The Babysitters' Club

I used to love these books when I was a kid and decided to re-read them now that I'm often in need of simple, brainless activity. They totally hit the spot - great for reading a few pages while doing night-time feeds with Baby! I liked the thought that I was a child when I read them the first time and here I am now, re-visiting them with my own child in my arms.

The collection I got has the first three books - 'Kristy's Great Idea', 'Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls' and 'The Truth About Stacey'. I doubt you'd like them unless you read them as a kid - there's no great philosophy to the story lines, they're just about a group of 12-year-old girls who form a babysitting club. There are more books in the series than I remember, I'll see what's available on Bookmooch!

Hope everyone is doing well - I still don't have the hang of fitting blogging into my days, but I'm working on it! Everything else is going well, I'm loving being a Mom and dreading going back to work in June! :-)

Challenges: Flashback Challenge

The Hunger Games - Catching Fire

Sequels aren't always very good so I was very pleasantly surprised that the second book of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins was just as gripping and enjoyable as the first. Seriously, this is such a page turner! I read it in just a few days despite having a new baby in the house so you can really believe me when I say that I couldn't tear myself away from it. :-)

The story of Catniss against the Capitol continues and takes several unexpected turns. I don't want to say anything about it so as not to spoil the suspense aspect... But go read it right now, it's that good! :-)

I love the imagination that went into the future world portrayed in this series... the differences between the districts, how the people of the Capitol look and act, the history, the technology, all the little things. It's very believable.

I'm still rooting for Peeta and I hope that that's where the story will end up. I have to wait to find out though, I can't believe the third part isn't out yet!!!

Challenges: 2010 Countdown Challenge

The Beekeeper's Apprentice

This is one of those books that everyone in the blogosphere seemed to be reading a while back - I only got to it in January and managed to finish it a few days before going into labor - thankfully, as it would have taken me weeks to get back to it and I would have forgotten the story by then. And since it's a mystery the story is kinda important.

Actually the mystery isn't the most important aspect of this book; for me it was the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell that mattered. I loved how they needed each other and I loved how their relationship developed over time. Oh and for those of you who don't know about this book, it takes place in 1915 and features a retired Holmes living as a recluse in the English countryside. What a great idea.

I really enjoyed the classic Sherlock Holmes case-solving, as both he and Mary figured things out based on the tiniest clues.

Anyway, I had a great time reading this. And The Beekeeper's Apprentice is the start of a series and the next book is already on my list.

Sorry for the disjointed review - baby Shane doesn't allow me much writing time in one go, but if I didn't at least start bloggin again now I'm afraid I'd never come back, so here I am, horrible writing and all! :-)