A Little Of This And A Little Of That

First announcement that I would like to make is this: I have long since finished reading the book Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon and the book review is still on the way. It was such a delight reading this book and it only took me less than five days to read it. It was a challenge trying to finish my readings when I have random projects and work to attend to. BUT I did finish the book and it was fantastic. More on Styxx will be on the way, I can assure you!

Next thing that I want to explain is just the possibility of a new blog. Its just a matter of me trying something new just to amp up my experience with blogging or at least try a new topic that folks might be interested in. Just a thought and still in progress.

I am currently reading a book called Nightshade by Andrea Cremer.

And finally I would like to share a rather disturbing dream because I want to.

Just last night, I had a dream that I was going to Walmart with a guy friend of mine. Now, the dream me knew that this guy friend had a girlfriend in real life in this dream world, however that didn't stop either of us in this dream from having an affair. By affair I mean: we kissed, we cuddled, we were totally into each other. When we left Walmart and got into his jeep, his girlfriend also walks out of Walmart carrying a baby. A tall man is with her claiming to be her father when I knew in real life that this man wasn't her father, yet he was claiming to be. In addition, I know in real life that the girlfriend doesn't have a child and yet in the dream she claimed it was her child and that my guy friend was the father of it. Completely ignoring me and throwing me in the backseat, the three individuals hovered over the child completely awed by its cuteness. When I was about to be given the baby, (as if it was my turn to hold and awe at the child) the father character snatches the baby away and tells me that I'm not worthy to hold the child. (Which I don't blame him since the dream started off with me cheating). Anyways the car is about to roll out of the parking lot with my guy friend driving until he accidentally backs into and (magically) wrecked a very expensive car with racing decal.

My guy friend knew he was in deep shit, but rather than stopping and waiting to talk to the owner, he drives off. We didn't even make it out of the parking lot when two big guys in leather coats and carrying tire irons jumped out in from the our vehicle and forced us to stop. They were bald men with very stylized facial hair. The one closest to the passenger door commanded us to get out of the car. My guy friend, his girlfriend (and baby), the father character get out of the car and while doing so my guy friend was pleading with the men and asked them not to hurt the baby. I was trapped in the backseat and couldn't get out unless someone pulled the lever to move the seat ahead of me so that I could get out. The two men pulled the lever and discovered me in the backseat with rage written all over their faces. I , for some reason, couldn't help but stare at them with the most dumb expression. I assume that my stupidity was the reason for the one man to randomly seize a knife from his pocket and he perfectly shoved the blade deep and between my ribs. It was that moment that I felt like I was reliving a moment from one of Sherrilyn Kenyon's characters. And the only words that came out of my mouth was a shocked and almost whisper, "Oh my God, that man just stabbed me". My eyes raced to meet my guy friends eyes and although he looked just as shocked as I was, he did nothing to help me. Horror began to kick fully within me especially since my dream guy friend wasn't acting like himself as he would in real life. I knew that in real life, my guy friend would actually be beating the shit out of the man who stabbed me with a knife. However, in dream world, he was just as helpless as the baby in the dream. The men shoved me back and then they both jumped in the car. They drove back into the parking lot as as the blood was pouring out of my wound. I leaned over to the window to notice other people who were also bleeding and tied up along side of the road. I had a feeling in my gut that the men driving the car were going to kill those people by driving over them at full speed when we reached the end of the road. It then dawned on me that they were going to drive me down to the end of the line so that I could join these victims in the blood splattering death.

For the first time in my life, of ever having tons of nightmares, I was able to wake myself up before the men could drive me to the spot where I was going to die. It was also at that moment that I realized that this bizarre dream was highlighting and hinting some things about my future. I honestly don't think it's telling me that I'm going to cheat (although the dream did present some pretty scary consequences for cheating), I looked up some things from http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/ and discovered the following:


Stab
To dream that you have been stabbed signifies your struggle with power. You are experiencing feelings of inadequacy and defensiveness. Alternatively, the dream suggests that you are feeling betrayed as reflected by the popular phrase, "being stabbed in the back". 

 Baby
To see a baby in your dream signifies innocence, warmth and new beginnings. Babies symbolize something in your own inner nature that is pure, vulnerable, helpless and/or uncorrupted. If you dream that the baby is smiling at you, then it suggests that you are experiencing pure joy. You do not ask for much to make you happy. If you find a baby in your dream, then it suggests that you have acknowledged your hidden potential. If you dream that you forgot you had a baby, then it suggests that you are trying hide your own vulnerabilities; you do not want to let others know of your weaknesses. Alternatively, forgetting about a baby represents an aspect of yourself that you have abandoned or put aside due to life's changing circumstances. The dream may serve as a reminder that it is time for you to pick up that old interest, hobby, or project again.

 Car Crash
To dream that you are in a car crash indicates that your beliefs, lifestyle, or goals are clashing with another's. It may also represent a shocking situation or painful experience. Alternatively, car crashes may forewarn of your dangerous or careless driving habits.�In particular, if a car crashes into you, then it suggests that your lifestyle, beliefs or goals may be in conflict with another's. It may also be symbolic of a jolting experience or injured pride. 

 Knife
To dream that you are carrying a knife signifies anger, aggression and/or separation. There may be something in your life that you need to cut out and get rid of. Perhaps you need to cut ties or sever some relationship. Be more divisive. Alternatively, a knife refers to some sexual tension or sexual confrontation. 

 If the knife is dull, then it denotes that your hard work will result in little or no gain.

To dream that you are wounded by a knife is symbolic of masculine or animalistic aggression.

To see someone holding a knife in your dream suggests that you lack control or power in a situation or relationship. Alternatively, the person holding a knife in your dream may be symbolic of a dominant male figure in your waking life.

Cheating
To dream that you are cheating on your spouse, mate, fiance, or significant other suggests feelings of self-guilt and self-betrayal. You may have compromised your beliefs or integrity and/or wasting your energy and time on fruitless endeavors. Alternatively, cheating dreams reflect the intensity of your sexual passion; you are exploring areas of your sexuality. In this scenario, the dream may actually serve as a reaffirmation of your commitment. Furthermore, if you are approaching your own wedding date, then it is not uncommon to have dreams about erotic experiences with partners other than your intended spouse. Most likely, such a dream represents the newness of your sexual passion. It may also signify anxieties of changing your identity - that of a spouse.



Anyways, that is all I have for now. Again I do apologize for not keeping you all updated. If you all have any comments or questions please let me know. Thanks again and as always having a happy reading time!

And also have sweet and better dreams!

A Change Of Plans! Styxx Is Here!

I know I already proclaimed the next book that I will be reading/reviewing, however, if you know me well, then you'd know I'd drop everything just to read the next new novel released by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Her new book Styxx was just released yesterday and like a dedicated fan, I snagged a copy. I'm a huge sucker for her books and I ended up reading the first 50 pages of her book last night. So far, I absolutely love this book. I honestly have no idea how folks are going to be able to pry me away from this book. It's the first novel that I have ever read that consisted of 700-800 or so pages.

I highly recommend all of Sherrilyn Kenyon's novels, mostly her Dark-Hunter series because I am a huge fan of this new vision of vampires and how they associate with ancient cultures or ancient time period.

I apologize for the short post but......I MUST READ STYXX!!!

See ya later gators!

Have a happy reading time! I know I will!

-Missy 

The following photo does belong to the website beneath it, however I did alter the book and added the text to make it look like Sherrilyn Kenyon's book Styxx. Why? Because I'm a bookworm and love these books!

A Short Book Review of The Graveyard Book and an Update!

A Short Book Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I personally have always been a fan of Neil Gaiman's work and for the very first time, I had some mixed feelings with his novel The Graveyard Book. Personally I loved the overall story. This was a fantastic idea. However, I felt like the middle portion of the story to be the most boring part of the novel. I understand that Neil had a great task to explain the story of a young boy growing up but, it was just so frightfully boring. The story was great to start and I absolutely loved the conclusion. The basic gist is that this is a story about a young boy named Nobody, also known as Bod, who grows up living in a graveyard after his family was brutally murdered.

Now, I only have a few minor complaints. I really wish we, the readers, could have gained more knowledge at the beginning to the story explaining the Jacks of All Trades. It would have made more sense and I honestly think it was needed to help push readers in terms of wanting to finish reading the book. In addition, this battle that occurs towards the end with the Guardians, I really wish that this battle was built up a lot more. It felt too rushed, too sudden, and slightly confusing.

Besides the few complaints, this was an enjoyable read. Although I would have liked a little more interesting action in the middle of the book, it did redeem itself in the end.

In addition, I really liked how Neil never explains exactly 'what' or 'who' Silas and Miss Lupescu were. I think there was enormous amounts of evidence which suggest that perhaps Silas is a vampire and Miss Lupescu is a werewolf. Miss Lupescu's name even suggests that she is a wolf. Remember the Harry Potter books and Professor Lupin? His name suggests the same thing. However, Neil never confirms nor denies who these characters are. In fact, by not going into detail, Neil touches upon one of his many important themes of his story and that would be a characters identity. In the novel, it really isn't important to explain to others 'who' or 'what' you are because what is important is for Bod to acknowledge that he already knows exactly who he is. A friend of mine really pushed the idea that the vampire and werewolf identities were really important however I disagreed because Silas isn't a vampire, Silas is simply Silas. That's what really is important to Bod. Just like Miss Lupescu isn't a werewolf, Miss Lupescu is Miss Lupescu. In terms of identity, it's all about accepting who you are. There is no point to explain what you are because it is more important to know who you are.

Hopefully that makes sense because I feel like I could explain it better in person instead of attempting to type out my explanation. Anyways, this was a very good book.

The next book that I have started reading is called Don't Read This Book: 13 Forbidden Tales From Mad City. This book consists of many authors who wrote short stories based on a game called Don't Rest Your Head. I've played the game before and it was such a fun experience that I wanted to read other alternative story lines. It is a horror game and a horror novel that is so delightfully demented...kind of like if Alice visited a very gross and f***** up Wonderland. I recommend playing Don't Rest Your Head and so far, I really love this book. Again, I'm not entirely sure if I will do a book review of this one. Perhaps I will recommend or comment on which short stories I liked the most although most of them are very good so far.

So until next time, have a happy reading time!

-Missy