Focus.

I've never been able to keep a journal or a diary. I might last a week or two, stop for a year start for three days then stop, it seems to be the cycle for me. Which is really a shame because it is so much fun to look back on how you felt at a given instant. How you think/feel about something can change from day to day. The thing is, I've never had the patience to keep up with it. When I started this blog, I almost promised I would tire of it soon enough. But a funny thing happened, I really enjoy it. So I plan to keep it up, most likely after the first 365 days and 100 books.

I wanted to go back and find all of my secondary resolution to create a six month update so I skimmed through all of my past posts. It was interesting to read what has changed, what has stayed the same, what I forgot, how I've succeeded or how I've failed. So here is an update to those resolutions (to be honest, some of them I had forgotten about).

Doing something out-of-character.

This was my first weekly goal. I don't remember how this worked out. I never posted about it. So I've decided to add it to this week's resolution. Why not?! There are no rules here!

Shorter shower times.

Since I made this resolution my monthly Puget Sound Energy bill has steadily had a smaller column on the bar graph. There are of course other reasons for this including the fact that we are almost into Summer. I don't always time them, but it really helps keep me in gear during the mornings.

Be on time.

I think I've definitely improved in this section. No major late arrivals. I've also realized that when I'm on time I get even more annoyed when people are late. I'm pretty sure it is one of the rudest things you can do. Since I don't think of myself as a rude person, I'm still going to try my hardest to keep this one up.

Wake up and put a smile on my face and tell myself I'm going to have an extraordinary day. No matter what!

Ok. Harder than you would think. I don't like lying and not every day is going to be so very extraordinary. BUT! A positive attitude helps anything! So to update: this one needs work. I've woken up pretty often lately with a woe is me attitude.

Give up swearing.

Nope. Not gonna happen. Worked for about half a day. Maybe less. The truth is I like swearing. Don't give me that look! Sometimes it is sooooo very necessary. I don't use them when it is inappropriate so I'm giving this up as a resolution.

Get organized.

Also a fail. Google calendar would have saved me. If I had an iphone. But I don't. I kept forgetting to update it with appointments, so it became almost useless. I still use it for Theatre stuff, but for personal stuff I've nixed it. I need to carry a planner. I need to visualize. I need to write it down. I need to be able to flip to next week and see what is coming up wherever I am not just at home on my computer.

Start a book club.

Success! Well sort of. I did start a book club. We've had two meetings about two books. But I'm nervous for our future! Two of the girls didn't finish the second book and we've delayed book three's meeting. I guess we are more of a book every two months club. I have faith in C.A.K.E club. I think once Carly has the baby and Katy finishes her interview prep we will start to have more regular meetings. At least I hope! I've so enjoyed these meetings!

So wow! Success and failure. I have some work to do! I also need to revisit my Happiness Commandments. I need to also think about making more resolutions (weekly/monthly/yearly/life.) So here we go!

Weekly: Don't eat any chocolate/ice cream/pastries from work!

Monthly: Have a total of ten blogs completed by July 1.

Update Book 51: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

I like getting obsessed with books. I like feeling like I can't put them down. Usually the teen-supernatural books totally get to me. I don't know why, but I eat them up! Twilight, Hunger Games, and Mortal Instruments to name a few! I liked "Beautiful Creatures." It was pretty good, but I didn't get hooked. I could take it or leave it. I'm not mad I read it, but I feel like something was missing.

Most of the time these types of novels are written from the perspective on the girl. This has sometimes frustrated me. The way the main characters end up falling for each other has never made sense. You never really understand why the guy (Edward in Twilight for instance) would fall for the girl (Bella). Well "Beautiful Creatures" puts a new spin on things. The narrator is Ethan, who is a mortal, who falls in love with Lena, a Castor (also known as a witch). The reason they come together is explained by an electric/magnetic connection between them. Which means it wasn't really explained. I thought there could have been a better story here, but if you are looking for an in-between book before all the teen-sequels come out at the end of Summer pick up "Beautiful Creatures."

Don't say I didn't warn you that this is a BOOK ONE. Which you almost have to expect when you pick up a teen book these days.

C.A.K.E Club

Today is a perfectly miserable day in Western Washington. The kind of day where the rain and wind beat against the windows and there is just enough of a chill in the air to make you crave a giant mug of tea. In other words it is the perfect day to make some updates! I've been holding out on you. Well sort of. I have three books to update! There are a couple of reasons for my lack of writing. The first is because last week I had jury duty.

I knew the instant the letter came to me in mid-January that I would be placed on a jury. When the letter told me the dates of my service would be over my birthday week, I sent it back with a more convenient date. After rescheduling once again, the week had final arrived last Monday. I called in Sunday and was lucky my number hadn't been called... or so I thought. On Tuesday when my number was up I journeyed the 24 miles one way to Port Orchard. Of course I was exactly what they wanted and had to serve on the jury for the rest of the week. What I had hoped would be a day of reading at the county court house turned into three days of listening to testimony.

The second reason I haven't updated is because I wanted to have our book club meeting before I blogged about March's book! Yesterday was the first meeting of The C.A.K.E Club (named for its founding members: Carly, Ashley, Katy, Elisa. And yes it was the pregnant one who thought of the acronym!) None of us had been a part of a book club before so we just sort of winged it. I made Red Velvet Cake and served tea because the main character loved the color red and it took place in England. We also decided on books for the next four months.

April's C.A.K.E Club Selection is: Bloodroot by Amy Greene

Update Book 25: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

I got this book off of a '50 books to read before you die' book mark. The first thing I would like to say is that I like lists people make about their favorite things and recommendations. The second thing I would like to say is that you kind of have to take these lists with a grain of salt. I highly doubt two people could agree on the items on this type of list.

This book is about Christopher. Christopher is Autistic. Christopher Narrates the Book.

I have never read anything like "The Curious Incident." I think that is why it ranks so highly on book bucket lists. This book creates a window into a completely different way of thinking and acting. To give an example Christopher tells us the reason he can not tell a lie:

A lie is when you say something happened which didn't happen. But there is only ever one thing which happened at a particular time and a particular place. And there are an infinite number of things which didn't happen at that time and that place. And if I think about something which didn't happen I start thinking about all the other things which didn't happen.

The way Christopher explains things make you wonder why we use metaphors, tell lies, and say things we don't mean. Everyone in C.A.K.E Club enjoyed this book and a general rating on 3.5 out of 5 was given. "The Curious Incident" was an easy read but it is also a book that will make you stop and think.

So it goes.

One of the things I love most about books is that they bring people together. The best part of this challenge has been talking to people about books. People really do love to read, whether or not they commit to reading one book a year or a hundred. Everyone has an opinion on books and I've had some amazing conversations with people about things like their favorite books, my book challenge, book clubs, authors, writing styles, and just about everything in between. Talking about books is sort of like talking about your kids, people get excited. There is a sort of pride in mutual book appreciation.

Yesterday my aunt told me she has been in a book club for about 30 years. Some of the people have changed, but she said that there has been a nucleus of about 15 women who have been coming together the entire time. I hope my own book club someday evolves into something similar. So far I have four friends committed, but someday I hope more people will join in. (If you want to join let me know!)

This months read is: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Update Book 19: Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Note to authors everywhere!!! When writing a teen fiction you don't have to dumb it down. Some of the smartest most interesting books I've read have been geared towards teens. "Witch and Wizard" is not worthy of sitting next to any of these books. There was no value to reading any of the pages. No new thoughts, plots, or characters were revealed. What makes me the maddest is that this is another series! Talk about jumping on the bandwagon!

This is the first time I've read Patterson and I might just be disgusted enough to never read him again. Famous for writing the "Alex Cross" novels, Patterson apparently wrote this in his sleep. He writes "Witch and Wizard," like a 60 year old man attempting to be hip. I cringed whenever "WTH" (What the hell) was included in conversations. I could go on and on about how terrible this book was, but I have a much better book I'd like to talk about.

Update Book 20: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Originally published in 1969 "Slaughterhouse Five" is often cited as one of the best novels written about WWII. This book is uniquely written, it is often schizophrenic--jumping through time, events, and planets. Then back again. But it is never confusing. Within the first chapter Vonnegut describes that this is an anti-war novel. He also explains how futile writing an anti-war novel is:

"You know what I say to people when I hear they're writing anti-war books?"

"No. What do you say, Harrison Star?"

"I say, 'Why don't you write an anti-glacier book instead?'"

What he meant of course, was that there would always be wars, that they were as easy to stop as glaciers. I believe that too.

A book about any war is filled with death, but this isn't a book that makes you cry. This is a book that makes you understand the harsh reality of war. Vonnegut is honest and at times funny... but not in a way that will make you laugh. I enjoyed this book. Some of the concepts of time and reality were inspiring. Would I call it a favorite? No. But I would say that I learned from it and that you should put it on your book list behind the "Book Thief".

Favorite Book. Book Club. Book Thief.

Now I'm a scientist. Ha! Joking. But I did conduct a survey. A small very unscientific survey. There was no control group and the sampling of people was pretty biased. The survey went a little something like this: What is your favorite book? The question was put forth in two forms; Facebook status and general conversation. Here is a look at a few of the answers I received:

I was told that the question was impossible to answer by two people.

I didn't hear one book repeated. The thing that really struck me is how completely different each of these books are from each other.

Another thing that I found fascinating was that several of the people who answered the favorite book question had recommended books to me when I begun the challenge. Not one of those people had recommended their favorite book . Which I completely understand, a favorite book is a very personal thing.

I should follow up my survey question with another: " What makes it your favorite?"

Is it: Something you can read several times and it always feels new? A book that you can't put down? Characters you can see yourself in? A book that makes you think in a new way?

Well here is what I can tell you, I don't have a favorite book. I have several (pretty lame answer, I know, I was disappointed when I received it in my survey). I feel like every time I finish a book that I loved it becomes my favorite, so what I want to do is return to some of those books to see if the attachment is still there.

On another note, I've started a book club. March's book will be: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Further book club discussions will be included in future posts.

Update Book 18: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

"The Book Thief" has been added to my list of favorites (joining two others from this year). Off the top of my head I can think several reasons why I enjoyed this book.

I love the way it is written. It seems accurate for a book that takes place in WWII to be narrated by Death. He is sarcastic, funny, and captivating. Mostly, he just tells a great story.

I loved all of the characters. Actually it was more like FELL in love with them. The characters were believable, lovable, and decent. From the foster mother who cusses like a sailor, to the best friend with a heart of gold, the list goes on and on but the little girl who is our protagonist became my favorite. She is the book thief.

Disclaimer: I cried and cried and cried at the end.

The first page of this book is filled a list of literary awards it has won and critical praise like, "Brilliant and hugely ambitious... It's the kind of book that can be life changing," "Exquisitely written... a tour de force to be not just read but inhabited," and "A haunting tale that will steal your heart." All I can say is "Agreed."