October 25, 2009 by tina.

I’ve had this one on my shelf for a very long time. Someone recommended it to me and I jumped right in and bought it. But then every time I picked it up off the shelf and read the back I put it back down. Well last night, during a strong bout of procrastination, I picked it up again. I read the first few pages and was hooked. At 3AM, I finally forced myself to close it and go to sleep and today it has been murder to NOT hole up and find out how it ends. It’s a REALLY good one!!!

Just realized that I haven’t mentioned that it’s called “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” Unless something totally freakish happens in the last 100 pages, I highly recommend it!

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July 21, 2009 by tina.

I have a few words to say about organization: LOVE IT!!! I just read a book called “Getting Things Done” by David Allen and it totally rocked. I was mildly organized before, got a ton of stuff done, but always felt a little overwhelmed by the amount of stuff still out there to do. Plus, I was always worried that I would forget something or there was something I should be doing right now so that I didn’t have to rush later. Well this dude’s system is AMAZING! I think the best part is feeling like you are on top of things. My tiny brain can relax and stop thinking of all the things I need to do because they are all written down and entered into the system so they will get done when they need to get done.

I could go on and on…and I usually do, but there’s things to get done!

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July 13, 2009 by tina.

Here is my latest book report. The book was “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer. I was nervous to read this one because the librarian told me it was about the German occupation of the island of Guernsey. Our book club has read a lot of books about World War II and as you can imagine, they are a little bit difficult to stomach. But it was a wonderful book! It is set in 1946, so the occupation is over, and the whole thing is written in the form of letters, most from the main character to others and back. She, our main character, is a writer who happens to start a correspondence with a man on the island of Guernsey and member of their literary society. Again, I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll just say that the characters are witty and quirky and totally lovable and I found it to be a sweet read! I never did find a recipe to potato peel pie however…

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June 22, 2009 by tina.

I have another book review for you. Because I am the next host for one of my book clubs and the host picks the book, they are all (hopefully) reading “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. If you are looking for a wonderful, endearing summer read, look no further. It all starts as the residents of a nursing home are excited about the coming circus. One boasts of carrying water for the elephants when he was young. Our hero grumpily calls him out as a liar and, after being sent to his room, reminisces of his time as a transient worker for the Benzini Brothers circus during the depression. While young and in his last semester of veterinary school, he loses his parents suddenly and soon finds himself wandering. Fortunately for him, and all of us, he happens to end up on a circus train.
The story is absolutely wonderful! Obviously, he works with the animals after the powers that be discover his veterinary training, but he also befriends his reluctant, belligerent, midget bunk-mate, falls in love with the beautiful equestrian performer, and cares for the alcoholic road-crew member that pulled him on board in the first place.
I’m sorry, I really stink at book reviews because I don’t want to give away too much so then I might end up selling the book short…you should just read it because it’s a really nice book!

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May 16, 2009 by tina.

I think I told you that once in a while I would do a book review. So here comes a review of my latest distraction (and I do mean that in the literal sense, I had to keep reading to find out what would happen.) It was called The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It was a book club pick for me because, believe me, it isn’t something that I would ever choose to read without provocation. The setting is some time in the future where North America has become a “capitol” city that holds ultimate power over the 12 “districts” that are kept in line by each year’s “reaping.” Reaping day is how the capitol reminds them of their control and the district’s failed rebellion by forcing each to choose a male and a female “tribute” to enter the year’s hunger games. The twenty four youths are placed in a huge arena where they fight to the death. And there can be only one winner.

There are hovercrafts and cameras everywhere and genetically mutated wasps and birds and political oppression so sickening that it’s hard to read but it is so incredibly well written that it is hard to put down. (Well written, you know, very unlike that last sentence!)

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April 3, 2009 by tina.

I thought I would throw a book review in here once in a while since Cheese Corner and reading are about the only things I do. I just finished Dewey. It’s the story of a cat that was adopted by a library in Iowa. The people of the town grow to love him and the story warms your heart. (I’ve read the dog stories and they’re good, too!) You learn a little about the town, a little about the author (the library director) and a little about the disposition of a really great cat. It’s a quick, easy, and incredibly sappy read that can warm an afternoon. (You don’t have to think at all and there is no quiz at the end-that’s a nice book!)

Have a great weekend!

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