I can read.

I thought I would be busily writing the taiko newsletter this week, but it has been scheduled later this time, so I am not.  I should be getting ready to rush to the grocery store today, but...it's cold.  I would like to pretend that I'm waiting for the ice on the streets of my neighborhood and presumably the Wal-mart parking lot to thaw.  Really, though, I'm just cold, and it's winter out there. 

Books I have read this week:  (Week, in this case, meaning since last Wednesday, not the most recent Monday, which would be yesterday.)

-The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Attwood  (Library)
-Fallen, by...um....Lauren Kate (Present from Josh)
-The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde (Re-read from personal stash)

I was not expecting to enjoy The Handmaid's Tale.  And I didn't.  It's not that kind of book, which I understood going in.  It reminded me a little of 1984.  Like 1984, I can't deny that it was well done.  Unlike 1984, the uncertain end is given an uplifting epilogue, which implies that there was a happy end (at least temporarily) for the protagonist.

Fallen.  What can I say about that book?  Josh bought it for me because he was amused that the cover said something about fallen angels being The Next Big Thing in fantasy lit.  Well, I can see a certain amount of aesthetic in that.  I was very open to the idea, despite the fact that it was obviously juvenile lit.  That cover secret being out, however, the attempted suspense didn't really work.  Also, it was hauntingly familiar...in a bad way.  Let's see if you catch it:

Beginning.  17year old girl at new school, separated from her formerly familiar and reasonably happy surroundings sees boy of unearthly beauty and feels herself powerfully drawn to him, despite his obvious distaste for her, which sometimes borders on hostility.  (Sounding familiar yet?)

Boy saves girl from strange accident. (Now, where have I heard that before...?)

Low on dialogue, but high on internalized obsession, Girl tries to figure out Boy.  (Yes, really.)

Girl, who claims to be super smart and on the honor roll (Deja-vu?) still shows us her total ignorance by putting herself in a completely dangerous position, forcing Boy to come and save her.  Please note that we are supposed to be cheering for this girl even though she shows little regard for rules or advice that is meant to keep her away from harm.

Boy confesses that he has secretly had an unnatural interest in Girl all along, and they decide they are in love.....based on an acquaintance of less than a week (or all eternity, depending on how you look at it).

Girl finds out that Boy is immortal....and supernatural....and that there is some bigger, scarier, superhuman battle going on that somehow....yes, it's true....involves her.

They must escape.

Umyeah.  Well, her writing does not resonate, penetrate or even gleam slightly, but it's still better than the total ineptitude of Stephanie Meyer.  However, Meyer might have the upper hand in dialog writing.  Also, there were occasionally sentences whose subject or object were unclear.  Editing oversight? 

I feel no love for the main character, and not more than a little curiosity for the male lead.  However, there is so much that was brought forward but not addressed that I am tempted to read the rest of the series just to get a few questions answered.  Not immediately, though.  Yikes.

No, I do not recommend this book.  Not even if you are 15.

However, Jasper Fforde always makes me feel better.  I like The Eyre Affair, because it presumes that I am a literature nerd.  Correctly, I need not add.

Today, Grant goes to the orthodontist.  He was home sick yesterday, which threw off my productive plans.  No big deal, really.  Sometimes you have to snuggle a little boy instead.

Today I am needing ingredients to make a new and exciting dinner in the crock pot, since I don't know what time we will get home from the orthodontist, who's office is located in Troy.

This weekend we will go to the dog show in Columbia.  YAY!  Wanna come?

I really should do something productive....