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June 24th, 2008
Right, so I just spent the last twenty minutes watching Wipeout, and — this might be the worst thing I’ve ever admitted — I … I laughed. It’s utterly ridiculous and base and my God, it’s people in foamy vests jumping around on giant balls and going on things called the Dizzy Dummy and there I was, laughing like a neanderthal. I am also known to laugh a little too loudly at America’s Funniest Home Videos.
Next up: I Survived a Japanese Game Show, where one of the women actually shouts “OMIGOD SUSHI!” the moment she finds out Japan is her destination and yet another is disappointed when sake does not resemble the wine cooler she was anticipating.
I am what’s wrong with America.
In other, equally scintillating news, the weather here is batfuck crazy. Ours is not a gentle New England rain, the kind worth watching from a rocker on the front porch with a nice glass of lemonade. No no, this is a DRIVING RAIN, the kind that offers up hail the size of light bulbs and demolishes lettuce plants (RIP lettuce plants! There were too many of you anyway!) And did I mention I SAW LIGHTNING STRIKE A TREE BEHIND US? Yes. It was like it is in the MOVIES, all flash and crack and sparks and breakage and shit, and I’m never going outside again, The End. I might add that I lived in Florida for three years without seeing a lightning strike, and yet, after FOUR MONTHS of living in Vermont, I’ve seen two.
Also, I’m starting to lose my mind working from home. Yes, I am LOSING MY MIND and creating drama where there isn’t any, and this definitely includes whether the radishes are conspiring against me (growing or dying, GROWING OR DYING?). So much so that I’ve actually applied to answer phones a few hours a week at multiple places, even if it means doing my regular work at night, because this, this is starting to feel like solitary confinement and there are only so many times a day a person can check the status of the cucumber plant (update: NEW LEAVES. THREE OF THEM. I SQUEALED WHEN I FOUND THE THIRD.)
Ahem. Yes, it’s time for a wee bit more structure, because while working from home may be the most lucrative option, as there is no gainful employment in Vermont for the likes of me (the local paper has plenty of ads actively seeking farm hands, however), the lack of daily social interaction on a professional — or hell, even INTERPERSONAL — level outside of phone calls and the occasional in-person meeting is killing me. And for the record, I’m an extraordinarily anti-social prick sometimes, so this is really saying something. Who knew that friends could only take you SO FAR?
(Also, have sort of rethought answering phones bit, as every time, and I do mean every time, I’ve applied for entry-level work, the ambitious side of me takes over and before you know it, I’m the leader of the phone answerers and organizing union demonstrations and working 80-hour weeks to figure out how we can all answer phones BETTER. I don’t even think I could slice meat at Shaw’s without trying to figure out how I could RUN THE DELI and IMPROVE DELI PERFORMANCE. Am a little ambitious and Type A, why do you ask?)
At any rate, all of this working from home bit has given me some extra time to consider why People magazine actually chose Mario Lopez — quite possibly the dirtiest bird in the history of dirty birds — as king of the sexy bachelors or whatever, and further, why they put him in those OUTFITS and POSES, particularly the one where his penis is very clearly airbrushed out, giving the impression of the World’s Grossest Ken Doll. Seriously, who would date this man? Does no one but me remember his annulment with the Dorito girl because he couldn’t keep his Ken Doll parts to himself?
Well. That was a barrel of excitement, yes? But also! A request: While Goodreads is great for reviews, I find it lacks in the recommendation department and I’m seeking two things for a potential upcoming vacation, location and timing TBD, but it could be perilously soon due to Adam’s schedule and I WANT TO BE PREPARED:
1) Chick-lit. Hit me with your best, most mindless drivel. Yes, I’ve read all of Marian Keyes’ books.
2) Youth fantasy. I have Twilight, have Philip Pullman at the ready and then … then what?
I know these are painfully immature selections, but remember, there will be a lot of mindless lying about and perhaps a few spa treatments. Morose, deep or otherwise thoughtful are really not what I’m aiming for here.
I also welcome any tips for making working from home more bearable, because at this rate, you’ll find me in the corner rocking back and forth, occasionally demanding that neighbors come over for thought-provoking meetings and conferences. HELP ME.
Happy Wednesday!
*Zero 7
Entry Filed under: Nuttin'
64 Comments Add your own
1. Elizabeth | June 24th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I heartily recommend Sloppy Firsts and if you like that, then Second Helpings. There are more books in the series but they are sort of poo ville, IMHO. Youth Fantasy – Blood and Chocolate. Movie was terrible, loved the book. Have you read anything by Francesca Lia Block? Get Dangerous Angels and see what you think. Crap, I know there’s something I’m forgetting, but if I think of it I’ll get back to you.
2. slynnro | June 24th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Books- And Then We Came to The End. It’s like The Office. But a book.
And ditto Mario Lopez. NAST.
And I watched a bit of the Japanese Game Show thing. But I am hardcore. I watch the Real Deal on G4. Unbeatable Banzuke!
3. Danielle-Lee | June 24th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I worked from home for about a year, and it was maddening in the end. I loved not having to get dressed, or drive 75 miles to an office where I sat in a dumb cubicle, but really? I’m such a people person, so, I went a little nuts. Conversing with cows, donkeys, and horses. No, really. Anyway, my suggestion is to break up your day. Work for a couple hours, and then take a break. go for a walk, work in the garden, watch a funny show, read a chapter in your book. Whatever. Also, go out to lunch once a week, if you can, to get the hell out of the house. Change up your work area. If you have a laptop, take it outside and work, or sit on the couch, or whatever. Having music on also helped me.
chick lit: anything by jennifer weiner, jen lancaster, and…damn, i don’t read a lot of chick lit, so that’s really all I’ve got. But other books, I could go on and on.
4. Leaf, probably... | June 24th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Those are two of my favorite catagories of books, have you read Timora Peirce? I’m re-reading her Song of the Lioness quartet and loving it just as much as I did when I was 15…
5. andrea | June 24th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Does law/crime chicklit interest you? Have just been reading some Lisa Scottoline books, especially the Rosato & Associates (all female law firm in Philedelphia) stuff. It’s definitely not heavy crime; pretty light and some fun characters. I never thought I’d enjoy law thrillers, but these are fun.
The only other chick lit I’ve read is the very light Girls Night In series. They are very fat volumes of dozens of chick lit short stories. Ed by Jessica Adams and others (varies by volume; there are four).
6. NotAMeanGirl | June 24th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I’d suggest the two sequals to Twilight. There’s a 4th one coming out the beginning of August. I’ve read all 3 that are out and REALLY enjoyed them.
7. Amy K | June 24th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Have you read Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising sequence? They’re pretty much my favorite youth fantasy books ever. Some other great ones are Beauty by Robin McKinley, A String in the Harp by Nancy Bond and The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip. Gah, I know I’m forgetting dozens of others.
8. cara | June 24th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Tale of Time City by Diana Wynne Jones. I love her, and this is my fave of her books. I also like the first two books in her Chrestomanci Series.
9. Blythe | June 24th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I’m addicted to Maeve Binchy. Circle of Friends is my favorite, but any of them will do. I’m not sure if they’re really chick lit, but they’re quick reads and you can imagine everyone speaking with an Irish accent.
I second The Dark is Rising series. Love.
More good beach books (oldies but goodies):
The Thorn Birds
The Shell Seekers
A Woman of Substance
(Can you tell I raided my mom’s paperbacks as a teenager?)
10. erin | June 24th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Have you checked out http://www.librarything.com? There are really active forums there, and one can get lots of suggestions for books by saying, “I liked this book and that book – what should I read next?” I highly recommend it.
11. Sadie | June 25th, 2008 at 3:26 am
I…youth fantasy? Thankfully the commenters before me seem to have copious suggestions. I misspent my youth reading age-inappropriate books from my mother’s shelf so, ah, no ‘youth fantasy.’
Yes! Mario Lopez and the Dorito girl (Ali something) cheating/annulment fracas…was just trying to remind a coworker of this yesterday. Mario Lopez is absolutely disgusting. Seriously, People?
12. TwoBusy | June 25th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Wipeout was the mf bomb, yo. I can’t remember the last time I laughed that hard at a network show.
13. Danielle | June 25th, 2008 at 4:17 am
AHAHA! We have the exact same criteria for vacation reading!
As far as youth fantasy, the Pullman books are my absolute favorite books ever. I would try Scott Westerfield, he has a great series. Start with Uglies, and then move on to Pretties and Specials. Sometimes the writing is a bit juvenile, but then, it IS young adult, after all.
14. Mia | June 25th, 2008 at 4:34 am
Alice Hoffman’s latest, The Third Angel is amazing. Not exactly chick-lit or youth fantasy but with elements of both. I just read it on vacation and could not put it down.
And I totally agree with Elizabeth, Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty are fabulous, but the rest of the series is beyond awful and completely disappointing.
15. Jen E | June 25th, 2008 at 4:46 am
Hahaha I’m so feeling you on the need to take over any and all jobs – it’s one of the many reasons I love staying at home, the one place I’m meant to take over in every way.
Now for the books, my personal obsession:
Young Adult Fantasy: If you haven’t tried A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray yet I highly suggest it – there are also two sequels out – Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing – It’s girly and magical and historical and so well written it doesn’t entirely feel like your reading a kid’s book.
Hmmm also by Tamora Pierce would be Trickster’s Choice and then Trickster’s Queen which I guess are supposed to be like sequels to the Songs of the Lioness books but I didn’t know that when I read them and it didn’t stop me from enjoying their awesomeness.
Blue Bloods and then Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz combine new england history with vampires and angels in a pretty stellar way, but its the most immature of the 3 series as a warning.
The Magyk series by Angie Sage is also good but it’s a younger age set so they are distinctly different from the others I’ve mentioned which all relate around teenage girls – this one is more fantastical and adventurous though and really really well written.
And for chick lit, oh that’s tough – I used to only read chick lit but I’ve been taking a detour lately. If you read Jennifer Weiner this summer make sure it’s Good in Bed or In Her Shoes – her two newest books just aren’t as good despite the cool motherhood wifehood themes.
If you haven’t read Janet Evanovich yet, her romance novels and Stephanie Plum series are always delicious and combine a little mystery with your love story for good measure.
Hmmm and yeah sadly I think the chick lit genre is temporarily dried up at least from my perspective.
16. Jen E | June 25th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Oh! Sorry to post again but have you read Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies trilogy, because it’s also wonderful! Read Uglies first, then it’s Pretties, Specials, and Extras. I won’t even go into details on this one because I’d blabber on for a millenia.
17. Jen | June 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am
I will only ever be able to picture Mario Lopez as AC Slater in his awesome Z Cavariccis with the Soul Glo hairdo. Any attempts to make him seem attractive (such as airbrushing out a man part and adding 12 pack abs with strategic spray tanning) are completely lost on me.
Chick lit: Have you read Emily Giffin’s books? Her new one, Love the One You’re With, is a good read. Jane Green also has a new one out – The Beach House.
18. -R- | June 25th, 2008 at 5:14 am
No tips or book recs here, but can I tell you that I was looking forward to the premiere of Wipeout for WEEKS? I missed it last night because I had to see a family member who was in town, but I cannot wait for next week!
19. Kim | June 25th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Adrianna Trigianni’s Big Stone Gap series is a fairly good mix of fluff and humor, with a small Virginia mountain town as a backdrop and really strong supporting characters.
I haven’t read the Eragon series for kids, but have heard it’s really good. I can’t quite make the leap from Harry Potter to anything else yet.
20. cathy | June 25th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Okay, it’s not chick lit but I’m reading Richard Price’s new book, Lush Life, and it is sooooo good. Another total page-turner you’ve probably already read is Special Topics in Calamity Physics. Those Philippa Gregory books – Other Boleyn Girl and Boleyn Inheritance – are much more chick lit-y and thoroughly entertaining. And you’ll LOVE phillip pullman!
21. gwyneth | June 25th, 2008 at 5:45 am
um, this is probably a stupid question, but…you’ve read harry potter, right? because if you haven’t…that is a big problem. and you should rectify it post-haste. i reread them all at least twice a year. (i just finished my summer solstice read-through) next time will be around christmas.
also, have you read the dragon books? eragon and eldest (by christopher paolini)…esp in the first one it is hilarious to compare it to LOTR…(it’s derivative w/o being poor-writing/storytelling…ie…still enjoyable.)
chick-lit: i enjoyed the “little lady” books…i think by hester browne. have you read the nanny diaries and the subsequent offerings by those authors? i hated (HATED) “citizen girl”, but the one after that was decent.
i am blanking right now on books i have enjoyed. i read them and move on too quickly.
22. claire | June 25th, 2008 at 5:49 am
I’m going to second Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Start with One For the Money (you know, because it’s the first one). It’s a really quick read that is mostly chick lit with a murder mystery thrown in. And they’re pretty damn funny. Also, i’m glad i’m not the only one who thinks that YA books are sometimes better than adult fiction. I thought that might have made me immature. Heh.
23. H | June 25th, 2008 at 6:02 am
WIPEOUT was hilarious! I was snorting and guffawing — sitting here all by myself. The falling and mud and crawling and noises were great — and I thought I was going to pee in my pants when the middle aged woman groaned and gasped her way to the end. I enjoyed Japanese Game Show but primarily because of the Stupid Americans and not so much the games, although the one chick who fell on the treadmill EVERY SINGLE TIME made me chuckle. AFHV gets me going too.
I have worked out of my home for 11 years and I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered it. I agree with Danielle-Lee. Switch it up a bit. If I have free time, I mow, garden, bake or clean out my magazine holder.
24. Swistle | June 25th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Mario Lopez looks so unattractive to me. I’d place MONEY BET that during sex he looks at his own body.
I like all the Maeve Binchy books. Well, not ALL. But most. Firefly Summer, Light a Penny Candle, Copper Beech, Circle of Friends.
25. ali | June 25th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos. that’s the last chick-lit book i read, loved it!
26. jonniker | June 25th, 2008 at 6:12 am
LOOKS AT HIS OWN BODY DURING SEX. HAHAHA. He totally does.
27. Andrea | June 25th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Bridie Clark wrote Because She Can, which is basically The Devil Wears Prada only about the book publishing industry and without the designer duds. Well, there are a few designer duds.
Jane Green is another prolific chick lit author, and I can’t remember if you said you read one called Jemima J and hated it or not. I vaguely recall something in that vein. But some of her other books aren’t bad. I really liked Good in Bed, by Jennifer Weiner.
Right now, I’m reading Rockabye by Rebecca Woolf (Girl’s Gone Child blog writer) and even though the subject matter is kind of heavy (unplanned pregnancy), her writing is so lyrical and vibrant that it feels like a good conversation between girlfriends, much like chick lit is supposed to be. And dude, check out the acknowledgements — my name’s in there! Hee!
Anyway, I hope you have fun on your vacation and that you find something to keep you occupied better than you are now. Have you thought about taking a class of some sort? You said you’re in a very academic area, so maybe a photography or art class would be interesting! Photography is full of technical details of film development and such, so maybe that would appeal to your Type A tendencies.
28. Trina | June 25th, 2008 at 6:17 am
I don’t know they qualify as “fantasy”, but I LOVE the Vampire Academy books by Richelle Mead!
And although it’s not “chick lit”, but Providence of a Sparrow by Chris Chester is amazing.
29. Jess | June 25th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Have you read Marian Keyes’ new book? Because I am dying to read that one! It’s the only one I haven’t read yet. I want to know how it is!
30. Jen L | June 25th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Youth fantasy is fun, great for summer reading. I echo the recommendation for “Dark is Rising” sequence…I loved “String in the Harp”, also. Garth Nix’s Abhorsen trilogy is very good so far…I’ve read Sabriel and Lirael. And this is more science fictiony, but I really liked “Life as We Knew It” and “the dead & the gone” by Susan Beth Pfeffer (an asteroid hits the moon, knocking it out of orbit; apocalyptic disaster ensues from teen point of view).
31. jonniker | June 25th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Andrea! You’re here! I thought you were forbidden? Sadly, I am plenty busy, it’s that OMFG I am HOUSE BOUND. Or at least computer-bound.
32. Sarah | June 25th, 2008 at 6:39 am
I work from home, as well, and hot damn is it HARD to get motivated, sometime!! (actually have been doing so for about two years, now!) Anyway, like a previous poster said, take lots of breaks… go for a walk, go shopping, hit the gym. I have found that I can only work from home when I feel motivated enough to do so. Don’t leave your work until the evening, because you won’t get anything done.
I would suggest Jennifer Lancaster (very funny), Michelle Cunnah (some of her stuff is pretty light).. have you tried Target?? They had a bunch of chic lit the last time I was there.
Enjoy your vacation!
33. jonniker | June 25th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Sarah: Sadly, getting motivated isn’t the issue so much as having a conversation with someone other than my dog.
Also, TARGET. WOE. No Targets near me, alas. Isn’t that awful? No Targets in the WHOLE STATE.
34. Shelly | June 25th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Hey! I second the suggestions of Jennifer Weiner, Jane Green and Maeve Binchy. Also, Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos is amazing! Also, Driving Sideways by Jess Riley is really good and pretty lightweight. And the Shopaholic series is cute, if very predictable. And the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which I expected to hate, but totally loved. Very, very light and sweet.
Youth fantasy – Have you read the Chronicles of Narnia? I really loved them as a kid. And everything by Madeline L’Engle was wonderful.
35. Erin | June 25th, 2008 at 7:29 am
I really liked the Barti..may-us (however the hell it is actually spelled) books by Jonathan Stroud. In the first book he makes fun of Harry Potter and Aladdin!
I’m also going to second Jennifer Lancaster, though I don’t really consider her chick lit and also recommend Laurie Notaro, who writes funny essays about her life. A few of those essays had me laughing so hard I fell off things.
As far as working from home, can I just say God Bless Instant Messengers? I live in an apartment and don’t have a garden to distract myself with and the cat is so thoroughly bored with me that having a conversation with her is kind of out of the question.
36. Amanda | June 25th, 2008 at 8:07 am
I third Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Perfect beach reads – super fast, laugh-out-loud funny and sometimes sexy.
I know it’s not youth “fantasy,” but its youth and chick lit: the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. Totally guilty pleasures that will have you crying at the end.
(Check out my post for today – I gave another shout out to you.)
37. Jenk | June 25th, 2008 at 8:08 am
If you like Wipeout and are anticipating the Japanese Game Show thingy, then you should check out MXC on Spike TV. Mindless entertainment at it’s best.
Books: I just finished Ask Again Later. I can’t remember the author and am too lazy to go look. But it’s funny and quirky and a super easy read.
Oh wait- I’ll Google it.
Jill A. Davis
There you go.
38. Amanda | June 25th, 2008 at 8:09 am
P.S. The Foo Fighters also have a song called Home. Dave Grohl sings with such earnest it breaks my heart.
39. Shelly | June 25th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I was going to watch the Wipeout and Japanese Game show, but opted for bed and “30 days’….which gives me a reality-esque feel.
The large gentleman bouncing off giant red balls made me laugh. But since I’m large, too it also made me sad.
No books to speak of, I am just out of the reading groove these days. I suppose **sigh** it COULD have something to do with needing *ahem* bifocals or readers to read……..it SUCKS getting old. SUCKS.
I seriously could not work from home. I fantasize about it ALL THE TIME, but DUDE, I wouldn’t work. Hell, I barely work HERE with all the blogs I need to read………..at least sitting in my cube I have SOME accountability to someone else………
40. Lynnette | June 25th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Ummmm…. I cannot recommend the Eragon books because while the images are interesting, the writing is just terribly juvenile. Juvenile fantasy fiction is my bag, but I just can’t get past it in these. On the other hand:
TERRY PRATCHETT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Discworld series has been a literary godsend for me. Absolutely hilarious fantasy satire (no – I can’t describe it any better than that.) Terry Pratchett is a brilliant man. Each book relates to the others, but there is no need to read them in order. They stand on their own.
41. Amy K | June 25th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Okay, one last comment. They’re not youth fantasy, but I highly recommend Guy Gavriel Kay’s books Tigana, A Song for Arbonne and The Lions of al-Rassan to anyone who remotely enjoys the fantasy genre. He’s a superb writer. Most of his books are great, but those are his three best in my opinion.
42. Sarie | June 25th, 2008 at 8:45 am
For mindless but highly amusing chick lit, I think you can’t beat Meg Cabot, especially the Heather Wells mystery series (the heroine is an overweight, washed up former teen pop star, sort of a cross between Britney Spears and Tiffany, whose mom ran off to South America with all her money and now she has to work as an administrator at a college dorm in New York City). Her books are laugh-out-loud funny, and they never get too sappy. For a long time I didn’t read her books because I thought they were all “young adult” market, but her work is divided between teen and adult, depending on the book. And actually, I was surprised to find that some of her teen books are surprisingly good for a beach read (the Princess Diaries was a guilty pleasure, way better than the movie).
43. Cobwebs | June 25th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Nuts. I was going to recommend Scott Westerfield, but I’ve been beaten to the punch. In addition to the “Uglies” books, he’s also got another series called “Midnighters” which is more fantasy than SF.
For something that’s a cross between chick lit and fantasy, you might try the “Carpe Demon” series by Julie Kenner.
44. Andrea | June 25th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I was forbidden, but maybe the cosmos decided to open a hole in the space-time continuum to allow me through and, for now at least, I can leave comments! I can read on your original site instead of cheating through webmastereyes.com.
Oh, how I missed leaving comments, or at least having the option, because while I didn’t comment on everything, if I wanted to, I could, and to have that cruelly ripped away from me, well, let’s just say: WOE.
So I’m milking it for as long as it lasts, this new (old) freedom to comment again.
WHEEEE!
45. Christy | June 25th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I’m sorry, did you just say NO TARGETS IN THE WHOLE STATE? I honestly…wow, I can’t even form a sentence. I honestly don’t know what I’d do. My sympathies. Anyway, chick lit. Have you read anything by Jane Green? She’s great. I recommend “Swapping Lives” and “The Other Woman.” They’re both great reads. She has a new one out, too, “The Beach House.” I don’t have it yet, though.
46. She Likes Purple | June 25th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I wish I could send you a Target. You deserve that much.
My book recommendations are limited to your list there which, wow, I need to read more, don’t I? I just started Water for Elephants but after that I’m onto Love Walked In, which I hear is fantastic. (And slightly fluffy, I think.)
47. Allison | June 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I love Jane Green’s books. British chick lit is my favorite. I’m currently reading a book called “Past Secrets” and I cannot remember the author at the moment but it’s also VERY good.
Even though I teach 7th grade, fantasy is not my fave so I don’t have any good suggestions for YA literature in the fantasy genre.
And I loved “Wipeout.”
48. Shana | June 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I wholeheartedly concur with Amy K. re: Susan Cooper’s “The Dark is Rising” series. Utter brilliance. Five books, each no thicker than your thumb, but one of the most absorbing stories I’ve read. Kids’ books, but I still pull them all out every few years, to this day, and reread them all. I don’t know how many times I’ve recommended them. If you’ve read any of Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time” series (for adults), you might get a feel for the style of the Cooper books. Fantasy, but not the super-geeky kind, and SO well done.
49. ie | June 25th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I just finished a Tami Hoag double-whammy (please tell me the great state of VT at Least has a Costco?) called Night Sins and Guilty as Sin (or maybe the other way around) (whatever, they are printed in the same binding, the first one first so you don’t have to do any heavy thinking). They would make great vacation reading.
I’m feeling sorry for your poor garden. The poor radish plants floating away as you wave bye-bye, and now your tender lettuce leaves being pounded by hail? No fair!
50. Jeanne | June 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Maybe you could have Target as the destination of your vacation? Then all your reading material would be right there! No need to haul beach chairs across the hot sand, just use the big red cart to move them wherever you choose to sit…
51. Orange Peacock | June 25th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Holy pants, Jonna, you’re getting a lot of comments these days!
I’m definitely the Type A sort as well. I work in an industry full of them, though, so for the most part I don’t stand out. Trying to fix this before I give myself a coronary at 30, though.
I’m not going to read through all the recommendations, but I noticed a couple of people recommended Tamora Pierce’s books. They’re awesome – if you ever have a daughter, give her Pierce books. Super feminist fantasy – girls becoming knights and saving princes, and *not* in a self-consciously cheesy or condescending style. I would start with the Song of the Lioness quartet – they’re short, so buy ‘em used and read ‘em all in one gulp. She’s written fifteen books set in that world. I promise you’ll get hooked.
Happy vacationing, if and when it happens!
52. Susan | June 25th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Can you find someone else who works from home and work together from home? I do that a couple times a week and the week is oh so much more bearable. And I used to go to work with a friend who had an extra desk in her office. It was like playing house.
I also count the leaves on my cucumber plants.
53. Emily | June 25th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
No Target?!? I’d send you ours, if I could. Although, fair warning: it sucks. But, it’s all we’ve got. That and FOUR WalMarts. *sigh*
54. Gwen | June 25th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I second Dangerous Angels — it’s like four or five books in one, and they’re really good. (Or at least they were when I was in high school/college.) My favorite was Witch Baby.
For teen fantasy as in “medieval times and magic” fantasy, I recommend Princess Academy and The Goose Girl, both by Shannon Hale.
I also love love loved How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff, but only if realistic apocalyptic war books (for teens!) are your idea of beach reading.
Not chick lit, but my favorite summertime/beach novel, that I reread almost every year, is Beach Music by Pat Conroy. It’s huge and engrossing and wonderful.
I don’t read much adult chick lit, but I do read a lot of girly YA. They tend to be shorter than “grownup” books, but on the plus side, they’re much cheaper! Recent favorites include: Girl At Sea and Suite Scarlett, both by Maureen Johnson, Audrey Wait! by Robin Benway, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Bates by E. Lockhart, and the Gallagher Girls books by Ally Carter (spies!).
55. Lara | June 26th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
i just ordered a book called The Covenant by Beverly Lewis I have no idea if it will be crap or awesome or a combo of both, but it involves Amish teenagers.
Ooh, I am with the previous commenter on Beach Music! Woo!
56. Jessica | June 28th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Teen Lit is my speciality as I am a middle school Literacy Coach.
Ones to check out:
Scott Westerfield – The Uglies Series… kind of 1984 like, but enjoyable over all.
The Mailbox by Audrey Shaffer – wonderful novel. Loving and just great.
Twilight is awesome, I’ll attest to that. But if you don’t have the second and third, I’d go ahead and grab those
Flipped by Wendelin Van Drannen… cute.
Anything – ANYTHING – by Sarah Dessen. I just finished This Lullaby and liked it a lot. I also liked This Summer and a few others. She’s very good, and I highly recommend her books.
For more serious type books, Sharon Draper is great.
In Adult Lit (dirty!) I just read Good Grief by Lolly Winston and like it, I’m reading Dorothea Benton Franks now, and really like that one (um, Mango Sunset? Just started last night). I also liked The Time Traveler’s Wife a bunch and anything by Jennifer Weiner is good.
Have fun!
OH – Emily at Captain Hambone (www.captainhambone.typepad.com) just did a post on this, so check out her comments as well
57. Jessica | June 28th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Oh, also if you haven’t tried it, http://www.paperbackswap.com is a great way to get some new books.
58. Shan | July 2nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Twilight is by far one of the best ‘youth fantasy’ stories ever……and you must, must, MUST get the next two as well. The fourth comes out in August. If a group of late-20-somethings in my office (myself included, natch) can spend way too mcuh time dissecting it and reliving it……it’s so worth it.
And Wipeout?? OMG……hil-ar-i-ous. Seriously. On the couch. By myself. Out loud. Dog looked at me like a was frigging insane!!
59. sassymonkey | July 7th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Late to the party (even beyond fashionably late) but for YA fantasy you should go to Beyond Books.
60. velocibadgergirl | July 11th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Super duper late, but 2 = Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen by Tamora Pierce.
Also Sunshine by Robin McKinley, though it’s officially in the adult section at the library. LOVED IT.
61. Pee Public Pee Public Pis&hellip | July 21st, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Pee Public Pee Public Pissing…
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view…
62. Jhianna | August 7th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Waaaaay late on this thread, but I’m taking notes on all the books. I love treasure troves like this and I’ll be burning up the library request site shortly, thanks!
Put me down as another vote for the Stephanie Plum series – the early ones are the best, but I keep devouring the new ones as soon as they’re out.
And another vote for Carpe Demon as well.
C.E. Murphy is another great writer – sort of a combo of chick lit and urban fantasy with a shot of Native American spirituality.
Not really chick lit, but have you read the Southern Sisters books by Anne George? Easy reads, and hilarious as well.
63. Teen Girls Teen Titans He&hellip | October 31st, 2008 at 3:29 am
Teen Girls Teen Titans Hentai Teen Girls That Are Hot…
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view…
64. Gomez30Stacie | June 13th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I would like to propose not to wait until you get big sum of money to buy all you need! You should just take the loan or just car loan and feel free
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