A Fat Chick Trying to Find Herself: Books

The Twilight Series

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:49:54 GMT

I’ve been dying to review this three book series and I’m not finding myself able to put into words just how fantastic they really are. The Twilight Series by:Stephenie Meyer starts with book 1, Twilight:

Isabella just moved in with her Dad and is starting out at a new high school. She ends up sitting next to the most intriguing boy by the name of Edward Cullen. In between trying to adjust to her new life, in a new town, she cracks into the mysterious world of the Cullens’ family and finds herself falling for a vampire. Add a touch of adventure, danger, and mix in romance and you have a thrilling story.

Just when you thought Isabella and Edward’s story was over you are introduced to book 2, New Moon:

In this book one of the characters from the first book comes into the center stage. You get to learn more about the boy Jacob Black who becomes more to Bella than just a young teenager with a crush. It seems Bella cannot escape the paranormal or danger for that matter. In this book our heroine plunges through a storm of heartbreak, rescue, and possibly a happy ending; but not without over coming a few obstacles and emotional hurdles.

In book 3, Eclipse, all of the twists and turns come together putting an end to a few loose knots and opening new beginnings at the same time:

In this book the trio Bella, Edward, and Jacob are thrown together in love, friendship, and war. Now that most of the secrets are revealed to our little group of three we experience how they handle this knowledge and who will survive it and who won’t. Out of the three books I feel this one was the most intense. It has the most bloodshed and emotional turmoil.

Overall I loved this whole series. Even though this series is found in the young adult section of the bookstore it is definitely worth the read. You’d better block out a big chunk of time to start reading any one of these three books because I know I simply couldn’t put it down once I started. I just finished Eclipse last night and just as I was coming down to the last 100 pages it killed me to wait until I had run all of my after work errands to finally finish it.

But just like with any good book or series I was sad to see it come to an end. This has become one of my favorites and I’m sure I’ll be rereading it again in the future so many times that I will be able to recite my favorite excerpts. If I haven't convinced you yet of how good this series is then you can check it out for yourself here.

Have a great weekend,

~ Fat Chick

P.S. I added my Halloween pics from this year, check them out!

Something I read today that has me completely spellbound…

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:46:40 GMT

“Do you mind if I do something?” he murmured, his arms tightening around me.

“Anything you want.”

But he let me go and slid away.

“Anything but that,” I complained.

He ignored me, taking my hand and pulling me off the bed, too. He stood in front of me, hands on my shoulders, face serious.

“Now, I want to do this right. Please, please, keep in mind that you’ve already agreed to this, and don’t ruin it for me.”

“Oh, no,” I gasped as he slid down onto one knee.

“Be nice,” he muttered.

I took a deep breath.

“Isabella Swan?” He looked up at me through his impossibly long lashes, his golden eyes soft but, somehow, still scorching. “I promise to love you forever – every single day of forever. Will you marry me?”

There were many things I wanted to say, some of them not nice at all, and others more disgustingly gooey and romantic than he probably dreamed I was capable of. Rather than embarrass myself with either, I whispered, “Yes.”

“Thank you,” he said simply. He took my left hand and kissed each of my fingertips before he kissed the ring that was now mine.

Eclipse – by Stephenie Meyer

Chapter 20 Compromise

Pages 459-460

~ Fat Chick

P.S. Would you all think me a total sap if I admitted to crying over this?

Skinny Whhaaa???

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:24:52 GMT

If you look over at my list of books you’ll see a new addition titled Skinny Bitch. I first saw this book this weekend on the ‘bestseller’ shelf at my local Borders store. Then when I went to Curves this week a few of the women were talking about it and recommended me reading it. Any time I get a recommendation I always have to follow through with it and read the book.

So, since I had just acquired a coupon in my e-mail from Borders (Conspiracy? Maybe.) I decided to go back to the bookstore and buy it. I couldn’t put the book down. I put it down twice, once to try to choke down my lunch and secondly, to go to class. I finished this book in one day.

My feelings over this book are quite confusing. Allow me to do my best to dissect them. The first and foremost aspect of this book that jumps to the front of my brain is, “Wow! These women really know how to keep healthy bodies and I applaud that.” They throw so many health facts and nutritional facts into you face (with sources to back them up) that you begin to wonder how you’ve managed to survive this long on the foods that we eat.

The following thought that jumps out about this book is the word ‘repulsive’. There are a few chapters dedicated to the chemicals that are present in our food in one form or another that should have warning labels on the food not just ‘nutritional facts’, the way animals are treated before, during, and after the slaughter house that would make the biggest meat eater want to go vegan, and several of examples of how the FDA, USDA, Dairy, and Government are all putting money into each others’ pockets while we are getting sick, diseased, and dying from their deals and oversights. These chapters affected me the most. Here is an excerpt from the book:

“Cows are injected with bovine growth hormones. Their udders, under normal conditions, would supply about ten pounds of milk a day. Greedy farmers have their cows producing up to a hundred pounds of milk a day! There is no gentle farmer milking the cow with a bucket between his feet. Cows are milked by machine; metal clamps are attached to the cows’ sensitive udders. The udders become sore and infected. Pus forms. But the machines keep on milking, sucking the dead white blood cells into the milk. How freaking gross is that? To get rid of all the bacteria and other shit, milk must be pasteurized. But pasteurization destroys beneficial enzymes and makes calcium less available without even killing all of the viruses or bacteria. Hell, even radioactive particles are found in milk!”

To hear these two ladies describe animal meat as decomposing bodies that we are consuming just curls my toes. Add on top of that the abuse the animals receive in the slaughter house that range from cutting off chickens’ beaks with a hot knife while they are still alive to boiling pigs/hogs alive was enough to sear these images into my brain any time I consider putting meat back in my mouth.

Don’t get me wrong; this book isn’t all about the bad and the ugly. They dedicated chapters to what to eat and what not to eat, websites for more information and helpful tools, as well as books and magazines to further educate you on their points. Not to mention a whole month’s worth of a menu to follow. They might not be polite about the point they are trying to convey but who wants nice and sugar coated (pun intended) facts when it comes to our health?

Now all I have to do is figure out a way to convince My Prince to try this new way of eating for at least 30 days with me. I’m thinking the odds of that happening are pretty slim but I could always read the most gruesome details to him and see if that doesn’t change his mind a little. What’s 30 days, right? If you or someone you know has read this book let me know your/ their thoughts on it. I'm curious how other people have reacted to this book of new information.

As for my own weight and nutrition I’d say I took a bit of a landslide with a 2lb. gain, but last weekend I didn’t eat that great. That’s the story of my life, right? Perhaps not any more after reading Skinny Bitch. Also, tonight at Curves we’re having a guest speaker come who is a certified nutritionist, whose name has escaped me at the moment. I’ll let you know how that goes.

~ Fat Chick

Can't talk now...

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:16:43 GMT

I'm trying to finish reading my new Harry Potter book! Only 200 more pages left!

“Hello My Name is Fat Chick and I have a problem…”

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 13:21:08 GMT

Carrie Quote of the Day:

Miranda: He was funny and cute.

Carrie: Yeah, and in town for a week! What's the point?

Samantha: That IS the point! It's the best possible scenario, because you know he's leaving.

Carrie: But it's like whatever happens, there's an expiration date. It's expiration dating.

My weekend started off slowly with My Prince being held captive at work until about 11:00pm. I ended up cleaning and decorating my place while waiting for him, not exactly what I had planned for my Friday night. Then on Saturday My Prince informed me that he needed to go back to work to do a few things and that we were going to the hockey game (which we lost) and that he wanted his cousin to come along.

Now me being the fabulous girlfriend that I am made a sad puppy dog face and went along with everything. I even assisted My Prince with a few tasks at his work demanding that his boss put me on the payroll. But instead My Prince decided to reward me by supporting my addiction. I was promised one brand new book for my help.

On Sunday we decided to go out and get some errands done. Of course making time to stop at the bookstore. My Prince made the mistake of dropping me off at the bookstore while he went to the pet store to get some supplies. I knew which book I was going to get, until I started looking around. It seemed I had to have every book that I saw!

I picked up the book I had intended on getting which was “The Thirteenth Tale” and it was 30% off. I thought My Prince would be happy to hear that. Then I made my way over to the paperback books table where a few dozen of books had a pretty little sticker on them proclaiming, “Buy 3 for 2”. I started looking around (I usually can’t come up with three) and started seeing a few titles I was interested in. By the time I finished looking at all of the “Buy 3 for 2” books I had six in my arms.

So, I called My Prince and told him he needed to come get me fast because I was going to end up walking out with all of the books in the store. He wasn’t ready to pick me up yet. I put all six books back on the tables and went into a far away corner figuring I could distract myself from the six I had picked. That only made matters worse. I found about ten more books to go with my original six.

My Prince finally called me to let me know he would be there in a matter of minutes and that I should stop looking at the books I was currently drooling over and that he would get me my original six. That man of mine must love me! So, instead of one book I received six! YAY! The six that I got were: “Running With Scissors”, “Wicked”, “Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister”, “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter”, “Lipstick Jungle”, and “The Da Vinci Code”.

These will keep me busy for a while and don’t forget about my sacred library card! LOL

~ Fat Chick

Library Visit

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:49:19 GMT

Carrie Quote of the Day:

Carrie: Maybe we just obsess over relationships that feel un-finished.

As you all know I am a self-proclaimed book addict. I know I have a 'problem' but I can't help it. Whenever I'm around books I get excited. It's been a long time since I've gone to the library. The last time I was in a library was probably when I was in college, which was in 2000 - 2002 (you do the math).

On Friday after I had my consultation with the oral surgeon I decided to use the rest of my time off by joining the library that is in my new community. I was so giddy when the woman handed me my library card I think I scared her, lol. This library has two floors with a big spiraling staircase that leads to the fiction section (my favorite section).

I walked down the first aisle and that's as far as I made it. To the right of me were bookshelves dedicated to the "classics" (that was their word not mine but I think it suits the section well) with books from William Shakespeare, to Hemmingway, and with great titles such as "Pride and Prejudice". To the left of me were bookshelves dedicated to mystery and horror stories including some of my favorite authors like Anne Rice and Stephen King. I think I stayed there for an hour picking up books, reading several pages, putting them back and picking up another one.

Looking over those marvelous book covers I realized there a lot of well-known books out there that I have yet to read. I mean usually when I pick a book to read it usually has nothing to do with its reputation. That doesn't mean that I've purposely kept the classics off my "to read" list. It just seemed to me that I should have been made to read these books in school. People say how wonderful and great stories they are and I was not subjected to them in school.

Which leads me to Confession Time. I know I'm going to shock a lot of you with what I'm about to say but please keep in mind that I realized the error and with my library card intend on correcting it.

I have never read the following:

A Tale of Two Cities

To Kill a Mocking Bird

Hamlet

The Adventures of Huck Finn

Moby Dick

Great Expectations

The Catcher in the Rye

The Scarlet Letter

War and Peace

I'm sure there are plenty more and that I've officially caused MochaMama to shudder at the thought (sorry). But again allow me to remind everyone that I do now own a library card and intend on changing this. Please jump in and list any classics you think I should read (or should have read by now, lol).

I can say that I have read the following (even though it's a short list):

So that has to count for something, right?

My trip to the library taught me a lot about myself and how much I've been missing out on. But to keep myself from checking out every book on that list of books that I have not read, I settled on Stephen King's "The Shining". Now before you all start rolling your eyes at me and gasping (was that you MochaMama?) with the fact that I didn't check out any of the above mentioned books listen to my reasoning. First it is October, which to me translates to "Halloween". "The Shining" happens to be one of my favorite movies and I realized I never read the book. What perfect time to read it than in October?! Exactly!

I'm already trying to restrict myself to a two or three book limit on my next visit. It'll be hard but I think I can do it. Good thing they make you bring the books back, otherwise I would have walked out of there that day with a car full of books, lol.

Have a great day,

~ Fat Chick

P.S. My big "D-day" (the day I'm getting my wisdom teeth out) is on Nov. 10th. They are taking all four out at once. I almost passed out just talking about it with the doctor last Friday. Scared? A little...