While Angel has never been as good as Buffy (in my opinion), Season 4 is the best season I’ve seen. For the first time we burned through the discs similar to how we do with Buffy. In previous seasons, Angel seemed to take about 10x longer to get through than Buffy.

In Season 4 things were really happening and the pace was good. The ongoing story was compelling and there were a couple of Buffy character crossovers that made our day since we’ve already finished the entire Buffy series and we’re jonesing for more (that doesn’t exist).

We just started season 5 and so far it’s a big disappointment. I’m going to persevere and watch it all, but it’s looking like the show many have “jumped the shark.” If that’s the case I’ll end up recommending to others that they just stop at the end of Season 4 and call it good. I hope I’m wrong—stay tuned.

Benjamin and I listened to 2-3 chapters of this book on our drive home from Portland. While it was interesting, it spent too much time belaboring the point and was a little depressing. I’ve not been inclined to pick it up again since then, but that could change. For now I am pulling it off my list.

Last night Benjamin and I watched the series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s so sad it’s over. It was great fun to watch and I imagine we’ll always associate it with this pregnancy since we watched it from start to finish since I got pregnant.

I am not a short story fan, so that’s my disclaimer. Had I realized that this book consisted of two short stories I would have skipped it. That said, I thought both of these stories felt unfinished and neither was really compelling in the end. I had trouble paying attention to the second one at all since I was disillusioned by that point and it’s easy to get distracted when listening to an audio book you’re not engaged in.

I’m really listening to the unabridged audio version of the book, but since Amazon doesn’t carry it this is the closest match.

Not complete fluff, but a definite chick flick. Has some unexpected elements. I liked it.

I’m actually listening to this as an unabridged audio book on CD from the library, which apparently Amazon doesn’t have.

This past weekend Benjamin and I went to Hood Canal and stayed in a bed and breakfast for a night. After a walk to te beach, a great dinner, and whatnot, we each read a book cover-to-cover in a weekend. This is the book I read.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great dip into the characters lives and minds plus a page-turning adventure. One of the characters ia a bit two-dimensional and one gets what she doesn’t deserve, but it’s a great story and just as good of as read as Mitchard’s other fab books.

This is an astounding story of Janette Walls’ life. I don’t really know anything about the author (outside of what she covers in the story) and I picked this book up on a whim. Despite my lack of familiarity with the author, it was a fantastic memoir that gives true perspective on the things that most of us take for granted.

Barbara Kingsolver is a lyrical writer with a musical voice. This book is a treat to listen to as an audio book. Listening to her read makes me at once sad, elated, quiet, and humble.

Here’s a beautiful quote from the first chapter:
“God is in the details, the completely unnecessary miracles some tossed up as stars to guide us. They are the promise of fortune in a cloudless day, and the animals in the clouds; look hard enough, and you’ll see them. Don’t ask if they’re real.”