A bit of a stretch

I feel like after reading the entire Twilight saga in a week that I went through a reading detox. Things got so busy with the weeks leading up to our surf trip, and even after coming home it was always something every week. Either a birthday, an amazing day out in the country taking pretty pictures, random (crazyfun) roadtrips, or another birthday here and there, and reading just didn't factor in. I have honestly had very little "me" time lately. Summer has been a blast but sometimes we just need to decompress.

In June, while on our trip, we had a fair amount of down time. Surfing was both physically and mentally exhausting and on occaisions we'd take a couple hours out - pretty much a necessity - and nap, play cards, or read. I brought along with me one of the 3 novels Shawn had lent me. Two of these are James Rollins, his favourite author. I had never read or heard of him but they are comparable to the Dan Brown novels (also whom I have not read but thanks to Hollywood, he's on my radar). Shawn insisted it might be something I'd enjoy at least to try it on for size. So I chose The Judas Strain to start.

Now...I have always been someone with a very active imagination. I can spend hours a day dreaming coming up with various plots or scenarios on pretty much anything in my life or stemming from pure fantasy. Well, this book ceretainly awakened that active imagination subconsioucly, and after a few days of reading, the suspense and action started top seep into my dreams at night. I was always running from something, or looking for something, and it was always a dire situation.

The Judas Strain is the first action/suspense/mystery novel I have ever read. Its brilliant. However...it was almost too much for me. There is so much going on in every page, I felt like I was watching a movie unfold infront of my eyes. So many details, so many key players, and several locations. My brain often felt in overdrive! I think this is why it took me nearly 2 months to finish this novel. I could only ever get through a handful of pages before I would feel like I needed to put it down, breath, and move on to something else before I went crazy.

I read the last quarter of the book in the span of 2 days while I was sick from work. I thought, ok here comes the end of July, and I have definitely..shamefully...dropped my 2 books a month quota, so lets at least get this under my belt. Reading something so far out of my realm was a challenge but also thoroughly satisfying. After a few fluffy books I think I'll be ready to take on the next James Rollins sitting on my book shelf. I have picked up one of the books Kate lent me months ago to start on. Bitter is the New Black. Its a 'chick-lit'. And I have no doubt I will devour it in a matter of days. Might meet my monthly quota afterall!!

If you want to learn more about James Rollins and his novels, you can check out his web site here http://www.jamesrollins.com/.

My week with Edward Cullen

So... I said that they would make it into the reading list. Eventually. Well that happened much sonner than anticipated! Not only did I pick up Twilight last week, but I also ended up going through it so fast I found myself picking up New Moon, Eclipse and the final book of the saga, Breaking Dawn, by Wednesday afternoon.

This world that Stephenie Meyer has created was just that irresistible.

I had never heard of the books till the movie for the first book of the series, Twilight, started being promoted last summer. From the previews it looked like it might be interesting but as it was I never saw the movie. 2 weeks ago on a quiet night Steph and I decided to watch it. It was cute, fantastic soundtrack!, and overloaded with teen angst, but the love story between Edward and Bella was hard to not fall in love with. The movie intrigued me enough to read the books that I had long avoided because it seemed all a little crazy to me!

I have not read a series like this in a long time that literaly had me reading non-stop. I never put the books down when I was at home. House work be damned, if I was home I was sitting on the couch or in bed reading. My entire week was filled with these characters and their secret worlds. Vampires who attend high school and who don't spontaneously combust in the day light. Werewolves who don't need a full moon to go on the hunt. And enough teen angst to last me a lifetime, thank you very much! There were parts for me that were difficult/painful to read, particularly Bella's self deprecating over and over (gag) and many parts where Jacob was just being the biggest jerk (the kid seriously drove me nuts after the 2nd book). While I won't divulge the ending for those who don't know it and want to read it, what I will say is that I found the ending thoroughly satisfying. Almost so to the point of it being too convenient... but still, satisfying.

I just love a good story and Twilight seriously delivered on that. I'm already looking forward to seeing the adaptation of New Moon onto film which is due out this fall, with the girls who I place full blame on for making me want to pick up the books in first place!! (I love you!)