City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book Four in The Mortal Instruments series.

I loved the first three books.  There was such a long wait between books three and four that I forgot a lot of the plot happenings so it took me a while to get into it.  That said, I still didn't like it as much.  Jace being so vulnerable and his refusal to believe that Clary loves his was getting a bit annoying.  I like Jace's combination of bad ass Shadowhunter and wounded soul, but enough already!  I liked Simon's storyline, but couldn't (and still can't) remember anything about the Mark of Cain.  The back of the book says it's going to be a movie--looking forward to that.  I think my daughter would like it.  Overall, the series is great.  I will read anything written by Cassandra Clare.

The Vampire Diaries, The Return - Nightfall by L.J. Smith

I picked this one up because my daughter loves Vampire Diaries books and t.v. series.  I, however, am not that taken with it.  I find the T.V. series annoying.  There is way too much whining and teenage angst.  The first few books were okay, but not great.  My daughter said that she like the Return Series better than the first series and I think it was, a bit, better.  I still didn't love it and probably won't read the others unless I'm desperate for a vampire story.  Still too much whining and sap for me.  Plus I don't really like the characters much.  Elena is annoying and so is Stephen.  Damon is more interesting, but evil, so I can't like him either.

The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth

Book 2 in the Nathaniel Cade Series

I loved the first book.  I was intrigued by the idea of someone who was forcibly turned vampire hating what he was so much that he had himself bound to do the will of the President of the United States.  The second book, however, was a bit disappointing.  I am much more interested in Cade and his relationships and what makes him tick, than I am the action.  This book was mostly action and actually very little about Cade.  On top of that, the book skipped around with little flashes of information then switching scenes and more little flashes.   Each chapter was fairly short and there was always info. to read at the top the chapter before you could get back to the story.  I HATE THAT!  I hate having to stop what I'm reading and read a poem or some other such thing.  It requires a shift in thinking away from the story and most of the time it isn't always obvious how the snippet relates to story.  Then I have to stop and think about it which it something I usually don't want to take the time to do.  If I skip it, I always feel guilty.  If I read it I'm always annoyed.

May Reading, Memorial Day, and Mulch.

Memorial Day Weekend this year will be nothing but MULCH.  We have lived in the same house for 5 years, with its huge beds all around the house and yard and have not mulched yet.  So in an effort to finally control the weeds that normally completely choke the beds, I had 6 cubic yards of mulch delivered and the weekend (and probably the next several weekends) will be spend weeding, spraying, sprinkling, shoveling, and raking.  Between sessions, I will be trying to scrub the dirt out of my fingernails, reading (what better way to rest my back!), and maybe grilling out something.  I'm not sure what the kids will be doing.  I can bet whatever it is it won't be helping.

My daughter is playing her flute in the school band at the Memorial Day tribute at the town square park.  We will all be there for that. 

Here is what I have been reading:

Dead Reckoning, Sookie Stackhouse #11, Charlaine Harris.  I have my autographed book!  I really hate to say this, but I am a little disappointed with the book.  It was good, but left me wishing for something more.  I didn't feel much of a connection with Sookie this time.  It did leave the reader wondering, will there be more romance between Sookie and Bill?  I think she will use her Fae wish to wish one of her vampire boyfriends human.  Will it be Eric, Bill?  I guess I will just have to wait and see.

Dark Gold, Christing Feehan.  This is book 2 in the Dark Series.  Good Supernatural Romance.  Great escape reading.

Every Witch Way But Dead, Hollows book #3 and A Fistful of Charms, Hollows book #4,  Kim Harrison.  This series just keeps getting better and better.  I love impulsive but sincere, Rachel Morgan and her living vampire roommate and partner, Ivy.  The book has great adventure, romance, longing and friendship.  Loved it.

Bone Crossed and Silver Borne, Mercy Thompson books 4 and 5, Patricia Briggs.  I just love Mercy, Samuel, Adam, and Stefan. 

I am going to try to stay away from my typical genres and read something else.  I am getting stuck in a rut.  With June comes my reading of War and Peace.  I'm suddenly not feeling it, but we will see. 

Modern Rural Life

Last weekend I went to my family's farm.  It's in the middle of corn and soybean country--completely rural and open.  I love it out there, nothing but big sky and open fields dotted with trees and houses.  I can't help but be a little sad though.  The land used to be a person's identity--a way to make a living and a life.  Families were supported and lived there.  The near by small towns were alive with people.  They probably never were teeming with people, but had thriving businesses and people living in them.  Church's full on Sundays.  Now, it's just dead.  If people live there they probably drive somewhere else to work.  The farms are non-functional.  No one raises a variety of crops and animals--it's all just corn and soybeans.  All the old barns, silos, and other various building are just rotting.  There is no money in farming, so those that do work there can't afford to keep the homes and property in nice condition.  It takes fewer farmers to farm the land now, so more and more houses are abandoned or people still live there, but drive else where to work.  The small towns are ghost towns.  What is happening to our rural way of life?

This made me think of one of my all time favorite books.  Stories from the Round Barn by Jacqueline Dougan Jackson.  The author wrote about her grandfather and his farm in Wisconsin near the Illinois border.  It's full of wonderful stories and insights in to a way of life that is gone now.  I recommend it.  She followed up with More Stories from the Round Barn.  I've had the book for several years now and haven't read it.  I am saving it--I'm not sure why.

 

Block Parties and Books

I was all set to watch the season finale of Supernatural, eat pizza, and finish Book 3 of the Hollows series, Every Which Way but Dead--a perfect Friday evening.  However, fate had other ideas for me.  As I was coming home from taking my son to the doctor, the garage door wouldn't go up.  Then I found out that Supernatural wasn't on and to add insult to injury, we had a block party to go to.  After discovering my new schedule for the evening and then listening to my husband grumble at the garage door for an hour, I was in a pretty bad mood.  But, life has a way of working out if you just let it.  I still got to eat great pizza (our family tradition on Fridays) the block party was fun (yes, I like to socialize from time to time, usually when my husband gives me a little push) and I finished the book this morning.  Now, I have to figure out when my show will be on and what to do about the garage door.  How come you can't open garage doors manually anymore?

May reading

Here is what else I have been reading in May so far.  I have completely given up watching T.V--there is nothing on right now that can compete with my reading (Supernatural and Being Human are done for the season.)  That will, of course, change when True Blood Season 3 is finally released on DVD.  My Husband is happy to watch all the bicycle racing, food shows, and outdoor adventure programs he can stomach, making everyone happy.  (Except for Midwestern son, who tries to sneak watching Adult Swim on Cartoon Network when no one else is watching.)

Night Pleasures, Dark Hunter #2 by Sherrilyn Kenyon.  Really good Paranormal Romance.

Iron Kissed, Mercy Thompson #3 by Patricia Briggs.  Urban fantasy.  I was so caught up in this one, I actually cried.  Something I can say I almost never do!  I love this series so much that I am trying to wait between books.

The Good, The Bad, and the Undead, The Hollows #2.  Another Urban Fantasy.  I wish the Vampires weren't so evil in this series, but they are enjoyable reads.

Family Affair by Debbie Macomber.  This book was recently republished in Hardcover, but it is actually more of a short story.  It was cute, wholesome, heartwarming, romance as only the master can write!  I've never read anything by Ms. Macomber that I didn't like.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan.  A young adult book about a race of people who are descended from dragons.  Great, unique story.  A bit dark at times, but they story is so good, I didn't mind.

Halo by Alexandre Adornetto.  Another young adult book.  I managed to finish this one, but I didn't like it much.  I found the main character annoying and her relationship with her boyfriend pathetic and annoying.  Really, Angels shouldn't be so wishey-washy!

Sex and the Single Vampire by Katie MacAlister.  Cute.  Not great, but entertaining and funny.