Mixed Reviews

I had fully planned on getting the two book reviews previously mentioned (The Host and Austenland) posted this weekend.  However, Jared threw a major wrench in my weekend plans.  We went to the pet store early Saturday morning to get a little frog.  Instead we came home with 2 hermit crabs.  Then we decided we needed a better terrarium for them.  So Jared went to a different pet store, fell in love with a dog there, and brought us back to the store to meet him.  So this weekend has been busy with a last-minute date, unexpected visitors, an unexpected house guest and a house guest we already had, and now this:

So even though I have a jam-packed week with work, the kids’ school, being the volunteer coordinator for Cameron’s classroom and needing to get the schedule done, ballet, soccer practices and games, family day at a geek conference, an extra person in our house, and a tiny ball of fur that is not trained, I will get those posts done this week.  And I will somehow find the time I need (to keep my sanity and brain intact) to fit in some good reading time.  Hmmm… does it sound like I am trying to make excuses?!

Jared is a software engineer, computer and technology geek, with a passion for politics, movies, and music in his spare time.  Adrienne has her BA in English and works at a library part-time when she isn’t busy reigning in the chaos of 6 kids 7 and under.

We are both voracious readers.  However, don’t be surprised if most of the book reviews come from Adrienne.  While we both always have a huge stack of books on our nightstands, Adrienne goes through them much quicker.  This is because she gets intensely involved in the novels she reads and often stays up till dawn reading them.  Then she begs her dear husband to get up with the kids.  Most of the music reviews will come from Jared as he spends much more time than Adrienne downloading music.  This is so he has plenty of choices to play really, really loud to drown out the background noise of the kids while he is trying to work (he works from home).  The movie reviews should be split pretty equally as we watch those together.  We are faithful fans of Blockbuster Online and always have a stack of movies awaiting us.  It will be interesting to see what our different opinions on movies will be if we both review them.

And now the biggest part of this equation… you, the readers.  We don’t want to bore ourselves with our own, undisputed thoughts.  If we review a movie, book, or album that sparks you interest, please come back after you have watched/read/listened to it and share your thoughts with us.  Consider it doing us a favor.  After all, with all these kids we need some more adult interaction!  If you have a movie/book/album you want to see reviewed, request it or better yet… you review it and send it to us here and we will post it under your name.

Read along with me!

**The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

**Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Christ the Lord:  Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

Christ the Lord:  The Road to Cana by Anne Rice

The Outside World by Tova Mirvis

Touchstone by Laurie R. King

**I’ve already read these two, but included them on this list as I will be reviewing them in the not too distant future.

What books are on your current list?

Welcome!  While this site is now functional and we will be posting to it, this is not how it will end up looking.  We are still in the design process. This site will be a forum for posting our thoughts about music, movies, and books.  I will be kicking off with a review of Stephenie Meyer’s The Host and a review of Shannon Hale’s Austenland this weekend.  I’m not sure what Jared will do for his debut post but I wouldn’t be surprised if he reviews Weezer’s The Red Album.  This blog is open to any and all opinions, whether they agree with our opinions or not.  A good novel, album, or movie will spark thought and discussion.  If you haven’t read, seen, or listened to the piece we are reviewing, then perhaps it will give you something to add to your book/movie/music list.  We will try to refrain from spoilers (but if there are any we will give plenty of warning beforehand)!  From time to time, I’ll also post my book list of what I want to read next.  I usually have around 10 books on it at a time.  So if you wanted, you could read my list with me and then discuss with me those books.  Also, we would love to read your reviews!  So if you have a review you would like posted, you can email me here and your review will be posted.  Just be sure to include your name and/or website with it so credit can be given where credit is due.