Five on Friday

One of my absolute favorite things is listening to podcasts or audiobooks when I'm working on a project or doing evil household chores around the house. I still love reading actual books, but it's so nice to have a book read to me while I'm working on things. It sure makes laundry a more enjoyable chore!

This week I've been working on reorganizing my workspace. My art/craft area has turned into something scary over the last few months and I'm having a hard time even getting to my desk. This tends to happen to me pretty regularly. I think it's because I work on several projects at once, make HUGE messes, then bring home carloads of new treasure from estate sales. Rinse and repeat.

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1) The Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris

Goodness gracious. WHY I love this series I will never know. Maybe it's the Louisiana setting, the vampires, or the feisty telepathic heroine. I don't know exactly, but I have listened to this series in its entirety at least 4 times. After I got used to the twang and when I ignore all the outdated feminine references (and incorrectly pronounced cajun words), I love the narrator and enjoy the development of Sookie's character throughout the series very much. This is the series that inspired HBO's TrueBlood, but honestly HBO created a completely different version of the story. Both series start out similar and use the same character names, but they go in 2 different directions and end up with characters and story plots that are unique. I watched all of TrueBlood and ended up disliking the main character Sookie and loving her brother Jason, which is just the opposite of my feelings about the book characters! However, I love Eric the vampire in both of his versions though. For this series, I am definitely in the camp of The Book Was Better.

2) Wild Orchids by Jude Deveraux

I first read this book in my early twenties after buying it at a library sale. Since then, I've read it many many times and now have listened to it on audible even more. It's a story about a man and a woman who start living together as a writer and writing assistant without really knowing each other. They move to a strange town, buy a big old junky house, and try to learn about a "devil" story that supposedly originated there. Both of their pasts end up being part of the story and their experiences. I love the characters and enjoy the way the story is told from dual perspectives. It's my dream to buy an old house and explore it while settling in so I think it's a little bit of a dreamy fantasy for me each time I read it.

3) Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark

I first read this book in high school! Mary Higgins Clark mysteries were my first "adult" mystery books and I loved them all. This particular book does have a sad portion about losing a child, but the overall story of strength, motherhood, and love is a good one. There's quite a bit of suspense as the book goes along and you aren't sure what or who to trust. I always like that antsy omg feeling. I also enjoy the setting of Cape Cod and the history of those sailing the seas long ago. The audiobook version is narrated well and I enjoyed listening to it as much as I enjoyed reading the pages.

4) Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

This is the book that I have read more times than any other. I read it originally when it first came out in the early 2000s and LOVED it along with the other 2 books that make it the Three Sisters Trilogy. I love a good fantasy witch story and this little series does not disappoint! Each book tells the story of one of 3 witches connected by shared ancestry. In the first, Nell arrives on an island with absolutely nothing as she is running from an abusive marriage and ends up finding a job, home, and a whole new life. I love her journey and how brave she becomes as she builds her life on this quaint island. All 3 books are great, but this first one is my absolute favorite.

5) Kitchen Privileges by Mary Higgins Clark

Of course I love the biography of my first favorite adult author, Mary Higgins Clark. I checked out every book my library had when I was in high school and couldn't wait until she published new books. I also read books by her daughter Carol Higgins Clark and her daughter-in-law Mary Jane Clark and while they were good, I didn't love them in the same way. My deepest desire from the time I was 10 was to write novels. I love stories and have always kept a folder of ideas just waiting to be written. As a result, I have also been very interested in writers and what their journey was like on their way to publishing books. I can't remember when I first read Kitchen Privileges, but it made me love Ms. Clark even more and she became my inspiration for many years. A few years ago I purchased the audio version which is read by Mark Higgins Clark herself. She has a wonderful soothing voice and hearing her speak about her life experiences and journey to becoming a best-selling writer makes it even better.

That's all for this Friday! I have made great progress in my art room and have set a goal to make it functional by Monday. I'm looking forward to sitting down to my desk very soon and making all the stuff I love. Have a wonderful and creative weekend!

~ Anna B.