Books I've read and favorite authors (book corner)

[Cindy]

Just to let you all know. "The Book Thief" was one of the best books I've ever read.

It's told from death's perspective in Nazi Germany during the war. Brilliant. It's listed as a "teen" book because I think it's used in some school curriculums. (There are questions to answer in the back of the book)

I started on the twilight series too. Finished book 2, waiting for 3 and 4. Got through both really quickly. Still trying to decide what I liked about them..LOL Interesting story I guess, but def. simply written.

How was "Remember Me" Jen?

My library didn't have the grounding of group six, I put a request in for purchase though, so hopefully soon.

[eagleoftruth]

Oh yeah, ITA about the "Twilight" series Cindy. Definitely a quick read, but I did read the books because they are so popular and I have a girl absolutely obsessed in my class. Personally, I think the series is "meh", but then I've never been into vampire stories.

[Cindy]

Yeah, not a huge fan of Bella's complete obsession with Edward. Doesn't exactly put us girls in a great light, but I can appreciate the creative story.

It seems as I get older, I really am getting more "refined" in my choice of books. So many great authors out there, I refuse to read crap. Don't get me wrong, I read my share of "fluff" too but it better be decently written fluff or I'll just move on:-)

[gingerbird]

I have so many favorite authors and books, I've been putting off posting anything here. But I do want to say I read "The Stand" many years ago, and think about it every single time I drive through (or walk through) a dark tunnel. Anyone who has read the book will know what I'm sayin'.

I've read nearly all the Stephen King's. I think he's a smashing writer, great with building characters and color, but the endings can really leave me, like, WHAT? That's IT? And speaking of It, that's a perfect example: I was engrossed in that book without stopping, then, hundreds of pages later, the climax and the monster is revealed, and I'm all like, WHAT? That's IT? (Pun intended, I guess.) I did like his Gerald's Game and, for something a bit different, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. I remember reading Salem's Lot while at a girlfriend's apartment in college; I was there recording music while she was at work. I ended up locking all of her doors, scared to death, and afraid to walk home, back to my apartment. My friend had to drive me home (and wait for me to get inside!) after she got back in the middle of the night from her restaurant job!

Dean Koontz is an entertaining writer along the same lines as King, but he's a HORRIBLE dialogue writer, everything always seems so stilted when his characters open their mouths. The Watchers is the first of his I read, and that was so good that I got hooked into more. I also enjoyed his Odd Thomas. I believe I've read nearly every one of his, too. Pure brain candy, a good thing sometimes. Nice escapist stuff.

I've wondered about the Twilight books. I got all into Moonlight when it was on last season, hot, HOT vampire heat going on there. So I figured I would try one for an escapist evening and picture Alex O'Loughlin as Edward to help me through it if it wasn't all that great. Heh. I like the Harry Potter books, I've read all of them, and they're considered teen or "kiddie" lit as is Twilight.

[Cindy]

I finished the twilight series today. Again, interesting story but the obsessive love is a bit creepy. And if I had to read the Edward was "perfect, stunning, or beautiful" one more time, I was going to scream.

Gingerbird: You are braver than I, I can't read creepy stuff, I would have nightmares and it would be the one time I hate being alone..lol

I enjoyed Harry as well. Such creativity and imagination. I **hate** the second Dumbledore in the movies though. WAY too harsh. I was sad when the first one died, he played him incredibly well.

Did that moonlight series get renewed? I think I saw one eppy, then it disappeared.

You may like the J.D. Robb books Gingerbird. It's Nora Roberts other pen name and it's murder mysteries. All of them are titled "Something in Death" ie "Born in Death" "Salvation in Death" ect..at first I thought I would hate them but the cop in the books is a tough $%$$ female with a hot hubby, very appealing, and some pretty good stories. Not nearly as heavy as King though...

[gingerbird]

So Cindy, was the last Twilight book what you were up reading until 3 a.m. the other night/day? Maybe there will be another book, where Bella marries Edward. For sure then she will change her description of him from "perfect, stunning or beautiful" to "rude, slovenly and irritating beyond all belief."

Funny that I love those scary novels, but especially the ones that could really happen. For instance, King's Cujo wasn't exactly SCARY, but it was suspenseful and the first one of his I thought could really happen, people trapped in a car by a rabid dog. A lot of the narrative was from the dog's perspective. Of course, 'Salem's Lot could have happened, too, if one believes in vampires! Now THAT was a scary book. So was The Shining; I kept yelling at the pages for the kid to NOT go into that hotel room and pull back the shower curtain! I also cannot pass a coiled-up fire hose in any hotel hallway without thinking about what it could do, come to life. Heh.

I thought Dumbledore in the later Harry books got more harsh anyway. It was hard to recognize Richard Harris under that great beard. Not identifying actors was part of the fun of the movie, though. But I sure know Alan Rickman now, aka Snape. Did you know he played the original villain in the original Die Hard? I think he's marvelous, and a perfect Snape.

After Moonlight was selected Best New Drama by People's Choice, and Alex O'Loughlin chosen one of People's Sexiest Men, CBS canceled the series in its first season, a victim of the writer's strike. Go figure. At least the last ep had SOME closure, with vamp Alex pulling his unrequited love Beth inside his apartment and closing the door on us, leaving that hot vampire love to our imaginations.

I have all of the Ann Rice vampire books, but so far have only read Interview With a Vampire. Very good. The movie was excellent as well, if memory serves me correctly!

I have written down The Book Thief to check out at the library next time I go. How did you hear about it? I read The Chocolate Wars, another "teen lit" book, and enjoyed it, so have no problem with reading "school books!"

Funny that I hate mystery and detective novels, but I seem to always end up with them. I've read some Nora Roberts, but cannot remember any of the titles. I went to her website, but her list of books is so outrageously long, no way could I figure out which ones I've read. I remember liking some, then not others that are too "romancy." I get mad at the characters when they are too mooshy or giving or whatever. Go figure!

However, one of my very fav authors is Patricia Cromwell, her Kay Scarpetta series. I've read all of them; they are engrossing, well-written, great dialogue, good character formation, and characters continue throughout the series of books. Kay is a head medical examiner so investigates deaths, working with FBI and detectives. The books follow her career and life as it changes. I can't recommend them enough. Read them in order for best character development. I didn't, I jumped all around and was still able to follow as characters are so well-written, any book can stand alone. An order list is here:

home.earthlink.net/~acetoscano/cornwell.html

[peanut]

Ginger, I laughed at your story about 'Salem's Lot! I watched the movie on TV when I was about 7. It was shown in two parts over two nights. After the first night my brother and sister made me go to bed in the dark. I had the most horrendous nightmares. The following night me and my Mom were staying in my Granny's so I didn't see the second part but I did have nightmares about it and even though you don't see the head vampire until the second part I had dreams about him and what he looked like. The nightmare was awful. The following day my brother told me what happened in the second part and he described the head vampire to me. It was exactly how I dreamed it! Freaky or what!! That movie should have put me off horrors for life and the fact that my siblings made me go to bed in the dark but I was hooked! I could never watch that movie on my own even yet though.

Even though I love Stephen King I didn't read 'Salem's Lot until about 5-6 years ago when I was living with my cousins in Boston. I was in a room on the top floor. I figured I wouldn't be scared as I had already seen the movie. But it was so fantastic I was crapping it!!! haha. I remember suddenly being aware of a creaking in the closet beside me that I had never noticed before, even though I'd been living there a few months at the time. It only seemed to start when I'd go back to reading the book. It took me ages to finish it cuz I'd only read it when I knew someone else was in the house haha! But seriously, everytime I was reading it the creaking would start in the closet. When I finished reading it, I didn't hear the creaking again. That was so weird. It probably did keep creaking, but I wasn't as 'aware' of noises after finishing the book. But still, creepy stuff huh.

IT was another of his books that I found scary. I read it when I was a teen. I started it on a day when I was home sick with the flu and couldn't put it down. I think I had it finished by the next day.

I only read The Stand for the first time last year. It was very good and the fact that Gary Sinise plays Stu in the movie makes for a very happy peanut. I laughed at your comment about how it scares you every time you walk through a dark tunnel. But it begs the question, just how many dark tunnels have you been walking through and why?

I like James Patterson books but aside from the Women's Murder Club books I find his endings very anti-climatic. I still enjoy them though. Kathy Reichs is also awesome. I really like her stuff.

And I too am a huge fan of the Harry Potter books.

I read a book called My Dream of You a couple of years ago. It's by Nuala O'Faoilan. It's about an Irish woman who lives in London and works as a travel writer. She goes back home and discovers a true story about an illicit love affair during the Irish Famine and becomes obsessed with unearthing the whole story. It's more than a love story from the past though. It's about the main character finding herself. It wouldn't be a book I would normally think would interest me but I remember seeing it in the shop and reading the back and just having one of those moments where you feel compelled to buy a certain book. So I did and it's now one of my favourites. It was very well written and just struck a chord with me. I can't fully remember it now so I might re-read it. I just remember I couldn't put it down.

My two fave books of all time are Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights. Haven't read them in years though.

I also read Angels in my Hair by Lorna (oh crap, can't remember her last name - I think it's Byrne). It's the true story of a woman who has spoken to the angels since she was a child. It's lovely. There's some things in it that go beyond my belief but mostly I found it very comforting and lovely.

[Cindy]

Gingerbird: Book thief was recommended by a friend who is book obsessed too:-)

Yes, I was finishing the twilight series. I got them in reverse order from the library so 4 came before 3 so I was forced to have 4 sitting here for days before 3 came in. So it was a bit of a mad dash..lol

I think you'll enjoy the nora roberts death ones. This female detective doesn't like romance either and everytime hubby gets that way she goes off to work lol.

Angels in my hair...sounds nice peanut...maybe they can tell my grandpa's spirit to be a little bit nicer to me..lol

[peanut]

Cindy, you've intrigued me! What has your grandpa's spirit being doing to you? You could ask your angels, God, whomever you believe in to sort him out.

[Cindy]

My grandfather has been around me since the day he died. For a long time he was just "there" and I would just feel him and in my dreams he would show me an occasional "picture" in my head that would pertain to my family.

Since my Mom's tumour surgery, she has had trouble eating/swallowing because of the nerve damage. She does pretty well now, but it still really impacts her life. Well, for a long time now, he's been showing me a pic of my Mom's throat and when he shows it to me, it's "healed" and she can swallow perfectly. He keeps telling me I'm missing something and to do research and find the doctor I'm supposed to to help her. I tell him to go tell my Mom this, and he'll say "I've tried, I can't get through. It's around this time that my Mom will tell me she's had some crazy, mixed up dream she can't put her finger on. It's him trying to communicate, he has a very strong energy.

He's frustrated that I'm not helping her enough and he lets me know it. I know it sounds crazy, but honestly, I'm just used to it now (and him) He seems able to get into his other kids "dreams" a bit but has a clarity with me he doesn't seem to have with others. I believe that it may be because I didn't go to his funeral. I'm not a believer in viewing a body. (because it's all I would remember of them) so I stayed away. So in my mind he is alive and very "whole." I'm not sure. I've been able to predict a few too many events in my family for there not to be something to it.

[peanut]

Wow Cindy, that's a pretty special thing. I take it you have had no luck in finding the info/doc to help your mom. You could always try asking your grandpa to point you in the right direction to finding this info for your mom.

It seems like you have quite the gift.

[Cindy]

Oh believe me peanut, I've asked. We have heated arguments about it..lol The thing is, I don't hear his voice most of the time, most of the time it's phrases that pop into my head as his side of the argument. So for example In my dream I'll say "Tell me where to look" and the words will pop into my head so I don't actually speak either. (I'm sleeping or dreaming if you want to call it) Then my phrase will "erase" and his will come up. So it's a whole argument without words. So far he won't tell me where to look/what to do he'll only show me the throat pic. It takes a lot of "energy" for him to be able to do all this so that may be why he can't tell me more.

It's odd, I've only seen my grandmother once in this way (when my sister was expecting my neice and my grandmother carried her across a meadow in a pink blanket. Everyone thought it was a boy and the night before my niece was born my grandmother shows up carrying a pink blanket. So while everyone was debating boy names I told my mom we wouldn't need them..lol

She hasn't been back since but I believe my grandfather's energy is so much stronger than hers that he "blocks" her out most of the time. For whatever reason, she doesn't feel the need to step forward most days.

I don't know that it's so much a gift as a connection. I believe that people just have to learn to listen for it. It's gotten stronger over time because I think both of us learned how to "do it" better.

It's the same way that I believe your Mom left you that gift certificate for you to find. It was about to expire, so she made sure you found it:-) It's no different in my mind, and in time, she will find other ways too.

[peanut]

This may sound weird but I envy you that. Hopefully when I'm not so 'blocked' I'll hear my mom. I had a lovely dream about her the other night. It was the first dream in ages (that I can remember anyway). Her and I was just sitting on the couch laughing and talking (can't remember what about). She was sitting in 'her' seat on the couch and she was wearing her dressing gown which always looked so big on her cuz she was so small. She held my hand at one point and even though I was aware in the dream that she had passed on, I didn't want to say it incase she left. She used to have a little tuft in her hair at the back that would stick out sometimes and I used to fluff it up on her and call her fluffy-head as a pet name. And I did that to her in the dream and she was laughing. It was lovely.

In relation to the restaurant cert though, Mom bought it the day before she died (for Dad I believe). A few days after she died or maybe a week after, I was looking in her dresser drawer at her little bits and pieces whilst looking for a bandaid for my brother. It was right there on top, not hidden or anything so I don't think it was a sign for me to find it. It was easier to find than the bandaid!!

The cert was only valid for 6 months and my dad had left it in the living room cuz he was worried he'd forget about it. I had forgotten it was for only 6 months until my sister looked at it and reminded me. So it really wasn't anything you could call a sign. My sisters have had signs though, I think I'm just blocked maybe at the moment with all that went on after she died, with my brother and everything.

It's strange how when i think of her now it doesn't feel like she was real but when I do have dreams about her I can feel how real she was. I like that and wish I could feel it all the time. Or at least dream about it more. But maybe I do but just don't remember it.

Can I ask you how you 'listen for it'? If you don't mind?

[Cindy]

It's different for everyone I think but in the beginning it may be something as simple as a scent. It's my personal belief and JMO of course, that the spirit also has to learn how to communicate so in the beginning, it's small things. ie. My mom doesn't "see" my grandfather the way I do, but I can't tell you how many times we'll be talking about him and a streetlight will flicker, go out, then come back on. The first few times, you don't think anything of it, then it happens so much, you just come to accept it. Now, whenever a streetlight flickers/goes off my Mom will say "Hi Dad." It's the family joke now and even if she doesn't believe it 100 percent, it gives her comfort I think.

My senses are heightened in dreams so yes, it feels very real while you are in it. You dreaming of her is a good start. She's getting through. I believe she will show up if you need her. Weather it's because you want her to or she wants to on her own, I don't believe it matters. She may show up strickly to give you comfort or she may show up because she wants to tell you something. ie. About the conflict with your brother. If she feels she can offer something to help, she will make herself known. If she doesn't feel she can do much for you (in other words it's happened before and you KNOW how she would react she won't bother.)

I believe it takes a lot of energy for the spirit to "show" themselves so they won't do it all the time. They'll pick and choose. Honestly, I think when you are relaxed you will have the best luck. If you are thinking about 10 different things, it's a lot harder I think. Dreams are a good way to "slip in" because the barriers are down.

And to anyone else reading the last few posts..I really AM quite normal most of the time..lol

[peanut]

Thanks so much Cindy. And that's so cute about your mom saying hi to her dad when a streetlight flickers. I hope you guys find whatever info it is you need to help your mom's throat. She's really been through the mill and must be a comfort to know her dad is trying to comfort and help her.

And yeah, I was worried about what people would think reading our last couple of posts (in the book thread!) and was grateful I was chatting with the 'boss' of here and we're all friends with no TWOP mods to scold or ban us for not using a relevant thread or whatever!!! Ahh the freedome of Cindy Land!!!

So I'll bring this back to book talk. I haven't read anything in a couple of months. The last book I read was The Fifth Horseman by James Patterson. I go in spurts with my reading. I might read one book after another at one point and then go a couple of months without reading anything. I had a desire to start a book last night but then was too tired.

I've a few books that I haven't read yet. 1. Lisey's Story by Stephen King 2. The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert 3. Once by James Herbert 4. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown 5. Firestarter by Stephen King 6. The Aspern Papers and Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Have any of you book worms read any of the above? Can you tell me what you think before I choose one to read please?