Christmas Jars

Christmas Jars had sat in my library for at least several years when I picked it up in November of this year. I was searching for an easy to read book for my Christmas book club party, and I had found it. It was a novella, so it was short and it's simplistic nature was perfect for our down-to-earth Christmas book club. Party members met with wrapped books in hand, snacks to share and their very own Christmas Jars filled with coins saved since our last book club party. We had a great time unwrapping, exchanging (and stealing) books. We ate each others goodies and we even went Christmas Caroling. We only had the door slammed in our faces once! Bah-humbug to those neighbors! Hmph! But then we were back home for the real fun of combining all our change into one jar. We filled a LARGE pickle jar and a smaller jar. We counted and came only coins short of $147! Wow! What a gift we were going to make to a very special lady.

The fun happened the next day. It was rainy and cold when Kaye Roberts (my trusty partner in crime), Shelley, Darbey, Clowee and I went in search of the sweet little lady (let's call her Mrs. S) who lost her husband earlier this year. We took a long drive into the country and finally found (with the help of a gps) the home we thought was hers. I backed my car into the neighbors driveway. Kaye ventured to the door to ask if the house next door belonged to Mrs. S. It did! We were in business on a very wet and dreary day. Kaye and I leaned our chairs back so our heads would safely be behind the tinted glass of the back seats. Darbey put her hood up and took the biggest jar. Shelley was right behind her with the other jar. Clowee was safe and sound in the get-away car keeping their seats warn. Shelly and Darbey trudged through the slippery grass to the front porch as we nervously watched, but upon their arrival they found no stairs. Shelley puts her jar on the concrete porch and slid it ever so noisily toward the front door. Darbey reprimanded her in whispered irritation as only a 15 year old can do, before catapulting herself up onto the porch. She moved the jars closer to the door and then turned to the car and did her best sign language to illustrate, "no door bell." I took my fisted right hand and mimed knocking in the air and lipped the word "KNOCK" and quick as Santa Claus himself, that's exactly what Darbey did. She knocked three sharp knocks. Shelley turned before the last knock was knocked, Darbey jumped like a track star off that porch and the two of them rain through the grass like a couple of Christmas bandits. Kaye, Clowee and I laughed as we told the girls to hurry and get in the car. I tried not to think of the muddy mess that was now on my floor board carpets. The three girls in the back seat ducked down in their seats breathless, Kaye and I made sure we were down and back peeking only through the back windows, then......... we waited. It seemed for a moment Miss S. wasn't coming to the door. I was thinking about what we'd do next to make sure she received her gifts, but just as I was about to give up hope, Miss S opened her front door. Miss S. peered through the glass storm door FINALLY seeing the jars. She timidly walked out onto her porch bent down to the see words CHRISTMAS JAR... SOMONE LOVES YOU written with red marker on the biggest jar. Miss S. stood straight up, put a hand over her eye to shield the sun that wasn't out and surveyed the surrounding landscape right and then left and then right and then left again. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Miss S opened the storm door holding it that way with her behind, she then stooped down again lifting a jar in each hand... how she did this, I will never know because those jars were heavy. She disappeared into the house and within a moment came back to the front door, peeked out one last time hoping for a glimpse of anyone who might have left her with such a gift. With a small shrug and a simple smile she closed the door, and that was that. With tears in our eyes and goosebumps on our skin Kaye, Shelly, Darbey, Clowee and I had had the experience of a lifetime and rediscovered in a small way the true meaning of Christmas...giving.

Thanks to each and every person in our book club who helped by putting even one penny into our Christmas Jar. It wasn't about the amount, of course, it was all about the giving of your time, your energy, your spare change and your love, into a simple gift to a simple lady who has had a difficult year. You guys are AWESOME!

Wither

We had a great time talking about the odd but wonderful story of Wither. Three brides were randomly drawn from a hat. The party included a bride war with teams competing with their bride to win the title of FIRST WIFE. We tested teams knowlege of wedding etiquette, baby development knowledge and Wither knowledge. All this before teams were to create bride costumes out of white duct tape, a small piece of tulle, two white trash bags and a couple pieces of white paper! The results were amazing! In the end Regan won the title of First Wive and married (right here in our den) a reluctant Andrew Corey! It was awesome!!!

Extreme MUDO book club party & the author I dislike!!!

So, THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES book club party yesterday was a total blast. A horde of zombies came out to party along with a few soulers and their MUDO pet. We also had a few brave uninfected souls come out, but they weren't uninfected for long!!!

We played ZOMBIE JEOPARDY learning that zombies originate from Haiti and that DEADicated zombies swim in the Dead Sea! TEAM "Rotting Death" won with 4,400 points and were awarded with ZOMBIE KNOW-IT-ALL certificates while TEAM "Bob Zombie" lost with a -400 points and were given nothing! We then teamed up to rid the forest of fifty-plus MUDO while receiving points for the "type" of mudo caught and correct answers to questions linked to each mudo. TEAM Carol Anne / Josh and TEAM Regan / Kaylie were awarded ZOMBIE HUNTER certificates for their excellent skills in this game. All the zombies in attendance also had a great meal that included stuffed intestines, scabs, brain, people mush, cherry - pudding - and gummy eyeballs, weinie-bugs, soul-a-bration cake, zombie punch & more that I can't seem to remember right now!

Other prizes awarded include:
BEST ZOMBIE costume... Kaylie
Runner up... Nicholas
BEST ZOMBIE food... Ani
BEST ZOMBIE art... Katharine

Lastly, we read the AWESOME (if I do say so myself) letter that went out two months ago to the author of The Dead-Tossed Waves. I invited her to our little gathering promising to celebrate her and ooohh and aahhh over her books. She lives in Charlotte with her husband, and I thought just maybe she would come. SHE DIDN'T. I did expect a reply to my letter, since her website promises this. I even sent her a self-addressed stamped envelope for promised zombie stuff WHICH I NEVER GOT!!! OH WELL... I guess we don't have to like the author to like the book! I say...

MUDO POOP ON YOU, Carrie Ryan! You missed a great party!

Same Kind of Different As Me

This true story by co-protaganists Ron Hall and Denver Moore is a story of friendship. The unlikely pair, a modern-day slave and an international art deal find a bond that neither would have ever expected. You'll find as I did that "everybody's different--- the same kind of different as me. we're all just regular folks walkin' down the road God done set in front of us." It doesn't matter if we are rich or poor or maybe something in between. This world is not our final resting place. In a way, we are all homeless--- just workin our way toward home. What a wonderful way of looking at life! A GREAT TRUE STORY!

The Dark and Hollow Places

Annah followed her friend Elias as she left her five year old twin sister behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth twelve years ago. Elias left three years ago to fight against the "mudo". Now a Horde of zombies has swarmed the Dark City where she lives, and she finds herself on the run. She's literally and figuratively lost until she meets Catcher. Of course, Catcher has his own secrets. Dark truths that link him to a past Annah would rather forget, and to a future too deadly to consider.

I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK. I like the zombies... a.k.a the unconsecrated, the mudo, the plague rats. They are gruesome and scarry, but at the same time I find myself feeling sorry for them and and people they used to be. I like that although this is a zombie story, and the world is in an awful mess that at the core of it all, people and relationships are what drives the story. AWESOME 3rd book. I thought this was a trilogy, but I think the author could easily write another story.

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

This 2nd in the trilogy was EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST!!! I would really call this book a companion book instead of a sequel, because it could be read without reading the first. Anyway, I really LOVED this book.
The main character is Gabry. She is the daughter of the now grown-up Mary, who was the main character in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Gabry thinks she is the opposite of her mother who is strong and brave, but she finds herself braving the Forest of Hands and Teeth none-the-less. She is accompanied by Cassia (her best-friend), Catcher (her best-friend's brother) and a "souler" (a member of a mysterious cult who worship the "mudo" ---a.k.a. zombies) named Elias.
This book is about zombies, yes, but it's about relationships, growing up and acceptance of things out of ones control. I give it 5 BIG stars!!!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Why do zombies appeal to us... to me? Maybe it's the fact that zombies were once people just like you and me. They are monsters, yes, but it's not their fault. They are just unlucky souls who were infected by a terrible disease. Of course, this terrible disease turns them into the flesh-eating undead... the unconsecrated in Carrie Ryan's THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH. The zombies in this book are simple creatures who want nothing but to hunt, kill and eat humans. The story follows a young girl named Mary who wants more than to be confined in the village where she was born; the same village that is surrounded by tall fences holding the unconsecrated at bay. She finds herself forever wondering if there is something beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

This story was good because it was more than just a zombie story. It's a story about growing up, decision-making, love and coping. I liked the idea of it. I like the main character. In fact, I'm already into book #2, THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES and loving the turns it takes! Best of all, the author of these wonderful junior books lives right around the corner in Charlotte, North Carolina!!! I wonder if she's ready for a zombie apocalypse? Hmmm...

Beautiful Creatures

Although the idea of this book was original, it was entirely too long and drawn out. I found myself wanting it to be over with, and that's never good! The story is about a strange yet beautiful girl who moves into a haunted house with her reclusive uncle. A popular boy in the very small town of Gatlin is drawn to her and gives up pretty much all his friends (but one) to befriend her. Come to find out, she is the girl of his dreams... literally. They share disturbing dreams and have for years. The can also communicate just by thinking thoughts to each other... hmmm. Anyway, the book spent over 500 pages preparing you for the night the powerful (who knew?) girl would turn 16 and be claimed for either light or dark. SPOILER ALERT... I will save u the trouble by telling you she somehow (who really knows) gets out of the claiming... the bad guys disappear (again, who knows why) and the book ends SPOILER ALERT... with a stupid poem about the girls 17th birthday. So, after reading the whole book that kept going back to a poem about her 16th birthday, I'm guessing the two female authors of this book have set us up for another 500+ pages of "OH NO, I'M GONNA TURN 17 AND BE CLAIMED FOR EVIL... WOE IS ME!"

PS The name of the 2nd is out and called Beautiful Darkness. The series is planned for 5 books total, and there is talk of a movie! Lastly, this book has been compared to TWILIGHT. Maybe I'm just missing something in my reading of it. I might (when I have nothing better to read) pick up book 2 from the library. We'll see.

Another Great Sookie Bookie

The eleventh Sookie Stackhouse book DEAD RECKONING was not a disappointment. Sookie (a waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana) finds her life in danger again. She wonders who is after her this time though. Is it Victor, who would benefit by her death because it would give him an excuse to kill her Vampire husband Eric? Or is it the crazy woman who blames Sookie for her sister's death? Or is a fairy or a demon or maybe even an elf? Sookie does get around! This volume finds Sookie hiding in Bill's underground "hidey hole" with no clothes on, giving her friend Tara a baby shower, living with her fairy family and surprised by Alcide (the werewolf packleader) who is in her bed! Of course, reading the first ten books is a must. Charlaine Harris, you are brilliant!

Two Great Books

My girls gave me two great books for my 29th (hehehe) birthday, and I read them in a week. The first is called WITHER by Lauren DeStephano, and it is the first of a trilogy. The book follows a sixteen year old girl who is kidnapped and forced to marry a rich young man and become a sister wife to two other girls! Rhine and her sister wives make the best of their plush life knowing their fate... do their part in populating the world. You see, the world they live in all males die at age 25 and all females at age 20. Interesting, huh? I rate this book a 4.5 only because I hate that I have to wait for the next one now!!!

The second book is called ENTWINED by Heather Dixon. I absolutely loved this book. It was sweet, scary, romantic, original, creepy, and brilliant. This story follows twelve princesses who loose their mother. Their father rules that they will all observe a year of mourning meaning wearing only black, no dancing, no going outside, drawing the curtains and NO dancing! Azalea, who is the eldest princess, is left to care for her sisters who are all very sad and bored. Soon she finds her way to a magical land through a passage in their kingdom, and they meet a man named Keeper who likes to keep things. He says they can dance every night in his pavilion, but what they don't know is that Keeper keeps things and he will eventually expect payment for his kindness!!! That's when things get really creepy and good! THIS BOOK IS AWESOME. I love the relationship between the girls. It reminded me of Little Women. I loved the strong father / king who loves his daughters so much but doesn't know how to express his love. I even love Keeper who is extremely creepy and wonderful! READ THIS BOOK. You will not regret it. It's earned it's permanent place on my book shelf, and I look forward to the day that I will read it again... 5 STARS!

BEST book club party meal EVER!!!

Thanks to my excellent chopping skills and my good friend, Reba, we had a wonderful book club party meal as we partied around the book BEASTLY. Kyle went to a fancy-do-dah school; a school fancy enough for a salad bar! So, we had a salad bar that filled my 9 foot table and my kitchen island. WHAT A SALAD BAR!!! Of course, no Beastly book club party would be complete without beast claws... mmmmmm!

Once Upon a Marigold...cute!

Read this book for the 2nd time as I prepare for book club. The story is a unique fairytale complete with an unhappy princess, a runaway boy, a cave troll, 5 crazy dogs, a mean queen, a confused king, p-mail and much more. My favorite part of the book is Ed the trolls misuse of idioms. Also, I feel like the book would make a great movie!!!

What an exciting day... thanks to L.A. Meyer!

This is an exciting day because I just finished the 8th book in the Bloody Jack series called The Wake of the Lorelei Lee. At 552 pages, this book was as thrilling as I've come to expect! It was full of twists and turns, but Jacky Faber is as endearing as ever. This book finds Jacky Faber back in action, and with the gold that she, uh, lets say, misplaced and later found during the salvage of the Santa Magdalena, she’s bought herself a new ship, the Lorelei Lee, and is headed for London, where her beloved Jaimy is waiting. Unfortunately, a nasty plot unfolds by some old enemies (Flashby & Bliffel), and no sooner does she arrive in England than she is tried for treason (all that misplaced gold) and sentenced to be transported for life to the penal colony of Australia. And to make matters worse, the Crown has confiscated the Lorelei Lee, and Jacky will be traveling halfway around the world on her very own ship – but as a convict, rather than the captain. As usual, the infamous Jacky Faber is not beaten for long and finds herself happy go lucky in no time at all. In this installment Jacky is a prisoner, a laundress, a scantily dressed coin diver and a wife!!! She rides an elephant, "adopts" a little boy named "Ravi", becomes a famous Chinese female pirate's pet, get another tattoo and inherits a China man called Chi Chi. Yes, Mary Jacky Faber is a very busy 16 year-old-girl! SO, did I like this book? YES, I loved it. I find Jacky entertaining, enthusiastic, altruistic and tad bit confusing at times. I love her zest for life, and I'm sure I could take a few lessons from her in terms of making the best of what life throws you!

I told you this was an exiting day, but it gets even better! About 3 weeks ago I wrote to Mr. L.A. Meyer. I told him about my book club parties and told him how much I admired Jacky Faber. I was so surprised today when UPS delivered a large envelope from L.A. Meyer himself. Inside was a hand written letter, a signed photograph and a print by none other than the artist / author himself. It is so nice that Mr. Meyer took time to write a fan... ME! It got me wondering if I might have any luck at all writing the other authors of the book club books, so that's exactly what I'm going to do! I'll keep you posted. Ahhh, and guess what Mr. Meyer tells me??? Bloody Jack's book #9 is coming in September... "The Mark of the Golden Dragon" --- I'm so excited!

One last note... Although I love Mr. Meyer and his books, I was disappointed in the last 3 books at his introduction to what I consider the ultimate in curse words. I don't know why authors of young adult books insist on taking a perfectly wonderful book and making it flawed with the use of totally unnecessary profanity! I'm hoping Mr. Meyer took my corrective criticism to heart and leaves this word out of his 9th book!

Rapture of the Deep

I don't know how L.A. Meyer does it, making Mary Jacky Faber once again beloved hero to all. This, the 7th of the Bloody Jack series, finds "Jacky" on her way down the aisle to wed her love, Jaimy. Of course, she doesn't make it though. She is captured (once again) by British Intelligence and told she is going to Spanish territory to dive in a new invention (a sort of bell) to search for hidden treasure. She will do this with her old friend, Dr. Sebastian, under the cover of scientific exploration. Jaimy isn't left out because he will be on the HMS Dolphin following Jacky's crew to collect treasures as they are brought up.
I thought this book was excellent. I loved how L.A. Meyer continues to weave new characters into the stories while constantly bringing in characters from past stories. I feel like I need to go back and read all the books to refresh my memory!
Some highlights of this book: Jacky's crew being attacked by alligators, Jacky's purchase & setting free of a slave woman named Jamimah, Jacky galavanting "starkers" along the deck with sword in hand as she fights pirates, Jacky's training of the rooster (El Gringo Furioso) for the purpose of cock fighting & many kisses shared between Jacky and all her suitors! GREAT!
***One complaint~ the two big curse words were not necessary, and I think I'll write Mr. Meyer about just that! I'm sure this language would not be tolerated at the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls!!!

My Bonny Light Horseman

Anyone out there who has never read the adventures of "Bloody Jack" a.k.a. Jacky Faber is really missing out. Anyone out there who has never listened to the above is REALLY MISSING OUT. The Bloody Jack series is now 8 books by a wonderful author, L.A. Meyer. A librarian friend (Mrs. Hannah Owen) suggested it years ago to Kaylie, and we fell in love. The first story begins describing the death of the family of the protagonist (Mary Faber) and her entrance into a gang at age seven. The action starts with Mary, struggling to survive on the streets of London with the other orphaned children, led by a clever adolescent named Rooster Charlie. Mary learns to love Rooster as a brother and as a leader. The gang's life is rough as they try to survive each day on 18th century London streets. But then Charlie is killed and Mary, now eleven, ends up taking his clothes and the name "Jack" to hide her identity as a girl. She quickly finds a position as a ship's boy. Things really get good then, and Mary (Jacky) is soon given the nickname, Bloody Jack. Wouldn't you like to know why? I'm on book 6, MY BONNIE LIGHT HORSEMAN, and Jacky is sixteen now. Like I said, I'm listening to it. It's so much better this way. They are all narrated by Katherine Kellgren, who I must say is amazing!!!