Three Cups of Tea

by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver.

I started this book Sunday, it's a true story about the work Greg Mortenson has done in Northern Pakistan, creating schools for children. I'm only in the beginning but I'm enjoying it so far, the writer does a good job jumping around a bit to keep it interesting. I may get interrupted to read something lighter in the middle but so far it's great bedtime reading!


I finished this around the beginning of April and immediately recommended it to my fiance. The book is great, slow in the beginning, I almost put it down at one point but it really picked up in the second half.

What got really interesting is how Greg Mortenson was in Pakistan near the Afghan border during 9/11. His fight against terrorism from an educational point of view is amazing and I whole heartedly agreed with everything he had to say in this book and I wish everyone would read this book. I highly recommend it!

My fiance is about halfway through and he's enjoying it so far!

Change of Heart

by Jodi Picoult.

I finished this book Friday night (around 2am)! I thoroughly enjoyed what the author did with this book and as always I loved the ending (sometimes I don't love the ending but appreciate them). This book dealt with the death penalty and religion. I really like how the author can delve into huge issues without getting preachy. The story itself is just enchanting.. about halfway through i was thinking "I know where this is going to go - no surprises - but this is Jodi Picoult so it probably is a surprise" -- and I was right - I was able to guess some things but not all and was very pleased.

I haven't decided what to read next, being a mini vacation i wanted something light but my "next up" book is not a light one so I'm listening to the end of Master of Dragons instead for now and will put off the new book decision until at least tomorrow!

Garden Spells

by Sarah Addison Allen.

This book is awesome. It falls under the same category that I would put Like Water for Chocolate. Some mystique, some magic, some love, some loss. Great character development and so much fun with a touch of magic throughout.

I picked this up as a new start Friday night, planning to get a good hour before bed in. Next thing I know it's almost 2am and I decided I couldn't put it down until I finished it (4am) so it's another 5 hour read! I was enchanted and fell in love with the characters. It was extremely satisfying!

Next up I started Jodi Picoult's newest book "Change of Heart" last night and got a good 4 hours into it - not even halfway yet! It's very good, I'm not sure where it's going to go, whenever I read her books they feel predictable, like I can't be satisfied because I just know how it will end but she ALWAYS surprises me so I hold on. Generally it's not a sacrifice since the characters are so well done, this is no different. Of course all these late nights and my head is mad at me (read: Migraine) so today has not been fun trying to work!

Mistress of Dragons (again) and Dragon's Son

by Margaret Weiss.

This is my second time listening to Mistress of Dragons, it was back in 2007 (June!) the first time so I needed a refresher before reading the rest of this trilogy. I'd say the first is definitely the best so far of the three. I'm noticing a lot of repeating in the other two, sometimes repeating something that was just said which can be annoying. But i've very interested to find out how this will all end and i love that Dragons are main characters since I'm only slightly obsessed with dragons ;)

Water for Elephants

by Sara Gruen.

Well the second half of this book is very very hard to put down, especially if you go back and re-read chapter 1 so you kind of know what's coming. This is what happened to me last night, I picked it up right in the middle and couldn't put it down! The circus flash backs become longer and more often and it's captivating.

This book is great, I knew it would be, it came highly recommended by a few people so I was delighted to get this for Christmas from my fiance's step-mother's mother. It will be one I definitely recommend to others and I think my fiance may even enjoy it (he's read parts over my shoulder).

And now to choose what's next. I have this new Jodi Picoult which might be the pull but I need to check my "shelves". The latest Charlaine Harris is coming out in paperback soon too so I need to book a night to read that :) Oh man - I love reading!

Jodi Picoult Book Signing

Since this is my reading blog -

Last night we went to a book signing in Acton! I got the new book by Jodi Picoult "Change of Heart" and I can't wait to read it! Jodi read an excerpt and answered questions which was way more than happened at BJ's when she just signed books!

Now I have 6 books of hers signed out of 7 that I own - it's great! Plus both hardcovers I have are personalized too!

It's so very exciting to meet an author you really respect, she's very articulate and educated, it was a real treat to listen to her speak.

And then I went home and finished reading Water for Elephants so I could start a new book :)

Jodi Picoult

For my own memory - the books I've read or listened to:

Audiobooks:
My Sister's Keeper - my favorite
Plain Truth - amish farm
Vanishing Acts - search and rescue, memory
Second Glance - ghost story
The Tenth Circle - date rape, Alaska

Book Form:
Perfect Match - child abuse (own)
Nineteen Minutes - school shooting (own)

What's left to read:
Change of Heart (own)
Salem Falls
Keeping Faith (own)
The Pact (own)
Mercy
Picture Perfect
Harvesting the Heart
Songs of the Humpback Whale (own)