Book 96 - Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
904 books to go!

Finished my third Chelsea Handler book, just one more to read out of the four she's put together so far. This one has to be my absolute favorite out of what I've read by her, I was cracking a smile and almost literally laughing out loud a few times on the bus. I can't wait to get my hands on my horizontal life once it comes into the library and I'm just adoring Chelsea Handler more and more as I read her work. She seems to be extremely funny, very generous and quite a prankster. If you like comedy and crazy stories this is definitely one book to check out.

Book 95 Step by Step guide to planning your wedding by Lynda Wright

Step-by-step Guide to Planning Your Wedding

905 books to go!

This book is divided up into three basic sections, the information presented is simple, clear and concise, however there are no graphics except for some clip art and what's on the cover of the book. This book strikes me as the UK's version of wedding planning for dummies.

The three basic sections of the book are a wedding countdown calendar (giving you a time frame of which things to do in which months, weeks, days prior to the wedding), an action plan and the last section features every check list imaginable that you will need.

If you are looking for a bunch of checklists than I'd consider purchasing the book, or renting from the library and photocopying what you need. The book is mainly geared towards weddings in the UK so the marriage license rules you find are most likely not valid in the U.S. There are some helpful hints here, but I wouldn't say it's a book you must absolutely purchase when it comes to wedding planning.

Book 94 Weddings: The Essential Guide to Organising your Perfect Day by Alison Price

Weddings: The Essential Guide to Organising Your Perfect Day
906 books to go!

This supposed "essential" book wasn't very essential at all when it comes to wedding planning. I did get an interesting idea so reading the book wasn't a complete wash out. It's nice to look at, there's many photographs which is great for inspiration purposes but when it comes to organization and planning there's not much useful advice just a bunch of archaic etiquette rules. Half the book contains many recipes which could be useful if you like to cook, are planning on having relatives and yourself cook your wedding fare for an at home wedding, or plan to pay your caterers to cook something specific. The recipes can also be useful for an at home shower or an at home engagement party. This book appears to be pretty cheap on Amazon so if you do want to buy for the recipes or photo inspiration it isn't a complete loss, but steer clear if you think this will be a great wedding planning guide, because it is most definitely not.

Book 93 - Bridal bargains: secrets to throwing a fantastic wedding on a realistic budget by Denise Fields

Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing A Fantastic Wedding On A Realistic Budget
907 books to go!

This book has a lot of information to digest, it's all very good information with lots of helpful hints, although it might seem like it's very easy to tackle, I would suggest taking copious notes, reading the book through two or three times, or sitting down with it in small doses to process each fantastic new idea and possibility.

So far this has to be my favorite wedding planning book I've read so far. It's definitely the most useful on many bargain ideas if you don't have the budget for a crazy wedding. The best part is a sample budget in the back of the book explaining how much money you should allocate if you wish to have a $10,000 wedding, which is the price range I'm trying to go for with my wedding.

I'm still at a loss as far as definite plans being made, but when I'm ready to start shopping for what I need, I will have this book to help me, I loved it so much I bought the kindle version. Since I always have my kindle with me everywhere, when I start shopping around I can whip out my kindle to ask the necessary questions I will need to ask vendors and suppliers.

If you're looking to save tons of money on your nuptials this is one book you MUST purchase. Trust me if you're all about the bargains this book will help you out big time. I'm a proud bargain hunter and am looking forward to seeing how I can cut cost with my wedding, which makes this book my favorite wedding planning book so far.

Book 92 - American Vampire Vol.2 by Scott Snyder

908 books to go!

Finished American Vampire Vol.2. Now I need to wait until February 2012 for the next installment. This has gotten much more interesting, between a vampire war, Hattie making an appearance when I thought she was dead and an action sequence with Henry and Pearl I enjoyed this second volume very much. Definitely a great series to read, now onto starting my latest coffee house novel and finishing up bridal bargains.

Book 91 - The Five Towns by Millicent Vollano

The Five Towns (Images of America Series) (Images of America (Arcadia Publishing))
909 books to go!

Hurricane Irene means that as long as I don't have to evacuate, I will be reading a lot, which means until power is lost, if it is lost I'll be able to blog about the books I finish.

This book shouldn't have been hard to read through, it's just I've been picking it up here and there so it took me awhile. My former co-worker and new boss was approached by Arcadia Press to write this book about the history of the five towns. She did a great job, the book is full of photos and historical information about each of the five towns. It's a rare gem of historical facts for curious people, historians and students alike.

Book 90 - American Vampire Vol. 1 by Scott Snyder

American Vampire Vol. 1
910 books to go!

I took this graphic novel out of the library after I discovered vol. 2 on the new 14 day book cart. I bought them home and Shawn went through them so fast, today I finally got to read vol. 1, perhaps this weekend during the hurricane I can get through vol 2.

This series seems pretty interesting so far, Stephen King is also working on it, the creators are on a mission to bring back true vampires, not the teen heart throb vampires that came about with the creation of twilight. So far they're doing a pretty good job, this graphic novel reminds me a little bit of 'salem's lot by King. The plot isn't similar but the fact that the vampires can fly in the air like they did in 'salem's lot makes the vampires similar. The very end of this volume leaves off at a cliff hanger which of course makes me immediately want to grab vol. 2.

I've pre ordered the third volume because so far I like this series, so this might be a new collection Shawn and I have to develop.

Book 89 - Phantom Variations by Ann C. Hall

Phantom Variations: The Adaptations of Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera, 1925 to the Present

911 books to go!

As usual since this is a book pertaining to phantom the review can be found in my phantom blog.

Book 88 - Beautiful bride from every angle by Barbara Wallace, Annie Withers and Lars Wanberg

Beautiful Bride From Every Angle: Look Great in Every Photo...and in Life!
912 books to go!

This is one of the newer wedding books that came into the library. We actually have started some wedding planning so now I'm just going through whichever books I have left to read as we plan. This book had pretty amazing photographs and some advice. The book was written by collaboration, the three writers were a wedding planner, a stylist and a photographer, after their sections, there was a small section reserved with advice for grooms. If you want my opinion I would definitely check it out of the library for a read if you are involved in the wedding planning process but I wouldn't say it's a necessary purchase.

Book 87 - Lies that Chelsea Handler told me

Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me (A Chelsea Handler Book/Borderline Amazing Publishing)
913 books to go!

Just finished the second Chelsea Handler book I've ever read, now to read Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang and My horizontal life. In this book Chelsea has her friends, family and co-workers write a chapter describing various lies she has told them or pranks she has pulled on them. The remaining two chapters are e-mails she received about having things bleeped from her show, and a bonus chapter "written" by her dog. So far my experience reading Chelsea Handler books has been humorous and enjoyable. She is also the inspiration for a book I've been trying to write about random funny events in my life (although I rarely seem to be working on this book...), if you are into outrageous humor this book is definitely good to read, if you are a Chelsea Handler fan it might be worth a purchase.

Book 86 - Something New by Elise Mac Adam

Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between

914 books to go!

And the wedding research continues. Now that the family engagement party is over for us we should begin the task of planning sometime soon. For various reasons we still want a few weeks to not plan anything and only gather ideas so I'm happily trying to plow through as many books as I can.

This book was pretty useful, considering it's extremely cheap price on Amazon I might actually purchase it for reference, although I'm not sure yet. There was much helpful advice on etiquette and how to handle virtually every kind of situation possible, from being a wedding guest to being a wedding attendant, with dignity and grace. The book came included with excerpts from the author's blog/virtual advice column and helpful quotes regarding what to say when faced with an unpleasant person or a person balking at your plans.

This book was also not to Emily Postish, so if you are intimidated of extreme etiquette that might seem kind of stuck up, this would be a great alternative to read and still learn all of your etiquette dos and dont's.

Book 85 The Ultimate Wedding Idea Book by Cynthia C. Muchnick

The Ultimate Wedding Idea Book: 1,001 Creative Ideas to Make Your Wedding Fun, Romantic, and Memorable

915 books to go!

Just finished another wedding book! I have a few more to go before we start making our plans in the second week of September. Hopefully I'll be able to finish these books before than.

This book was pretty cool, the reading wasn't so overwhelming because the text was spaced out nicely and formed in mini paragraphs or sentences. There were a ton of little helpful hints and ideas for almost every single possible wedding scenario. There was a small chapter for the groom, advice on second weddings, destination weddings, same sex marriages if there's a marriage ceremony to fit you it's probably in this book.

This book was useful, but not a necessary purchase, if you intend to plan a wedding I suggest you visit the library to check it out, read it and take notes than return it.

Book 84 - Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle

Roast Mortem (Coffee House Mystery)

916 books to go!

So I finished up the last coffee house mystery on my kindle, I was sad because I thoroughly enjoy these...but to my delight I discovered a new coffee house mystery was published at the very beginning of this month so I have yet another adventure with Clare Cosi to look forward to. (I already reserved a copy at work)

In the 9th mystery Clare Cosi begins to investigate a series of cafe and coffee house fires set by an arsonist. While investigating, she gets wrapped up in an even bigger mystery involving faulty fire fighting equipment, she has to fend off advances from Mike Quinn's cousin (who he is at war with) and she has the task of roasting some coffee and getting together some pastries for a fire fighting charity bake sale.

As always reading this was a delight, I am guessing after the next one I will have to wait a whole year for a new one, they seem to be published once a year.

Book 83 - Rescue by Anita Shreve

Rescue: A Novel
917 books to go!

I devoured this book. I started reading it a few days ago at work and got wrapped up in it today, so much that I had it attached to me the whole day hoping to finish all 288 pages which I did. This novel is excellent, very interesting with a nice happy ending that seems to work for the story.

Peter Webster an EMT rescues a young woman Sheila after she is involved in a drunk driving accident. He falls in love with Sheila and marries her after she becomes pregnant with their child. Sheila's alcoholism seriously threatens the life of their young daughter, suddenly Peter is left raising Rowan alone. Years later Sheila comes back into their lives and Rowan is heading down the same path as her mother, which leaves Peter in a state of worry.

This is the second Anita Shreve novel I have read, so far I am pretty impressed with her work. This book is worth the read.

Book 82 - Oxford Bookworms Library Phantom of the Opera adapted by Jennifer Basset

The Oxford Bookworms Library: The Phantom of the Opera Level 1 (Oxford Bookworms Library: Stage 1)
918 books to go!

Since this is one of the books that qualifies for two blogs, you can read the review that appears in my phantom of the opera blog.

Book 81 Making Rounds with Oscar by Dr. David Dosa

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat
919 books to go!

This is yet another animal memoir I got my hands on to read, I seem to like animal memoirs. The copy I had was an ARC (advanced reading copy) so what I read may not have turned out to be exactly like the published version.

This memoir is about Oscar the cat, he is a nursing home cat at the steere house nursing home. The floor he lives on houses patients with dementia. Oscar has an unusual sense of upcoming death, and he stays with a patient right before they are going to die. Dr. Dosa decides he wants to investigate this phenomena to see if he can determine how Oscar can tell a patient is going to die.

The book was okay, I wouldn't say it was riveting, but it wasn't bad either, I appreciated the fact that although this memoir had death in it, it didn't have Oscar's death, most animal memoirs tend to end with the animal's death leaving me pulling out the tissues to cry a little. I would say you wouldn't regret reading this if you like animal memoirs.

Book 80 The Baby-Sitter's Club #1 Kristy's great idea by Ann M. Martin

Kristy's Great Idea (The Babysitters Club)
920 books to go!

Okay so I'm on a big throw back here. Besides re-reading the occasional Sweet Valley High Series, Sweet Valley University series, and the fearless series I have decided I'm going to re read the Baby Sitter's club too. They were my favorite books when I was a child. It's really not that bad I'm only 17 years older than the suggested reading age.

I just finished re reading the first book in the series Kristy's great idea. In this first book of the BSC series, Kristy creates the babysitter's club with Claudia, Stacey and Mary Anne. They have their share of adventures at the start of the club, Claudia deals with some out of control children, Kristy is fooled into pet sitting and they deal with their issues, Kristy dislikes Watson (her potential future step father) and Stacey tries to hide her diabetes.

For a pre teen child these books are amazing, new vocabulary can be picked up in the reading as well as learning about social interaction through reading. To me these books are still as great as they were when I was a child.