Last two books before November..

I can't believe October flew by so fast... Its like I was so unblinkingly engrossed in the "Anne Series" that the moment I stopped to blink, it was the 30th! Tomorrow is All Hallows Eve- my favourite time of year- and beyond thinking about seeing terrifyingly epic costumes and pumpkins and candy, my thoughts have switched out of reading mode into NANO-mode. in exactly 26 and a half hours I will be officially competing in NANOWRIMO and hopefully beginning the best 50k writing challenge ever. I am going to make it this year... *fingers and toes crossed*

But before I say goodbye to reading for 30 days, I have to post about the last two books I've read in the last 24 hours- a bit of a race to beat the clock... After finishing Anne of Windy Poplars (in 5 days) I realized that there were only two days left in October and considering I'd have to work both days in my church's office, I decided not to begin book 5 of the series.  No, I would simply attempt to read two or more shorter, lighter texts and much to my surprise, I had just two appropriate books in my bookcase :)  

The first novel I read yesterday was...

First Date           By R.L. Stein

R.L.Stein. An Archway Paperback published by POCKET BOOKS, a division
of Simon & Schuster Inc. May 1992

      R.L. Stein is a favourite teens author of mine.. the Fear Street and the Goosebumps series' are very thrilling, especially when your an over-active emotional pre-pubescent under 15 year old *lol*. I hope children today get to enjoy his novels just as much as people in my generation did...viva the 90's!! In this 165 page thriller we meet Chealsea Richards, a very shy 15 year old who is new in town and desperately searching for love.  Her current wish and deepest hope is to be asked out by a boy and finally experience her "first date".  She meets two boys who are also new in town and they both ask her out. One is a dangerous psycho killer and the other a lonely lost boy ( of sorts)... the trouble for Chelsea is figuring out which one is which. Shes so naive and ignorant and desperate, her senses get skewed and she ends up naming the wrong one as dangerous based on appearances.  Now that I've re-read this book again, and i'm ten years older than the first time i read it I cannot believe how scary open trust in strangers can be and how easily young women can fall prey to dangerous men.  I realize that the world of dating and men can be a terrifying place for someone lacking life experience but the more disconcerting thing is that you just never know the people you meet.. it is easy to be trusting, but also just as easy to be paranoid of the "what if's" in regards to strangers.  When your "moonstruck" in love, its even easier to become blind to the dangers that come with letting someone unfamiliar get so close to you.  *sigh* I personally like to take the optimistic road but re-reading this novel reminded me about the wondrous fearful time of young love and "first dates".  This book is for young adults but even at 22 years of age, I enjoyed it.  It was simple and the plot was easy to follow. I read it in 2 hours. It has a happy ending and gives you some hope in Chelsea and portrays her as somewhat intelligent and resourceful in the end which would be a good boost for any teenage girls.. I'm going to hold onto it and maybe my own children will read it one day.

I followed R.L. Stein up with a 200 page novel entitled...

                                           Sweet Dreams      By Robin Jones Gunn

Robin Jones Gunn. Published by Focus on the Family. 1994

      This novel is along the similar lines of teen-aged romance but with Christian over and under-tones. We meet Christy Miller, her best friend Katie who is struggling with letting go of her non-Christian boyfriend and Christy's perfect bf Todd along with his equally God-loving friend Doug. As a Christian I found myself sympathizing with the struggles of Christy and Katie as they endeavor to live their lives according to God's will. The plot provides great examples for the use of living and witnessing the scripture... For instance, Katie and Christy both have to let go of the men they love because they know that God wants different things for them and they find solace in the fact that "God is near the brokenhearted".  Come to think of it, this book has a lot of parallels to my own life and current circumstances around love and relationships... The two girls help each other remember that it's okay to "let go" and to accept that your first love will always will be an important part of your life and will remain with you. It's reminded me that you cannot let the pains from first loves hold you back from loving again but can strengthen you to go forward when looking for companionship and love. Thanks to re-reading this book I feel a little better about my own decisions regarding faith, spirituality and relationships.  Sometimes the best things we can do for other people is pray for them and give them space and let the Holy Spirit guide them uninterrupted. My favourite character in the novel has to be Doug- Todd's best friend- whom the girls nic-name "Mr. Counselor-to-All-Brokenhearted-Women" (Gunn 152).  He seems to be one of those people who live their lives for the greater good of the world and is set on helping the heartbroken find their way back to God... I think Katie said it best on page 149, "I just so happen to think that being near to God is a wonderfully safe place to be" and I absolutely couldn't agree more.  I am happy to find myself safe near the Lord... *sigh*

Sorry, I went all crazy-christian* there... I just really liked that novel- it made me think.. and its definitely one I'm going to hang on to for my kids.. or at least my niece *hehe* 

Anyway, I've decided to take my temporary bookcase challenge rest here now that these two novels have been read.  I'm not as far along as I had hoped but I am too excited for the start of NANOWRIMO to fret about the September 2013 deadline right now :) 

I shall be blogging about my 50k writing challenge on my other blog and I hope you will follow me:
                          
                                                www.cristinabilich.blogspot.com 

I can't wait to start writing though I am sad to have to stop reading for 30 days... I am going to force myself not to break my own rules.. I will not sneak reading a novel in while doing NANOWRIMO.. I just hope I have the strength to resist the wonderful temptation that reading is ;) 

I hope you will continue to read along with me and in your lives.. check my bookcase list and if anything strikes you do look into it.. if you have any questions about whats on my list, feel free to send me an e-mail or drop me a comment- i'll be checking :) 

Wish Me Luck.. See you all in 31 days!!!!!!!! 

Forward.... Write!

<3

**NB** when I say crazy-christian I mean it in a completely positive and good way*

P.s Don't worry.. I'll be back! CB