50 Shades of Grey... or 50 Shades of 'what the heck is all the hype about!!!!!'

NO... I haven't read the book yet, and the amount of women that have asked me if I have or not makes me wonder whether I have 'love of erotica and BDSM' written across my forehead.  I am a fan of erotica amongst other things and that is why I haven't run out with the herds to pick this book up, and in hindsight probably a good thing, because there are no copies available at this minute.  But I can catch it on my local radio station, on breakfast TV, at the lunch room table, in the corridors of my workplace... it really seems that it is everywhere around me.  It has become a MASSIVE topic of conversation EVERYWHERE!!!  I've read the reviews - good, bad and indifferent - but I still can't get my head around what all the hype is about.  There have been books like this around FOREVER, so what is it about this book/series that has made it so popular!!!!!  I mean BDSM is not for the faint hearted but some people I've talked to are falling over themselves and reading parts of the book to their partners... and from what I understand the sales of BD products is also on the rise. "small break".  HA, I thought I would jump over to Goodreads and re check some of the reviews which made me laugh.  It seems you either hate it or love it, there is not much more in between.  I am reserving my opinion until I actually read the book as all good reviewers should, but I am going to have to wait and save this for holidays and hopefully when all the hype is over and I can enjoy it without interruptions.

It might take several attempts to read a book...

so I think that means it's not always the author, but what head space I'm in at the time.  I'm reading "The Better Part of Darkness" by Kelly Gay and loving it... but this might be the 4th attempt I've made at trying to get into this series.  I suppose in my defence at least I haven't given up but it does give me food for thought on what other books I've picked up and discarded because they haven't grabbed me.  As readers we have very high expectations for a book.  For me it starts visually.  If I like the cover, I will pick up the book.  Then the title has to interest me.  Sometimes a comment from someone newsworthy helps and obviously the blurb has a lot to do with my choice as well.  Then I will want to check out other people's reviews both good and bad, then I will open to the front page.  It could be a wonderful mutual relationship or it could be dead in the water right there.  Anyway, I'm so glad I persevered.  I'm loving this book and luckily enough, on the off chance that I liked it this time, I've also got the 2nd in the series on standby.  Nothing worse when you have to wait for the next one :)

Going through a YA phase at the moment

Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, Gone by Michael Grant, these are the books slipping through my fingers at the moment.  While waiting for my copy of Insurgent By Veronica Roth I've been looking at the dystopian novels... and there is so much out there.  I picked up 'Gone' from my local library and noticed on the spine a sticker stating that it was part of the Premier's Reading Challenge aimed at 9-10 yo readers.  I am all for getting kids to read but the idea of 9-10 year olds reading Gone seems a bit disturbing.  I'm only up to pg 133 and so far, all people aged 15 and over have disappeared... just gone 'poof' and the young kids are separating into gangs and there are some kids with special powers that can kill... and with a sneak peek at the last few pages (yes!!!! sometimes I do that, don't lie and say you don't) there are also killer worms, a nuclear plant and a mysterious barrier cutting them off from the outside world.  I'd be scared if I was a 10 year old, I'm a little scared and my youngest is 17 (you can work out how old I might be...).  But I have such an admiration for writers that create this worlds and come up with such fantastic ideas and can put pen to paper and keep little old ladies like me turning the pages.

how many books is too many?

It's always hard after reading such a fantastic book like The Maze Runner to find something to follow up with.  I have picked up several books over the last few days and am currently reading Lothaire by Kresley Cole, Cinder by Marissa Meyer and Die for Me by Amy Plum.  There is no problem having 3 books on the go, Lothaire provides an adult romance, Die for Me satisfies my YA itch... but Cinder was the one that I couldn't put down.  The night I picked up this book included my cooking dinner for the kids, cleaning the house from top to bottom and organising for my eldest's car to be towed because he had been in an accident... and despite all that and the fact I had to get up at 6am I stayed up the whole night to finish this book, IT WAS THAT GREAT!!!! and I woke up the next morning thinking about the book and it's fantastic characters.  There is Cinder, cyborg and human.  She is a android mechanic living in New Beijing with her guardian  and 2 step sisters (ring a bell).  Earth has experienced World War VI and is now united under one government.  Cyborgs are considered 2nd class citizens and Cinder is no different.  She was in a bad accident when she was 11 and does not remember anything of her previous life.  Earth is under threat from the Lunars, the Emperor is dying and there is a world wide disease killing citizens in their tens of thousands and Cinder will need to learn of her past to save the future of her planet.  I don't think that is spoiling your reading pleasure... I hope you pick this book up, it is fantastic. If I had stars it would be 4.5 stars out of 5... stuff it... 5 stars out of 5, it is just perfect

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I've just finished this book.  A great pick up from the Library and before the letters had disappeared from in front of my eyes I have placed a hold on the next in the series The Scorch Trials.  For books that I love I like to go back and read other people's reviews to see if they felt the same as I did about a book... and no they didn't.  It is within me to understand that we all have certain expectations of the books that we read but I didn't see what other reviewers saw in this book and at no stage does it make me doubt myself.  That said... I LOVED IT!!  I got sucked in and was dragged along with Thomas (main character).  I wanted to know everything, I wanted to question everything and I wasn't liking the fact that my questions weren't answered to my satisfaction.  I was Thomas!  Thomas arrives in a 'black box', I am assuming a elevator type machine, to a 'village' that has only boys.  None of the boys in the Glade have any memories of life before except when some experience 'The Change'. They have developed a society that has to survive against the 'Grievers' and there are many unknown variables that they work around.  I know it all sounds very mysterious and it is.  There are so many things going on that you could become lost but there are several very well hidden hints and clues in the book that keep you turning the pages in the hope that things become clearer.  The main focus of this 'tribe' is to navigate a maze of which they all live at the center of.  Their whole purpose is to escape the maze and the tribe have designated 'Runners' who daily go out to plot the map looking for a way out.  Thomas questions everything but nobody really wants to tell him the truth, they are all very secretive, but their order is destroyed when the next day a girl is sent up in the black box.
I could keep going but I don't want to spoil it for you.  Take a chance, pick it up and have a read.  I'm going to give it 4.5 stars out of 5.  It was W.I.C.K.E.D.

Once a week????

It doesn't seem that hard to want to read at least one book a week and write a review about it.  It's not like I don't read at least 1 book (more than likely more than 1) a week, but not every book I read is a good book.  I like books that stand out a little bit.  I also like 'fluff' books.  Girl meets boy, marries someone else, husband dies, meets boy again, fall in love and have children.  I LIKE those books, not all the time, but just to give myself a little rest from the deep, dark secrets of the vampire, were, witch worlds, from the workings of seemingly mature teens, and from dystopian novels which give a very scary and somewhat prophetic glimpse into the future or what COULD be!!!!!  Everyone needs a little fluff :)  There is potential in the book that I am reading now, so hopefully soon there will be another review, but in the mean time... I might catch up on a little bit of fluff!

When she woke by Hillary Jordan

I am a blog stalker.  I feed off other's suggestions, but don't we all????  I sneak in at night, check out all the new releases and the older releases, hoping to snag myself something original to read.  I am certainly in my element in this generation of book genre and even at my advanced age I am LOVING the YA collections.  In my day, Nancy Drew and the Famous Five and Mallory Towers were my heady escapism but now I get to relive some of my youth with the talented and varied writers of today.  I borrow most of my books from my trusty library.  I am a patient borrower.  If there is any book that I just can't wait for I'll go and buy it but I am a pick it up, read it, put it down and move on sort of gal.  I must be following the right kind of blogs but for the life of me I can't remember which fantastic, wonderful blogger suggested this book.  I do remember the line 'I couldn't put it down' though and whoever that person was.... she/he was right. I actually did put this book down because one has to sleep at some stage but it was hard.
I Loved this book because 'it's personal'. Such a strong character in Hannah Payne. She has hidden depths that through tragedy and love she discovers how strong she can be. In Hannah's world people that have committed crimes are forced to have their skin colour changed to reflect the severity of their crimes. Her 'crime' was forced by love and respect for her forbidden lover. She is made to follow a path not of her own making and in doing so discovers herself. It sounds deep and meaningful and it is. Do yourself a favour and pick this book as a must read in 2012.