On Board: Sookie Stackhouse Mysteries

I have a little bit of a TV obsession.  I drive poor Eric nuts about the DVR and making time to watch all of my Real Housewives (all cities), Gossip Girl, White Collar, Psych, the random BBC documentary, Weeds, Nurse Jackie, and, yes, True Blood.  After the first season of True Blood ended, I ran out and bought all of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries books from which the True Blook series was based.  It was a great experience being able to plow through the set of 8 books in one string of reading.  They are such a great mix of mystery, love, suspense, and of course a little violence and fantasy.  I mean, faeries don't really exist....do they??!  Anyway, the new book just came out last month and I devoured it in three sittings. (hey, I still have to make time for TV!)

The best thing about the books is that the HBO series has taken a somewhat different direction than the book series.  This means that you get Charlaine Harris' Sookie in the books and HBO's Sookie on TV.  She's the same great character in the books as well as TV.  A small town girl, a little insecure at times, self sufficient and independent, yet never willing to take anyone's crap -- not even from a Vampire!  If you're like me and like getting *ahem* suck-ed into a series, then the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries is a great read.  Enjoy!

Via CharlaineHarris.com

Do you have any book series recommendations?

On Board: Last Night at Chateau Marmont

I am on board with Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger.  I simply adore Weisberger’s ability to pen a relatable story set against fabulous circumstances.  I am by no means a professional book reviewer, but if you’re looking for a good beach read, Last Night at Chateau Marmont will certainly fit the bill!



Via Amazon.com



From the opening chapter, I knew that I would love the main character, Brooke.  Brooke is devoted to her career, husband, friends, family and even her hound dog, Walter.  Brooke struggles to keep a semblance of normalcy in her professional life as a nutritionist while her husband, Julian, a beatnik starving musician type, finally gets his big break.  Their life is turned upside down by paparazzi and gossip blogs after Julian performs live on a late night TV show.

Of course the author uses plenty of “artistic license” when Julian is suddenly launched into the spotlight.  I mean, what is the likelihood that such an unknown new artist would really play at the Grammys?  None of the more outlandish parts of the book turned me off of poor Brooke, my main focus, and her efforts to support Julian’s career while salvaging what opportunities she has been given in her own career.

What did you think of this book?  What books are you reading?  Any good “beach reads” you can recommend to me?