For those of you who happened to Google your title and ended up here, please know that one star is not a bad thing in Robin's world -- just the fact that I picked up your book and started it means that somewhere it's getting good buzz (or that your blurb was really cool). 'R' means it's a re-read. Brackets mean it's an ARC or e-galley. I'm linking to Tattered Cover's pages for the ARCs.

If you'd like to see my recent four-plus- and five-star recommendations, visit Robin ReadsnWrites.

* I didn't make it beyond the first 20 pages.
** I made it to the end, but I either skimmed or skipped large sections.
*** I might have skipped/skimmed, but I liked it and might read it again.
**** I read at least 95% of the book and it was good -- probably will be reread.
***** I read every word, and I loved it! A favorite and definite reread.





Fracture, by Megan Miranda ** The premise behind this book was very intriguing, but for me, it didn't quite pan out (even though I read the first third and skimmed closely the rest). I felt for Delaney as she sought a reason why she'd survived when so many others don't, but I couldn't find any real empathy with any of the other characters -- except maybe Decker (who was my favorite character). Even Decker, however, didn't quite reach what I felt he was supposed to be. And the adults here were my least favorite kind of characters -- they showed little understanding, leadership, or growth. All in all, it didn't work for me (a more detailed explanation here -- it's friends-locked). The story: Delaney survives what should have been her death -- she was trapped underwater for eleven minutes. When she awakens, however, something's changed. Now she can sense when someone else is drawing near to death -- and she's not alone. She meets another survivor, and he also seems to have strange feelings...but soon Delaney becomes suspicious about his actions and motives -- and their burgeoning friendship develops an underlying feeling of fear. AT the same time, Delaney is strugging in her other relationships: her mom continues to baffle her, and Delaney's best friend is pulling away. Delaney has to find a way to live again...even as another tragedy strikes. (YA contemporary, released 1/12, publisher: Walker)

On Deck: I got Cinder and the next Hex Hall book from the library yesterday -- and my book order just shipped! *bounces*

(Yeah, it's a little soon, but as each day passes, this is how we're all feeling -- summer's almost here!

It's always interesting to hear how people are planning to spend their summers. Because I went from being a student to being a teacher to being a parent, my year has been split into school year versus summer for my entire life...probably pretty different from many adults.

Of course, when I was a student (until college), we didn't have summer break -- we had year-round school, and the 'worst' track (Track B) was the track I was on. We went to school all summer and all winter long (and had our breaks in fall and spring).

Still, I'm used to the idea of 'summer break.' Our school caters to many wealthier families, and it's not unusual to hear of people traveling to Europe, Australia, Asia, or Hawaii/Alaska for summer trips. In fact, pretty much everyone we know from school goes on one 'big' trip each summer (and usually a bunch of smaller ones, as well).

We're not really big trip kind of people (nor can we afford it). Two years ago, we went to Yellowstone (and drove); last year, we went to San Diego (and stayed with family). This year, of course, we're going to Boston -- but although I consider these valuable trips, they're not quite on the scale of most of our neighborhood plans. ;)

Add to that the number of camps most of D's and E's classmates are attending this summer -- it's unbelievable -- and you get very different ideas about what a summer break should entail. D & E will be taking gymnastics classes (one a week). That's it. If we find a Groupon (or something similar) for flag football camp again, we'll get that too. Otherwise, our summer plans are to relax, relax, relax.

I'll probably have a summer class again (though it's usually significantly smaller), and we're hoping to camp at least a few weekends this summer, but other than that, we're looking at lazy days...well, within reason. ;) I'm enough of a teacher still that I'm already planning to break up the weekdays into sections (T-Th, we'll have music time, art time, reading time, and math time -- E has to make up an entire year of math this summer in order to not be behind in her class in the fall). We'll have cleaning day (the kids' favorite, ha) and 'fun' day (Friday).

What about you? Do you plan things for summer breaks (or other kinds of breaks)? How do you keep your kiddos entertained? Also, what do you consider a worthwhile trip?

...it rained all day Saturday, which was nice. I worked, and we all cleaned.

...Friday, we celebrated one of my best friend's birthday (she's the kiddos' auntie). She loves to golf, so she bought little practice balls (and she got each of the kids a driver, including a leftie for E!), and they went out and whacked balls. I really don't enjoy golf at all (and neither does DH), so L knows that if she wants to golf with the kids, she'll need to initiate it completely. She said D likd it (shocker -- he likes anything sports-minded) but E was sick of it after maybe fifteen minutes (yeah, another surprise, ha).

...yesterday was the school's fun run -- and D ended up being the fastest 4th grade boy! Of course, today, he's really sore...:D But I think he felt good about that. He was third in his age category (9-10 year old boys), but the other two boys are both 5th graders (and only beat him by two and three minutes). However, a 3rd grade girl beat him -- she's impressive! E walked most of it but still made it in the top half of all the participants. (I didn't technically participate -- I simply walked and then found a shortcut to pick up E.) I guess they made a good amount, all told, and the weather was gorgeous -- a great day!

...7 1/2 days of school left (including today)...I'm just hoping we can hang on :)

Happy Monday!

(No, it's not snowing -- but it's raining steadily (which we need) and cooler.)

For those of you who happened to Google your title and ended up here, please know that one star is not a bad thing in Robin's world -- just the fact that I picked up your book and started it means that somewhere it's getting good buzz (or that your blurb was really cool). 'R' means it's a re-read. Brackets mean it's an ARC or e-galley. I'm linking to Tattered Cover's pages for the ARCs.

If you'd like to see my recent four-plus- and five-star recommendations, visit Robin ReadsnWrites.

* I didn't make it beyond the first 20 pages.
** I made it to the end, but I either skimmed or skipped large sections.
*** I might have skipped/skimmed, but I liked it and might read it again.
**** I read at least 95% of the book and it was good -- probably will be reread.
***** I read every word, and I loved it! A favorite and definite reread.





Girl Meets Boy, ed. by Kelly Milner Halls ***+ I liked this, although I definitely skimmed. It's a neat concept, though -- and for me, it could have been longer. I kind of felt like I was just getting the feel for the stories when the book ended. Also, the last story was...not as hopeful as I personally prefer. However, I definitely liked how all kinds of boy-girl relationships are explored in this. The stories: A few different situations are explored between boys and girls, each story broken into two parts: one from the girl's POV and one from the boy's. Everything from manipulation to cultural differences to friendships (with a gay boy) to transgender is touched on here. (YA contemporary, released 12/11, publisher: Chronicle Books)

Subterranean, by James Rollins ***+ I enjoyed this, although it started getting a little weirder than I personally prefer about two-thirds through (which is when I started skimming). However, I always enjoy new scientific ideas, and I liked the various interactions between the different group members. I liked Jason's spunk too. :) The story: Ashley, a paleoanthropologist, is pegged to lead a team beneath Mt. Erebus (on Antarctica) to explore unusual cave dwellings -- dwellings which indicate life well before the accepted time-periods usually accepted. Once below the surface, however, Ashley learns that another team had been sent down three months prior -- and never returned. Also, one of the team members has ulterior motives tied more to the diamonds in the subterranean caves than the overall scientific discovery -- and another member simply wants to find his brother, one of the members of the first team. When the group runs into something unfriendly, they all have to choose between survival and everything else. (Adult thriller, released 5/10, publisher: Harper Collins)

We're off to the library tomorrow, and I haven't ordered my next batch of books yet...so I might be rereading ;)

For those of you who happened to Google your title and ended up here, please know that one star is not a bad thing in Robin's world -- just the fact that I picked up your book and started it means that somewhere it's getting good buzz (or that your blurb was really cool). 'R' means it's a re-read. Brackets mean it's an ARC or e-galley. I'm linking to Tattered Cover's pages for the ARCs.

If you'd like to see my recent four-plus- and five-star recommendations, visit Robin ReadsnWrites.

* I didn't make it beyond the first 20 pages.
** I made it to the end, but I either skimmed or skipped large sections.
*** I might have skipped/skimmed, but I liked it and might read it again.
**** I read at least 95% of the book and it was good -- probably will be reread.
***** I read every word, and I loved it! A favorite and definite reread.





[Good Bones, by Kim Fielding ****+ I really enjoyed this, which is strange (in one sense) because I'm not a huge werewolf fan. But in this story, the focus wasn't on the whole 'werewolf' idea and more on dealing with life afterward. In that sense, it had more of a magical realism feel to it, as being a werewolf was simply an aspect of this world (whch was, in every other way, just like our world). Dylan, the MC, was sympathetic and very likable, and I enjoyed his journey and the challenges he faced in being a werewolf and still trying to live his life. Chris was also an interesting (and symathetic) character -- and although it was hard, at times, to understand his mindset (since we were in Dyl's POV), I still found him credible. I also liked that Andy (the antagonist) was portrayed with sympathy, as well -- and I appreciated Dylan's compassion and understanding. All in all, it was a good read! The story: Dylan decides he needs to move to a house in the middle of nowhere in order to properly deal with his werewolf issues. He's afraid he'll hurt someone if he remains in the city -- and although his boss is reluctant to let Dylan try commuting, he gives in for a trial run. Dylan finds a great house, which needs a ton of work. However, his only neighbor seems willing to help...but soon, Dylan finds himself caring more for his neighbor than he probably should -- and he doesn't know how to keep the relationship casual, even though he believes it must be (for who would want to spend their lives with a werewolf?). Things are complicated further by the return of Andy, the man who turned Dylan and who still wants Dylan as part of his 'pack.' Dylan has to make a choice between his wolf and human sides -- and between his past and his future. (Adult supernatural, GLBT, released 4/12, publisher: Dreamspinner Press)]

Insurgent, by Veronica Roth ****+ I very much enjoyed this, as well. Although it wasn't quite as gripping as Divergent, it definitely doesn't suffer from the 'middle book' syndrome (imo). The book picks up right where the last left off, which I appreciated (especially as I'd forgotten a fair amount). The relationship between Tris and Tobias continues to be challenging -- but I LOVE the fact that there is no triangle in sight! :) Their issues are just between them and their struggles in this world -- I cannot tell you how refreshing that is! The mystery of the factions deepens, and the pacing is strong. I like what Tris learns about herself throughout the book, and although she seems distant in places, I felt like her character was consistent...and although I'm not a huge fan of cliffhangers, the ending has a solid impact which makes me long for the next book (which is exactly what should happen, no?). The story: Tris and Tobias have to figure out what to do now that the Abnegation have basically been wiped out -- and now that they realize how traitorous the Erudite truly are. However, the differences between the fattions are stark, and those in Amity don't mix well with the Dauntless. When Tris and the other Dauntless are betrayed, they find their way to the factionless -- only to discover a supposedly-dead leader and much more organization and planning than they'd realized. When it appears that the Erudite aren't done yet (and are working to find simulations which will overcome the Divergent along with everyone else), Tris has to choose between Marcus and Tobias -- or between finding the truth and eradicating the Erudite and perhaps all factions. (YA dystopic, released 5/12, publisher: Katherine Tegan Books)

On Deck:...??? I got a gift card yesterday (for volunteering), so I will be ordering some books. Plus, I have three coming in at the end of the month -- but right now, I'm hearing crickets (sigh). I do have a hold ready at the library, however...

...it was a grey, rainy weekend (we soooo needed the rain).

...we cleaned Saturday morning, and then I took my mom to a movie (The Avengers, which we both really enjoyed). After, we stood and chatted for a while in the parking lot -- laid back and enjoyable. :)

...I pretty much had the house to myself Saturday evening too -- and I read while watching the BBC version of Sense & Sensibility.

...yesterday, we went to DH's uncle's house for a mother's day bbq. He has a trampoline, so the kiddos jumped for hours (literally), DH and his cousins (and his mom, gramma, and uncles) played poker, and I read a book (I got almost two-thirds of the way through Insurgent -- great book, btw).

So, yeah, this was a great weekend -- very relaxing and peaceful. Plus, my sweet kiddos gave me a couple of very touching cards :D

Happy MOnday (the sun is out again here...)

For those of you who happened to Google your title and ended up here, please know that one star is not a bad thing in Robin's world -- just the fact that I picked up your book and started it means that somewhere it's getting good buzz (or that your blurb was really cool). 'R' means it's a re-read. Brackets mean it's an ARC or e-galley. I'm linking to Tattered Cover's pages for the ARCs.

If you'd like to see my recent four-plus- and five-star recommendations, visit Robin ReadsnWrites.

* I didn't make it beyond the first 20 pages.
** I made it to the end, but I either skimmed or skipped large sections.
*** I might have skipped/skimmed, but I liked it and might read it again.
**** I read at least 95% of the book and it was good -- probably will be reread.
***** I read every word, and I loved it! A favorite and definite reread.





The Selection, by Kiera Cass ** I picked this up because I was very intrigued by the basic premise, and somehow I thought I'd enjoy it -- even though I kind of hate TV shows like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The thing is, I definitely enjoyed it -- until she was selected and went off to the palace with the other 34 girls. Then I couldn't read any more. Clearly, it's a personal hang-up...I just don't like the idea of a bunch of people competing for one person's romantic attention. It gives me the creeps, in all honesty. So I skimmed to the end (only to discover another device I've complained about before: the love triangle), and decided it's just not for me. I can't decide if I'll pick up the next one or not -- the competition bothers me enough that I might not. At the same time, I really liked Aspen, and I might have to see what happens to him (he was the most sympathetic character, in my eyes, and I felt like he was someone in one of the worst positions, where it didn't seem like he could win, no matter what -- which made me resent America, a bit). The story: America's family is one of the lower castes in a new country (which is the U.S. many generations from now). America is in love with a boy who's in an even lower caste, and their future is uncertain, at best. When the Selection comes up, both America's family and her boyfriend want her to participate. America doesn't want to do it -- but her boyfriend insists that it could make things better for her and for them. But then America is Selected as one of te 35 girls who will get to vie for the Prince's hand in marriage...and now she must decide what it's worth to her to get her family into a higher caste, even if she loses the one person she loves the most in the process. (YA dystopic romance?, released 4/12, publisher: Harper Teen)

Now You See Her, by Linda Howard (R) ***** I do love this one. :) I won't rhapsodize about it every time I reread it, however. (Adult romantic suspense, released 1999, publisher: Pocket Books)

On Deck: The next Mortal Instruments book; Insurgent

1. I got roped into doing a special science thing for E's class today...I did it for D's class too, so I'm hoping it won't be that bad.

2. My mom and I are celebrating Mother's Day by going to a movie together. We haven't decided which yet -- any suggestions?

3. After outrageously warm weather, it's grey and almost-rainy here today -- and it's supposed to continue all weekend. We so need the rain (so we're dancing, for the most part).

4. I'm going to hit the trail before the rain comes. I have a bit of a migraine, but I think (hope) it's fading -- I think the fresh air and gentle exercise will help (so yeah, I won't be pushing myself).

Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there -- and sweet memories to all of you who've been apart from your mom, as well.

(Classic pic of my mom -- this shows her serious side, her love of nature, her focus, and her love of family, since this is from our trip to Mesa Verde with her and my dad...she had such a great time pointing out all the neat sights to the kiddos.)

...the end is in sight!

I have one more meeting (a 'special' meeting, called this week), and then I'm done with meetings for the school year :D

The past few weeks have been filled with one thing after another, and I'm so ready for a loooong break. It's going to be an interesting year next year (with a new principal and new parent leaders in PTA and accountability), and I'm glad we get some rest in between. I'm especially glad that I'm no longer in those leadership positions. Now, I can sit on the sidelines and smile and nod :)

What's your favorite part of almost-summer?

I was chatting with a friend last week, and the way she reacted to a couple things I said made me think about talent and what that means.

Our neighborhood school is the center school for the Gifted and Talented (GT) program. That means that they have entire classes and curriculum written for kids who test into the program. I've never really liked the name of the program, because I believe that every child (person) is talented in some fashion. Obviously, they can't all be academic talents, and some are hidden pretty well -- but I do believe they're there.

My friend doesn't consider herself gifted, I don't think. Her son is in the 6th grade GT class, and he scored very high (upper 90s) in all areas on the test. But she thinks of herself as a perfectionist and attributes her abilities to that trait. My mom, also a perfectionist, attributes her successes to that trait, as well. She even has trouble admitting that her artistic ability might be a talent.

I'm not sure where the difference between *gifted* and *talented* lies -- I've never really thought of myself as gifted, either. But I know I have some talent. Talents you're born with, imo. They're things you can do with less work than the average person -- at least, this is my definition. By that definition, then, I'm talented at piano, photography, writing (ha).

But my friend was saying that she believes I'm "gifted" in writing. So what does that mean? I think, to her, it means that I've never had to think about how to write something -- it's instinctive. When I was assigned a report in school, even at a young age, I automatically did it correctly. I never wrote first drafts until I wrote my thesis as a senior in college. Even there, I only had one 'first draft,' and I basically typed it into the computer without changing anything.

To me, though, that sounds like talent. I think giftedness is something more -- something sparkly ;) As a parent, I do admit that I see giftedness in my kiddos (hehe). It's not necessarily academic, however. D is definitely gifted in music. He understands music, and when he sits down to learn a piano piece, the music gets inside him -- he plays beyond his years (musically speaking -- technically, he's ahead of your average 10-year old, but he's not a prodigy). E's gift is in art -- and it's very similar to D's gift. She's not technically advanced (she is a little bit but not a prodigy), but the art is part of her. She actually sees the world in a different way, and when she expresses herself through art, it's unique and beyond an 8-year old.

So I wonder where talent comes in compared to 'giftedness'? Do you think there's a difference? If you could have your kids or yourself when you were a child in a special program, what do you think it should emphasize? Do you see giftedness in yourself?

...it's the busy week with work, so I spent most of my weekend sitting before the computer -- but I managed to get a fair amount done, so hopefully the next few days won't be as stressful.

...it was also my mom's b-day on Cinco de Mayo, so we took her out to dinner (at her fav restaurant, Las Margaritas). It was very festive, and after, we walked along the streets of Denver (along with half the city, it felt like -- the other half was at the Rockies game) and watched as the sky went from a fey-gold to a stormy dark -- and then it rained and hailed as we drove home. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable evening :)

...the highlight of yesterday was The Amazing Race finale (no spoilers about the overall winner). That's definitely my favorite regular-season show -- even though my favorite team (Bopper and Mark) were eliminated last week. The only other team I could stand was Vanessa and her partner (whose name escapes me), and they were eliminated after the first half -- so then, I watched to see which of those I couldn't stand would win, hehe. D and I decided that whiny Rachel should've gotten together with a-hole Dave, leaving non-whiny Rachel with Big Brother boy...so it was entertaining, as always, even though I'm very meh about the winners.

...today, we have some rainy, cool weather (which I should have guessed about -- today and the storm Sat night -- through D's tension on Thursday and Friday). We desperately need it -- our lawn is BROWN (sadly, that's not an exaggeration), and I'm actually wondering how long it will be before they fine us (we have a picky HOA). Our sprinkler system isn't working right, so we definitely need the rain.

What were the highlights of your weekend?

Happy May showers! :)

For those of you who happened to Google your title and ended up here, please know that one star is not a bad thing in Robin's world -- just the fact that I picked up your book and started it means that somewhere it's getting good buzz (or that your blurb was really cool). 'R' means it's a re-read. Brackets mean it's an ARC or e-galley. I'm linking to Tattered Cover's pages for the ARCs.

If you'd like to see my recent four-plus- and five-star recommendations, visit Robin ReadsnWrites.

* I didn't make it beyond the first 20 pages.
** I made it to the end, but I either skimmed or skipped large sections.
*** I might have skipped/skimmed, but I liked it and might read it again.
**** I read at least 95% of the book and it was good -- probably will be reread.
***** I read every word, and I loved it! A favorite and definite reread.





The False Prince, by Jennifer A. Nielsen ***** I loved this! It reminds me (in all the best ways) of The Lost Prince, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It's definitely more contemporary than that, however (I have reread TLP many times, but I couldn't get my son to read it even once because of the small print and detailed ideas). I loved Sage's humor, I loved the changing interactions between Sage, Roden, and Tobias, I loved Mott's loyalty, and I loved how it all was resolved in the end. Did I suspect the underlying truth from the beginning? Well, yeah. I was fairly certain from page one about the truth, but I think that's because I *have* read TLP so many times. Still, it's a sign of a great book that even though I suspected, and even once it was revealed (about 2/3 through), I still couldn't put it down and had to see how everything played out. My only (extremely minor) complaint has to do with the vagueness of the final scene (not how the book ends, but the actual setting of the scene) -- for the only time during the book, I couldn't picture what was going on, and it seemed like everything (and everyone) faded to the background a bit while the plot was figured out. Still, very minor, and it didn't detract from my delight in the book at all! When I used to read TLP, I'd imagine what it would be like if there was a sequel -- and as the books says 'Book one', I'm guessing there is one here -- yay! :) The story: Sage is plucked from his orphanage and taken, with three other boys, to a noble's land. This noble, Conner, has a plan to 'restore' their country's security -- or so he claims. Sage has no interest in restoring anything, and he wants nothing more than to find his way from Conner...but soon, Sage is concerned for the other boys. For Conner's plan is to replace a dead prince with one of them -- and Conner can only take one. The others are disposable, and Sage fears that their involvement means certain death for the boys who aren't chosen. He begins to work his own plan within Conner's, and soon things are more complicated and tricky than he expected -- is it more than a pick-pocket and thief can manage? And what if he's chosen to be the false prince, what will he do then? (lower YA/Tween fantasy, released 4/12, publisher: Scholastic)

[Boys of Summer, coll. by Steve Berman (and he wrote one of the stories too) **** I enjoyed this. Some of the stories were truly fantastic, and only a couple of them didn't suit my tastes. Mostly, they're sweet, romantic, hopeful tales of two boys falling in love. The couple which didn't work for me were because the ending wasn't quite an ending -- they were a little abrupt. Still, these are filling a needed niche, imo, and I think they're well done for that. The stories: During the long, hot days of summer, these stories discuss various aspects of falling in love -- in non-traditional ways, boy with boy. (YA romance, GLBT, released 5/12, publisher: Bold Stroke Books)]

Shades of Twilight, by Linda Howard (R) ****+ Yeah, I found another Howard fav that I'll be rereading on a regular basis, I'm sure. I like feeling that rush of protective grief for Roanna as everyone around her misunderstands her -- and I love how it's resolved in the end. :)

On Deck: I'm kind of at loose ends with books, as often happens after I read something I adore...but my next book comes in on Monday, so perhaps that will help. Till then, we'll see what strikes my fancy, no? :)

1. Today's a furlough day (we had two this year), so we get an extra-long weekend. It's great for us (we get to sleep in and have a much more relaxing morning), but if I worked outside the home, I'd be pretty frustrated by this time of year with the numerous school breaks. :/ CO is 49th in school funding...

2. This time of year also marks teacher and staff appreciation -- so I'm excited to get to the craft store and see what creative stuff we can come up with!

3. I also have 4 books coming in the next few weeks -- yay!

4. Last weekend, we had everyone over here for a couple of reasons, one of them being we thought my parents would be out of town this weekend (we usually get together the first Sunday of each month). Well, turns out they're not leaving town -- and so they wanted us to come over again...and I'll be honest. I'm getting burned out (which I've mentioned before) on family stuff. Between my family and DH's mom and dad (who are divorced, so if we see them, it's two different outings), we've had something family-related every weekend for...wow, a long time. Still, I feel guilty for telling my mom no (sigh). The funny thing is, it's her b-day on Saturday and we're taking her out -- so it's not like we won't see them at all. And next weekend is Mother's Day, and we're going to a movie together...still, the guilt creeps in.

Here's to a guilt-free, first Friday of May! :)

...gah!

This time of year is so challenging (as anyone who's involved in school in any fashion knows). Things are crazy busy, and everyone is exhausted and really struggling to care. The kiddos have stuff due, I have meetings and events, and we're all kind of running on fumes.

There are fun things too -- like the Father and Friends breakfast they attended this morning (especially fun for me, who got to stay home, in bed). But my brain is fried, and right now, summer can't come quickly enough!

Also, I'm trying something new, nutritionally. I have hypo-thyroidism, which can be a real pain when it comes to trying to maintain a healthy weight. I'm lucky not to be truly overweight, but my ideal, healthy weight is probably ten-fifteen pounds less than I weigh right now. I've been struggling since the fall to even lose an ounce, and when I started gaining again (without noticeably changing my eating habits), I was beyond frustrated.

While we were driving home from Mesa Verde, I started thinking about my options. I knew my thyroid supplement wasn't working anymore (sadly, when you use vitamins and supplements, often your body will "adjust" and you have to change the 'dosage'). But I also suspected I was going to have to find something more drastic than just that change. Soooo, I decided to try and go gluten-free.

Since five years ago, when we had E going gluten-free, so much has changed. Now I can shop at the local King Soopers and still find everything I need. I started GF April 2nd (a Monday), and from that Monday until this past Monday (April 30th), I lost four pounds. To be sure it's not just a fluke (and I don't just gain it all back), I'm going to give it at least one more month...and then, if it really seems to be working, I'll be GF from here on out.

Supposedly, GF will help with many health issues. So far, I haven't noticed much other than weight, though. I still get sleepy in the afternoons. I still have trouble sleeping at night. I've only had one menstruation cycle, and although I didn't have a bad migraine, I did have a mild one -- and it lasted for about 24 hours. We'll see if any of that changes throughout May. I don't really have any other health issues to check, though...so we'll see.

E wants to be GF too, though I think it's just because she really likes the GF cereal I use (ha). She's have a hard time giving up donuts (which she only gets a couple times a year) or cookies. My tough thing is French toast -- but one change I've definitely seen: I no longer crave baked sweets (ie, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, etc). I still want my chocolate (and I have it, in other forms), but that desire for a brownie (or half a pan of brownies) seems to have vanished. I don't know how long that will last, though. :)

Anyway, that's probably added a bit to my busyness, as I have to accommodate my cooking plans on a regular basis...hopefully, it'll be a good thing.

Have a lovely Thursday!

(seen at the Adventure Golf Course -- would you have guessed?)

...I've had a run of insomnia lately (the type where you can't get to sleep easily), so I'm sooooo tired. *yawn*

...I can't believe April is already over (well, after today). May is crowded with *stuff*. *sigh*

...D's b-day party went well, though I think even D was glad to have our house back to just us. He got two games yesterday (from my mom and his auntie), so I see some evenings spent with game pieces in our future (he *loves* games).

...my FIL came over Saturday night to see D, and then we had my family yesterday -- I need an island retreat ;)

Enjoy the last day of April!

For those of you who happened to Google your title and ended up here, please know that one star is not a bad thing in Robin's world -- just the fact that I picked up your book and started it means that somewhere it's getting good buzz (or that your blurb was really cool). 'R' means it's a re-read. Brackets mean it's an ARC or e-galley. I'm linking to Tattered Cover's pages for the ARCs.

If you'd like to see my recent four-plus- and five-star recommendations, visit Robin ReadsnWrites.

* I didn't make it beyond the first 20 pages.
** I made it to the end, but I either skimmed or skipped large sections.
*** I might have skipped/skimmed, but I liked it and might read it again.
**** I read at least 95% of the book and it was good -- probably will be reread.
***** I read every word, and I loved it! A favorite and definite reread.





Heartbreaker, by Linda Howard **** I enjoyed this. It was challenging to really sink into because of the subtones (ie, abused wife), but it wasn't graphic. This is another romance (ie, without suspense), and I must admit that I find the portrayal of men in this humorous. I mean, it's nice that the guy is so take with the woman that he can hardly think of anything beyond her (and touching her and smelling her, etc), but I've never met a guy like that ;) Perhaps that's the point of romance novels, no? The story: Michelle is struggling to keep her dad's ranch going after being away from the area for years (and after her dad's death). When she discovers that her dad took out a loan from neighbor John, she's both appalled and anticipatory. BEcause she was only a teenager the last time she lived in the area, John never looked twice at her -- but he's always been the man she measures all others by. At first, John is rude and unhelpful, but he's also fighting an on-going attraction to MIchelle, and she doesn't appear to be the spoiled kid she once was...but Michelle's past returns to haunt them both, and John has to decide how far he's willing to go to protect her. (Adult Romance, released 2002, publisher: Mira Books)

All the Queen's Men, by Linda Howard *** Once upon a time, I got this from one of those book clubs -- but I couldn't ever get into it. I gave it away years ago, but I checked it out from the library, thinking I might do better now that I'm older...but no. I did read most of it, and it was okay; but it still didn't quite work for me. I didn't find it tense at all, really (which doesn't quite work for suspense). The story: Niema lost her husband during a work operation (they were both CIA), and for five years, she's done nothing more than hide away from that type of work and the people she once knew. Now, one of the black ops men (who happened to be there when her husband was killed) needs her for a special mission. Niema finds herself attracted to John, and she can't seem to turn him down...and she goes along, even though she's certain she'll never see John again once they complete their job. As they play their parts, John appears to have feelings for Niema -- and she falls for him completely. But when his life is put in danger, can she stick with the plan and watch another man die in front of her? (Adult romantic suspense, released 2000, publisher: Pocket Star)

[Crashing Eden, by Michael Sussman *** I really liked the basic concept for this book. I'm a disaster and world-ending junkie, and I thought the idea behind the 2012 disaster was original and intriguing. For me, the execution of that concept didn't work as well as I hoped, though there were still things I enjoyed. 1) I liked learning about Gnosticism (I always enjoy reading books which are infused with information on unusual subjects); 2) I liked the world building and the creative uses of known concepts. I think I got lost in the religous bent, however -- and the characters, especially the main character, was described by himself and others as pretty unsympathetic (though I liked him without the backstory). I needed at least one person to anchor onto, and I had a hard time getting a solid grip on any of them. Still, it's an original idea, and if you're intrigued by ancient religions, you'd probably enjoy this. The story: Joss's family continues to struggle with the suicide of their second son (Joss's younger brother). The mom has retreated from any kind of sympathy toward others and lives a harsh and judgmental existence. The dad writes and hides himself away. Joss is left on his own, and he's not coping well, either -- until he is hit by a car and begins hearing 'ohm.' The 'ohm' changes him, and soon he's working with a couple of college students to help others also find that change -- but they have to move quickly, as Samael, a god, is losing his patience with humans and working to destroy the earth. (YA paranormal, releases 5/12, publisher: Solstice)]

On Deck: Um...well, my pile is high. I simply haven't chosen yet. ;)

There's a very interesting discussion occurring on Verla Kay's blueboards right now, and it made me think about validation. As writers, most of us (all of us?) are hoping to have our stories read. That's the point (or part of the point) to writing them down, in the first place.

With the rise of digital publishing, self-publishing and e-publishing are increasing, and it's changing the reading world. For me, as a reader, the change has been a positive one. As a writer, not so much.

When I first started completing and submitting novels (6 1/2 years ago), I got tons of requests. My request rate was around 60-70% (from agents -- but I also had about a 50% request rate from editors, though I rarely subbed to them). I got revision requests from both agents and editors...but nothing came of it.

Today, my request rate is 0%. Isn't it ironic that as my writing improves (which it definitely has over the past six-seven years), it's gotten harder to get any attention for it? I suspect some of that has to do with the increase in digital publishing. Now that anyone can put their books out there (through self-pubbing and e-pubbing), editors and agents are having to narrow down their choices even more. If you don't happen to write something which falls into the ever-shrinking fields of mainstream interest, you're pretty much out of luck.

There are those who claim that it has to do with talent, and that all good books will get picked up and published. I would definitely disagree -- not only on my own behalf (as it's hard for me to be objective about my own ability -- yes, it's gotten stronger, but was it that great to begin with? I don't know), but because of the many stories I've read by those who are not traditionally published.

And that's where the benefit to readers comes in. Some of those stories which touch me the deepest and stay with me the longest are not traditionally published. Many aren't 'published' at all -- they're e-books which are free to those who subscribe the the writers' groups. Also, with digital e-galleys, I've discovered tons of indie publishers' books which are excellent.

So where does the validation come for the writer? I hope that the writers of my favorite e-books know how much their books mean to their faithful readers (because it's a Yahoo group with message boards, I suspect they do). If I had a following like that, I think I'd be thrilled that I was writing something which blessed readers. :)

But for those who look into publishing, there seems to be something of a division which still exists between traditionally published folk and self-published folk. Those who are traditionally published feel like they've had to work harder and demolish more obstacles -- and, imo, in many ways, they have. They've had to get past the gate-keepers, and there's no doubt that doing so is more challenging than ever. However, if someone can produce (because writing and publishing a book is definitely a production) a book themselves, that's also challenging.

With either writer, though, validation really needs to come from within. Yes, we write so others can read...but if the sales aren't great (for either traditionally or self-pubbed), does that mean the writer shouldn't feel accomplished? And writers have no control over sales (or numbers of readership).

For those of us who still have no readership (outside crit groups and/or family), where do we find the validation to continue? For me, it definitely comes from within. I may never publish a book (especially at the rate I'm going). No matter how good I might become as a writer, I still have no control over agents, editors, or readers. At this point, I have no plans to self-publish...but you never know. Regardless of my own future, I write because I enjoy the challenge of putting a well-worked tale on paper.

What say you?

For those of you who happened to Google your title and ended up here, please know that one star is not a bad thing in Robin's world -- just the fact that I picked up your book and started it means that somewhere it's getting good buzz (or that your blurb was really cool). 'R' means it's a re-read. Brackets mean it's an ARC or e-galley. I'm linking to Tattered Cover's pages for the ARCs.

If you'd like to see my recent four-plus- and five-star recommendations, visit Robin ReadsnWrites.

* I didn't make it beyond the first 20 pages.
** I made it to the end, but I either skimmed or skipped large sections.
*** I might have skipped/skimmed, but I liked it and might read it again.
**** I read at least 95% of the book and it was good -- probably will be reread.
***** I read every word, and I loved it! A favorite and definite reread.





The Savage Grace, by Bree Despain *** Because I didn't read the middle book in this trilogy, it was hard to be invested in this final book -- but I loved the first one so much that I had to see how it all turned out. I definitely liked it. Despain did a great job (imo) building this world and giving it depth and complexity. I liked how things were challenging for Grace but how she found the strength to meet each new obstacle -- though not always in the way she'd planned or hoped. I liked that the romance was exciting and yet solid (Grace loved Daniel throughout and vice versa). I liked how the tension built and how things were resolved. All in all, I think this is a unique and intriguing werewolf tale. The story: Things have escalated with the Urbat, and Daniel is trapped as a wolf. Caleb is not happy that Grace managed to steel away not only Jude and Daniel, but a number of others, as well -- including Talbot, who remains an enigma. Grace knows a true fight is coming, but her worries over Daniel and her family fill her with indecision...will she find the best path for all involved in time, and even if she can, how will she defeat Caleb? (YA paranormal, released 3/12, publisher: Egmont USA)

A Million Suns, by Beth Revis **** I enjoyed this, especially as the pacing seemed stronger than with the first book. I liked how the tension built and clues continued to appear -- and how Elder had to continue to learn and adjust to the new circumstances. I wasn't as fond of Amy here...she seemed pretty immature in many places, and I couldn't get a handle on what was causing her various issues. Still, I'm intrigued, and I can't wait to see what will come in the next book! The story: Now that Elder is in charge and Orion has been frozen, the ship's passengers aren't sure where to turn. Many believe that Amy is the problem, and she resorts to hiding her hair whenever she goes out. Elder wants to believe that he can do Eldest's job (since he's been born and raised to be the next leader), but the problems seem to multiply faster than he knows how to deal with them -- and when Bartie throws himself into the rebellion, Elder doesn't know which way to turn. It doesn't help that Amy is determined to find and try to solve a series of 'clues' Orion left...and when they discover the truth behind it all, there are simply no easy solutions. (YA science fiction, released 1/12, publisher: Razorbill)