"Tinkers" By Paul Harding

Title: Tinkers
Author: Paul Harding
Published Year: 2009
Pages: 191
Awards: Pulitzer Prize

Harding takes us into the life of a man who is at his last few days of his life. The man gives an account of the room he is slowly dying in and the family members who have come to be with him in his last living days on earth. He is a man known as a tinker, as his whole business is dealing with fixing clocks, and when he isn't actually fixing clocks he tinkers with them.

We are not only taken through these last few days of his life, but also through the days of some of his father's life and his own from his childhood on. The description of his father's life shares a story of struggle when his grandfather must be put away and the family is dealing with the issue of mental illness. Struggles like this can happen in any family and Harding has a fantastic way of expressing the turmoil and troubles that it has brought family of the main character's father. To make things better understood the main character's name in George.

As the book progresses, another story of struggle in his own life as a child and how his own family has overcome it. In his youth his own father develops seizures and his family learns to deal with the effect it has on his father and how his own parents work really hard to keep it outside of the young children's sight so they are not traumatized or affected by it.

This book is mesmerizing and full of literary genius. After reading it I can completely understand why this book won the Pulitzer Price. It is for the reader that thirsts for a great book that tells a story in a heartwarming way. Since it deals with subjects we will all deal with in life at one point or another, it is also very easy to identify with.

"Fast Women:The Drivers Who Changed the Face of Motor Racing" By John Bullock

Title: Fast Women: The Drivers Who Changed the Face of Motor Racing
Author: John Bullock
Published Year: 2002
Pages: 187 pages

This is a little different racing than the type I am used to. It is not the current high horsepower racing that most people think about when the concept of racing cars comes to mind. Okay now that I have that point across, I will tell you what this book is about. This book is about women who primarily raced across Europe before World War II during the 1930s. The majority of the stories focus on racing on a track in England called Brooklands. Many of the women who were able to race there moved on to other race surfaces such as Donington Park, Crystal Palace, Montlhery and the famous 24 hour Le Mans.

Included are not just British women, but women from France and Australia just to name a couple other places where these women came from. For a sport that today that does not have a lot of women participating in it at the high level, this book is a real eye opener. I could not believe how many women during the 1930s were racing and how good they really were. Changes in life style during the war and after affected the number of women racing during this time. I am happy that I came across this book because it brought a real eye opener to me about the history of women in racing even if it is not the type of racing that I passionately love. I have no doubt though that during the time of the events taken place in this book I would have loved to jump in one of their cars and run a few laps or even a whole race.

The book includes history as well as encouragement to try something that you have not done or something that is not thought of something for your age, gender or ethnicity whatever it may be. My favorite people written about in this book are the men and families that stood by their wives, sisters, mothers, and daughters to dare to do something different. Totally worth the read, as this part of racing history should be known.

"Ancient City Hauntings" By Dave Lapham

Title: Ancient City Hauntings: More Ghosts of St. Augustine
Author: Dave Lapham
Published Year: 2004
Pages: 191 pages


Lapham does something in this short collection of ghost stories based on events that happen in the city of St. Augustine, Florida, he states that he started out by collecting these stories more as folklore than actual proof that ghosts exist. The reason I like this statement is that he does not try and tell people that the stories he relays through the pages are actual facts, but rather verbal stories that he has picked up from other people. The mass of the stories though suggests that the city of St. Augustine is haunted and that if you are not shutting out the idea of ghosts you hold a high chance of actually experiencing a haunting whether it be through seeing, hearing or just a feeling.

Lapham includes over 20 of these tales that he picks up from other people. It is up to the reader to read the book and decide if any of the tales are true and whether or not they should read up or research them more. Maybe a visit to some of the localities could even be in store for the curious reader. I know if I ever get a chance to visit near St. Augustine I would love the chance just to go to the town and wander around to see if I sense anything at all.

"Washington Disasters" By Rob & Natalie McNair-Huff

Title: Washington Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival
Authors: Rob & Natalie McNair-Huff
Published Year: 2006
Pages: 193


Here's a fun book based on incidents that have happened right in my own backyard over the years. Set in chronological order, the authors take the reader through 22 different disasters that have taken place in Washington state between the years of 1700 and 2001. If you are not a Washington native or do not know anything about the geography the area, don't fret, the authors have even included a map at the beginning showing where each event took place. As you are reading about the events you can always glance back to find out what area in the state they are talking about. The majority of the events take place in western Washington, which is more populated that eastern Washington (at least this is what I have observed and been told, I haven't personally done any research on that), and so being from western Washington myself I found it simply to identify the areas in which the events were taking place.

Here are the events that are included in the book (and yes I left them in the order from oldest to most recent as the book does also):

• The Great Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake
• The Columbia River Bar
• The Wreck of the Pacific
• The Great Seattle Fire
• The Great Spokane Falls Fire
• The Conconully Flood
• The Carbonado Mine Explosion
• The Tacome Trolley Disaster
• The Yacolt Burn
• The Sinking of the SS Clallam
• The SS Dix Collision
• The Wellington Railway Disaster
• Western Washington Windstorm
• The Boeing Field Air Disaster
• The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse
• Mount Rainier Plane Crash
• The Puget Sound Earthquakes
• The Columbus Day Storm
• The Mount St. Helens Eruption
• The Tyee Creek Fire
• The Nisqually Earthquake
• The Thirtymile Fire

"Haunted: The Incredible True Story of a Canadian Family's Experience Living in a Haunted House" By Dorah L. Williams

Title: Haunted: The Incredible True Story of a Canada Family's Experience Living in a Haunted House
Author: Dorah L. Williams
Published Year: 2002
Pages: 189


Williams is not only the author of this experience that is told in this book, but she was also a resident of the home where all the action took place. This book is her first hand account of what happened in the home during the time of the haunting which took place over several years. The book describes the chronological time line of what events happened during the haunting, what the residents discovered about it and what they ultimately decide to do about the haunting.

Coming from the person who actually lived during the events, it gives the book a much more realistic feeling. I am not as harsh when it is told from the first person accounts as I would be with other books that claim to be authoritative sources on the subject and the authors are not subjective at all. So with that in mind while reading this I treated it more like reading a case study, just another example if you will. That's all I can use it for as there is no direct concrete evidence otherwise. Williams does have a convincing voice through her written word and I have no doubt that these events actually took place as she describes them.

"Horror at the Haunted House" By Peg Kehret

Title: Horror at the Haunted House
Author: Peg Kehret
Published Year: 1992
Pages: 132
Genre: Young-Adult Fiction

Kehret has written other books for young adults (I would put this in the 10-13 year old range depending on reading ability) and this is her second one I have read. The other work I have read from her is Terror At the Zoo which I read in the mid-90s while away at camp. Both works are based in Washington which is the state that I have lived my whole life in (with the exception of 6 weeks in Alaska one summer). So I find the scenery easy to associate with and it brings a kind of home state feeling to me which I do not get out of other books where I am not familiar with the areas that are described in them. Now on to the synopsis of the actual book.

Horror at the Haunted House is a story of a girl who is invited along with her brother to play a character in a local haunted house that is being done to raise money for the local Historical Society. The house that is being used as the haunted house now belongs to the local Historical Society and will be used as a museum after the haunted house is done for Halloween season. The main character is enthralled with the chance and learning about the history of the home and its former occupants. To make things even more exciting, there is rumor to be a real ghost within the walls of the home. As the story progresses, the ghost begins to make appearances and it is up to the main character to find out who the ghost is and why they have come back at this time to show their presence.

Overall this is a good book in my opinion. There is plenty of action and mystery to keep the book moving and there are lots of little surprises throughout it. It is not too scary so those that are worried about it, don't be. Unless of course you don't like a good ghost story as this book has a ghost within its pages.

"Hauntings & Poltergeists: A Ghost Hunter's Guide" By Loyd Auerbach

Title: Hauntings & Poltergeists: A Ghost Hunter's Guide
Author: Loyd Auerbach
Published Year: 2004
Pages: 191
Genre: Metaphysics/Unexplained Phenomena


After reading this book, I do agree with it being a starter ghost hunter's guide. Just a step in the right direction on ghost hunting, but definitely not a source for all things ghost hunting. The author takes the reader through a series of chapters that explain different aspects of ghosts. Developing a foundation with this information should be extremely important just as any other subject you may decide to pursue. He relates personal stories of ghost hunting as well so it is not too much of a technical book. I always have liked educational books that include actual examples in real life, it brings the material to life and makes it more believable.

In addition to the classifications of ghosts and to a lesser extent poltergeists he also brings in good information on what a ghost hunter should take with them as well as what types of things to look for and ask about to witnesses.

Like I mentioned earlier, it is a good starting point for someone just starting out in ghost hunting, but as you become more experienced and more technical, other sources will be more helpful in that aspect.

"UFO: The Continuing Enigma" Edited By Reader's Digest

Title: UFO: The Continuing Enigma
Edited By: Reader's Digest (no author listed on copy of book)
Published Year: 1991
Pages: 144
Series: Quest for the Unknown


In the early 1990s, Reader's Digest published some books under its name in this series called "Quest for the Unknown". This book selection is one of those books in that series. The series seems to be created to bring books about mysterious subjects to the general population without overwhelming them or getting into too much scientific detail. One awesome part of this book is that it is broken up into sections with a gist of the information that is out there on that subject and it is not one-sided. I find it so hard these days to find a book on subjects of the paranormal and unknown that are equally balanced and not just one sided.

I would definitely recommend this book for readers that are curious about UFOs and the subjects related to them while at the same time just taking in the sampling.

Here are the actual chapter titles so you can get a better understanding of what is included:

• An Alien Encounter
• UFO's Through the Ages
• Investigators and Spacecraft
• Contact With the Visitors
• Faith and Paranoia
• Unraveling the Enigma

Since the book was published in 1991 some of the items are not up to date but they still hold a historical reference for UFOs so that is not a reason to not take a peek at this book.

"Dead Man's Song" By Jonathan Maberry

Title: Dead Man's Song
Author: Jonathan Maberry
Published Year: 2007
Pages: 508 pages

My first Maberry book! And I do have to tell you that the hype about him is for real, as in his stuff is good. I feel like I am not missing out anymore by not having read any of his works. Of course now, like when I get hooked onto an author all I want to do is read more by him despite the fact that I have a ton of books just waiting for me to devour them. We'll see how that all pans out, I do know eventually I will read his other works. I do own a couple of his others, so I may be reading them in the near future. So now on to this book though.

Dead Man's Song takes place in a small farming community. The community bases its whole economic growth on the yearly harvest and Halloween festivities. This year something horrible is happening during the time when the community is supposed to be raking in the dough just as it did over 30 years prior. People are turning up missing and others are going crazy. The whole thing seems to be a repeat of events that took place 30 years prior when a killing spree around the community went on. Not only are people missing, but bodies are going missing and many locals are wondering whether wild animals, or stranger creatures like werewolves or vampires are responsible for the creepy events going on.

Maberry is able to weave a fantastic tale of human strength and triumph along with elements of the supernatural. Since the book is based on my favorite time of the year he even gets bonus points for that too. Once I actually got into the book and focused into it, I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to keep going and find out what was going to happen next. This doesn't always happen for me as at times I can get distracted very easily. Not with Maberry though. And its not a book that you're just gonna sit in one sitting and finish unless you have the time. There is intricate plot lines in the book that need following. If you miss one, you may be lost later on.

"Ghost Worlds: A Guide to Poltergeists, Portals, Ecto-Mist & Spirit Behavior" By Melba Goodwyn

Title: Ghost Worlds: A Guide to Poltergeists, Portals, Ecto-Mist & Spirit Behavior
Author: Melba Goodwyn
Published Year: 2007
Pages: 241
Genre: Body, Mind, Spirit/Parapsychology

First of all I just want to say that the title of this book is kind of a misnomer, at least in my own opinion(it is my blog after all). When it states that it is a guide to poltergeists, portals, ecto-mist and spirit behavior, that statement is not entirely correct. Goodwyn doesn't actually go into research of the topics and instead relies on her personal accounts with these items.

Goodwyn is a self-described ghost hunter and relates her experiences through the pages of this book. Since I have read a ton of books, well at least it feels like a ton of books, on the subjects that are supposed to be included in this book, I am not so sure of her actual credentials. I want more facts and information instead of the "This is what I saw so this is what it has to be" mentality. At one point she mentions that she will not even go into the idea that orbs are not actual ghosts or spirit contacts because she knows they are. If you are going to have someone believe in what you are presenting, you need to present both sides of the issue. I kind of get stubborn about believing something if I do not know the other side of the story with the facts.

So you have been forewarned. If you are looking for personal accounts of stories of the topics that are stated in the title, dive right in. However I wouldn't use this as a serious research tool.

"Dogsong" By Gary Paulsen

Title: Dogsong
Author: Gary Paulsen
Published Year: 1985
Pages: 177
Awards: Newberry Honor Book

Dogsong takes the reader on a journey of inspiration and discovery. Taking place in a winter home for Eskimos, the boy that is the main character is en Eskimo descendant that has been modernized. I'm not talking like today's modernization, but during the time where fur trappers and outsiders begin intermingling with the Native Americans, teaching them religion and modern ways. He lives his life between two villages, a summer one and a winter one since the summer one is only good for fishing, it has become too harsh to live in during the winter. Despite living in a village where his father is a devout religious man and there are snowplows that push the snow away, he still yearns to learn of the old ways. Luckily for him there is still one old man in the village who is set in the old ways and is willing to tell the stories of old. The young boy listens to these stories and based on the old stories decides to take the old man's sled dogs out and go out on a dog sled adventure which he has never done before in his life.

The story follows his adventures, such as learning to hunt the old way and rescuing a pregnant Eskimo girl. His story brings bounds of self-discovery and learning of the old ways.

At times the story can be confusing at it weaves between what is really going on in his journey of self-discovery and the dreams he has while on the journey. If you get side-tracked easily, not a good choice. The book is aimed at the young adult crowd is the audience this is aimed at which is true to most of Paulsen's books. If you're going to give the book to a kid that the book is directed at, it would be a good idea to read it with them so they understand and can communicate with you about what is going on in the book.

"One Year Gone" By Rebecca Dessertine

Title: One Year Gone
Author: Rebecca Dessertine
Published Year: 2011
Pages: 334


This book is based on the television series "Supernatural". Best part of these books tied into the show is that each book is a whole new adventure that is not an actual episode of the show. Most of the time when I read books based off of a television series, the book picks an episode and just details it better to get all the facts and figures across. Having a whole new storyline that ties into the series but does not copy an actual episode is a fun experience. Making things even better, there is a description included with each book stating when the book takes place along the lines of the series. I love this because it helps me stay on track without me jumping ahead to something I have not watched yet. I watch Supernatural on dvd and not when it is aired so this is extremely important.

For those of you that watch the show, this book takes place between season 5 and season 6 during what is referred to as "the lost year" that was a void between the two seasons. Sam is thought to still be in hell as the vessel of Lucifer and Dean is beginning to settle down into a more domesticated life. Of course Dean wanting his brother back decides to take his new girlfriend and her son on a family trip to Salem in order to find a witch with the right tools to resurrect his brother. Little does he know there is more sinister things happening in Salem at the present time. These sinister events relate back to the original Salem Witch Trials. Just like the series on television, the book is full of action and adventure with the adding in of supernatural events that the show prides itself on.

I highly recommend this if you are a fan of the show. I have not missed one of the book tie-ins yet, and have just received the next one to read. I gobble them up like a kid eats candy and love every minute of them. If you don't have the background on the show, stop and go back and find out the history first so you are not lost. Each season has a published guide on the season so if you are not into watching all five previous seasons, they are a quick way to catch up on the previous action.

"Out of the Dust" By Karen Hesse

Title: Out of the Dust
Author: Karen Hesse
Published Year: 1997
Pages: 227 pages
Awards: John Newberry Medal, Scott O'Dell Award

I was first introduced to this book in 2001 at the end of my junior year of high school. I had gone to the local Elementary school for lunch as a fun event for Elementary school kids to have a high school kid as a friend. Part of the lunch event was going into the classroom as well as having lunch and getting to go to recess. During the classroom part, this book was the school work that was being read at the time. Each kid had a copy that the teacher had paid for out of her own pocket, and while she read, the students all followed along. The kids were actually all into it, and when she gave them a chance to read part of it aloud during the reading time.

The book takes place during the Great Dust Bowel while FDR was president. It follows the life of a little girl living right in the middle of the Dust Bowel in Oklahoma and the trials and tribulations her family goes through during a couple years.

The way the book is written is perfect for a 5th or 6th grader and also provides historical references in a setting that is easy for that age group to identify with. After reading I could not help but think it was a much younger version of Grapes of Wrath. It also reminded me of Sarah Plain and Tall.

I do recommend this not only for the young adult crowd but for the adults as well. For me it was a quick read but has kept many vivid images alive in my imagination based on the picture the author is able to create.

"The Whispering Statue" By Carolyn Keene

Title: The Whispering Statue
Author: Carolyn Keene
Published Year: 1937
Pages: 179
Series Information: Nancy Drew #14

Not only do you get one mystery for Nancy to solve in this book, you get two and its not a surprise either, she knows she gets two to solve from the beginning of the book. The whispering statue she is investigating is just one of the mysteries involved. The second mystery is whether or not one of her father's clients is being swindled out of money by a man she has co-signed some books over to.

If you have ever read Nancy Drew mysteries before, you know what you are getting. The books follow the same pattern, there's a mystery to solve, strange things happen and lots of action involved. Being a young adult book, the sleuthing is not to hard to follow and is not too intense.

"The River" By Gary Paulsen

Title: The River
Author: Gary Paulsen
Published Year: 1991
Pages: 130 pages

The River is the sequel to Paulsen's earlier work Hatchet. However this time, the main character Brian does not end up surviving in the woods because his pilot has a heart attack, he goes into the woods to survive on purpose. The government has come to him and asks him to go into the woods and recreate how he was able to survive as he did in Hatchet and he agrees to do this setting out to a different lake than the one from the previous book along with a psychologist to observe and write down everything Brian does.

Having said that, the knowledge of surviving in the woods is already known so the learning is not a major part of the book until the lightning storm comes. The psychologist that is sent out with Brian is hit by lightning and knocked unconscious and the radio they have is destroyed. Brian is then set forth with the task of trying to get himself and the man out of the woods to save the man's life. He decides to build a raft and get the man out of the woods. Building a raft and navigating an unknown river with an unconscious man is new to Brian and this is where the act of survival comes in.

Paulsen is able to tell another story of survival with different obstacles with the same character convincingly.

"The Austere Academy" By Lemony Snicket

Title: The Austere Academy
Author: Lemony Snicket
Published Year: 2000
Pages: 221
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events Book the Fifth

This series follows the tragedies of three orphaned children. It is tragedies because each book in the series takes them to their next place of residence along with the trials and tribulations that these residences bring. Not only do they have to worry about the weird and depressing things that happen at each of these places they get to live at, they also must be on the lookout for the evil Count Olaf who is after their fortune. You see these are not your ordinary orphans, their parents left them a sizable fortune and the evil Count Olaf will stop at nothing to obtain this fortune. Each proceeding book has told a story of how he tries to be cunning and claim the fortune, while the orphans outwit him once again.

A twist does happen in this book when another set of orphans that also have a fortune. This book tells the story of how they are taken to a boarding school and the awful conditions that they must live in there. One thing that is fun about this series is that the series keeps continuing and each book progresses from the previous ones nicely.

If you are wondering, the series consists of 13 books total. That is the number of the complete set and the author has not written anymore for the series.

"Miracle Man" By Terry Bisson

Title: Miracle Man
Author: Terry Bisson
Published Year: 2000
Pages: 124
Series information: #16 of the X-files young adult series

This is also based off of the teleplay of the X-files series. I'm just going to give the description since my last blog entry did a bit of the background already.

This book follows the episode where the agents are investigating the deaths of people who were supposed to have been healed by a "Miracle Man" hence the title. After these people had been healed, they passed away and it is up to Mulder and Scully to find out if it is natural or maybe the faith healer really is behind it.

"Regeneration" By Everett Owens

Title: Regeneration
Author: Everett Owens
Published Year: 2000
Pages: 120
Series Info: X-files Young Adult #14

Based on the popular sci-fi hit series the X-Files, Regeneration is actually based on the teleplay that aired in the series. I personally love the X-files, I have seen every single episode and movie and actually do own all 9 seasons plus the two movies that spun off from the series. Most people I talk to know what series I'm talking about.

The episode that this young adult book is based off of is the one where the emt dies in an ambulance crash and then his body goes missing. Rumors are that he may still be alive and agents Fox and Scully are trying to find out the real story behind the whole thing.

What I do like about the books based off of the show is that I usually find out something I missed while watching the episode no matter how many times I have watched the episode.

"The Headless Cupid" By Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Title: The Headless Cupid
Author: Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Published Year: 1971
Pages: 203
Awards: Newberry Honor Book

I just realized after finishing this book that this is the second book I have read by this author. I loved the previous one, and I have to admit I love this one as well. Aimed at the 9 to 12 year old crowd they do not bore easily and keep the reader entertained. Even as an adult I was wanting to know what was going to happen next and what mystery was coming up in the next chapter.

For this installment the author takes the story of the Stanley children who have lost their mother a year previous and shares their story of having their father re-marry as well as getting a new mysterious step-sister. The step-sister is very unique and into the whole occult scene and wants to impress the new younger siblings with this knowledge. The reader follows the children on a hilarious trip to being introduced into the occult and becoming actual "wizards" according to the step-sister.

In addition to this, the house holds its own mysteries with past stories of poltergeist events happening in the home in the late 1890s. Mysterious events that relate to these past episodes begin to happen and the subject of whatever happened to the head of the cupid on the banister continually comes up. No one knows what happened to the headless cupid's lost head, and that is the big mystery that awaits the reader.

The author does an awesome job of taking a major life change for children and spinning it into a story that is also intriguing with other events. Learning to adapt with some of these changes can be hard and I would recommend this to kids going through the same issues the children in the book have been presented with. Adding mystery to something like losing a parent and getting a new parent has a way of letting a kid know that there are others going through the same thing and it is not the end of the world.

Also the way the author writes, I can completely understand why they have been nominated for awards. The writing is mesmerizing and worth the time.

"Pirate Latitudes" By Michael Crichton

Title: Pirate Latitudes
Author: Micahel Crichton
Published Year: 2009
Pages: 400


Pirate Latitudes was discovered on Crichton's hard drive after he passed away. It is now known as his last book and no one really knows if he ever intended it to be published or not. Since he is no longer with us to write his awesome works of fiction, I am grateful that this last piece was found and published. I have not read all of his books, but this one brings a whole new insight to the author for me and showcases just how brilliant he really was.

Normally most of his books deal with adventure and ethical dilemmas, but this one takes you on a different kind of journey. Instead of the high-tech stuff or just modern day works ( I know he has other works that are not this, I'm just saying the majority of his works are), he takes us back into the times of pirates. Set in the Caribbean it follows a man that is really a pirate but does so legally until this adventure that is set forth in this book. The character is a popular one in the town he resides on and decides to take a trip to steal some gold from the Spanish. Of course to get permission to set sail from the governor he states in his request he is really going after timber. From there on the adventure starts with lust and betrayal highlighted throughout.

The book is full of historical references so you know just like Crichton has done in his other works he has done his research. Crichton doesn't bore you down with all the facts but instead intertwines them in this story that includes adventure and betrayal. Action packed and full of outstanding literary genius Crichton does not disappoint for his final published book.

"Feeding Grounds" By Sarah Pinborough

Title: Feeding Ground
Author: Sarah Pinborough
Published Year: 2009
Pages: 310
Description: The spider creatures from Breeding Ground have begun to take over London. A small group of survivors decide to barricade themselves in an unused Underground Station, only to realize—too late—that it’s right next to a storehouse for the spiders’ food.

Breeding Ground is a previous book of Pinborough's that relates to this selection of her work. I thought I would need to read that one first in order to understand this one, but that is not the case. In Breeding Ground Pinborough explains some of how the spiders that are taking over England came to be, without really saying how people get infected with incubating them (if that doesn't make sense, you'll have to read the Breeding Ground to get what I am saying). In this follow up book, the spiders have already taken over most of London and the individual groups in the book are trying to survive and not killed by the spiders who are using the humans for food. We're not talking about your everyday household spider either, we're talking big huge human sized spiders and some smaller ones that haven't fully developed yet.

Not all of the people hiding and running from the spiders are on the same page with each other and there is group turmoil that exists within these pages as well. In other words the humans are not only battling the spider problem, but other groups as well.

Pinborough has a knack for weaving together a strange story and making it as realistic as it can be with giant spiders going after the human population. One fun tidbit about her work is that she is from Great Britain so the language is not American English, but Great Britain English. I think its fun to read other dialects even though sometimes I had to look up what some of the words actually meant and what the slang was referring to. Expanding your vocabulary is not a bad thing.

As with her other books I was not disappointed with this one, but (and this is not a negative but) you do not have to read the book that comes before this one. I, just being the crazy avid reader that I am love my books in order because I don't want to miss anything, and having a bit of background helped this book make more sense.

"My Horizontal Life" By Chelsea Handler

Title: My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands
Author: Chelsea Handler
Published Year: 2005
Pages: 213
Genre: Memoir/Humor

Definitely not one for the kiddos, late teens at the earliest would be okay reading it, it just depends on what your maturity level is and if you can handle the brash humor that is Chelsea Handler. I have yet to watch her show, but after reading this book of hers I am definitely interested in her other books that she has written. I may love my paranormal stuff but I also love a good book that is full of raunchy humor and just general humor.

Handler has a no-holding back personality that shines through this work. Not only does she give information on her own sex life, but the sex lives of those around her, including her parents who she says gave her the inspiration to be who she is and live her life how she feels is right.

Some people may disagree with her flaunting her sex life in the pages of this book, but she provides insight of why she is this way and her beliefs about it. Not everyone will agree with her, but I can she her reasoning behind it.

If you cannot handle the funny stories of someone opening up their sexcapades to you, don't even glance at this book. As a second warning if you are easily offending of people sharing really personal bedroom details steer very clear of this book. However if you can handle it, dive right in. You'll be blessed with stories of encounters with midgets, cougar yearnings (as in going after a younger man) and crazy costumes.

"Death Makes A Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween" By David J. Skal

Title: Death Makes A Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween
Author: David J. Skal
Published Year: 2002
Pages: 224


Halloween has never been so interesting as this book portrays it. I learned more about events related to Halloween than I had ever known before. Aside from how it started, Skal takes you along a path through more recent events that have shaped Halloween into the event that it is today. From horrible stories of how a man can blame trick-or-treating on the poisoning of his son when he himself did, to the events on Castro street in San Francisco there are eye-opening facts and events that may be things you already know or are just learning.

I would have never thought that the gay revolution in San Francisco and how some people set up their haunted houses could all be contained in such little space in a book like this. However, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised and am always happy to learn something new, even if others already know the facts or are not interested in the same things.

There is one downside in this book in my own personal opinion, and since this is my blog and my random thoughts and descriptions of the books I read, it fits. This particular downside is that some of the chapters seemed disorganized. I was having problems with going from one topic in the same chapter to another one a page later without any connection, well at least in my mind no connection to link the two together in one chapter. Just take that as a warning and not as a don't read this book, this book is worth the read just for the fun tidbits of information contained within its covers.

"Micah" By Laurell K. Hamilton

Title: Micah
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Published Year: 2006
Pages: 280
Series: Anita Blake Vampire Hunter #13


As you may have seen in my last posting about Hamilton's works, I was hoping she would go back to some action packed writing. Part of my hoping has come through, as in this work there is only one sexual description scene that doesn't take up the whole book. If you have read her other books in the series, you'll know what I am talking about.

The title of this selection is based off of the character Micah and the relationship between him and Anita the main character of the series is the basis for this book. It is shorter than her other works, so I was able to whip right through it. You'll learn more about both of them and some of Micah's history and how he came to be who he currently is. The other men in her life have limited roles in the book which helps maintain the focus directly on Micah. And of course with every book about Anita, you will continue to find out interesting new information on her and what is going on with her.

As a book, I have to admit I did enjoy it and I am now ready to move onto the next one in Hamilton's series to keep rolling along and getting to book 20 eventually. I am hoping to get to book 20 before book 21 comes out. We'll see just how well that plan goes.

"Incubus Dreams" By Laurell K. Hamilton

Title: Incubus Dreams
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Published Year: 2004
Pages: 733 pages
Series: Anita Blake Vampire Hunter #12

During the time that my mom worked at Borders, one of her co-workers who is close in age to me recommended some books to me. One of the series that he recommended to me is this one, which as you can tell I have enjoyed since I have gotten up to book 12 of the series. The original book started out with the basics of a vampire hunter who is also able to raise zombies from the dead using her metaphysical powers. Vampires and metaphysical powers are right up my alley as you may have noticed from other previous books I have read. As the series goes along (and without giving too much away) Hamilton adds in other paranormal creatures and powers to the mix.

Despite getting up to this point in the series this is the first book in the series I am actually disappointed in. There is way too much sex throughout the whole book and not enough of the other action I have come to know and love of the character Anita. So be wary, if you do not like detailed sexual descriptions or you do not like the descriptions of three-somes then this is definitely not for you.

I will say that I want to continue reading the series to see if Hamilton is able to get back into her routine and make the series as action packed as it started out with. I already own all the books in the series so I know I will eventually end up finishing all of them. But I do not see why a book of over 700 hundred pages needed to be written when only about 200 of it was not relationship or sex related.

And don't say I didn't warn you.

"Baby Laughs" By Jenny McCarthy

Title: Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood
Author: Jenny McCarthy
Published Year: 2005
Pages: 209 pages

When the title states that the book is on the naked truth of the first year of being a mom, it is very true. Jenny shares all the nitty gritty details of how the first year of life is once you actually give birth to your baby. Just as the pregnancy was, her first year is an up and down roller coaster of emotion, fun and struggles at times. Now I am looking forward to my own first year of mommyhood with a bit of fear and nervousness. At least I read this now and not later, so even if my storyline goes a differently than Jenny's at least I am prepared for all the yucky, not fun stuff that motherhood brings.

To enjoy McCarthy's books, you have to be able to handle anything since she does not hold back. Authors that don't hold back are awesome in my opinion and I like authors who do not sugarcoat what is really going on. McCarthy probably does not even know what sugarcoating is just based off of the two books of hers that I have read. The best part of the book is she keeps it simple and tells it like it is, no chapter was more than four pages long so there is quick information and real life stories from her stand point. It is considered advice from her perspective so what she says could not be the same as every woman out there, but like I mentioned before, better to know too much than to not know anything at all.

Now that I have read her first two books, I will need to now read her next book about life changes. I am looking forward to it, as even though her books have horror stories, they do bring comic relief which makes me smile.