No. 47: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

A few weeks ago, when I realized that the FINAL Harry Potter movie would be released soon, I got all in a tizzy to read the whole series and watch all the movies to prepare myself. Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on who you are) I could only find book 7 and my brother borrowed all my movies. So my preparation consisted entirely of reading this book. And it took place in a world record amount of time. Because of this simple equation:

5 hour energy + 52 oz diet coke + Harry Potter book 7 = book finished in 3 hours, floor washed, several loads of laundry done and an hour of sewing

You should try it some time, unless you (unlike me - obviously) do not require an unhealthily large amount of caffeine to function normally. If this is you, maybe skip the 5 hr energy.

Oh how I love this book, and this whole series while we are on the subject. I cannot wait for my girls to be old enough to love it like I do. Or, for them to be old enough for me to read it to them whether they love it or not (but also old enough so they don't have nightmares or cry too much about the orphan/unloving guardian part - that is sad)

So, in sum, Harry Potter is awesome. I loved the movie too and cried in advance of all the truly sad parts because I knew they were coming and I got sad just thinking about it. So basically it was a lot of me crying in advance, crying when actually called for, and overall happiness because I had been waiting for that movie for A LONG TIME!!!

No. 46: Smokin' Seventeen

Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
Did you know that Janet Evanovich celebrates my birthday? She totally does! Every year, right before my birthday, she releases a new Stephanie Plum book so I can get it as a birthday present! Isn't that sweet? I am thinking of sending a thank you note. I am not sure how many years this has gone on, but at least 5 or 6 if not more. It is awesome to have such a great and famous author recognize my birthday like this :)

Anyway, this is obviously number 17 in the series. And despite a slight repetition in theme, I loved it! I mean, the repetition is what I love - I need some Lula talking crap, the destruction of cars, a trip to the funeral home, a mysterious killer stalking Stephanie. I need it all, or it wouldn't be the same book. Now I will say that this book was slightly different in a few key ways.

(1) More Ranger - and more sexy Ranger which I am 100% in favor of. Seriously.

(2) Less Joe - which is sad, but I guess if you are going to have more Ranger the inevitable result is less Joe. Overall the series has been more focused on Stephanie and Joe's relationship so I can appreciate the break. Especially since said break lead to item 1 on our list.

(3) More explicit sex scenes. Now this doesn't come close to some things I have read (and I am glad) but I thought it was a little sexier than the other books. This may because it was the Ranger show and Ranger is more overtly sexy than Joe (although I can't say that is really true because Joe is pretty hot too). Or it may be because the author felt like it and I am reading too much into it because it is a book and not real people. Hard to say.

Anyway, to sum up - loved it, love Ranger, love Janet Evanovich, love my birthday.