Book 187 Fifty shades darker by E.L. James

Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two of the Fifty Shades Trilogy (50 Shades Trilogy)
Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two of the Fifty Shades Trilogy-Kindle Edition

813 books to go!

Summary:
In book two of the fifty shades of grey trilogy Christian and Ana are together again. I figured they would be even after the ending of the first book since it's a trilogy. There's lots of drama and obstacles as Christian agrees to have a more vanilla relationship with Ana since he's in love with her.

Opinion:
This book was all kinds of exciting and all kinds of sexy! It was even better then the first book. A few times while reading I had to step away from the book because I had to do something. I always seemed to end up forcibly stepping away from the most exciting parts eagerly awaiting my return to the book to find out what was going to happen. Some of the drama was a little over the top, some of it fit in well to the story. I'm actually annoyed with Ana I appreciate how she can stand up to Christian and doesn't do exactly what he says just because he's rich and handsome but it seems like she gets her way most of the time and doesn't really compromise. Besides some over the top drama and Ana being quasi uncompromising I am enjoying this series very much I'd actually like to finish the third one before work on Monday if it's possible. There's lots of sexyness and much romance in this trilogy, maybe I'm a fool to be wrapped up in it like many readers are but I can definitely understand why it's flying off bookshelves and being downloaded to e-book readers everywhere.

Why I chose to read it:
This all started when I gave book one a shot, now I'm hooked so of course I had to read the second one and will read the third one. I actually read the PDF version of this book, I managed to obtain all three PDF versions for free and when the third hard copy came into the library for me I figured I better start reading the PDF of the second one so I could get to the third one ASAP before I have to return it.

Book 186 Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet the Spy
Harriet the Spy - Kindle Edition

814 books to go!

So hopefully by the end of the Summer I'll be on my way to just 800 books left!

Summary:
Harriet M. Welsch has a spy route and a nursemaid Ole Golly. When Ole Golly leaves Harriet to get married, Harriet's world falls apart, she's delivered an even bigger blow when her classmates find her notebook and see what she's written about them.

Opinion:
I think this is a book every child should read. If anything it was ahead of it's time regarding that evil website facebook that I now hate and no longer participate in. The book is definitely a lesson in keeping your information and thoughts as privately and as well guarded as possible. On facebook people tend to be careless with their posts resulting in much unnecessary drama. Which is why this book can be compared to one of the perils of facebook.

Why I chose to read it:
After my intelligent analytical opinion of the book this choice came from reading a book called 1,000 books for every  mood. I read through the book so I can compile a short list of books to read, and although I won't be reading these books by mood the ones I picked out and wrote on my list to read seemed interesting.

Book 185 The Man Who Quit Money by Mark Sundeen

The Man Who Quit Money
The Man Who Quit Money - Kindle Edition
815 books to go!

Summary:
This book is a biography of Daniel Shellabarger, now known as Daniel Suelo. In 2000 he deposited the last $30 he had into a phone booth and began to live life without money. He's survived by hunting, dumpster diving, the kindness of others and by taking shelter in a cave, house-sitting for free or accepting offers to stay overnight with friends or family. Suelo also writes a blog using blogger with access to the internet at public libraries.

Opinion:
This book is worth the read. It provides a bunch of useful factoids along with the details of Suelo's life before and after he quit money. Everything comes together and is extremely well written. For me personally this book has opened my eyes a little bit to things I've known I've been guilty of, perhaps this time I'll permanently change what I have to. I like shopping a bit too much, as a result I have a lot of items I don't really need, and I also don't really get to hold onto any money after I've paid my bills, paid for expenses such as gas and food, and then shopped a little. I do need to save money and get back on track with paying down my debt (since I've veered off that track recently). I have to learn to enjoy browsing in stores instead of going to them, seeing a few items I want and eagerly snatching them up. I need to pay off my debt and only using my credit cards if I can pay for an item in full - that way I'll just be using my credit cards to get reward points or coupons (if there is an option for that with the particular card I have). If Suelo can live without money, I definitely can live without shopping too much and using stuff I already have more then going out to buy new things. If I can save and become debt free - Shawn and I can enjoy better things in life, and when something comes up that I need money for hopefully I'll have the money to deal with it, if I've managed to save some instead of spending almost all of it.

Why I chose to read this:
Shawn actually posted about this guy on google +. I learned there was a book about him and checked it out from the library.

   

Book 184 History Portraits - Cindy Sherman

History Portraits
816 books to go!

Summary:
This book has Cindy Sherman's history portraits, as well as a brief introduction.

Opinion:
Not a bad book, although I appreciated great views of her work I wish there was more explanation for each photograph.

Why I chose to read this: 
I've recently become what I like to refer to myself as the quasi art librarian at the library I'm working for. I'm trying to increase my knowledge of art for this purpose, Cindy Sherman is my favorite photographer so I've requested a bunch of books about her in order to better understand her work.

SPECIAL NOTE - The bottom book featured in this entry for sale seems to be a new edition of Sherman's history portraits. I might pick it up myself or ask the library to consider purchasing it.

Book 183 Into the Darkness by V.C. Andrews

Into the Darkness
Into the Darkness-Kindle Edition

817 books to go!

Summary:
Amber Taylor lives in Echo Lake, Oregon. Her family owns a jewelry store in the town's village. When handsome Brayden Matthews comes to town with his family he seems quite strange, but Amber is still taken with him.

Opinion:
This book was alright. I was kind of annoyed with the ending, it made complete sense as to why certain things were weird about Brayden and why things happened but I still didn't like it. It's funny because V.C. Andrews wrote another book called Daughter of Darkness and I didn't like that one either. I got so wrapped up in the book, eager to know the mystery of Brayden Matthews only to be disappointed at the conclusion.

Why I chose to read this:
Found out it was a newly ghost written V.C. Andrews and wanted to check it out.

 

SPECIAL BONUS: I was asked to provide a link to a monthly book blog/newsletter. I briefly looked at it but if you are interested, check out Carole's Chatter! 

Book 182 Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy (50 Shades Trilogy)
Kindle Edition

818 books to go!

Summary:
Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele fall hard for each other after Anastasia interviews Christian for her college newspaper in place of her friend Kate. In this trilogy they start an affair and a quasi relationship, but it's up for debate whether or not they can last together, each party has different demands and wishes that the other party might not be able to adhere to.

Opinion:
This book is okay. I do like it, the erotic scenes are extremely hot, but the writing is alright, it's not horrid but it isn't terrific either. James also draws out the debate of whether Christian and Ana could be together for far too long IMO. I do intend to read the other two novels in this trilogy and as different as they are I hope the characters will be able to work out their differences and successfully be together.

Why I chose to read this:
If you're into books at all you'll know by now this book has blown up off the charts in popularity. It finally piqued my curiosity, as a librarian I do like to get my hands on some of the popular stuff on occasion to see what the fuss is all about and to be able to recommend books for the patrons who only like to read up and coming books.

Book 181 This book is overdue by Marilyn Johnson

This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All
Kindle Edition

819 books to go!

Summary: 
This is the second book by author Marilyn Johnson, her first book the dead beat was about obituary writers. In this book she raves about the importance and the wonder of librarians.

Opinion:
I loved this book, it reminded me of why I became a librarian and actually inspired me to do my job better then I feel I have been doing it. The author encouraged me that I could in fact make a difference to the people I help, something I felt like I really haven't been doing.

Why I chose to read this:
Since I'm a librarian myself I wanted to read this book, I'm glad I got to reading it, it's been on my mental to read list for quite some time.