The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

I have devoured this book over the last 24hrs.  I had bought several books to save for the holidays but started reading this on Saturday and haven't been able to put it down.  The only things that have dragged me away from it are Xmas parties, driving and work.  I have just finished the first one and lucky enough have the 2nd one on hand and when I finish this blog I am off to bed to read it.

Heres the blurb...
In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place.  Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games.  There is only one rule: kill or be killed.
When sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence.  But Katniss has been close to death before.  For her, surival is second nature.

Fantastic story, not as gory as what it sounds, but once again believable as to see as a future for our world.  Well worth the read

Writing a book

... so I have been toying with the idea of writing a book. I have really no concept of how to get started, hence the 8 books next to my desk telling me how to write a book that I haven't picked up.  Dotted around my computers are various files with names saying "i must write', ideas for stories' etc.  Not much in them.  I haven't settled to what medium i want to write in yet and that is as easy as saying do I want to start typing away on the computer or would by hand be better as you have more scope to doodle in the margins.  How am I going to write when I can't even decide how to write first.  Then I have all these ideas for different books.  I have started approx 3 and I don't know that if starting them means writing a title and then a chapter heading and then 'once upon a time...'.  It doesn't seem like a lot does it?  It is always very confusing and then I skip through a book in about 1/2 day and read the author's thank you's which always say how hard it was and thank you to everyone feeding them and looking after their children, and I think what the hell goes on... then i get scared that no one will like my idea and so on and so forth.  i don't seem to have a problem keeping my mouth shut, I wish it would just show up on paper a bit easier.

hush, hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

It's been a long blink between blogs

I have been reading furiously, trying to keep up with my voracious appetite for all things dark and dangerous.  I have read many books including

• Fade - Lisa McMann
• Nightlife - Rob Thurman
• Addicted - Lydia Parks
• The Dome - Stephen King (partly read)
• Kissing Sin, Dancing with the Devil, Chasing the Shadows, Kiss the Night Goodbye, Full Moon Rising - Keri Arthur
• Chase the Dawn - Karen Chance
• Master of Surrender - Karin Tabke
• Earth Guys are Easy - Karen Kelley
• Some Christopher Pike and others to name a couple

Have enjoyed many of them and re read some old favourites.  I am gearing up for my Rosebud holiday and trying to buy books to read on the beach under my umbrella.   I am a bit fearful of not having enough to read, as I have only accumulated about 17 books, but I can borrow from Rosebud Library if the need arises.

 I can hardly wait for Xmas, and this year is ending like usual, a runaway horse driven buggy down a long slope with no driver.

So wishing you all a Happy New Year and  Merry Christmas with loved ones and your favourite book

Gena Showalter - The Darkest Fire, The Darkest Night, The Darkest Kiss, The Darkest Pleasure

I have just finished The Darkest Kiss and am starting on the Darkest Pleasure.  The Darkest Kiss is about Anya and Lucien and their overriding passion for each other against what seem to be insurmountable odds.  It is also a good book in that even though they do find a way to be together their story and the story of the rest of the 'Lords of the Underworld' who each have their particular demon to battle as well as the Titan Gods.  The Darkest Night is the story of Maddox and Ashlyn.  Very enjoyable as a series.  I have read several of Gena's books and can highly recommend her writing.  Always different and good storylines.

Lisa McMann - Wake, Fade, Gone

I read Wake over the weekend, and could not put it down or move until I had finished it. Loved it and am now hanging out for Fade to arrive. Great storyline.

Fantastic Library

I am lucky to be a member of  the ERL but thanks to there fantastic holds system and http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ they are running me ragged.  I do think that part of it may be my fault but when you are looking at favourite authors they also suggest other authors and then you are off on a wild goose chase and I end up having two screens up so that I can place holds on authors that i (or the website) think I might like.  Bookarmy is another site that helps me waste time reading.  All in all I have 62 books out at the moment and 4 weeks to read them in.  I am busy compiling spreadsheets in a vain effort to keep up with what I have read, what I have liked and what I might want to read in the future.  A little anal, but that might have something to do with the type of personality that works in a library.  People say to me 'aren't you lucky working in a library.  You must get to read all the time."  As if and don't I wish.  My library does not lean itself towards the pleasure of reading being a academic library but thank goodness, or else I would get absolutely nothing done and would have to keep on taking holidays just so I can catch up on my reading.  If that is the worst that I can expect out of life, having too much to read, it's a good life.

Dark Slayer - Christine Feehan

Christine is a favourite author of mine and I am always on the lookout for her next book.  I am currently reading 'Dark Slayer'.  I started it last night and bought it to work and can't help sneaking peaks at it throughout the day which has not been terribly conducive to getting some work done.  Ivory Malinov is a vampire that had been betrayed terribly by her beloved brothers and has lived on her own for hundreds of years.  She finds her lifemate Razvan and is during a fight with her brother is discovered by Mikhail and his court.  What I love about Christine's books is her ability to have a separate story within the series.  She introduces new characters and ties them to the much loved originals with finesse and compassion.  Good read.

Witch Fire by Anya Bast

I like to have a few books on the go. They don't have to be the same genre, just as long as they are interesting.  I have finished Witch Fire by Anya Bast and have sitting on my overcrowed bedside table, Witch Blood as well.  I really enjoy series that have books as an entire story with different characters.  Witch fire is about Mira Hoskins who has no idea that she is a witch.  Jack McAlister has been sent to watch over her by his boss, Mira's unknown cousin.  Jake helps her develop her powers as they deal with the passion between each other.

Wages of Sin by Jenna Maclaine

I have just finished these 2 books and really enjoyed them.  I will wait in anticipation for the next in the series.  Bound by Sin is the 3rd in the series and due out Dec 09.  Dulcinea (Cin for short) is a witch who has lost her parents and finds herself in peril for her life.  She calls on the help of the 'Righteous' who are 3 vampires who kill their own on orders from the High King.  All is not as it seems and Dulcinea may need to make a life changing decision to save herself and her friends.

what i have been reading

At the moment I am reading " The Scent of Shadows - The first sign of the Zodiac by Vicki Pettersson..  I am enjoying it immensely.  It is a different storyline to most of the other books I have been obsessing over.  Lot of good v evil and a character that has still to make that choice.  She has chosen the Light, but is still questioning all the time.  I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series

its just a vicious circle

of doing not very much before i started work.  I am psyching myself up to tackle ebay over the weekend. Big boy has finished footy for the year and we only have to worry about getting to basketball so i get my sat mornings back to myself.  YAY.  I also have to organise my personal library so as not to incur fines at the local and very well equipped library.  As i work in a library myself I have no problems paying the miniscule fines at my local because they have free holds and I am over indulging myself, wallowing like a little pig in mud using that facility.  I took a week off and spent a lot of time just trying to read some books before the deadline.  and then I keep on finding other titles and authors to read and keep placing holds.  There could be worse ways to go.

All these ideas

I have rediscovered the blogging community. I seem to have the gift of the email 'gab' and sometimes my fingers run away with me. I used to write a final word for the football club newsletter and I would think about what I wanted to say all week and then when I sat down to write it it would only take 10 mins to write a page and very rarely would I have to go back and change anything. I want to write something, I read a lot and am scared that I will subconsciously write something that has already been written. Like most things in my life I have an idea and never put it into action and then regret it. I worry over the idea like a dog with a bone and then watch someone else have the same fantastic idea that I had. Oh well... I want to follow through on an idea for once in my life. Maybe this blog will help me do that!