Not much to say - Sunday, adventuring, wildlife, and I got a tan.

All good. Hope you all had a great weekend, too.

(Btw, I have no idea what kind of birds these are...but they were pretty.)

I have been so busy so I haven't spent much time with books, and I really miss them, and talking with all of you about my adventures jn readjng.

Well, my luck has been sucky. I put my new to me used chrysler 300m into the shop to have the battery replaced. It died on me at the library. There was a tire, alignment, and battery shop right next door. I figured just let them do it because it was convenient. The hubby isn't too happy with me about this considering he is an auto mechanic, but he is swamped right now with a transmission and dropping a new motor in this awesome old ass barracuda someone young guy brought in. When the idiot tire tech put my battery in, he didn't check to make sure the ground was still connected to my frame. Pop! There went my ECM, better known as the computer to the car. Errrr! They tried to deny responsibility until my hubby called a friend who happens to be a master mechanic for chrysler. I ended up just having them refund my money for the battery because I got so tired of arguing with them about it. Now my hubby gets to mess with the electrical wiring and components in my car, he least favorite thing to dig into. 

On top of that, I have 30 days to move. I have money, just none that I can easily get my hands on. There will be a 90 day gap between when my new home (if I end up going with a modular home) and when I have to be out. I went this morning and looked at some one bedroom efficiency apartments that rent by the week. One place looked promising because there is a single room suite that is available too, and it has an attatched door to the one bedroom. We could even fit in the one bedroom the way it is set up. It has Murphy beds and two roll out sofas. Ugh... it is going to be a pain with kids. I can't find a place to rent that doesn't want a year long lease.

I came across this tag on My Little Book Blog

I have linked each book I mentioned to their GoodReads page so you can check them out yourself!

1.) What was the last book you read?

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

2.) Was it a good one?

It wasn't for me

3.) What made it good?

Well, I liked the idea of  the underground compound setting in the aftermath of a nuclear war. 

4.) Would you recommend it to other people?

It's not my go to recommendation

5.) How often do you read? 

Mostly everyday!

6.) Do you like to read?

I LOVE reading

7.) What was the last bad book you read?

The last absolutely horrible book I read was Storm by Donna Jo Napoli

8.) What made you dislike it?

I had really high hopes for it. Its a Noah's Ark retelling and I just could not get into the writing or any of the characters.

9.) Do you wish to be a writer?

Its something I have thought about, but then I think I have too many books to read to write my own. But sometimes i'll get a creative moment. 

10.) Has any book ever influenced you greatly?

Many, but only one comes to mind. By the Time You Read This I'll Be Dead by Julie Ann Peters Its about a girl who wants to commit suicide because of the way she is bullied. I read this when I was in high school and I think that's why it had an impact on me.

11.) Do you read fan fiction?

No

12.) Do you write fan fiction?

Negative

13.) What's your favorite book?

It changes. So far this year it's Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson The first in a trilogy. It made me want to travel. And its historical fiction!

14.) What's your least favorite book?

I know I have some but nothing comes to mind

15.) Do you prefer physical books or to read on a device (like kindle)?

Definitely physical books

16.) When did you learn to read?

Whatever age you normally learn to read at.

17.) What was your favorite book you had to read in school?

By far, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

18.) What is your favorite book series?

Always and forever, The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

19.) Who is your favorite author?

I cant pick

20.) What is your favorite genre?

I would have to say YA (and the branches that spring from that) and historical fiction. 

21.) Who is your favorite character in a book series?

At the moment, Lee Westfall from Walk on Earth a Stranger

22.) Has a book ever transported you somewhere else?

Every one.

23.) Wish book do you wish had a sequel?

I Think im going with Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

24.) Which book do you wish didnt have a sequel?

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

25.) How long does it take you to read a book?

Anywhere from two days to literally forever

26.) Do you like when books become movies?

yes, if I actually read it

27.) Which book was ruined by its movie adaptation?

I dont think any that I have seen

28.) Which movie has done a book justice?

cant say

29.) Do you read newspaper

I think I have only read one newspaper. I bought it from a flea market and its from 1942

30.) Do you read magazines?

I like them, but not usually

31.) Do you prefer newspaper or magazines?

Magazines

32.) Do you read while in bed?

Thats where most of my reading is done

33.) Do you read while on the toilet? 

Im not going to say I never have.

34.) Do you read while in the car?

Yes but not often

35.) Do you read while in the bath

Id love to, but I dont have that kind of set up

36.) Are you a fast reader?

yes

37.) Are you a slow reader?

no

38.) What is your favorite place to read?

Anywhere that it is sunny, warm, and has natural lighting.

39.) Is it hard for you to concentrate while you read?

not usually

40.) Do you need a room to be silent while you read?

Id prefer it, but not necessary. 

41.) Who gave you your love for reading?

Im not sure, I think my grandmother.

42.) What book is next on your list to read?

Sounds funny but, I bought it while in a Disney World gift shop. Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson

43.) When did you start to read chapter books?

Whatever age you normally do

44.) Who is your favorite children's book author?

Barbra Park for sure

45.) Which author would you most want to interview?

Laura Ingalls Wilder

46.) Which author do you think you'd be friends with?

no idea

47.) What books have you reread the most?

I don't reread

48.) Which books do you consider "classics"?

I tend to refer to my childhood favorites as classics

49.) Which books do you think should be taught in every school?

Nothing in particular, but ones that make you reflect on your life or the world.

50.) Which books should be banned from all schools?

Nothing I can think of

And that's it! If you read through all of my answers I tag and thank you! 

Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she’s determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for “completers”— www. through-the-light.com.

While she’s on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she’s not on the Web, Daelyn’s at her private school, where she’s known as the freak who doesn’t talk.

Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she’s waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she’s made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won’t give up. And it’s too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life... isn't it?

National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

Suicide is a topic of immense fascination to me, but I just wasn't satisfied by the way this book was written. This story felt very contrived at most points.

Daelyn is fifteen years old and planning her third attempt at suicide, using a website that has her wait twenty-three days. I'm really not sure what this website was supposed to be, why 23 days was picked, or what happened to other users, but it seemed like a way to show how Daelyn was at the point where she was pretty selfish and felt like only the things that happened to her matter.

The methodical way she went through ways she could commit suicide was intriguing and shed light on her character. Hearing about her past through her posting on the forums was revealing as to her motivations and feelings, but I still just wasn't able to connect with her.

Santana and Emily were the only characters I really liked in this story. Santana ad his rat were a lot of fun, but I really didn't understand their fascination with a girl who wouldn't speak. It was very contrived. Had she given him any bones, I would have appreciated their budding friendship, but I just don't understand his motivations. Emily, on the other hand, was a breath of fresh air and I think she could do more for Daelyn than Daelyn for her.

In a way, this reminded me of a version of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, except that this book would only resonate with younger readers and Speak is timeless.

I won't talk about my frustration with the ending.

I recommend this for younger readers, but for me this just felt a bit too intentional.