Vendetta by Fern Michaels

I finished Vendetta today. This wasn't for a challenge or anything, just a series I enjoy reading. This is the 3rd if the series and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series. (I have a lot to read for challenges and such so I am debating whether to read it next or not.) These are quick, entertaining books with characters you really get to care about. I started reading the first in the series, not sure if I would like it at all as it wasn't my usual kind of book. I read it very quickly and was onto the next in the series. I usually don't read books in series back to back, as I like to spread them out. But with these I just wanted to know what was going to happen and how it would all turn out. The next book is in a box in the room next to me.....I'm not sure I can resist the temptation!

Finishing this means I read two whole books in August. Not a lot, but I read lots of parts of other books too. It's not about the numbers with me, it's about the enjoyment of reading.

Book #1 New Classics Challenge Black Water

I finished Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates late last night. I wanted to like this book, I really did. I thought the concept was interesting. It was obvously supposed to be about Ted Kennedy and the Chappaquiddick incident. Unfortunately I hated the book. It was repetitive and had a very odd writing style that just made it hard for me to get that interested in the story. There were whole paragraphs with only one period right at the end. It made me a bit crazy.

The one thought I really got from it was how sad it was, that this young girl was so flattered that this man was interested in her that she was willing to change all her plans to go with him. She didn't dare say she thought they were lost as she didn't want to upset him. She was so thrilled to be "the one". In the end she lost her life because of it. It's a concept I can understand intellectually (having seen it in some of my friends) but not emotionally. I was raised to believe in my worth as a human being. I wish more girls were. I wanted to grab Kelly and shake her and tell her how much better she could do than this old, skeezy man. This aspect of the book left me feeling sad, frustrated and angry. But at least it made me feel, which is more than I can say for the rest of the book.

Here's hoping I have better luck with the next book I read in this challenge.

Cozy Mystery Challenge

I am taking part in yet another reading challenge. This one is a good one for me as I love cozy mysteries. I don't want to overwhelm myself though, as I have quite a few challenges going on. So I am going to make a goal of 3 books for this challenge. Hopefully I can wrap up some of the other books I am reading now before September so I can be on track to get reading some cozy mysteries!

I have the second in the candle series my Tim Myers and quite a few by Laura Childs. I have a lot of cozy mysteries to choose from so it will be fun to pick when the time comes.

Started the New Classics Challenge

I started reading Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates yesterday, as part of the New Classics challenge. So far, so good. It's a bit of a strange writing style but it moves pretty quickly and has kept my interest. It's not a long book and even with the other books I'm reading (Doesn't everyone read 5 books at a time?) I should be able to finish it in August.

Book to Movie Challenge

I'm taking part in this challenge. Between Sept 1 and Dec 1 I have to read three books that were made into movies. My choices are:


1. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
2. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
3. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

I have seen only one of these movies (Practical Magic) so will definitely plan on watching the movies as well.