Book 4 Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard

Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard was a recommended book. Recommendations rarely happen to me since I read such dark books and I was surprised by how much I liked this one. It was a great read, very well written and not near as dark as what I'm used to, so a bit of a change. I thought it was a bit wordy and didn't hold my attention so I had to really try hard to make time. I did really like it but it was a little more difficult a read than I'm used to.  All and all I'm glad I challenged myself to read something I might not have read otherwise. It really gets you motivated to think outside the box and find new books in different genres.

It was a super busy week for me and I just got some time to get this posted and I'm almost done with my 5th book, Autumn by David Moody ! I can't believe I'm reading so fast. I'm a pretty slow reader so this has been amazing. I know it will slow down once it starts to get nice out in Chicago. Summers are always hard to keep up your reading but I find it fun to find a spot outside to travel to and lay on the fresh grass and read. I bike to Chicago's lovely lake front and set up a blanket and read.

Book #4: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Whoa!  My fourth book, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston actually made me cry real tears.  What a great book, and I see why it's a classic.  Beautiful, dialectically-accurate piece of literature. 

It looks like Lindsay and I are breezing through these books!  I'm in school full time and working part time and still find time to read, somehow.  There's always time.  Maybe just 20 minutes here and there before bed, and if it's a good book, you'll be surprised by how much your book is intertwined in the dreams you'll have.  Then again, maybe that's not such a great idea if you're Lindsay!
Read!

Number Three Found Me

Sometimes books find you. I was browsing my wonderful popular library section Chicago's Harold Washington's Library two blocks from my apartment and came across this wonderful book. It was right in the first row I searched nestled between two other zombie books. Now I know I'm not alone since the popular library has Zombie books on display.

It was funny and entertaining and a very quick read. So I'm off to the next book Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.

Book #3- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

My third book, "Water for Elephants", has been my favorite thus far.  I read it in a day.  Although a book in a day isn't typical, it's easier than you think when you're stuck in an airport or on a stuffy plane.  This book was fun, cleverly written, and engrossing (to say the least).
Like Lindsay has said before, take a book or a Kindle- or whatever reading source you have- with you wherever you go.  You'll be surprised at how quickly otherwise "boring" situations fly by.  Better yet, you'll be surprised at how quickly the books themselves fly by. 

Here's an interesting article I came across recently about the importance of books in an era ruled by the internet.  Enjoy!
http://warriorlibrarian.com/RESEARCH/libresearch.html

Book #2- The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

For my second book, I chose "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera.  This had been recommended to me by some coworkers, and I'm really glad I read it.
Apparently, the book has been made into a movie, and it's available instantly on Netflix!  Woohoo!  I love watching movies after reading the book.  I'm not sure if I've ever enjoyed the movie as much as a book, however.  One more reason to read, read, read!

Two Down and Gaining Steam

I usually judge a book by its cover, not in this case. I absolutely love this Gothic horror author Rhiannon Frater. She wrote the wonderful zombie trilogy As the World Dies and I ate them up in large chunks and couldn't believe how fast I read through them. Her use of women in lead and dominant roles it what really got me liking her but the plots and stories lines are solid and enticing.

The Tale of the Vampire Bride is not my usual read as it is a vampire love story. Through most of it I was a bit irritated because I was kinda liking it, ugh, its a love story, ewwwww. I won't get into it too much but it was all in all a good novel. A solid unique story line with a lead woman role that leaves you feeling empowered.

I must also touch on the fact that Rhiannon Frater has been a successful female independent author that self published all her books. She was recently signed to a publisher and I'm extremely happy for her. I want to urge all you readers out there to think outside the bestsellers list and giant publishers and look for those independent self published authors. You never know when you'll find a diamond in the haystack.