’ve joined for the year.  I am looking forward to them all.  The challenges really help me focus and I need that.

New Author Challenge 2010This is my first year trying this challenge and I’m going to go for 35 new authors.  Go here for more details.

The Colorful Reading Challenge.  This is my first year, but the goal is to read 9 books with 9 different colors in the title.  I have 7 on my shelves already, so this will help me clear some shelf space too.  Click here for more details.

Sign up for the 2010 A to Z Challenge I loved this one last year and look forward to the challenge again this year.  Last year I read a few books that I never would have tried and ended up loving them, so I have high hopes for this year.  Click here for more details.

 This one helped me so much last year.  I am committed to reading 55 of my own books this year.  You all voted to choose 50 of those and I’m excited to see what you’ve chosen for me.  Click here for more details.

I finished Round 1 and am signing up for Round 2.  I need to walk 100 miles by March 31st.  And I need to not leave 8 1/2 miles for the last two days!  Click here for more details.

Looking for the Short Story Challenge?I haven’t read short stories since college, but I do have a few languishing on my shelves so I’m signing up for the Bronze level and will read one short story collection a quarter for a grand total of 4.  Click here for more details.