Still not feeling it - but here goes anyway

I've decided to just blog - something is bound to come out if I just keep typing .... right? 

Anyway, today I'm going to tell you that I bought this with a gift card from Christmas:

Can I tell you?  I haven't been this excited about a book in a while.  I love to read.  But lately?  Haven't come across anything that made me look forward to finding a few minutes (or God willing! a few hours!) to sit and read.

I am a loooooong time Stephen King fan.  And this one?  So far is not disappointing. But it's HUGE.  A whopping 1074 pages long (that includes the author's note).  The problem with a book this big?  Too many characters (I keep getting them confused).  Luckily, dear Stephen is killing off characters right and left - so maybe by the end I'll only have a few to keep straight.

Also (as Man-Child has pointed out on many occasions) I read too fast and don't savor the books (yes, that is a quote from my child - how many teens do you know that would put it that way?  Hmmmm; maybe he is my child after all.....).  This is true; which leads to me missing out on some key things.   It also ensures that (usually) after I've moved on to another book - I kind of completely forget about what I've just read.  Hmmmm; pretty much means I don't have a future in a book-club....because, seriously?  There would be no way I could possibly discuss what I've read (particularly if I've read something else after reading the appointed book - which I totally would - I know me too well.).

There have been many discussions that have gone kinda like this: 

Friend:  "have you read xyz?"

Me:  "no, what's it about?"

Friend: "It's about this man who everyone thinks killed his wife; but then it turns out that she went undercover to save her marriage, the nation and the world."

Me:  "WOW!  That sounds great!  Can I borrow it?"  and then I get home and open the book excitedly, only to realize after reading the first page - that I read this book last month!!!

But usually, I will forge ahead and read it anyway; mainly because I have to have something to read and because I've forgotten the ending (which is understandable since I've read approximately 6-10 books in the interim).

But this book may have the ability to stick with me for a while (kinda like Precious did - which totally, totally killed me; almost no way I can see the movie now - too devastating).  I've only just begun (am only on page 287) but so far I can heartily recommend it; if you've the fortitude to face 1074 pages and many, many characters.

Have got to give Stephen kudos - I can kinda get how he gets is ideas.  But to put them into some kind of order; create characters, a plot, sub-plots and come up with a gigantic book?  And to make it into the kind of book that I can't wait to get back to?  That rocks.  Big time.

Other than that - it's still cold (yes, I know that some of you are much, much, much colder - but come on - cut me some slack!  Here in the South we aren't used to this kind of weather on a daily, much less weekly!, basis!) but good news!  The weatherman (if he can be believed) informed me that on Wednesday we could be looking at highs in the 50's!!  Whoo-hooo!  Maybe I'll be able to feel my toes again.....