If you've followed my blog for awhile you may have seen on the sidebar, under "Currently Reading", that I was reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett for about 6 months (if not longer. I like to underguesstimate).
I finished the book last week. It was a stuggle. For all you readers out there, please pick your jaw up from the floor. It's true- it wasn't my favorite book.

#1: I liked it. It just wasn't the best book I ever read. I liked the characters and the subject, but it wasn't a "couldn't put down" for me.

#2: Also, keep in mind that I received this book from a friend when it FIRST came out. She really liked the book, but made a good point after I told her it was just "OK." She said that if she had read the book AFTER it received so much hype and talk, she probably would have had other expectations as well. So true. That's what I get for being a reading slacker.

#3: I still want to see the movie which comes out in August- I love Emma Stone and think she's going to play a GREAT Skeeter. :)

Q: Did anyone out there NOT like the book as much as everyone else did?

This morning for my breakfast I had my very first Shakeology Chocolate Shake. It was delicious, indeed. It's consistency is, obviously, much thicker than a protein shake because of all the nutrients and other "good-for-you" stuff! So glad I decided to incoporate it into my food menu.

P.S. Insanity is kicking my butt. I had to get out of bed last night to stumble into the bathroom and slather Bengay all over my feet (yes. feet) and my hamstrings. *sigh* I don't know how the hell I'm going to power through today's workout, but I am. Update to follow.....

(I hope you guys don't mind picture-less posts. I can't upload photos from my work computer, and I wrote this at home this morning, so...yeah.)

You see on the right-hand side of this blog...that section in the sidebar that says: "What I'm Reading"? Yeah. Well, you know when the last time that was updated? Eons ago. Eons. That's a word right? Sounds right....

For so long now reading has taken a back burner to other stuff in my life, but over the past few weeks I've slowly started making more time to relax and crack open "The Help." It was highly recommended by a friend of mine OVER a year ago. I've been trying to finish that bitch for OVER a YEAR. I feel so left behind and dumb now because everyone and their mom has read it and loves it. UGH! I hate not being first! haha

So, I started compiling a list of books I wanted to read. These are books right from my shelf and from friends. That list is below...I always take the cheap route and hit up E-bay for the best deals on used books. Personally, I like used books better than a new one. I love the look of a book that was used, abused and loved so much because the reader couldn't put it down or move from that uncomfortable position just so they could finish that one last page of the chapter. *sigh* LOVE.

Anyway. Here's my list. Feel free to add anything (NOTE: I'm not a big romance, love, sweet book kinda girl. I like weird, twisty, turny thrillers/mysteries/freakish stuff. I like to be left flabberghasted nad wanting more. Feel free to input)

1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo- Yeah. Great example of a book I bought before anyone else knew about it. Now it's bigger than shit and I still haven't read the first book in this series. Crap.

2. The Room by Emma Donoghue- Kelly is a huge reader and I get lots of book ideas from her blog. This sounded quite interesting.

3. The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde

4.  The Devil in The White City by Erik Larson

5. Horns: A Novel by Joe Hill- Stephen King's son. Not a big King fan, but sounds promising.

6. Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King- This book is a bunch of mini stories in one book. I just got it out of my mouth that I don't do Stephen King, but the friend who told me to read this isn't either.

7. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

8. The Year of Yes by Maria Dahvana Headley

9. Sharp Objects by Jillian Flynn

That's my list for now. Comment, let me know if I've missed something you definitely think I should add. I'm also going to try books on CD. never been the one to do so, but on long drives, it sounds appealing. WHOOP!!!