27/40: Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

From Goodreads: Here are the confessions of a vampire. Hypnotic, shocking, and chillingly erotic, this is a novel of mesmerizing beauty and astonishing force–a story of danger and flight, of love and loss, of suspense and resolution, and of the extraordinary power of the senses. It is a novel only Anne Rice could write.

I listened to this one on audio. I have watched the movie several times and wanted to "read" the book to see what was missed. I'm impressed with the book to movie adaptation. A lot of times the parts that make you feel for a certain character are skipped, or a secondary character isn't included at all. I felt more for Armand listening to the book than I ever did in the movie. I think now I may have to watch it again and really pay attention to his character over Claudia or Louis. 

I gave it 3 stars because I found it very long and a lot of it was very drawn out. While I loved the writing and the characters, it was just really long. That said, when I came to the conclusion of this one and the narrator said "the end", I immediately hit play on The Vampire Lestat. That in itself speaks to Anne Rice and her ability to suck a reader in and make them crave more. I've also been told by a number of readers that The Vampire Lestat is their favorite book in the series. 

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26/40: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

From Goodreads: After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family . . . 
I've never read a Neil Gaiman and heard a lot of friends love him. This was one that popped up a lot in recommendations. It was ok. Probably more like 2.5 stars than 3.

The writing was good, so I can understand why people love Gaiman. He has a great way with words and creating this interesting setting. He's creative. Who would have thought to create a story of a human boy who grows up in a graveyard, raised by ghosts? As interesting as the story sounds, it was so-so. I'm not sure if this was just the wrong Gaiman book for me or what, but it wasn't enough to sell me on him being an amazing author. I will likely read another one by him in the future if it was a book club book, but after all the gushing, I just don't see it.


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Organization Project #2: Pantry

The pantry is something we use every day. Since I've been selling Epicure Selections, we've needed to make room for the amazing mixes and goodies I buy. This wasn't a part of the house that was disorganized, it just didn't flow right and I was constantly moving things around. I'm sure this isn't the last iteration of organization for it, but it will work for a while.
Once we use up the large containers of spices, it will be better. Still a lot to use up.

Before:

Spice Rack on back of door

Left side - dishes

Right side - food

After:

Spice Rack - after
Only the middle shelf changed

Matching containers for dry goods
Very little food on the floor

Left Side - Bit more room
Plastic containers organized better

Organization Project #1 - Front Closet

Having piano lessons in our front room of the house made me realize all our shoes laying around need a place. The scarves/mitts/toques that we will need soon (hopefully not too soon) need somewhere to go that doesn't require me to empty out a bin to find that ONE matching set.

Reusable bags in the large bag
Large purses and scarves in the brown bin
Shoes in the organizer
Backpacks on the top shelf with some other stuff

I went shopping to Bed, Bath and Beyond and we bought a cube shelf that we thought would fit. It didn't. Took it back and ended up buying a bench with baskets at Jysk.

Shelf from Jysk for shoes, reusable bags, extras
Backpacks at the top
Large purses hung on hangers

I'm pretty happy with the way it looks. When winter comes, each of those bins will be for mitts, scarves and toques. (I'm Canadian, there are a lot of each for varying temperatures and colours)

Organization Project

I have this plan in my head to organize our house a little better. It's not disorganized by any means, but there are a lot of things around the house that should have a spot. They shouldn't be shifted, shoved and moved all the time.

I've spent a lot of time on Pinterest, blogs and the Martha Stewart website and found a mish-mash of ideas I wanted to use.

I'm hoping to get the bulk of the organization done by the end of November.

List of mini projects:
Front closet
Back closet
Master closet
Spare bedroom closet
Office
Laundry Room
Pantry
Storage Room

For the most part, these are the areas that we use a lot and need some updating. I hope you enjoy the upcoming posts! I will take before and after photos of each project so you can see the difference.
I have a feeling that our To-Sell pile will grow in the next few months.

August 2012 Book Recap

What I read and started in August 2012

Books read to date: 25/40
I'm 1 book behind my goal.

Finished

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson (review)
The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair (review)
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian (review)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (review)

Started
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail  by Cheryl Strayed
The Graveyard Book  by Neil Gaiman

Still Reading
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (on audio)


Put on Hold
The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I like it, but I have book club books that come first
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian - Great book, was due back at the library, on hold.


Savings

Monthly savings: $41.59

Year-to-date savings: $215.99