All Consuming : Amanda

A story about "Home To You"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Amanda) — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 08:53:15 GMT

by Muriel Jensen

Harlequin Romance Novels are my ‘guilty pleasure’, as a few of my closest friends and family know. While I pride myself on being a great lover of literature, generally fine literature, there’s something about romance novels that drag me straight back into the pits of normalcy.

Well, this is the book that started it. I recieved this & Diana Palmer’s “Wedding In White” as a free set from Harlequin and I’ve been addicted ever since. But…there’s something very special about “Home To You”.

I was 13 when I read this book and it spoke to me. Not only did it appeal to my sense of longing for a great guy (I was in some turbulent relationship’s for a 13 year old), but it also really reminded me of my family and whatnot. Karen Tillman is the heroine in this story and her family is absolutely nuts. Not as nuts as my family, but close! And her sense of being the one her family turns to to keep them sane is something that I, at the time, didn’t quite relate to, but have found over the years to actually be my purpose in my family. My family’s always been nuts, but over the years, oddly, I also stepped into the position of mediator and sanity keeper.

Which is part of why I’ve re-read this novel at least half a dozen times in the past five years.

Probably more.

It’s just that good. Jensen weaves a VERY entrancing world in less than 200 pages, which is something few authors can do. I just can’t say enough about this little book. I love it to bits, and it’s just one of those things that every time I touch it, I smile.

Honestly, there are very few romance novels I can read over-and-over. Sure, I’ve re-read a few here and there that were really good, but Home To You is probably the only one I’ve read this many times.

Anyways, I just felt like gushin’ about it.

Why I recommend "That Takes Ovaries!: Bold Females and Their Brazen Acts"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Amanda) — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 22:26:53 GMT

That Takes Ovaries!: Bold Females and Their Brazen Acts

This has to be one of my favorite books. Not only is it amazingly empowering, but it really gives a wonderful picture of just how diverse and amazing the female half of the species (created or by birth!) are. I re-read parts all the time, just to remind myself that no matter how bad life may get or how big my foe might be: I have ovaries.

A review of "So You Want to Be a Lesbian?"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Amanda) — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 22:19:03 GMT

So You Want to Be a Lesbian?

by Liz Tracey

While there is quite a bit of practical advice in here, it’s written in a very friendly and jovial way. The resources in the back are semi-outdated (considering it’s 10 years old that makes sense!), but some things in general are just downright useful to know. And, if nothing else, it’s a fun look at lesbian culture in the 90’.

A story about "The L Word - The Complete First Season"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Amanda) — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 19:29:07 GMT

The L Word - The Complete First Season

by Rose Troche

I’d waited so long to get my hands on the L Word. And because, even though we just got Satellite, I’m still several seasons behind, I had no choice but to drop the $50 on the 1st season.

I brought it home and finished it in one night. I could.not.stop.watching. It was so addictive. I stayed up until eight in the morning because I just seriously could not stop.

And since, I’ve spent the last week going through “ARRGGGH NEED MORE” syndrome and I’m dying to get the 2nd season. It’s fan-fugging-tastic.