A Dirty Job

I had wanted to read Christopher Moore for a very long time, I just never had the time (I am finally done with this semester!!) I also, bought the Nook and wanted to add books to is - so why not do this one? I liked the cover and thought it would be amusing to read. Well, I was not that big of a fan when it came to his writing style (I am currently reading The Stupidest Angel and finding it hilarious!) OMFG! I just looked online and they're making a movie out of it? Hollywood - WHY CAN'T YOU BE ORIGINAL AND LEAVE THE BOOKS ALONE! (Ok, sorry about that!)

Charlie Asher is your average Beta male, not too hot and not too cold. He has the love of his life Rachel who is a beautiful, smart woman. A woman, many would say, was out of Charlie's league. They are about to expect their first child, and both could not be more happy. Well, Charlie is starting to get a bit unhinged. He is starting to see glowing red objects where ever he goes. He doesn't know what to make of them, nor if he is the only one who can see them. When he tried to warn someone that their umbrella was glowing red, the man was instantly killed by a bus! And when Charlie tried to explain to people what had just happened - it was like he was invisible!

When their child is born, both parents are excited (as every parent is). Suddenly, Charlie notices a dark figure in the room with him while Rachel sleeps. What is this man doing in his room? Charlie races to get the nurse but when he returns the man is gone, and Rachel will not awaken. She is dead. Charlie becomes heart-stricken and it is only with his sister's help that he begins to live again.

His life however, takes a turn for the weird. People start to die around Charlie, and that is after their names appear in a note pad by his bedside. Furthermore, he hears voices. These voices do not reside in his head, but in the sewers below the road. They call to him, and they call him "Fresh Meat". What's even stranger is a big, black, raven follows him. What does this mean? Why are they following Charlie? Is he the new Death?

Although I found his writing style to be a bit off (for me) I did enjoy this book. At one point I was in my bedroom with my dog sleeping beside me, when he got to to edge of the bed and started to do a deep growl - the kind that warns intruders to leave. It scared me because I was at the point in the book, where the Sewer voices could only be seen by dogs! Silly I know, but I could not help by be a bit scared. I enjoyed the relationship between Minty Fresh and Charlie. It was a wonderfully funny book and I cannot wait to read many more of his books.

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore. (c) 2006

Babymouse: Beach Babe

School is almost out and Babymouse can't wait!!! While taking her last class of the day, science, she begins to day dream during a slide show of marine animals.

Suddenly Babymouse turns into MERMOUSE! Mermouse swims through the ocean looking t her treasure chest of jewels until she comes across a GIANT SQUID! The giant squid attacks her squirting ink all over her! But when she awakes from her day dream, it's actually her pen that's spilled all over her!

That night at dinner her parents tell her that they are going to the beach for a vacation! She's so excited (last years vacation was a disaster in - she had to camp in the woods!)

When she arrives at the beach she can't wait to surf, sun tan, and snorkel - all with out her little brother Squeak. When Babymouse's mother tells her to spend time with Squeak she gurglingly agrees. She builds a sand castle and he destroys it - and then later that night they spend all the time on the rides on the board walk. That night though Babymouse tells her mother that she doesn't have any cool people to hang out with, hurting Squeak's heart. He leaves her a note saying that he's running away since no one wants to be with him.

The lesson that Babymouse learned in this book was that her brother is very important person to have.

Books in this series:

1. Babymouse: Queen of the World
2. Babymouse: Our Hero
3. Babymouse: Beach Babe
4. Babymouse: Rock Star
5. Babymouse: Heart Breaker
6. Babymouse: Camp Babymouse
7. Babymouse: Skater Girl
8. Babymouse: Puppy Love
9. Babymouse: Monster Mash
10. Babymouse: The Musical
11. Babymouse: Dragonslayer
12. Babymouse: Burns Rubber (January 12, 2010)

Babymouse: Beach Babe by Jennifer and Matt Holm. New York (c) 2006

Queen of Babble

Lizzie Nichols seems to have just a slight problem, well maybe it's not so slight. She has a problem 1)keeping secrets and 2)knowing when to keep her mouth shut. She has just graduated from college with a BA in the history of fashion and can't wait to visit her British boyfriend Andrew :) Her graduation party is going on without a hitch. Everyone is congratulating her on her weight-loss and her graduation. When Lizzie is greeted by her teacher she is thrilled to see her there! But when Lizzie is pulled aside and told that she actually didn't graduate - Lizzie is shocked! How could this happen?

Well it happened quite easily - Lizzie didn't read each and every line of graduation requirements - she just skimmed it. What's preventing her from graduating you ask? - just a simply thesis on her major. You get snippets of it throughout the book, and it's quite charming!

The only problem is Lizzie is going to London the day after the party to visit with her boyfriend of only a couple of months. How can she possibly write a thesis while galavanting throughout England?! Maybe Andrew can take her to Jane Austen's home as well as the famous Top Shop store!

When Lizzie arrives at Heathrow Airport she sees a man in the most hideous jacket in her life - and he can't stop looking at her! She begins to think that he is a killer going to take tourist women and kill them. Yes, I too thought that that was a bit far fetched, still one can never be too cautious. She goes to a kiosk that allows for people just landing to find their party - and when she tells the man to page Andrew she is shocked to find that the man in the ugly jacket is him!!

Andrew takes her out and introduces her to his dad - and Lizzie thinks how odd that is! I mean who takes their dad with them to meet their girlfriend? Soon Lizzie finds out that they will be staying at Andy's parent's house! She starts to realize that Andy isn't quite the prince charming she made him out to be. She realizes that Andy has turned out to be a totally jerk and can't be with him anymore and breaks up with him. Her only recourse is to go to France and be with her best friend Sheri at the Chateau Mirac and help cater the wedding.

When she jumps the train to France, she has a hard time finding a seat, it seems all the French people hate her because she's American. She finally finds a seat (in the 1st class non-smoking section) next to a complete and total hottie! She asks if the seat is taken and when she finds that its not she gladly sits down. She begins to cry and apologizes to the man - and then the word vomit begins. She tells the complete stranger about how she broke up with Andrew and her reasons why! He smiles throughout it and adds encouraging words here and there.

When the train finally lands both her and the stranger get out. She is bewildered, why is he getting out too? He introduces him self as Luke - Chaz's friend. Lizzie becomes instantly mortified! She makes Luke swear not to tell a living soul about what she had told him. Things get interesting when Lizzie can't help but start to fall in love with him. She's told him the one secret she hasn't even told her best friend Sheri! When Sheri storms in one night demanding to know why she hasn't graduated yet - Lizzie can only think that Luke has spilled the beans! It doesn't help that Andy shows up at the wedding to talk to her.

This was actually a really really good book! (and I do say that about most of them :P) Lizzie was at times a little too obnoxious for me. She claimed to be a feminist, yet you wouldn't know of it. Andy completely walks over her (and even in asking for $$ to repay his debuts) in fact as I was reading this passage and it really irritated me

"I know this is all my fault, Andy. I'm really am sorry. I hope I didn't get you into trouble with Mr. Williams.

"Well, I won't lie to you, Liz," Andy says. "It was a close. Very close." (p130)

You see Andy was trying to cheat the government by getting un-employment checks (and he has a job!) She came across as a weak, blubbering, woman - not the feminist she portrayed to be! It was a good thing too she came to her sense otherwise I would have jumped into the story and smacked her and told her to wake up! I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series :)

Books In this series:

1) Queen of Babble

2) Queen of Babble in the Big City

3) Queen of Babble Gets Hitched

Queen of Babble by Meg Cabbot. New York (c) 2006

I found this little blurb.....

Hey! So I know it's not Friday yet (give it 30 more minutes) but I just love this idea! I forgot which blog I found this on (sorry!!!) but the creator of the Friday Fill-Ins is Janet. Please stop by her blog to see which other ones she has created!! My answers will be in teal. Also if you do a Friday Fill-In let me know and I'll post it on my blog! Hope y'all have a great weekend!! :)

1. It's time for a crazy dance party in your living room! Don't hold back!

2. The swimming pool; it's not a bad place for pretending to be a mermaid or dolphin!

3. I must be brave.

4. Love is the best thing I have ever known.

5. My hair is simply straight.

6. The last time I laughed really loudly was today until I couldn't breathe and my ribs hurt :)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cooking for friends, tomorrow my plans include perhaps a trip to the beach at sunrise and Sunday, I want to take a walk in the morning and take pictures!