Musing Mondays: Unfinished Business

Today's musing poses the question: What was the last book you couldn't finish and why? This musing is courtesy of Iamciska.tumbler.com.

My Answer:

Very seldom do I ever not finish a book. I'm usually pretty good about sticking with a book until I am done, even if I am not loving it. However, over the summer I was prodded by a close friend to read E.L. James' FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. I put it off as long as I could, then I finally gave in after she actually put her copy in my hands and said 'Just READ it!!'. What else could I do? She absolutely loved it, told all of her friends to read it and I knew it would make her happy. So, I began reading.

Now, I'll start off by saying, I do not consider myself a book snob at all. However, I generally don't follow the masses when it comes to my reading choices. (I still have not read the Twilight Series!! Shocking, I know!)  The thing I noticed right off the bat was the constant over-use of phrases such as "Holy*hit!", "Holy *uck!", etc. The expletives didn't bother me, but the repetitiveness certainly did. I was already sick of it just a few chapters in.  Even if I could overlook that aspect, what I really disliked was the story in general. I realize my opinion may not be a popular one, given the hoards of women who read and loved this book, but as an avid reader, I feel that there are simply too many other writers out there who write fantastic literature and have spent their lives perfecting their craft and those are the types of authors I choose to support. If that makes me a snob, then so be it.

As far as the sex parts of the book goes, that didn't bother me at all. I am a women who enjoys great sex and am not afraid to try new things so I am not a prude, nor do I get offended easily. I simply just didn't feel the need or desire to read a whole book about it, especially a story I felt was lacking.

I made it almost halfway through the book, then one day I asked myself what value I would be taking away after reading this book and I couldn't come up with an answer. I saw the other books on my nightstand that were waiting for my attention and I realized I would much rather be spending my times with those instead.

For more musings, please visit MizB at Should Be Reading each Monday! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week in books!

Teaser Tuesday: 10.18.11

Today I'm taking my teasers from John Hart's debut novel, THE KING OF LIES which was published in 2006. I'm a big fan of his later work and though I've read his last two books, I'd never read his first two. i'm correcting that omission now.

My Teasers:

Eventually, I arrived at the park, my house before me like a stranger's.  It glowed in the eerie light, and loomed taller than normal against the gunmetal sky.  The cops ere there, too, at least a dozen of them; and my neighbors, like my colleagues, had gathered for the feast.  ~ page 290 Large Print Edition

If you'd like to participate in Teaser Tuesday, simply follow these easy instructions;

• Open your current book to a random page
• Choose two teaser sentences to share, being careful NOT to include any spoilers
• List the name of the book, author and page number you took your teasers from
• Go to Should Be Reading and share the link to your post in the comment section

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed my teasers!

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You Might Also Like:

• Review: IRON HOUSE by John Hart

Teaser Tuesday: Finding Nouf

It's Tuesday and time for another Teaser! Here's how it works:

• Grab your current book and let if all open to a random page.
• Choose two sentences as your teasers
• Include the title, author and page number you took your teasers from
• Do NOT include any spoilers

Today I'm taking my teasers from FINDING NOUF by Zoe Ferraris. I had started this book several months ago but laid it off to the side because I had several books going at the same time. I'm really glad to be getting back to it because it really is good story. Not to mention that I'm fascinated by Saudi Arabian cultures.

My Teasers:

Although the comment was spoken modestly, it prompted him to think of the other reasons she might have come.  It was, in a way, an accusation: You think dirty thoughts.  He felt a brief indignation.  ~ page 133

Thanks for stopping by today for Teaser Tuesday! Be sure to visit MizB at Should Be Reading each Tuesday for more Teasers! 

Teaser Tuesday 2.22.11

The rules for Teaser Tuesday are simple -

• Let your current book fall open to a random page
• Choose 2 teaser sentences to share
• Be careful NOT to include any spoilers
• List the title, author and page number you took your teasers from

This week my teasers are from the first book in a new mystery series by Nancy Martin. You may remember Ms. Martin's Blackbird Sisters Mysteries. I love them and have read them all! This new series is a spin-off and the protagonist is Roxy Abruzzo. She owns an architectural salvage company. She's a tough gal who doesn't take any crap from anybody, even her uncle Carmine, a local mob boss who is trying to suck her into the 'family business'. Here are my teaaser sentences. . .

Roxy thought about what it meant that her daughter was dating the one kid with the most direct line of communication to the police department. She steadied herself on the newel. The chief of police's kid coming around on the exact week Carmine asked her to join his crew-that's all she needed. ~page 128

For more teasers stop by MizB's Should Be Reading each Tuesday. Its a great way to get a sneak peek into some great books.

W.W.W. Wednesdays 2.2.11

To play along, answer these three simple questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What are you planning to read next?

It's that easy! Be sure to visit MizB at Should Be Reading for more W.W.W.'s.

My Answers:

• What are you currently reading?

I'm reading a fun mystery by Joanne Fluke. It's the first in her Hannah Swensen Mystery Series called THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER. There are actually 14 books in the series, which started in 2000, with a new book coming out within the month called THE DEVILS FOOD CAKE MURDER. I have a ways to go to catch up, but I'm sure it will be a fun ride!

• What did you recently finish reading?

Yesterday I finished THE KITCHEN HOUSE by Kathleen Grissom. I really enjoyed this book based in Virginia in the late 1790's. The story was powerful, yet heartbreaking at times. I listened to the audio version and it was beautifully narrated. I'll have my full review up in a few days, so please come back to check it out.

• What are you planning to read next?

I am expecting a review copy of GHELLOW ROAD by T.H. Waters, any day that I am anxious to start, but in the meantime I'm going to read Nancy Martin's latest mystery, OUR LADY OF IMMACULATE DECEPTION. I've read all of her Blackbird Sisters Mysteries and this one is a spin-off of that series. It should be a perfect read while I wait for the other book to arrive. I really enjoy these fun mysteries in between books with heaver or darker content. It gives me the break I need.

What are your W.W.W.'s this week?

Teaser Tuesday: Hush by Kate White

To play along each week follow these simple rules -

• Grab your current read and let it fall open to a random page
• Choose 2 sentences to use as teasers
• Do not include any spoilers that may give away the plot
• List the name of the book and page your teasers are taken from

My teasers are coming from HUSH by Kate White. This is a thriller about a marketing consultant whose first lover since her split from her husband has just been murdered. Lake Warren is scared of not only being named a suspect but even more terrified of losing her two young children in a custody dispute. Here's my teasers...

Finally there was someone who could help her dig for the truth. There was no guarantee of Rory coming across anything, but this was a start. It felt like that moment when a nightmare begins to disintegrate from feeling utterly terrifying and you sense for the first time that you've been dreaming. ~ page 273

Teaser Tuesday is hosted graciously each week by MizB at Should Be Reading. Be sure to stop by and catch more interesting and intriguing teasers!