Book 55: The Witch's Daughter

The Witch's Daugher, written by Paula Brackston.

54: Bossypants

Probably the single funniest book I have ever read in my entire life. You need to read this book. Seriously. Well, unless you are easily offended... So funny!

53: Love Times Three

Love Time Three - about a modern polygamist family. These types of books are so interesting to me, and having never even heard of this family, I really enjoyed it:)

52: The Help

LOVED this book. It started out being hard to read (not *proper* enlglish) and then it was just plain sad to read... A Summary from wikipedia:

The Help is set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi and told mainly from the perspective of three women: Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter. Aibileen is a black maid who cleans houses and cares for the young children of various white families. Her first job since her own 24-year-old son was killed on his job, is caring for toddler Mae Mobley Leefolt. Minny is Aibileen's confrontational friend who frequently tells her employers what she thinks of them. Her actions have led to her being fired from 19 jobs. Minny's most recent employer was Mrs. Walters, mother of Hilly Holbrook. Hilly is the social leader of the community, and head of the Junior League. She is the nemesis of all three main characters.
Miss Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan is the daughter of a prominent white family whose cotton farm employs many African-Americans in the fields, as well as in the household. Skeeter has just finished college and comes home with big dreams of becoming a writer; her mother's big dream for her is to get her married, although Skeeter is not interested. What does interest her is that Constantine, the maid who raised her, is nowhere to be found: Skeeter's family tells her that Constantine abruptly quit and went to live with relatives in Chicago. Constantine had been writing to Skeeter the whole time she was away at college and the most recent letter had promised her a surprise upon her homecoming. Skeeter does not consider Constantine's unexplained absence a good surprise and wonders what happened, but nobody will discuss Constantine.
This discussion awakens Skeeter to the realization that her friends' maids are treated very differently from how white people are treated. She decides that she wants to reveal the truth to the world from the maids' perspectives by writing a book about it. Written in the first person from the perspective of Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter, the struggles Skeeter experiences to communicate with the maids and gain their trust is revealed, as well as the issues of overcoming long-standing barriers in customs and laws by all of the characters. The daily lives of Southern homemakers and their maids during the early 1960s in Mississippi are explored. The dangers of undertaking writing a book about African-Americans speaking out in the South during the early '60s hover constantly over the three women.

And with that, I have successfully completed my 52 books in 52 weeks! Totally did not think I would make it:)

51: Ironwood Tree

50: The Frog Princess

I had listened to this on CD in the car with the kids a while back, and forgot to post it:) I had only picked up the audio version at the library, and had no idea that this is actually book one in a pretty long series. I think I might have to read the rest of them:)

49: The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid. Book one in the Kane Chronicles, by Rick Riordan. Same guy who wrote the Heroes of Olympus Series. I really liked those, so I wanted to read his other work. He's got this, and one other series going on right now that I plan on reading. I am not into Egyptian anything, at all... But this book was really good, and I was really *into* it from the beginning.

48: Lucinda's Secret

Book 47 : The Last Battle

Book 46 : The Seeing Stone

Book 45 : The Magician's Nephew

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis.

Book 44 : The Silver Chair

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. I was much more *into* this book than any of the others - and I think it is because it is the first one that I have not seen a film of...

Book 43 : The Field Guide

The Field Guide - Book 1 in the Spiderwick Chronicles Series, by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. 

Book 42 : Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis

Book 41: Prince Caspian

Prince Caspian, by C.S. Lewis... Again, kinda liked the movie better:/

Book 40 : The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Written by C.S.Lewis. This book is the first published book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series. There are two camps of people, when it comes to how, exactly, one should read these books. Most people think that you should read them in the published order (which is not actually in chronological order) and others think that you should read them in chronological order... I decided to read them in the published order, so it would be:
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Horse and his Boy
The Magician's Nephew
The Last Battle

I very much avoided reading this book, for YEARS. Partially because I had started it when I was younger, and thought it was boring, and partially because everyone went ON and ON and ON about the Christian-ness in it... All in all, it was a good book, but I liked the movie better... I feel that way about very, very few books, for the record.

Book 39 : The Last Olympian

The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan. Final book in the Percy Jackson Series. Can't wait to read his other books now:) From BN:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds are against them. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows.In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Book 38 : The Battle of the Labyrinth

Battle of the Labyrinth, by Rick Riordan. Book 4 in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I was looking at wikipedia's Rick Riordan page and noticed that I will most definitely be reading two of his other series when I finish this next (and last) book in the Percy Jackson series:) From BN:

Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical.In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos’s army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth—a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.

Book 37 : The Titan's Curse

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan. Book 3 in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
From BN.com:

When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped.And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? They must find Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the titans. Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared -- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

Book 36 : The Sea of Monsters

Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. #2 in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Another great book:-) Reading this book (and the last one) made me run out and buy the rest of the series (I only had books 1-3) and get a bunch of books about Greek Mythology:) Yay for Barnes and Nobles Educator Appreciation Days, which gave me 25% off everything I (didn't really need to, but did anyways) bought:) From BN:

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson—a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any “normal” friends.But things don’t stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia—only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name…the Bermuda Triangle.
Now Percy and his friends—Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson—must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family—one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon’s son is an honor or simply a cruel joke. 

Book 35 : The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief. Book 1 in the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series by Rick Riordian. I liked this book. I did see the movie first, and there are alot of differences between the book and movie... But still a good book (and a good movie as well!) From BN.com:

In this stunning collectors' edition of The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson’s world is brought to life with eight full-color plates by the series jacket artist John Rocco. The edition comes in an elegant slipcase with a ribbon bookmark, rough edges, and cloth cover--a perfect keepsake for fans of this truly epic series.After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning: His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There's little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus.
This first installment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions.

Book 34 : A Love That Multiplies

A Love That Multiplies, the second book written by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar. I know there is alot of controversy (at least there is among my online communities) about the Duggar family. Yes, they likely use discipline methods that are unacceptable to me, but I do enjoy reading and watching how they make such a large family work:)

In this second book from the Duggars, they focus on the principles that equip them to face life's challenges—drawing from their most recent challenge with the 3-month premature birth of their newest child, Josie. They also share the new challenges their older children are facing as they prepare for adult life. Central to the book is a section on the principles that the Duggars have consistently taught their children. These simply worded principles are basic to the Duggar family and are shared in a way that other parents can incorporate in their own homes. A special chapter on homeschooling gives valuable information to parents who are considering this route or are already invested in it. The world continues to be amazed by their nineteen well-groomed, well-behaved, well-schooled children and their home life, which focuses on family, financial responsibility, fun—and must importantly, faith. The Duggars show how parents can succeed whether they’re rearing a single child or several.

Book 33 : Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. JK Rowling.

Book 32 : Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. J.K. Rowling.

Book 31 : Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling.

The fifth hefty installment in J. K. Rowling's renowned Harry Potter series takes a uniquely psychological dark turn, putting the boy wizard at odds with his own identity and friendships as he continues to fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Now 15 years old, with four Voldemort battles under his belt, Harry is frustrated with the growing public skepticism regarding the Dark Lord's return. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Magic is also voicing its doubts, and all of Hogwarts comes under the watchful eye of an oppressive Ministry representative. Despite the additional problems of looming O.W.L. exams and Hagrid's inexplicable absence, Harry's main preoccupation is his vivid dreams, which take him to places -- and make him witness events -- that horrify and intrigue him. These dreams provide a shocking clue to his very existence, and when eventually they lead Harry to confrontation, the young wizard must cope with a tragic death and a telling prophecy about his future. Intricate in plot, infused with tension, and deeply fulfilling on every level, Rowling's continuation will leave fans open-mouthed and breathlessly anticipating what's to come.

Book 30 : Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling.

Harry Potter is back in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and this time, the magic gets out of hand!
First, imagine if you will, the sleepy but mysterious village of Little Hangleton, and what happened at the Riddle House. No, the Riddle House is not a place for riddles, but a home where the family died of fright. The man accused of murdering them was eventually released, but when he returns to the Riddle House, he overhears a curious conversation between someone named Wormtail and a terrible, dark presence by the name of Lord Voldemort -- oh, so sorry He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Volde... (oops, almost said it again) He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is one of the most powerful Dark wizards -- and he wants Harry Potter.
When Harry wakes from a particularly vivid dream, the scar on his forehead throbs, and he knows something is up. Harry's been living in a dreadful house on Privet Drive with his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and greedy cousin, Dudley. They won't even let him do any wizardry -- you know Muggles, how they can't really handle that kind of stuff.
Harry's uncle and aunt like to let the neighbors think that Harry goes to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys rather than to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He has to hide his magic -- and even broomsticks aren't a suitable topic of conversation in the Dursley household. But everything is about to change for Harry, beginning with this particular summer vacation.
It starts with a letter from Mrs. Weasley, Harry's friend Ron's mother. She invites him to come spend the rest of the summer with the Weasleys and to go see the Quidditch World Cup. Quidditch is Harry's favorite sport in the world, and it isn't often that the Quidditch World Cup is in Britain. Faster than you can say "Hogwarts," Harry travels by fire to the Burrow, and the dark and threatening adventure begins.
On the way, Harry discovers that his interest in girls is becoming more nerve-wracking -- how is a young wizard to ask a girl to the Yule Ball? And what of the Goblet of Fire itself? And the Triwizard Tournament? And then, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named might be seeking Harry out even now!
Who can resist a Harry Potter tale? J. K. Rowling has proven again that her international success seemed inevitable. It is beautifully written, with a strong narrative and fascinating, unforgettable characters, and there is not a child or adult in the world who won't love this story. Not one word is wasted.

Book 29 : Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. J.K. Rowling.

For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.
Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts."
Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.

Book 28: Dead Reckoning

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris. Book 11 in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

Book 27 : Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. J.K. Rowling.

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone — or something — starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself!

Book 26 : Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. J.K. Rowling.

Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter.

Book 25 : Dead in the Family

Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris. Sookie Stackhouse book #10:)

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Fae War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's mad. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new vampire king because of their relationship. And, as the political implications of the shifters' coming-out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to one particular Were draws her into the dangerous debate. Also, unknown to her, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry.

Book 24 : Dead and Gone

Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris.

For Sookie Stackhouse, the day to day activities of the vampire and were communities in and around Bon Temps, Louisiana, are of vital interest, She's blood-bound to the leader of the vamps, a friend to the local were pack, works for a man who is shifter, and has a brother who is a were-panther
But for most of the humans in Bon Temps, the vamps are mysterious seductive creatures-and they don't even know about the weres.
Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to follow the lead of the undead and reveal their existence to the ordinary world.
At first it seems to go well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found in the parking lot of the bar where Sookie works. The victim is someone she knows, so she feels compelled to discover who-human or otherwise-did the deed.
But what she doesn't realize is that there is a far greater danger than the killer threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings--older, more powerful and far more secretive than vampires or werewolves-- is preparing for war. And Sookie will find herself an all-too human pawn in their battle

Book 23 : From Dead to Worse

From Dead to Worse. Written by Charliane Harris. Sookie book #8:)

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina, and the manmade horror of the explosion at the vampire summit, Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, yearning for things to get back to normal. But her boyfriend Quinn is among the missing. And things are changing, whether the weres and vamps in her corner of Louisiana like it or not. In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death…and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood ceases flowing, her world will be forever altered.

Book 22 : All Together Dead

All Together Dead, by Charlaine Harris. Sookie book #7.

Betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse must now not only deal with a possible new man in her life-the oh-so-handsome shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with a long-planned vampire summit. With her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans, the local vampire queen is vulnerable to those hungry for a takeover. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

Book 21 : Definately Dead

Definately Dead. By Charliane Harris. Sookie Stackhouse book #6:)

Spiked with a frothy fusion of romance, mystery, and fantasy, this bestselling series sends the supernaturally gifted cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to New Orleans, where she has to deal with the legacy of one of her own family and a host of potentially dangerous characters.

Book 20: Dead as A Doornail

Dead as a Doornail. By Charlaine Harris. Sookie Stackhouse book #5.

When Sookie's brother Jason's eyes start to change, she knows he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population-and Jason's new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks, unless the killer decides to find her first.

Book 19 : Dead to the World

Dead to the World, by Charlaine Harris. Sookie book #4, my book #19:) Loved it. I am starting to remember why I like these books so much more than the show:)
From BN:

When cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse sees a naked man on the side of the road, she doesn't just drive on by. Turns out the poor thing hasn't a clue who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric the vampire--but now he's a kinder, gentler Eric. And a scared Eric, because whoever took his memory now wants his life

Book Count : 19

Book 18 : Club Dead

Club Dead. Written by Charlain Harris.  Book 3 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series.

This is the third installment in the series; however it can be read by itself. Sookie Stackhouse is a strong, independent female who happens to have the gift of being telepathic. She falls in love with a vampire specifically because she cannot read his mind. Her lover, Bill, is kidnapped by his ex-lover Lorena, a vampire who is notoriously vicious. Sookie hooks up with a charming werewolf (is there another kind?) who will safely accompany her to Jackson, Mississippi where Bill is being held. The werewolf has just had his heart broken and is immediately smitten with Sookie. Their destination is Club Dead, where all the elite vampires hang out. Needless to say, Sookie is an intelligent protagonist, beautiful and blessed with acerbic wit. She also has an uncanny attraction to danger. This will appeal to readers who immerse themselves in this genre. It has humor sprinkled about, which helps with all the violence.

Book Count : 18
Page Count : this is starting to annoy me, so I am not doing it anymore-lol:)

Book 17 - Living Dead in Dallas

Living Dead in Dallas, by Charlaine Harris. Book # 2 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series. 291 pages. Again, great book. Here is a review from BN:

This is one terrific read. Harris has created a charming and winning character in Sookie Stackhouse-cocktail waitress, telepath, and girlfriend of a vampire. Stackhouse lives in a different world, one where vampires, werewolves, and assorted other mythical beings actually exist. She is beholden to the local Louisiana nest of vampires and is sent by its head, Eric, to help the nest in Dallas. It seems that one of their vamps has disappeared and they need a telepath to track him and possibly save him. She dutifully follows Bill to Dallas where they stay at an interesting vampire hotel complete with windowless rooms and synthetic blood. In Dallas they discover a fanatical religious cult that is vehemently opposed to vampires and is trying to destroy them or, better yet, get them to destroy themselves. Sookie has to dive headlong into this mystery before she gets to try her hand and her mind at solving the murder of a fellow worker back home. Harris creates wonderful characters, an inventive plot, and terrific situations. She has a real feel for the world she has created and allows the willing suspension of disbelief to do its job. Her work is reminiscent of Laurel Hamilton and her Anita Blake series but much less dense. It also reminds a reader of Tanya Huff's work and has the same light touch. There is plenty of sexual tension between Sookie and her boyfriend but also between Sookie and Eric, who also wants her for his own. At the same time there is a joy and an innocence about the work that make it very appealing.

Book Count : 17
Page Count : 4911

Book 16 - Dead Until Dark

Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris. 304 pages. Yes, I finally picked up another book... It's been almost 2 months... And then of course finished it in less than two days... This is the first book in the Southern Vampire Series (The Sookie Stackhouse Novels.) This series is the basis of the HBO show, True Blood. I read through the whole series back when I started watching the first season of True Blood. I love thise books. Seriously. The show is good, but of course, the books are better:) This book is set in a small town in Lousiana, shortly after vampires have "come out" to the public, so to speak. The book has a telepath, the vampires, a shapeshifter, and a string of murders that people come to blame on the main characters brother.

Book Count: 16

Page Count: 4620

Book 15: Nim's Island

Nim's Island, by Wendy Orr. 128 pages. Like most people (I assume), I watched this movie several times before getting the book. So, most of you probably know what it is about. A scientist father and his daughter live alone on a deserted island. The father leaves for a short trip, that ends up lasting much longer, due to a storm hitting. Meanwhile, the daughter is corresponding via e-mail with her favorite author. During her father's absense, the daughter has to defend the island against a crusie ship that would like nothing more than to turn their little island into a vacation spot. Right around this time, the author comes to visit their little island. I thought the movie was really cute, so when I saw the book, I thought the kids would love it. Duh... why do I never consider that movies (some) might have been a book first. The movie and book were very similar, with only a few things different. Zachariah like it, but I think Micah couldn't care less. I enjoyed it though:)

Book Count: 15
Page Count: 4316

Book 14 - Mrs. Piggle Wiggle

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, by Betty MacDonald. 144 pages. I know this is a children's book, but I have decided that I am going to count the books I am reading to the kids (except picture books...) I really like this book, just as I did when I was a child:) Here is an excerpt from BN:

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle lives in an upside-down house and smells like cookies. She was even married to a pirate once. Most of all, she knows everything about children. She can cure them of any ailment. Patsy hates baths. Hubert never puts anything away. Allen eats v-e-r-y slowly. Mrs Piggle-Wiggle has a treatment for all of them.
The incomparable Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle loves children good or bad and never scolds but has positive cures for Answer-Backers, Never-Want-to-Go-to-Bedders, and other boys and girls with strange habits.

Book Count : 14
Page Count : 4188

Book 13 - Let the Right One In

Let The Right One In, by John Ajvide Lindqvist. 472 pages. A while ago, I was looking through my library's new book section, trying to find a few books to read. One of the books I picked up was Lindqvist's Handling the Undead. I mean, *undead?* I thought it was about vampires... Read that it was about zombies... and my interest in reading it vanished:/ Somewhere on the book jacket, this book was mentioned, so I picked it up. Now, when I started reading it, I thought it was *really* good... But I am not sure I feel the same way now that I have finished it. It was a good book, but at the very least, the ending stunk:/ The book is about a young boy, and the strange neighbor he meets. When I began the book, I knew I was not going to LOVE it, cause it started out with quite some child molestation / prostitution type situations... And it was not until a ways into the book that I realized why Eli's *father* was with her:/ The book (imo) could have done without some of that icky molestation stuff... Don't think it added to the plot much... Something that is stilll bugging me is the vampire defenition. Oskar asks if Eli is a vampire, and the response is basically *no, and there is a big difference between myself and a vampire...* So Eli is not a vampire? But the book is supposed to be about vampires... And if Eli is not a vampire... then what? It was okay, but jumpy. It took me probably 3/4 of the book to be able to understand who was talking when the storyline jumped to another scene. I am still confused about some of the people. Lots of people... Right after I got this book from the library (but before I read it) I found the movie, Let The Right One In, at a Blockbuster for 3 bucks, so I bought it. Now that I have read it, I am wondering how *like* the book it will be, and If I even want to watch it... I also just saw that they re-made the movie, Let Me In, last year. There are supposed to be some pretty big differences in the two movies, with the second taking a larger leap from the plot of the actual book... We will see...

Book Count : 13
Page Count : 4044

Book 12 - The Midwife's Apprentice

The Midwife's Apprentice. Written by Karen Cushman. 128 pages. From BN.com:

Like Cushman's 1995 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's . . . dangerous, primitive and raucous. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old. She gets the village midwife to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence.

I am pretty sure that this in the only book that I have read (so far this year) that has received any sort of award. But I was not super impressed:/ I thought I would like the book, based solely on the title. Some of the word usage was so foreign to me, and I had to re-read several passages to understand what the HECK was going on... Meh... Oh well:/

Book Count : 12
Page Count : 3572

Book 11 - The Gift

The Gift. Written by James Patterson. #2 in the Witch and Wizard Series. 341 pages. Snippet from BN.com:



When Whit & Wisty were imprisoned by the wicked forces of the totalitarian regime known as the New Order, they were barely able to escape with their lives. Now part of a hidden community of teens like themselves, Whit and Wisty have established themselves as leaders of the Resistance, willing to sacrifice anything to save kids kidnapped and brutally imprisoned by the New Order.
But the One has other plans in store for them: He needs Wisty, for she is "The One Who Has the Gift." While trying to figure out what that means, Whit and Wisty's suspenseful adventures through Overworld and Shadowland lead to a jaw-dropping climax and conclusion: the highly-anticipated fulfillment of the heart-pounding opening prologue of book one... The Execution of the Allgoods.

Meh... I am not really sure what I think of this book. I mean, I picked up the first book because the title and cover looked good. And I really only read this one cause I already read the second one, and I was HOPING that this one would be better. IDK... The author has created such an alternate reality, and uses SO many fictitious terms, that I often had a hard time keeping up. I also feel like there is not enough back story. I don't understand alot of why these two kids had NO idea of their powers, or how this organization (the N.O.) came to be in power... I think that might have been helpful to include. This book just left me confused. OF COURSE I will read another book in this series if it comes out, but only cause I just want to know what the heck is going on....

Book Count : 11
Word Count : 3444

Meal Plan : 3/14-20

I love meal planning. I love the organization of making up my little lists and menus... And using CookingTF just makes is sooooo much easier. I still manage to take an hour or so to tweak my weeks plan though...lol:-) I write out what we are having each day, and then make a list of what need to be prepared/defrosted/etc... each morning/evening. The mailer I get includes this info, but since I have different meals on different days, I get to tweak it:) And then the best part... making my pretty menu for the fridge:) Yeah...dorky... but i love it! Check it out:

I know... gorgeous, right? And I just know you are dying to have your very own little toy story magnets...right? Today (monday) is not on the menu because we had leftovers tonight. I love leftovers. And I still have leftovers from last week in the fridge AND the freezer... I suppose I should have planned for a few leftover nights this week, but everything looked so darn good, I could not choose:/ So, like I have mentioned before, I have yet to try a CookingTF recipe that I do not like, so let's see how this week is!

Traditional Foods

  So... for several years now, I have been intrigued by those following a "Traditional Foods" diet. What are "Traditional Foods?" Kerry Ann Foster at CookingTF says this:
So, this is what TF looks like for us (as far as the food is concerned):

Simply put, Traditional Foods are foods consumed in the way our ancestors ate them.  The basis of Traditional Foods is that the food you consume be as nutrient dense and nourishing as possible.  Traditional Foods (TF) goes beyond just avoiding packaged and processed foods.  It is about choosing the best food options available for your budget, individual chemistry & location and consuming it in a way that allows your body to extract the maximum nutrition from that item.  

• buying pastured meat directly from the farmer. We found a semi-local source for beef and poultry (minus ground beef, but we can get grass-fed ground beef from several local health food stores...) We drove up to this farm (Rainbow Ranch Farms, if anyone is interested - they also have a facebook page) and picked up a wholesale order of 20 whole chickens and about 75 lbs. of beef a couple weeks ago. We are so excited to have been able to not only get some good quality meat, but to support a small family farm at the same time. Plus, in order to be able to buy all of this meat, we got to buy a chest freezer-lol! Grass fed beef (also called pastured) is soooo much better for you than the "meat" you will find at your local grocery store... And it is tasty. So very, very tasty! Have you seen Food Inc.? ((shudder))  So now, if it is not grass fed/pastured/organic.... I just can't buy it. For other meat products (bacon, lunch meat, BACON...) we really like Applegate Farms:-)
• Organic Dairy. If we are buying milk to drink (which is a rare occasion, we are not milk drinkers) we get raw milk from Organic Pastures. We have some of their raw butter as well, for spreading on toast and things like that. For cooking/baking with, we use non-homogenized whole milk from Straus Family Creamery, and pastured butter from Organic Valley. Taking the fat out of dairy is so yucky:/ Raw dairy is so much healthier for you, but where I live, it is so expensive:/ Hopefully someday we will live somewhere where we have a local, affordable, raw dairy and cream source... But for now, this is a good setup:)
• We recently completely stopped buying cold cereals, even if they are organic. I have learned to love my oatmeal, pancakes, and eggs:) I am always open to new breakfast ideas though!
• Pastured eggs. I have not found a local (enough) source for free-range eggs that are NOT veggie fed... so for now, I buy Chino Valley eggs.
• not a new one for us, but I try to buy anything that we will be putting into our bodies organic. I should have put this one first, as it pretty much applies to everything. I started out, a while ago, trying to buy produce according to the dirty dozen. As our finances allowed, that slowly changed into us just buying everything organic. Produce, body products, the few snack foods that we might buy, nuts, beans, wheat...

I think I got most of it. I have also found several websites that have been full of useful information:

• The big one, that everyone and their mom will tell you about, is the Weston A. Price Foundation. I, personally found this site to be a *nightmare* to navigate, until someone directed me to their guided tours. There is a lot of information here. Oh, and a wiki rundown of the WAPF.
• The Nourishing Gourmet. This is not one that I have spent a lot of time perusing, but it has come highly recommended by friends.
• The Nourished Kitchen. Again, not one I have spent a ton of time on. But, a while back, I followed some one's link to something on the site called the 28-day real food challenge. It piqued my interest in TF, and is full of great info and recipes.
• Some online forums, like MDC have their own Traditional Foods sub-forum. Forums like this are a great way to learn about TF, and talk to others about it.
• The last one I have, and my absolute favorite- CookingTF (which I linked to earlier) and their very own forum, TFRecipes. This site has the basics laid out for your very nicely on the main page. And also, for recipe-deficient folks like myself, they have a nifty menu-mailer. I signed up a couple of weeks ago, and I love it! I have been in such a rut, meal wise, for a looong time. Add in this new way of eating and preparing meals... I was just lost... There are a few things on the menu that I have looked at. and though "meh... not gonna try that..." mostly things with seafood... or butternut squash ((shudder)) But EVERY single recipe that I have tried so far, has been a hit. Seriously yummy! When there is something on the menu that I just can't handle, I can just pull another recipe of hers out. This week we had Teriyaki Chicken, Beef Kabobs (that I could not Kabob properly...), Bacon, Kale and Tomato Soup, Chicken and Wild Rice, and Chili (for the record, I have NEVER been able to make a good chili from scratch. These recipes rock. They are awesome.

I have tried a handful of different *diets* with my family. From your standard american diet (SAD, and it really is sad:/), to one trying to buy more organic products but not really being able to, to going wheat/dairy/egg free along with trying to make everything from scratch, to a week of veganism... None of these felt right for our family, and there was not one where every person in the family actually felt great and enjoyed the food I made. I really feel like I have discovered the way we were meant to eat with TF:-) kinda cheesy sounding, but oh well...

Book 10 - How To Ride a Dragon's Storm

Woo-hoo! I actually went a whole month without posting. Or reading much (for that matter...) On to the book:

How to Ride a Dragon's Storm, by Cressida Cowell. 254 pages. From BN:

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, everyone's favorite reluctant Viking hero, has three months, five days and six hours to discover America, get back to Berk, save his father, battle Polarserpents and win the annual Inter-Tribal Friendly Swimming Race. Can he do it?

The reason it took me soo long to read the next book in this series, was cause I don't own it! And apparently everyone and their uncle's cousin is putting this very book on hold at my local library... But I digress... Having not read much of anything for the past month, this was a nice little dip back into reading. Like the others in the series, this book was just fun to read. I am *into* the series now, and am kinda bummed that I have reached the last one that has been released *in the US* so far:/ Oh well. I've already got another book ready to read! It is The Gift. You know, the sequel to Witch and Wizard, which I read in January. Woohoo! And I think sometime after that (assuming I do not find something that I just MUST read) I will re-read the Sookie Stackhouse Books. Actually, they are called The Southern Vampire Series... OMG they are good! Anyways... off to bed!

Book Count : 10
Page Count : 3103

Book 9 - Shattered Dreams

Shattered Dreams, written by Irene Spencer. 406 pages. Synopsis from BN.com:

Just as A Mormon Mother is the standout memoir of a 19th-century polygamous woman's life, this autobiography offers the compelling voice of a contemporary plural wife's experiences. Daughter of a second wife, Spencer was raised strictly in "the Principle" as it was lived secretly and illegally by fringe communities of Mormon "fundamentalists"-groups that split off from the LDS Church when it abandoned polygamy more than a century ago. In spite of her mother's warnings and the devotion of a boyfriend with monogamist intentions, Spencer followed her religious convictions-that living in polygamy was essential for eternal salvation-and became a second wife herself at the age of 16 in 1953. It's hard to tell which is more devastating in this memoir: the strains of husband-sharing with-ultimately-nine other wives, or the unremitting poverty that came with maintaining so many households and 56 children. Spencer's writing is lively and full of engaging dialogue, and her life is nothing short of astonishing. After 28 years of polygamous marriage, Spencer has lived the last 19 years in monogamy. Her story will be emotional and shocking, but many readers will resonate with the universal question the memoir raises: how to reconcile inherited religious beliefs when they grate against social norms and the deepest desires of the heart. (Aug. 22)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

It was very interesting to read another book, written by someone in the same family. Last week I finished Favorite Wife, written by the 6th wife of Verlan LeBaron. Shattered Dreams was written by the same man's 2nd wife. So, interesting to see two different perspectives. What I found the most interesting, was that from the very beginning, Irene was a rebelious little thing, never fully onboard with polygamy. She sought a divorce several times during her marriage to Verlan, and was constantly making her own decsions. Decisions that blantatly went against not only her husbands wishes, but the rules of her religion. Another eye opener if you want to really see how these women live - in complete poverty, not even seeing their husbands but a few times a month - if that...

Book Count : 9

Word Count : 2849

Book 8 - Favorite Wife

Favorite Wife, written by Susan Ray Schmidt. 406 pages. This book (like many others that I have read) was about this womans experience growing up, marrying, living and escaping from a polygamous community. Of course, I enjoyed it:) Here is a summary from BN.com:

A RIVETING MEMOIR OF LIFE INSIDE ONE OF NORTH AMERICA’S
MOST NOTORIOUS POLYGAMOUS CULTS She had no choice in the matter—none of the girls did. Her mission was to give birth to and raise many children in devoted service to a shared husband. Susan was fifteen years old when she became the sixth wife of Verlan LeBaron, one of the leaders of a rogue Mormon cult, who was engaged in a blood feud with his brother that from 1972 to 1988 claimed up to two dozen lives.

In this gripping and eloquent book, Susan Ray Schmidt tells the story of growing up on the inside and of her ultimate escape with her children from an oppressive and violent life. Delving more deeply into this mysterious underworld than any previous work, Favorite Wife is a powerful account of the affairs of the heart, coming of age under exceptional circumstances, and the tough choices that are sometimes painfully necessary to preserve human dignity.

There was a HUGE difference between this book, and the others that I have read about real life polygamy. The books I have read in the past were about the FLDS, the large polygamous community that we all know about up in the US. The group whose *prophey* was/is Warren Jeffs. This book, was about a different group, in Mexico. This groups prophet was Joel LeBaron, and was called the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times. From the very beginning, I was shocked by the (apparant) differences between the two groups. This group allowed women to wear pants, and relatively modern clothing (the book was set in the late 60's-mid 70's.) The author did not touch on abuse, so I assume is was not a HUGE problem, as it is in the FLDS. And the big one (for me at least,) is that, for the most part, the women choose who they want to marry... Of course, there are exceptions, like when someone pushed a girl to get married to a certain person - but this was not (to my understanding) the accepted norm. Susan had a dream, and chose (at age 15) to marry, and become the 6th wife of Verlan LeBaron. From the very beggining of her marriage, she realized that her life was not going to be all that she thought it would be... In the end, when she did leave, there did not appear to be any crazy fight for her return or anything. It seems like the people in this group do have alot more freedom than in the FLDS. They are still under some pretty freaky indoctrination... but still... I have another book here, titled Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife which is written by Susan's ex-sister wife, the 2nd wife of Verlan LeBaron. Should be another interesting read... It never really occured to me that there were more polygamous groups than just the FLDS...

Book Count : 8

Word Count : 2443

Book 7 - Matched

Matched, by Ally Condie. 384 pages. All I can say, is that there had BETTER be a sequel to this book... Synopsis from BN.com:

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow

Okay, first things first, there WILL be a sequel. I think this is supposed to be a three-part series??? Anyways... I loved this book. Read it in less than a day. It reminded me slightly of the Uglies series. Every decision is made for the people in this book. Right down to who you are to marry. I loved this book, it was definately a page turner. I could not put it down, and was really enjoying the plot, up until the ending. It just stops. Thank goodness there is, in fact, going to be a sequel - or the ending would have totally ruined the book...

Book Count : 7

Word Count : 2037