Monday Morning Madness #37: New Year, Exercise, Setbacks and Books

At the end of every year, I'm sure many people hope for the best for the new year, well at least I do, but it seems no matter what plans or hopes you have, something always goes wrong. Between a broken tooth, the flu bug and sewer drain problems, the year 2014 is on a rocky start. Despite a few setbacks, I have been able to exercise daily since December 26th, then I started the new P90X 3 workout program on the 31st. I'll be starting Phase 2 tomorrow.

I've been reading up a storm this month, well I'm partly attempting to read a few books from my TBR pile, but mostly I'm reading books sent to me to review. I read Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews, which is the second time I have read the novel. Of course, I watched the Lifetime's remake, which I thought was better than the 1987's version, but it felt too much like a made-for-TV movie (otherwise silly). I just finished reading The Unwelcomed Child by V.C. Andrews (well the ghostwriter) and I'm planning on writing the review today.

Last year, I went through my large collection of books and I donate several boxes and bags full of paperbacks and hardbacks to the Salvation Army. You would think I would have more room, but since then I have either received more books to review or have picked up a few books from the thrift stores, though I don't buy as many as I use to.

My most recent thrift store buys are:

Space Brat 3: The Wrath of Squat by Bruce Coville

Sweet Valley University: Love, Lies, and Jessica Wakefield by Laurie John

Sweet Valley University: What Your Parents Don't Know... by Laurie John

The Seance by Joan Lowery Nixon

Smoky Ridge Curse by Paula Graves

The Presence by Heather Graham

Falcon's Run by Aimee Thurlo

Out of the Darkness by Lynn Erickson

As you can see by the list, I like a wide variety of reading; from children books to romance thrillers. If you noticed Space Brat and Sweet Valley University, then you'll know I like reading books from my childhood. I have a big collection of children books, such as scholastic book sets, Goosebumps, The Littles, Romona and Beezus, The Boxcar Children, Fear Street, The Berenstain Bears, Garfield books, Sweet Valley High (and spinoffs), The Baby-sitters Club and any Point Horror book ever made.

I forgot to mention in the list that I also bought The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larrson, which is the second book in the Millennium series, last Saturday. I now have all three books in the series. Actually, I bought all three books at the same thrift store in less than a year and I paid less than a dollar for the entire series. Now, if I can only find time to read them.