31/50: Wither by Lauren Destefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


When I first read about this book, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. Polygamy isn't something I understand, but from what I do know, I disagree with it. I'm not sure whether to be disturbed or enlightened. The girls are so young when they get taken and forced to marry and have babies right away. It seems so wrong.

I liked the characters. They interacted well with each other and were so completely different they complimented each other. I was sad for all the characters as well. Especially Linden, Jenna, Cecily, Rhine and Gabriel. They all had a different point of view on their situations that vastely differed.  Ranging from thinking being made a wife is the best possible outcome in life; Or that being made a wife is like prison, or a slow death.

There was something comfortable about the lives the three girls were brought into. Something safe. Rhine knew what freedom really was having grown up with parents and a brother. Jenna and Cecily didn't being orphaned or sold into prostitution. For them, the mansion meant "home", for Rhine it was a prison. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

It wasn't a feel good book, but definitely makes you think about what you would do if you only had until the age of 20/25 to live. Rhine never got to experience the "live life to it's fullest because it ends so soon" mentality until she was bought to be a bride. What would you do? Would you accept the life you were sold into and embrace it? Or would you fight to escape and be free, even if free means running for your life.

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SuBC2011 - Read a YA Book - 5 points
BookJourney2011 - Manhattan and Florida

Fitness Friday: Belly Dancing and Certified

I've resolved myself to know I will never lift weights again. I'm still in denial that I will never pole again. To keep myself in a little bit of shape, I'm exploring different dance avenues. I can't deny that I am a dancer through and through. There is nothing I like better than to feel music through my body.

I still love teaching my Intro to Pole classes. Having a group of 6 or 7 girls giggle and laugh by the end of class after walking in with trepidation makes my heart sing.

Wednesday night in my Aerial Yoga Fitness class I had a student who had taken an Intro to Pole class with me. I was so excited to see her back at our studio. She dragged a friend with her and were both asking about signing up for Level 1 Pole. Hooray! Students returning! I truly hope that they sign up right away and get in to a class.

I have 6/10 students registered for my Lap Dance workshop I'm teaching next week. I wrote up my own routine to teach them. Very excited to impart some knowledge to these girls to take home and spice up their lives.

Wednesday during my Intro pole class I had my AFLCA assessment. A trainer came in, watched me teach the class. She had some great feedback for me that I will certainly take on to my next classes. I was so nervous to start but then got down to business as usual and felt completely natural with her there. I am now certified. Just need to submit all of my papers and get the certificate.

30/50: Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lover Awakened was better than the second book, Lover Eternal. Zsadist was an interesting character. He was broken beyond repair from the abuse he suffered as a blood/sex slave. For him to change so much and become this doting lover was a complete transformation. Incredible to witness, but I feel like it was a little unnatural. I don't believe that he could go through that sort of hell and become what he did in the end. Aside from that, the book was great.

Bella seemed like a woman trying to escape her perfect aristocratic life, but after reading her story, there was no way she could ever go back to a life like that.

We got to learn a little more about each of the characters still to come.
John is taking a bigger role and I'm excited to read more on his story.
Phury I think will have a change of heart with his celebacy vow. Zsadist, his twin has found peace, and I think because of that Phury will find his own peace and grow.

I'll probably take a break from reading this series. There is such a thing as too much brain candy all at once.

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SuBC2011 - Read a book that is part of a series - 10 points
Book Journey 2011 - Caldwell, New York

29/50: Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood #2) by J.R. Ward

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My husband (still love saying that word) picked this book for me to read as part of the Summer Book Challenge. He was so excited about the task that he had input for. He's been told that husbands are very happy when their wives read the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, so it's naturally the one he picked.

Onto the book review:
I can't say I liked this one better than Dark Lover (BDB#1). This book was frustrating... and not in a bad way. Rhage and Mary were awesome together. A lot of passion. Being as how his name is Rhage, I wasn't at all surprised when he got angry, and overly passionate about Mary. The beast inside him seemed to make him feel more of each emotion he had.

Mary was dull to me. I thought she was stupid, but let's be honest, she's had a hard life, used to being on her own and certainly not used to a man taking interest in her. Especially not one like Rhage, who's nickname is Hollywod. I couldn't get why she wouldn't let Rhage just love her. Her past was hard and I totally get why she didn't want to put Rhage through pain watching her deal with her illness. Strong character emotionally. Not afraid of anything.
John Matthews sparked my interest and I hope he sticks around. He was so alone, and needed someone to reach out. At first I thought he was incredibly creepy. Following Mary, calling her all the time. Hello Stalker? But he wasn't. He was sweet, alone and needed help. I can't wait to hear more about him in the remainder of the series. I've heard a lot of my book friends like his character.

I haven't talked about the Lessers much because they weren't a big part of book 1. They are starting to irritate me. They are the enemies of the Brotherhood and I get they are there for the sole purpose of irritating the reader. Well done JR Ward. Well done. The Society drives me insane and I hope that the Brotherhood kicks their butt once and for all in this series at some point. Mr. O seems to have a big conflict within himself, even though he's technically dead and has no soul. There was a moment where I actually felt bad for him, but that passed quickly.

SuBC2011: Have your significant other pick a book for you to read - 10 points
Book Journey 2011: Caldwell, New York

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Bookshelf love

I always said I would post pictures of my bookshelf. Never got around to it. We finally got our place looking like a house after the wedding craziness. I can finally get to my bookshelf and not have to crawl over 3 dining room chairs!The pictures are a bit blurry because I took them on my camera.

Each category is ordered by author last name. Fiction and fantasy are both double stacked on the shelf.

The Books I haven't read:
This is an ever growing shelf. I actually have it split by YA to the left, Non-fiction and Fiction to the right. You can't see it very well, but the fiction section hids behind the YA books.

The large stack of books in the bottom left are books that we have multiple of, text books and others we don't want and need to sell.

closer look at the bottom shelves

July 2011 Recap

Books
Books read to date: 28/50
Pages read to date: 9443

Finished

Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) by J.R. Ward (review here)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (review here)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6) by J.K. rowling (review here)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) by J.K. Rowling (review here)

Continued
Water for Elephants - audio book
I swear I will never finish this book. I'm just not invested in it anymore. We have chosen it for the August Knottie book club. I'm hoping that will force me to finish it.

Started
Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2)

Chic Fit Geek's Harry Potter Challenge is almost complete!
Latest Update
Original Post
Savings 

Monthly savings: $32.07

Year-to-date savings: $255.56

Book Journey

Caldwell, New York and London/Hogwarts

Movies

 Captain America: The First Avenger
Cheesy, Action and needed to set up the next movie. It had it's funny moments. In the realm of Avengers, Iron Man and Thor were much better movies.

Fitness
I have decided not to do the Pole competition. I would love nothing more than to enter, but sadly my time is stretched and I don't want to half-ass it. My wrist has also gotten way worse and as such, my pole dancing is slowing down significantly. I want to heal it a little before our yearly Taboo show comes around in November.  A fellow instructor and I are going to do another duet (or 2) this year and I need to be able to dance for 4 nights in a row.

28/50: Harry Potter and the Dealthly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There are no words to describe this book. 5 stars is not enough.

This was the perfect ending to the world that sucked me in, chewed me up and spit me out. I feel like I am a more complete reader now. I am still thinking about everything that happened in this book, that led up to the end and where everything began to become twisted and entwined.

I'm not sure what else to say about The Deathly Hallows. How the plot of Harry vs. Voldemort became entwined with the Deathly Hallows was incredible. I was concerned about another seemingly big plot was coming into the last book. It took a different directly, but finished together so beautifully it couldn't have been any other way. I cried a lot in this book. I totally understand why there are so many Harry Potter fans that love Snape. I get it. I feel the same. I want to re-read the entire series now.
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SuBC2011: Read a book that is part of a series - 10 points
Book Journey 2011: London

Harry Potter Challenge: August 3, 2011

I'm done! almost...
The books are all read, the movies up to HP7 part2 have been watched. We're going to part 2 THIS FRIDAY! I can't wait! Tears have been shed and it is finally time for it to end. Bittersweet is the word I'll use to describe this. I loved the Harry Potter series SO SO MUCH! I feel like a reading haitus is in order because no book can compare to the awesomeness that J.K. Rowling gave the world.

Frenchie and I watched HP7 Part1 last night. I cried. A lot. But nothing makes me cry more than when my gruff hubby yells "NO!" and then in a defeated voice "Not <insert characters name here>. Anyone but <insert name here>" Yes readers, he has been converted to the wonderful world of wizardry. He never read the books, but the fact that he feels that strongly just from watching the movies makes me proud. He asked if Part 2 is as sad. I told him I'm taking loads of Kleenex.

Goals:

Finish Wise Man's Fear
Buy Movies 3 - 7Part 1
Read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Read Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix
Read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Re-watch Movie 1
Re-watch Movie 2
Watch Movie 3
Watch Movie 4
Watch Movie 5
Watch Movie 6
Watch Movie 7 part 1
Watch Movie 7 Part 2 - in theatre