Cool Idea!!!
Okay here's what i just finished reading this weekend:
Riding Lessons-by Sara Gruen.
The book is about a woman who was destined for the Olympics for her equestrien riding skills. She was at the top of her league in the horse jumping competitions with her beloved horse until a riding accident left her seriously injured and caused the death of the horse. Unable to get over the loss of her horse and still harboring bitter feelings towards her parents she left home never looking back.
Fast forward , she is the mother of an angry rebelious teen daughter, she's just been let go of her job and her husband has just asked for a divorce because he's been having an affair with his secretary. Her father is terminally ill and she decides to move back to the farm to help her mother care for her sick father. She ends up rekindling a romance with the local veterinarian whom she had a teenaged crush on years ago. In another twist in the book she falls in love with an sickly injured horse that was destined for the slaughter house, she's pulled towards this horse because of his simular markings to the horse she lost years ago. There is a twist to the storyline involving the horse but i won't give it away.
When i started this book i was very excited because it reminded me alot of one of my favorites " The Horse Whisperer" by Nicholas Evans, but after awhile i think too many dumb choices by the female character started to annoy me, and this book could have had the potential to be MUCH better. My love of horses kept me reading it though, it's the extra dramas in the lead characters life i could have done without. It wasn't a horrible book, i guess i was just disappointed that it could have had so much more potential and i felt the ending was too rushed.

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

I just got through reading "A Country Year: Living the Questions", by Sue Hubbell.

This book reminds me of Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" in that it's written over a year's time where the author shares her "country living" experiances.

The book is autobiographical, where the author, a 50-ish year old divorcee, writes about her life living alone in the Ozarks as a beekeeper!! She talks about her trials and tribulations through the year, her animal friends that she shares her 100 (or so) acres with, and alot about bees and beekeeping - without it being solely about beekeeping.

I enjoyed reading her descriptions of the changing seasons, how she weathered winter (and chopped wood) alone with a chainsaw , and about the little things about the nature all around her that made her so happy.

This book was only 231 pp. long, and was in large(r) print than what I'm used to reading, but happily was easier to read that way. (ha ha)

And you'll definately walk away from this book with a deeper appreciation of bees and honey!! After reading this book I ran out and bought my DD a jar of honey - with honeycomb in it - JUST so she could see what I had been reading to her about!!

Loved this book, and highly reccomend it!!

ETA: From Kirkus Reviews: "This is a book one wants to quote from beginning to end...." and it's so true!!

I guess I should also add that this book was written in the late 80s, so it's not a newer release, which I'm just now realizing that most of you are looking for. I also got it from the library. I didn't buy it, but here's an Amazon link where you can:
Amazon.com: A Country Year: Living the Questions: Sue Hubbell: Books
(My cover looks different than this one.)

I hate it when characters, especially females, make stupid decisions! So I had to laugh when I read your statement.

Thanks! I'll have to ket this one in mind.

Sorry Aliadam -- I didn't use the multiquote feature ... I forgot. Hang my head in shame.

I just finished 'Wizard's First Rule' by Terry Goodkind. This is the first book in the 'Sword of Truth' series. I'm actually re-reading the series now because the final book 'Confessor' was recently released.

This is definitely a fantasy series with wizards, dragons, and a battle between good and evil. Richard is from Westland, where there is no magic, yet he turns out to have magic of his own. It turns out that one of his best friends is a wizard and the love of his life has her own secret magic. Together they must save three lands from a wizard who is attempting to gain the ultimate power. The journey is long and difficult and Richard must face dangers he knows nothing about.

I've heard rumor that this book (or series, not sure which) is being developed as a TV show and may air this fall.

I'll probably be starting the second book, 'Stone of Tears,' this week.

Bad, bad melsb....not multiquoting!!

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OOOOOHHHHHH....this sounds interesting. Is it appropriate for teens? I don't want a lot of sex or very explicit language (I'm an overly conservative, protective mom), but if not this sounds like something my DS would LOVE!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing this!!

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I just finished Where or When by Anita Shreve. Amazon.com: Where or When: Anita Shreve, Virginia Barber: Books

The two main characters met at camp 31 years ago. He sees her picture in the paper, and starts to correspond with her again. It's a story about first love, and what would you do if you met up with that person again. Some people might like it and think "how romantic". I didn't like this book because the adultry turned me off. Plus I thought it was farfetched that at the age of 14 you fall in love with someone you spend less than a week with, meet back up 31 years later and are still in love, and destroy your families.

I'm reading another of my adoption reunion books right now. It is ok and called Lost and Found by Betty Jean Lifton. I have a pile of books to read, but I want to get through this one before my birthfather comes for a visit this weekend.

Here is a description: Amazon.com: Lost & Found: The Adoption Experience: Betty Jean Lifton: Books

I usually like Anita Shreve. I agree with you though that I usually don't root for adulterous relationships in books and that a one wk relationship at 14 lsting forever seems far fetched. So would you still recommend it, or not?


You'll have to let us know when you're done with it what you thought. I know you really liked the other adoption book you read.


Thanks to both of you for posting!!

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