Fall Into Reading Wrap-Up

Sadly Fall is gone and the Winter Solstice is upon us. Where I live we experienced Fall for only a few days, went back to Summer, and finally slammed into Winter a few days ago. I'm so sad when Fall leaves because it is my favorite season, but also because I know that Fall Into Reading has come to a close as well. I am proud to say I read more this year than last. Katrina gave suggestions on questions to answers wrapping up our Fall Into Reading, so here it goes.

Did you finish reading all the books on your fall reading list? If not, why not? I did not finish all the books on my reading list. Hubby never finished The Passage, so I was never able to get my hands on it. I just started Women Food and God last week and couldn't get through it before cut off time. I am looking forward to finishing it though.

Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along? I did not stick to my original goals. I added a series of books midway through, and read a free download for my nook while waiting for my other books to arrive.

What was your favorite book that you read this fall? Least favorite? Why? I completely enjoyed the Evernight series from Claudia Gray. No Twilight fluff here, although I still love my Twilight. Evernight had much more suspense, shocking twists and turns, and heartbreak than Twilight did. By the end of book three I was in tears. I'm looking forward to adding Afterlife, the final book of the series, to Spring Reading Thing 2011. I did not have a least favorite book, as I enjoyed all of the books I read this time around.

Did you discover a new author or genre this fall? Did you love them? Not love them? I kind of kept to my Vampire genre this Fall. I didn't intend to, but after reading the Evernight series, I dove into The Vampire Diaries series. Did I love them? Ha! OF COURSE!

Did you learn something new because of Fall Into Reading 2010 – something about reading, about yourself, or about a topic you read about? I wish I spent more time reading classics. I tend to stick to a genre or theme, but I really would like to open myself up to other materials in the future.

What was your favorite thing about the challenge? I thought with the death of my beloved (Grand)Mother I would hit a standstill, but in fact, I found myself wanting to delve in to another life and leave mine, even for a brief 50 pages at a time.

Evernight by Claudia Gray

Stargazer by Claudia Gray

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith

The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and The Dark Reunion by L.J. Smith

Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Sara (Project 365/2010)

Cameron going into DKA happened at THE absolute worst time. My cousin Sara, Mandelyn's Mommia, is here on a visit. We haven't seen her in almost 2 years. She moved right after Cameron turned 9, and before his diabetes diagnosis, and she missed Peyton's first birthday. Fortunately, Cameron and I went over to my Aunt and Uncle's Friday night, after pump training, and she got to see Cameron then. However, we had tonight set up for a big family dinner at my house, and I had a few surprises set up for her (like her favorite foods and my BFF and family as a surprise). As soon as Cameron was admitted into the hospital, all I could think about was how was Sara going to see Dylan and Peyton. Cameron assured me that he was fine, I could leave early, and spend the evening with Sara. So I did. I left the hospital around 5, home by 6, and my Aunt (PatPam) and Sara came over. I NEEDED the laughs, I NEEDED the relaxation, and I NEEDED that time with Sara. I absolutely LOVED watching Sara and Peyton playing, but as always, it was bittersweet because we were missing a girl. This time of year is always the hardest (Mandelyn would be turning 7 in a couple of days), and I always envision Mande showing Peyton the ropes.

Cameron called to tell us they moved him to the regular Peds floor, and that his nurse ROCKED. She better had, otherwise I was getting in my car and heading to the hospital. We passed the phone around and he got to talk to everyone. Then we put him on speaker phone and he told us he loved us and goodnight. Sara and PatPam (nicknamed so by Cameron, who couldn't say Auntie Pam, so he called her PatPam, which always cracked me up because it sounded like Batman!) stayed until almost 11, and even though I was emotionally drained, my body kept going like that darn energizer bunny. So I'm off to pick up my niece, Allie, and see if we can catch the midnight showing of Eclipse. hehehe

New Moon (Project 365/2010)

I jumped right in the car this morning and headed over to Target to pick up my copy. tee hee Tonight's Family Fun Night is a showing of New Moon, where we'll also break out the new popcorn seasoning I purchased for such events. Even my boys are excited about watching it. Can't wait!

Twilight

OME! For non-Twilighters, that means, "OH MY EDWARD!" Let me start by saying I enjoyed the movie. It was a 2 hour distraction from my life that I needed oh so much. I decided to hit the midnight showing at about 10:30 pm. I asked Hubby and he said he didn't know when we would be able to see it together, so go ahead. My head was fried, but I knew I would just be tossing and turning like I did the night before. I got to the theatre at about 11:30 and asked the lady at the ticket window, "You got any tickets left?" She said, "LOADS!" I looked at her, and then around the completely packed theatre. She explained that as each theatre sold out, they just opened up another one. NO WAY! They were already selling theatre 7, and I'm not so sure #8 didn't open up. Okay, so, how was the movie?

Disappointed:
Bella never cooked for Charlie. I don't even think we saw their kitchen. They always ate at the diner.
The original biology lab scene (where Edward smells Bella for the first
time) was a little too campy
I missed Mike saying, "So, did you stab Edward Cullen with a pencil or what? I’ve never seen him act like that."
No blood typing scene (which is one of my favorites)
Serious Edward (too brooding, not enough of his wicked wit or smiles)
Flirting banter between Edward and Bella
No REAL meadow scene (it seemed forced and some cheesy dialogue)
Sparkle in the sunlight???
In the bedroom scene, Alice saying, "It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch, and we came to see if you would share."
Not enough Alice & Jasper (in the hotel when they flee)
MOST DISAPPOINTED in the phone call between James and Bella. In the book you FEEL his strength, his power, his evil when he gives Bella the instructions. They seriously should have left that whole dialogue in the movie. It gives me chills just thinking about it.

LOVED:
Bella narrating
Edward growling at the men stalking Bella in Port Angeles
Lion and Lamb quote
The Cullen Clan was cast perfectly
Mike did say, "He looks at you like… like you’re something to eat."
Bella meeting the Cullens
The Baseball Scene
Fight scene with James (who I find yummy)
The stare down between Edward and Jacob at the end

I realize that fitting a 400 page book into 2 hours is a daunting task. However, doesn't the Harry Potter movies do just that? I have never left a Harry Potter film where I thought it missed crucial elements of the story. I also realize that the book is never as good as the movie. Was it the low budget of the film? The director? I feel the movie was forced in areas, not giving us the time we needed to fall in love with Edward, or showing Edward's passion for Bella. I must take this time to admit that Robert Pattinson did a fantastic job as Edward. He still isn't my Edward, but I honestly don't see how anybody else could have done a more fantastic job. If you have only seen the movie, please don't let that deter you from reading the books. The books are fantastic!

Now that New Moon has been greenlighted I am concerned. First, let me explain that I am die hard Team Edward. However, I feel if I had to pick teams based on the movie(s), I might switch sides and go Team Jacob! I can't wait to see Jacob and Bella's relationship unfold in New Moon. I think the main dilemma of bringing New Moon to screen is that lack of Edward in the book. Will the same die hard Edward Cullen Robert Pattinson fanpires rise to the occasion? Or will Team Jacob win out?

Vampophile

Alas, Fall break is over for Hubby & Cameron, and we're back to the grind. Nothing I wanted to get done was accomplished over this break. Hubby read the Eragon series, Cameron read some Star Wars books, Dylan read Eric Carle, and of course, I read the Twilight Saga. It is amazing how quickly my teeth sunk in to this beautiful story. I can not wait for the movie, I hope I'm not terribly disappointed. I even read the Midnight Sun Partial Draft, and I got to say, Stephenie Meyer would do her fans a great disservice by not completing it. I know she's hurt over the leak, I would be furious, but honestly, her fans brought her this far and reading the first 12 chapters made it worse, being in Edward's head was fascinating, and where she stops, it was just getting to the good stuff. Hubby is such a good sport about my vampire addiction (an addiction that goes back to the 80's), he left me a little something on my dresser before he left for work this morning. Hysterical, right? What was he thinking? My own set of fake vampire teeth to wreck havoc with around the house! Mwahahaha! He's also created a word for me, I must remember to look it up and make sure it hasn't been used yet. Vampophile. Yep, that's me.

Twilight Saga Review

***DISCLAIMER*** I am completely, totally, utterly bias!

I knew a movie was being made about the book, but hadn't paid much attention, I honestly did not even know what the book was about until about 4 weeks ago. A teenage vampire love story? I'm intrigued. Hubby (he's a high school teacher, he is in the know) tells me a little about how popular it is, that he had done some research on it, that Cedric Diggory is playing the main character. I had to laugh. He left Hogwarts for this? Still I was indifferent about the whole thing, but the vampire lover in me was being called. Katrina over at Callapidder Days began preparing us for our Fall Into Reading 2008 challenge. I knew which books I wanted on my list, but had some fillers. I chose to add the Twilight Saga, and if I get to them I get them. Still feeling a little indifferent. A friend from water aerobics and I were talking about books we were reading. She said she was finishing Eclipse and she didn't want to put it down to come to class. I was shocked, as I was one of the youngest in our class, that she would be remotely interested in a book that, according to everyone else, was geared for teenagers. She came the next time, finishing up Breaking Dawn, saying almost the exact thing. Intrigued. I bought Twilight that weekend. It sat on my nightstand, until...

I sat down Sunday, September 28 to begin reading. My teeth bit down, draining the ink from the pages, sucking harder and harder, as though my life depended on it, by chapter 3. I was in Forks watching a beautiful tale unfold. I couldn't help myself from smiling. I was, for all intensive purposes, in love with these characters and their stories unfolding before my very eyes. Twilight is by far my favorite of the four. I was not kidding when I said I have fallen in love with a vampire named Edward. I could hear him, smell him, feel him and see him (and he's not Cedric Diggory, but I may feel differently after I see the movie - coming out November 21 - READ THE BOOK FIRST), and he is exactly my brand of heroin. I'm sorry, I digress, I was talking about the book, not my love for Edward. Slowly, page by page, I read this beautiful love story unfold before my very eyes. I not only fell in love with Edward, but his family, the scenery of Forks, and even the villains who showed up and took over the book with such force. I even, gulp, fell in love with Bella, Edward's love, but I wasn't happy about that. I finished the book in a little over 2 days. At the end of Twilight Stephenie Meyer had included the first chapter to New Moon. You have got to be freaking kidding me! You can't leave a taste like that in my mouth and expect me to wait for the next book. It was a good thing I had hubby pick up New Moon while he was out the day before.

I went straight into New Moon, but only reading the first couple of chapters before I forced myself to bed. I got up the next morning, New Moon calling my name. I fed the kids, got a little something to eat, and dove in. I could feel it coming on, and so as not to embarrass myself, or upset my children, went into the bathroom and completely lost it. I was bawling harder than I had ... since February. I was in physical pain over this book, coming unglued, and I knew I was a lost cause at this point. I surrendered to the vampires and never looked back. Although I was frustrated at New Moon for about 250+ pages, I now realize just exactly how important those pages turned out to be for the story to continue. I was more in love with these characters and finished the book in a little over a day. Stephenie's books get longer and so it was harder to keep up the pace as which I had grown accustomed I really just needed them shot into my veins intravenously by now.

When I began Eclipse, I was so torn between the triangle taking place, I was heartbroken. I read furiously, watching this unfinished story line finally coming to an end. It was so hard not to turn to the Internet and look for spoilers, as my heart would race, and the unknown was biting at me passionately. As I finished Eclipse, about 11 pm at night, hubby and the children in bed, I instinctively reached for Breaking Dawn.

I read the first 100 pages or so of Breaking Dawn before going to bed, my latest night in my vampire seduced life, finally hitting the sheets around 1:45 am. I had questions I wanted answered and I knew I would find them in the beginning pages of the book. I had watched this story unfold before my eyes for the last 5 days and I knew I was going to hate to see it end. The end was fantastic. It took turns, it was written out of the norm, one section of the book is written by another of the characters, and the titles of those chapters were hilarious. I realize I'm out of the norm, but the chapter in which the nudger (trying not to give much away here) comes out, breathtaking! Yes, I said breathtaking. It's a vampire novel, is it not? I reread the last few pages of the book more than once last night, holding back my tears, preparing myself for the hole it was leaving in my heart. There was not another book to reach out for. The last page actually said The End.

I needed a fix late last night and finally went to explore Stephenie Meyer's website. Hubby had mentioned a fifth book, but I just looked at him perplexed. There was nothing left. Ahhh, but there was. In her brilliant, infinite wisdom, she had begun writing Midnight Sun, Edward's side of Twilight. Brilliant! Another book. My heart practically leaped from my chest, until I read her blog. Heartbroken I read that some idiot had leaked the first 12 chapters of the book on the Internet. What an ass. Yes, I cursed, but seriously, somebody has to ruin it for everybody else. She was, of course, devastated, and has not returned to finishing the book. She has, however, published those chapters on her website, but they are a rough draft. I plan to read them this week, but I just don't know if I can bring myself into Edward's head again without finishing it. He is, after all, an addiction I feel the need to continually feed.

I'm not going to lie and say these books are the best written. Stephenie uses the same descriptions over and over and over, but then again, think of her target audience. I wish she could have come up with some new descriptions of his icy, sculpted, marble chest, but hey, I am in love with that vampire, so I'm not complaining. He can bust my headboard, bite my pillows, and bruise my body anyday. I digress. The books do go up and down, but after reading all four (in a week's time), I realize the down times do mean something to the rest of the saga. I'm sorry the story is over, I'm having some serious withdrawals, I've watched the trailers...too many times to count. I still don't know if Cedric Diggory Robert Pattinson is my Edward, the one who creeps into my thoughts when I'm not looking, but I snap judged Tom Cruise as Lestat (and although he isn't my Lestat, he was darn good). I do have to say this, after searching images of Robert Pattinson Edward on the Internet, he is mighty fine to look at, and that crooked smile is killer.

I recommend you take a bite out of them too.

I have fallen in love...

with a vampire named Edward. We have been having a love affair for the last few days. I haven't been able to do anything but eat, sleep, and drink him. He consumes my every being and it's as if I'm 17 again. His looks deceive him, although he looks every bit 17, he's actually more like 107. His tousled hair and deep penetrating eyes won't break the connection I have with him. Of course, it isn't me he consumes himself with, but Bella. I'm not jealous, just extremely grateful he lets me watch from afar, reading his every desire, pain, heartache without being too paranoid.

I have fallen in love with the Twilight Saga. I read the first book in a little over 2 days and instantly started New Moon. I wasn't kidding when I said he has consumed my every being. This isn't hard, because ever since I was about 12 or 13 I have had a thing for vampires. As I write that, though, I can't remember what exactly started it. Was it The Lost Boys? I don't see how that is possible, as none of the vampires in that movie were sexy, including Keifer Sutherland (not a fan, sorry). In my junior year I read Bram Stoker's Dracula. Can I just say that I was in awww of Dracula. When I was 17, same age as Bella from the Twilight series, a dear friend bought me the fourth book in the Anne Rice The Vampire Chronicles Series, Tale of a Body Thief. I was in love. What I wouldn't have given to have the chance to be a vampire then (God didn't come into my life until I was 20). Lestat (not Tom Cruise's Lestat) was a glorious image conjured up in my head and I couldn't break my gaze upon him. I instantly ran out and bought the first three books of the series and fell madly in love with all the various characters. I think that is why Twilight has such a hold on me now. I'm 17 again, wishing so badly to be in Bella's shoes. I feel her angst, loving this person so madly, so deeply, and without a care for her safety. Yet Edward is so caring, turning himself inside out to make sure no harm comes to her, knowing that it is he that will do the most harm. What a glorious love story I am watching unfold between every page. I have laughed out loud, cried harder than I have in many months (which is saying a lot because my emotions have been so overwhelmingly fried from the last couple of years), and I can not stop myself from smiling the biggest smile while the book lay in my hand. I haven't gone to bed much before midnight, and when I do rest my head on my pillow, my thought lay there with Edward, his cold, icy breath in my face, wishing oh so badly I was his Bella.

Forgive me if I skip Menu Plan Monday, Tackle it Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, or any other day of the week. I'm having a love affair with a vampire...Edward has my undivided attention right now.