Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Read it and prepared to be sucked in.

No pun intended.

...I am not giving anything else away other than to say that this book is the first of four novels about Edward Cullen and Bella Swan who are starcrossed lovers to say the least - since Edward is a vampire and Bella isn't.



The movie comes out in December. Here are some teaser posters.



...and introducing the Cullen Clan (yes, all Vampires).


Harry Potter and Grey's Anatomy fans will recognize at least two of the pretty faces on this poster.

Recommend a good read!

I am turning the tables on you readers and kinda forcing you to take part in my blog for once.

I am a big reader. I love books and always have. But now with a baby girl to care for and being back at work I definitely do not have as much time to read as I used to so I am starting to get a little choosier with what I pick up to read.

And this is where you come in. Please recommend a good book. A book (or series) you think is worthy of a busy mommy's time.

Thanks in advance!

I finished a book!!!

Okay, so those of you who really know me are probably thinking, "Big deal, Mel - you are a bookworm, this is what you do." But no. You do not understand. I finished a book. I have a six week old baby at home who is attached to my breast half the time and needing my attention the other half and still - I have time to finish a book.

What does this mean? This means that people have no idea what they are talking about. This means that life as we know it does not end once we have children, that you can still get to do the things you love. Granted, I am only 6 weeks into this - almost 7 actually - and I have a ways to go and I know that there will be days, weeks, and months, that will be too busy for books - especially once I go back to work, too BUT this is now I am talking about. I am talking about my husband, who loves his video games, still gets to play them. We still get time to ourselves. We still watch movies and spend time together and talk.

And....if we work hard enough....we will continue to be able to do those things, even while being parents. Life was we know it has not ended. Its different. But its not over.

So, the naysayers can kiss my ass thank-you-very-much.

Torture is...

Leaving off on page 430 of the latest and final Harry Potter in order to go to sleep because you have to wake up early the next morning.

Obsession is...

Waking up when your alarm goes off and before pressing snooze you catch a glimpse of the big, fat book sitting on your nightstand and seriously consider coming up with some sort of ailment so that you can stay home from work and finish it in peace without fear of spoilers.

Paranoia is...

Avoiding spoilers. How? By avoiding any new and strange websites. Not opening any book review links. Making sure no one else is in the elevator when you get on - just in case someone is talking about it. Spending the whole day in your cubicle, head down, ignoring all conversations that float by and watching the clock until 5pm when you can run to your car, race home, order a pizza, and sit down to finish the book in peace - phone ringer off, TV unplugged.

Insanity is...

ALL OF THE ABOVE. And making sure you, yes you gentle reader, cannot spoil or judge me by removing the option for you to post ANY comments on this particular post. I just cannot risk it...

44 Million Dollars Later.....

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. It brought it 12 million dollars for its midnight showing on July 12th - and that shot up to a grand total of 44 million dollars earned by the end of its very first day in theaters. And the weekend is not even here yet. I do not know about theaters around the country but I did learn last night that the theater near my house is sold out completely of all its weekend showtimes. It is Harry Mania AGAIN! And that is as it should be.



Being a Potterphile, myself, I was smart and decided to head to the theaters last night. I was not about to waste any valuable time. I was not about to hear second hand reviews. I knew nothing going in as to if it was well received or hated. I cared not if it was a letdown. I was going to decide all of that for myself.


The Harry Potter industry is a power house that I got sucked into when a close friend of mine sent me the first two books in 2001. She works for Scholastic, the company which publishes them, and had been trying to get me to read them for a few years. I was not interested. They were not my style. Finally, she sent the two books with a note that said she would send the next one whenever I finished those.


Having just been laid off from my job at the time and having plenty of time on my hands, I opened one up. And immediately got sucked in. Ah, the birth of yet another Potterphile. These were not just children books. They were fantastic and magical and it is very easy to become emotionally involved with a little boy who had no place in the world, no real family, and all of a sudden finds out just how very special he really is. I did not stand a chance of not becoming an immediate fan. I finished the first book in one day - called and begged my friend to send me the next one - and immediately started on book 2.


Fast forward 6 years to last night and there I was, sitting next to my husband in that theater, practically bouncing in my seat. The Order of the Phoenix was a GREAT book. Even though The Prison of Azkaban still remains my favorite book up until this point, I have to admit that The Order really gave it a run for its money in my mind. It took Harry's story to a whole new level. It is also the darkest tale yet. Harry was growing up. Harry has been through a lot. I was concerned. Would the director follow Rowling's lead and really show truthfully how a boy who has been through what Harry has evolves? This is not the cheerful, optimisitic kid from Book 1. Harry was more man than boy and I was excited (and a little apprehensive) to see how yet another director picked up the series and portrayed it on the silver screen.


I was not let down. I was not disappointed. I have a few issues, as is to be expected from someone who reads the books (we always have issues) - but I am not about to spoil anyone's fun by posting them here. Suffice it to say David Yates, the director, who really has a short list of credits to his name - and none that I was familiar with - must be a fan. He done good. Really good.


ENJOY!!!!!!!

12 MORE DAYS!!!!!!

Enough said!