50 Book Challenge

I've been on a Stephen King kick lately, so I decided to read Everything's Eventual. It's a short story collection, not a novel, but King's idea of short stories are usually short novellas, so I feel justified. 

Verdict? If you like King, you'll like this. And if you've never read any King, you might be interested in this, because the stories show a different side to him. Quite a few--"Riding the Bullet," "The Little Sisters of Eluria," or the titular story--are classic horror/fantasy stories, but some, like "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away," are sweet, sad explorations of the human condition. Stephen King isn't popular because he writes pulp fiction; he's popular because he understands people, and this collection shows off that understanding.

Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres

B&N Synopsis
"Sometimes the greatest things are the most embarrassing." Ellen Degeneres' winning, upbeat candor has made her show one of the most popular, resilient and honored daytime shows on the air. (To date, it has won no fewer than 31 Emmys.) Serious... I'm Kidding, Degeneres' first book in eight years, brings us up to date about the life of a kindhearted woman who bowed out of American Idol because she didn't want to be mean. Lively; hilarious; often sweetly poignant.

I've been a fan of Ellen's writing since picking up her first book "My Point... And I Do Have One" back in high school. She's funny, witty, relatable and honest. Plus, she's optimistic and positive.

This book combines her random thought conversation style and throws in bits and pieces from her own life. I think her willingness to be honest and share things from her experience is one of the main reasons she connects so well with her readers/audience. Another reason is that even though she is relentless in encouraging people to be positive, look for the joys in life and appreciate every day, she never comes across as pushy or preachy.

I laughed a lot while reading this, and when I was done, I felt really good about my life and how lucky I am for what I have. I recommend you read this book. I think you'll be glad you did.

Books completed: 4/50

I once again finished reading in the last two days, an ebook of Osprey Campaign #28: New Orleans 1815: Andrew Jackson Crushes the British. Filled with maps, and descriptions of the build-up to the battle, I found it a pretty good read on the subject.

One December night in 1942, a Nazi parachutist landed in a Cambridgeshire field. His mission: to sabotage the British war effort. His name was Eddie Chapman, but he would shortly become MI5's Agent Zigzag. Dashing and louche, courageous and unpredictable, the traitor was a patriot inside, and the villain a hero. The problem for Chapman, his many lovers and his spymasters was knowing who he was. Ben Macintyre weaves together diaries, letters, photographs, memories and top-secret MI5 files to create the exhilarating account of Britain's most sensational double agent.

Having read a book about Bletchley park a couple of months ago - I pounced upon this world book night copy when I spotted it in a charity shop. Very glad I did, it is both fascinating and hugely readable. The life that Eddie Chapman lived almost defies belief - his life of ease and luxury with his German spymaster juxtaposes sharply with the suspicious treatment he received under the British. It's hard to know how much of Chapman's espionage was prompted by patriotism and how much by rather baser instincts. Chapman was a crook first, and it was only his wish to get out of occupied Jersey that led him to first volunteer to spy for the Germans. Yet he seems to have been genuinely fond of his German spy master, although happy enough to betray him to the British at the same time. Chapman's exploits make for great reading, and the photographs bring him and his cronies to life.

Warrior
By Marie Brennan

This book was an accidental reread I had borrowed it from my husband and forgotten I read it previously. It is absolutely just as good the second time through and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. The book follows two women, a witch and a warrior, on their daily lives fulfilling their set upon tasks. To give many more details would be to give spoilers but I definitely think this book is worth the read. I enjoy books about magic and books about trained assassins etc so to have both stories told in one book is a total win for me.

The box from Amazon arrived on Tuesday afternoon. I started reading it yesterday evening and as usually happens when I read this author, I was finished by this afternoon. Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Retribution", one of the latest in the Dark Hunter series takes you west to Las Vegas as a change from the usual setting of New Orleans. Combining several different pantheons and taking serious license with a number of myths and legends, Ms. Kenyon has created another fun, action filled, romantic tale.