Book 6 towards my goal of 24

Reading Like a Writer: Chapter 2 -  Words by Francine Prose

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Very fun read. You don't often find a non-fiction book about writing that is this entertaining and fun. Within the pages of this book I discovered so many new books I want, and need, to read.  If you're interested in being a writer then this is a must read.



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President's Day Weekend Get-Away 2014

Annie, Mark in the background. Fiery Furnace, Sunday,  February 17, 2014.


























Phil and Annie, Delicate Arch, Saturday, February 15, 2014

Phil and Annie, Goblin Valley, February 16, 2014.

Landscape Arch, February 16, 2014.

Lichen on rock, Arches National Park, February 15, 2014.

Love this book! Great gift idea for birthdays.

Book #3 of my 2014 Challenge

Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is purely entertainment. Don't think too deeply or you'll be disappointed. I read it to keep my mind off a cold and it did that. The main character is a bit hard to accept as the intelligent woman she is supposed to be. She is guilty of being stupid if anything but again, this was fun and light and well-written. Oh, that we all could be wealthy and have wealthy friends and all end up happily ever after.

Read it for fun---not for depth and you'll be just fine.



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Book 2 of 2014

I"m on track for my goal of 24 books this year--2 a month!

The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristen D. Randle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was recommended as somebody else's favorite book of all time. And I guess if I had read it in high school it might have been my favorite book too. This is a quick read and it kept my interest throughout the whole book. The book itself was great, the ending I'm not sure about. SPOILER ALERT: And as a mother I'm not sure how I would feel about my daughter with Michael. See, from my perspective nobody just gets better--it takes years and years and a person so traumatized would have lifelong scars. And really, that whole family was a bunch of red flags.

Yes, entertaining. Yes, quick read. Yes, engaging. I would recommend this to high schoolers in my life.





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Icy Sparks Book 1 2014

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


If I were giving letters grades this would be a B/B+. I read this book because I found it in my daughter's closet and it looked interesting. I had no idea it was an Oprah pick--that actually would have turned me off.

I read this very quickly although this is not a quick read. This book has three stages--Icy's young life, her teenage life and I did like how human and real and "teenage" Icy was; and her later teens and into early adulthood. The teenage years were written very realistically. The ups and downs and confusion. I was disturbed by the "catholic" teacher. Was she really that cruel or was that Icy's memory of her? At times I was confused on whether this was written as a memoir or as a story.

And I didn't even mind the come to jesus ending. I felt like that was natural for the time and for Kentucky.

All in all, a good read.



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What a great time we had in Dayton with Leisy and family. Here we are with Kent and Miss Metta at the Columbus Zoo Lights. It was actually a nice day and one of the few times we got to see Kent. Miss Metta lives in this hat--wears it to church and to bed. I love how eccentric she is.

Thanks Leisy for inviting us and for taking a great pic!