Thursday, November 13, 2008

Books, Brakes and Christmas Presents

So here we are just over six weeks from Christmas and I had to spend close to $1,800 dollars tuning up my Volvo. The commonly repeated phrase, “At least it’s paid for,” is offering very little comfort today. Especially since the dealer was only willing to offer $1,000 for it as a trade-in. I spent more money tuning it up than the damn thing is worth!

Okay. Deep breathing. It has been a very good car to me. I’ve put more than 93,000 miles on it so I’m going to assume that I’ve gotten my money’s worth from it. And it still works. I got it new 8 years ago. My husband changes vehicles almost as often as his underwear. Okay, so not quite that often. But truly, he has had 6 vehicles in the time that I started driving my V70!


The kids weren’t too happy to hear that they got a brake job for their Christmas presents (which isn’t true anyway because I’ve already bought them a ton of stuff—now if I could just remember where I hid it all…)

But did that stop me from casually entering the Barnes & Noble and plunking down the plastic to cover my addiction to all things bound by ink, paper and glue?

Being a middle grade writer, I can’t seem to pull myself out of the children’s section. I just finished reading “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan. Brilliant book. So of course I had to buy the sequel. “Inkdeath” found it’s way into my bag. I haven’t started it because of my NaNo preoccupation. One obsession at a time (although I am dying to know what happens to Dustfinger – don’t tell me!!)

So what are you reading? Any good recommendations?

14 comments:

Vivian Mahoney said...

You and I seem to be having the same problem with cars. I keep hoping mine will last another year.

As for the Percy Jackson series, you are going to love each book.

Good luck with your writing!

Sherrie Petersen said...

Thanks, Vivian -- and good luck with your car, too. I'm holding on to this one until I can buy a car that runs on compressed air. Skip the gas drama all together. Wishful thinking, I know. But a girl's gotta hope!

I can't wait to dive into "The Sea of Monsters." Percy's awesome.

Kelly Polark said...

I do the same thing with my kids' presents..hide them...then can't find them!

Suzanne Casamento said...

I'm totally sucked into Alyson Noel's "Saving Zoe" right now. The voice is subtle, kind of shy, but so true and the characters feel like I could have known them in high school.

I'm off to finish it! : )

Sherrie Petersen said...

Oh, Kelly -- I'm so glad I'm not the only one!

Thanks for the book recommendation, Suzanne. I'll have to check it out!

Sarah Laurenson said...

I love books. I love writing, reading, buying, everything about books.

Inkheart was actually not a fave of mine as I knew what was about to happen long before it did and I knew who was who long before the big reveal as well. Probably not going for the new one, though I like her writing overall.

Recommendations are hard. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - great book for the MG boys. Been out for a very long time. The series wanders from adult to kids with most of them falling on the adult side. He waxes extremely philosophical at some points. And he just came out with the immediate sequel (timeline-wise) to Ender's Game. It's on my Xmas list, so I can't rush out and buy it like I want to.

Sherrie Petersen said...

I haven't heard of Ender's Game. I'll have to check that out. Thanks, Sarah!

Kim Baise said...

Okay, I'm having car troubles too so it's always nice to hear I'm not the only one! I want a new car with a big bow on top this holiday season:)...Dreaming.
Now, Off to the book store to check out Percy :)

Sherrie Petersen said...

I agree Kim, a new car would be lovely. But I'll have to hang on to it for a little longer. Let me know if you like Percy!

Corey Schwartz said...

I am reading The Book Thief. I'm about half way through, but I would say it is a good choice for a reading group, as it has a unique style. It is a World War II-era story narrated by Death. Can't say that's been overdone.

Sherrie Petersen said...

The title alone pique's my interest. Thanks, Corey!

Anonymous said...

Last month we replaces our 20 plus year appliances as two of the three were kaput. I just finished North of Beautiful (12 and up, an ARC). I am reading the readers'choice books for my neck of the woods.

Michele Thornton said...

I love Riordan. This year, I've also fallen in love with all things MT Anderson, especially Feed and Octavian Nothing. Ditto The Bookthief, a work of genius. I also loved Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak.

Sherrie Petersen said...

Jone, our refrigerator has been making strange noises late at night. I'm getting worried!

Michele, I actually picked up Octavian Nothing at Borders on Thursday. Looking forward to reading it!

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