The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted

I recently tried to read The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted.

The operative word would be tried. The synopsis they give on the book calls it, "Exhilarating short stories of women breaking free from convention."

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I read four of the many short stories in this book and really didn't find any breaking free. Perhaps I didn't read the right stories...the one's I read were OK, but nothing "exhilarating".

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I just couldn't will myself to read more...it was a let down for me. I guess I was looking for inspiration, not pages out of people's daily lives. Certainly more interesting than my life...but hey, I waitress for a living...nuthin too exciting there!

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Since I didn't finish this one, not sure I can rate it.

If I did it would have to be a 0 out of 5.

Love the One You're With

I recently picked up another chick-lit book called Love the One You're With by Emily Griffin.

Ellen has recently married her best friends brother Andy and they have a perfect marriage. They live in New York City and Ellen loves it there. She is a budding photographer and is loving life, that is until she bumps into an ex-boyfriend, Leo. Their relationship was intense and one in which Ellen looses who she is as a person, and when it ended, left her heartbroken.

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Ellen and Leo pass in the street and Ellen ducks into a restaurant. Leo calls her on her cell phone asking if it was her he just passed. He meets up with her and Ellen realizes that she still has feelings for him. She knows she loves her husband and is confused about these overwhelming feelings. Leo sets up the shoot of a lifetime for her, but it is across the country and when she shows up, Leo is there too. Did Ellen end up with the life she was meant to have or was she supposed to wait for Leo?

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The plot of this book is "the one that got away" and "what if". If you like Nicholas Sparks, you'd probably like this book. I found it predictable, Ellen wishy-washy and the characters ones that you really just don't care about. I got this book on cd and it put me right to sleep.

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I give this a 1 out of 5

Duma Key

When I first fell in love with reading books, I read Stephen King's "It" and loved it. To this day it is on the top of my favorite books list, as is "The Stand". I've read a lot of King's books, but after a while I moved on to other authors and haven't really read any of his latest books. I decided to pick up Duma Key and see how Mr King has been doing in the writing realm.

This is a story of Edgar Feemantle, a married father of two girls, who had made his fortune in the construction business in Minnesota. An accident on the construction site flips Edgar's life upside down. Not expected to live, Edgar pulls out of it with some brain damage and an amputated right arm. He suffers from fits of rage that he cannot always remember and his wife cannot handle. She asks for a divorce and Edgar tries to move on. His psychiatrist suggests he tries a change of scenery, and Edgar finds himself on Duma Key where he is virtually alone.

Walks along the beach, trying to strengthen his leg and hip, which continually hurt, bring him closer and closer to the only other inhabitants on this small Florida island. He finally meets Wireman, a lawyer in his other life, who is the caretaker for Elizabeth Eastlake, the apparent owner of Duma Key itself. Edgar feels compelled to start drawing, then painting, and when he does this he finds he can feel his missing arm. As he continues to paint, this sensation gets stronger and his painting start taking on a life of their own.

The first two-thirds of the book build the characters and the plot, there is some hint to what is coming, the last third of the book is where the supernatural kicks in and it becomes creepy. This is where I couldn't read and fall right to sleep. I rather enjoyed this book. I felt like there was a lot of realness to Edgar and what he was going through even if the supernatural part was a little out there, but isn't that why we like Stephen King? There's a lot going on in this book, each character has a story and we get to hear them, they are complex and interesting and I enjoyed the ride.

I give this 4 out of 5.

Dear John

My foray into Nicholas Sparks is with Dear John. This is the same author who wrote "A Walk to Remember" and "The Notebook", which became very popular movies, both of which I have never seen. My daughter loves both of them and has them on DVD. Why haven't I watched them you ask? I know they are tear-jerkers and since I have depression...I really don't need any help on that front, also I'm not a fan of crying. Seriously, its like throwing up, I will avoid it at all costs. I feel out of control and like I may not pull out of the funk if I start crying.

With that said,

PLEASE STOP ME if I try to read another one of this man's books.

The only reason I read it is because one of the girls at work said to me, "You like to read right?" I said yes..."Oh I just read Dear John and I finished it in 2 days, it is so good!!!"

Now I feel I have to read it.

It is a story about John Tyree, a boy who's mother left when he was young and cannot relate to his father. He runs around with the wrong crowd and decides its best if he joins the army before he lands himself in jail or worse. While on leave, he spends the day on the beach at Wilmington, NC and there he meets Savannah Curtis. He knows this is the girl he is meant to be with and after time together, Savannah feels the same way. He leaves with the promise he will be back in a year. When he returns, there are changes, but they reconnect and this time when he leaves, it is with the knowledge that he will be out soon and they will be able to start their life together. Then 9/11 happens. John re-ups and starts a chain of events that will alter both Savannah and John's lives.

It was a quick read and the characters were relatively well developed and I couldn't put the book down, but for different reasons. Basically I couldn't stop reading because I knew it couldn't be as predictable as it was. I knew that Mr. Sparks would have more imagination than that...being that he has written 2 books that became hit movies. Guess not. As I read some of the reviews at BarnesandNoble.com I noticed that majority of the ones that loved the book were younger (i.e. under 25).

I give this a 2 out of 5.

Insurance sucks!!!

Let me be the first to admit, I am not the sharpest tool in the shed. So would someone explain the purpose of insurance...medical or auto. For now I will concentrate on medical.

How is it you pay (or they deduct from your wages) an UNGODLY amount for insurance to cover your medical bill in the event of a sickness or injury and when said malady happens the insurance company actually decides what they will actually pay or not pay for.

One of the regulars at the restaurant where I work has recently found themselves in a very bad medical position. They find themselves there because they could not afford insurance therefore, when they weren't feeling well, they didn't go to the doctor because they knew they couldn't afford it. Well, putting it off was the worst thing to do because they finally ended up in the hospital, with part of the long intestines taken out, then resulting in a major infection, jaundice and heart problems. This has been a six week stay and I can't help but think, if America was like every other major country and we had social medicine...this person would have gone when there was pain and avoided all the rest. It seemed the gall bladder needed to come out...but since it was put off...other problems arose and now they might not make it out seeing this person is older and their body might not be able to take it.

Is there a system if checks and balances for the insurance industry or are they allowed to keep fleecing the public? Seriously...somebody please...we need reform.

Love Me if you Must

Love Me If You Must is apparently the first novel for Nicole Young. When I look for books to read, I always read the first couple of pages. If I am interested I read the book, if I can't get past the first page or two, I know I will never get into the book.

So when I read the first page of this book, I thought that it would be a great mystery with some humor.

This book is about Patricia "Tish" Amble. She has moved to a small town in my home state of Michigan. She buys old Victorians and renovates them. Tish has a past that she's running from and ends up moving in next to a cop, Brad. Her other neighbors include a nosey community watch lady (she's serious about that job) and a very handsome David, British and recently separated. As Tish sets about renovating the Victorian, she finds an old cistern in the basement she wants to demolish. She has a crew come in to help and finds out she needs permission from the city council since it is a historical house. As she is discussing the details with the crew, she sees a body trapped in the cement of the cistern. It seems however she is the only one that sees it. Adding to the apparent mystery of the body, she also looks like someone who used to live in this small town, someone who left under bad circumstances.

Add to the mix that both Brad and David seem enamored with her, there's a lot going on in this book, maybe too much. It was an enjoyable read and I understand why she threw out so many characters, but sometimes it seemed like to much. The ending was harsh to say the least. She has so much going on throughout the book, it feels like she just ran out of steam and creativity at the end and just slapped it together to be done with it.

She does have a sequel Kill Me If You Can which I may read, but I'm not sure if I really care enough about her character to read on...





I give it a 2 out of 5

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

I just finished reading The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo with my 9 year old. It was a wonderful story about a china rabbit doll named Edward Tulane, owned, dearly loved and cared for by Abilene Tulane. We hear Edward's innermost thoughts and learn that he really doesn't care about anyone other than himself. Abilene's grandmother tells a story one night to Edward and Abilene. She tells a tale of a princess who loves no one but herself and happens upon a witch when she's lost in the woods. The witch turns her into a warthog to teach her about love. When Abilene's grandmother finished the story, she leans over and whispers in Edwards ear that he disappoints her, as if she knows he's alive and that he is self-centered.

The next day the family sets out on a cruise to England. Poor Edward is tossed overboard by two boys playing keep-away from Abilene. This begins Edwards journey to discover emotions he thought were beneath him. He learns to love, but that sometimes it hurts. He finds that maybe it was better not to have loved. He meets sweet characters, and others that are at the bottom of what the human race has to offer. He is something different to each "owner" he meets...a friend, a child, hope. He not only learns to love, but he learns sorrow, frustration, despair, joy and heartbreak.

This was a wonderful story with short chapters, so it was a great night time book. We made it through in a couple of days. Be warned, though, we did cry at one point. Its a tough one for the tender-hearted...but it encompasses lessons we would all do well to learn.

I give it a 5 out of 5.

Customer = Guest

Why are customers now "guests"? Like I have invited them to my home? I don't understand this form of pc-ness. Let's face it...they are customers, they come in to buy something. In my case its food, brought to them, drinks continually full, and a smile with "yes sir" for every whim they have. Sounds more like heaven to me, but I digress.

If they are guests, I would tell them to help themselves to anything in the kitchen whenever they wanted something. I'm not big into the home-entertaining that involves serving elaborate foods, and appetizers. If your thirsty - you know what a fridge looks like, open it up and get something.

If you think about it, "guest" is a downgrade.

At work, I listen to more than my fair share of complaining and griping. (Again, something I really wouldn't get from a "guest" at my house....cause I don't ask those people to come over.) People try to get something for nothing a lot of the time at our restaurant. Honestly, when can you go to a restaurant, order something off the menu, then decide you don't like it, for no other reason than your specific palate preferences, and then expect to order something else at no cost??? I had no idea you could order food and "taste-test" with out having to pay for each entree.

Seriously...you're killing me.