Musing Mondays 1/11/09

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about tidy bookshelves.

Are your bookshelves strictly books only? Or have knick-knacks invaded? Do your shelves also shelve DVDs? Photos? Why not snap a photo – I’m sure we all like to spy on other’s shelves!


My bookshelves are strictly for books but I do have a puzzle, some photo albums on the shelf towards the top and a lamp cover my husband was supposed to put back up about a year ago.
Here are some of the images from my shelves. Excuse my mess.

As you can see I have a lot of straightening to do. What does your bookshelf look like? Does your have stuff other than books?

Betsy was Junior by Maud Hart Lovelace Review #4

Product Details
Reading level: Young Adult

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: HarperTrophy (February 3, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0064405478
ISBN-13: 978-0064405478


Summary from Amazon.com:
Product Description
The Best School Year Ever
That's the kind of junior year Betsy Ray has planned for herself. And when her childhood friend Tib Muller moves back to Deep Valley, Betsy's sure her perfect year is off to a grand start. With charming, funny Tib around, Crowd doings are more fun than ever -- especially after Betsy starts Okto Delta, the first -- ever sorority at Deep Valley High.

But soon Betsy's luck takes a bad turn. The Crowd is getting into trouble at school, and Betsy isn't given a chance to compete in the annual Essay Contest. Could Betsy's best school year turn out to be her worst?


My Review:

This book is my least favorite so far in the Betsy-Tacy series. I just could not get into it. Betsy has grown in to such a silly girl. Her sister goes off to school and is pledging a sorority and she decides to start her own. This is when all her troubles start. She starts acting out in school and makes silly remarks. Some of the dialogue could not possibly be one of a 16 yr old girl. I guess times have changed since the writing of this book. Betsy was Junior just bored me a little. It took me the whole week to read it. I am moving on to Betsy and the Great World since I do not have Betsy and Joe in my possession. I also could not possibly take any more of her high school years.

I rate this a 2/5.

Musing Mondays 1/4/09

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about New Year reading.



With the New Year here already, do you have any reading resolutions or goals (challenges aside) for 2010? Perhaps a new author? Genre? Want to read more non-fiction? Write more reviews?


My goals for reading this year are to review right after I finish the book and do not pick up another one until I do. If I am doing a read-athon it will be a brief sentence reivew but normally I will put in at least a 5 sentence review at the very least. I will try to update my blog more often and of course expand my reading repotoire to finally include some romance even though I am not a big fan of the genre. As far as authors I have alway be open to anyone.

What are you reading Mondays

This is a weekly meme hosted by J-Kaye of J-Kaye's Book Blog.


This week I completed:
Godchild 4 by Kaouri Yuki
Misty by V.C. Andrews
Nancy Drew The Secret of The Old Clock by Carolyn Keene

What I am currently reading:
Betsy Was A Junior by Maud Hart Lovelace

What I hope to get to this week:
Betsy and The Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace
Betsy's Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace
The Hardy Boys Ghost Stories by Franklin Dixon
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene


What are you reading this week?

The Hardy Boys House on The Cliff by Franklin Dixon Review # 3

Hardcover
Publisher: 1959 G & D; First Edition? edition (1959)
ASIN: B001SJRA1O


About the book from Borders.com:
Description: When Mr. Hardy disappears while investigating a mystery surrounding a vacant house rumored to be either haunted or an abode for criminals, the Hardy Boys search for the truth.


My Review:

This was a little more action packed than the first. It starts out with some action when the boys save a man from being blown up by a grenade. Little did they know that saving that man would put them into a mystery that involves them, their dad and a few friends. While their dad is investigating a case he comes up missing for a few days. They boys and their friend Chet, Biff. Phil and Jerry go out to search for him and wind up in over their heads.

This book is great for a little boy who loves action and adventure each chapter ends with a cliff hanger which if you are reading to him keeps him wanting more. I have not tried the books out with my son yet because even though he is nine he does not have the attention span for such a long chapter book.

I give this book a 4/5

FCC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from the library. I was not given any payment for this book and this is solely my expressed opinion. I am also an Amazon Associate.

Nancy Drew Mystery Stories The Secret Of The Old Clock Review #2

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap; Back-to-back Ed edition (September 2, 1987)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 044809570X
ISBN-13: 978-0448095707

From the inside cover:

Nancy, unaided , has thrilling adventures seeking a lost will.



My Review:

This story sets out as any other story we learn about the background of Nancy and then in then by the third chapter the mystery begins. This mystery is about the whearabouts of a second will left by Josiah. The Tophans seem to think that the money from Mr. Crowly belongs to them since they took care of him for years before his death. Ms. Drew quickly finds out that he has other friends that and the he possibly had a second will from the old lady Abby Rowen he one of her rants. Being the curious girl she is Nancy decided to find out the truth. Along the way she finds about two sisters who were told by Josiah that they would be inheriting money from him when he dies.So the adventure begins and with tons of excitement for your little girl and the young at heart.

I really liked this story and it was quite a page-turner. I almost could not put it down but life got in the way. I used to enjoy Nancy Drew mysteries as a kid but I never read the original ones. I think I read the files series. This book grabs your attention from the very first page. I hope to introduce Nancy Drew to my daughter when she is older.

I rate this a 5/5

FCC Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate and I borrowed this from my local library.

The Wildflowers (Misty) by V.C. Andrews Review #1

This one will not count for any challenges since I started it in 2009 but it is my first review of the year and my first completion for 2010.
FCC disclosure: Also I checked this book out from the library so this review has not basis towards the author or publishing company.


From the Back Cover:
All Misty ever wanted was a normal family. But like so mamy others, Misty's parents did not stay together. Now they use Misty to hurt each other, to deliver tiny cruelties in an endless stream. Misty knows her parents might lover her. But Misty has an unspeakable secret that burns in the core of her very being: she hates them. Misty isn't as a lone as she thinks. She's about to meet three other girls who are just like her each one with their own dark secrets to share

My Review:
This book started out a little slow but it quickly picked up my interest by the 4th chapter. All I can say is that Misty went through a lot when her parents divorced. This novel is a great indicator of what could go wrong with a child when parents do not take the time with their child when the are going through a divorce. Her parents were so wrapped up in their own lives and blaming each other that they did not see that poor Misty was crying out for help. Misty's story is a real eye opener to me. I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series to see how the other girls in the story's life shapes up.

I give this book a 4/5