Keep going and...

Alright. Hello there. The year is officially up and running. I have just finished book #2 of the year. I've changed it a little, my resolution that is, so that I will read at least 25 books this year....that's approximately 2 a month, and I'm off to a good start on that. Anyway to get to the book first. Book #2 is also a movie-based decision. As some of you may know a few years back when they really started turning books into movies, cause lets face it- Hollywood couldn't do much better, I made the decision that if a movie came out that was based on a book, I would read it first. Some of those being Eragon and The Wedding Date. I've been almost sticking with this theme in my choices so far, with Dear John and now- My sister's keeper. I want to start out my saying I hadn't really wanted to read this book. I saw the previews for the movie and just thought- no, not for me. Now, I'm very glad I did. Unfortunately, after discussing it briefly with someone who watched the movie but not the book, I'm not certain if I want to really watch the movie....for reasons that I will not discuss here. Let's just say, I'm tired of being disappointed in "Hollywood." Now, unfortunately, curiosity may still inspire me to watch the movie, but nonetheless...
I enjoyed the book for several reasons. I love reading stories that are not necessarily told from an "omniscient" point of view, like a narrator-type of story. (just for the record I just spent 5 minutes trying to figure out the word "omniscient") I love it when we hear stories from the character's view point, and this book tells different parts of the stories from different character's perspectives, ie., one chapter from Anna, one from her mom, one from her dad and so on. I also really like it when stories you think are completely unrelated end up coming together and it turns out they are actually the same story all along! I won't say anything else about the book, but if you have read and would like to discuss- I'm game, just don't want to give anything away to those that haven't. If you would like to read along with me, my next book I have chosen from our school library and it is Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, author of Poisonwood Bible.
As for other things, I've been pretty good about going to the gym. It gets harder towards the end of the week, but even if I have to take gym clothes to work and go late at night as opposed to early in the morning- that's what I do, as I will have to do tonight cause I stayed up late trying to finish that silly book! I also joined the "Fittest Member" contest at the YMCA. It's a six week competition, and we'll just have to see how I do. Oh, and in case you haven't heard already about my other new current obsession- if you have an iPhone or an iTouch then you should get "Words with friends" It's basically scrabble, but you can play other people on other phones or you can play on one device with people sitting around you. I currently have about 12 games going and I think I'm ahead in about 9 or 10 of them. One game I have is against my dad, whom as most of you relatives know, is a scrabble maniac! He's currently beating me, but not by much- unfortunately the last six letters I was stuck with were consonants, so he's probably going to win THIS game! But there will be more....so if you have it, create a game with "Teddyzzil" if you don't have, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? If you can't have it, well, I'm sorry...how sad. Have a great weekend coming up, most of you probably have a 3 day weekend- I however will have a 3 day weekend in February for President's day instead- which I'm very excited about!
Until next time,
THANKS FOR READING!

an early start

So I'm pretty sure I told you about my new year's resolution, but just in case. My plan is to read at least one book a month...well I think it's going to be a lot more than one, at least in some months. My thinking on this is because I've already finished the first book I bought. I was going to utilize the Library during this expedition, but I just like the thought of having them all on a shelf and someday telling someone, I read all of those books in 2010. That may sound wierd or whatever, but it's what I want to do...just may have to get a third job in order to afford it, lol.
So my first book to take on was Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. As you may have heard, it's soon to become a major motion picture and I like to read the books before I go see the movie, otherwise I have no motivation to read it, knowing how it will end. It was an interesting book, I'm going back in forth on whether or not I want to see the movie but I will probably end up seeing it anyway- if nothing else, out of pure curiousity. I told you that I wouldn't give anything away about the book, and I will stay true to that. In case you haven't heard of it, well, go watch a preview, cause the book is really about so much more than the preview. Anyways, one of the things I enjoy when reading, is finding a way to relate to the characters or the story or some part of it. I wanted to share an excerpt from the book, that I think expresses my feelings on something that I've never been able to express this way.

"I know it's not as immediate as email, but that's what I like about it," she wrote me. "I like the surprise of finding a letter in the mailbox and the anxious anticipation I feel when I'm getting ready to open it. I like the fact that I can take it with me to read at my leisure.....I like to imagine the way you looked when you wrote it: what you were wearing, your surroundings, the way you held your pen..."

In case you didn't catch it, she's talking about the reason that she prefers to use "snail mail" as opposed to email. And I TOTALLY GET IT! I love getting mail! I took out parts of it that I didn't want to put in there to give anything away, but it's a really good book.
For my next book, I think I will either continue the Harry Potter series or read "My Sister's Keeper." Mostly cause those are the books I have and I need some recovery time after Christmas :) HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)