So, what's your hobby?

Ahh the end of another weekend, and it was a good weekend! Although Purdue lost, the rest the weekend was very nice. Something I found comical, I saw a person dressed as a slice of pizza, eating a slice of pizza at the game saturday. Lets see it included going to the Purdue game, tailgating which of course includes cornhole baby, dinner at my favorite mexican restaurant, meeting up with some old friends, and last but certainly not least Kristen and I doing the Cha Cha Slide. Can you believe they still play that?! I would also like to thank Shannon for being the guest picker, you did awesome, and I am sorry about the Eagles, but man a 62 yd field goal is pretty awesome. I have selected the guest picker for this week, and I will be getting with them midweek on the games. On to the new post!

I think you'll all be happy to hear this post has nothing to do with sports. Instead I thought I would focus on one of my all time favorite things to do. No, not that geesh get your minds out of the gutter, although I do enjoy that I just don't blog about it. I am talking about one of my favorite hobby's, reading. I love to read, I am a big bookworm, go ahead make fun if you must. I have recommened some books for some of you to check out, so I thought I would write about that. I hope this isn't too boring.

Ever since I can remember I have loved to read. I put this all on my mother as when I was a child she would always read to my sister and I, and now we both love to read. I was one of those kids in elementary that loved getting the assignment of a book report, and always had a tough time picking just one book. I remember my very first "big" book I read was the BoxCar children when I was in the first grade. I was actually honored for reading in the 5th grade as I read all 30 hoosier nominee books to me it was no big deal, to the teacher it was evidently. I remember reading a couple of the classics for the first time thru school reading, those being To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Outsiders. If you haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird what the hell is wrong with you? That is an American classic, and if you truly haven't read it I suggest you pick up a copy and get lost with Atticus Finch. A side note Demi Moore named her little kid after one of the characters, Scout. Of course some of you might know The Outsiders better from the movie which was the start for such up and comers as, Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayzee, Ralph Macchio, C Thomas Howell, and Emilo Estevez. I read this in the 8th grade for English class and literally could not put it down. I mean who can go wrong with characters named Two Bit, Ponyboy, and Soda Pop, and concludes with a big rumble! It's weird I always rooted for the Soc's and the Greasers were the main characters haha.

In college I was lucky to take some classes that had some very good required reading. At the time I thought no thanks, but I am glad I did read them. For one of my history classes I was required to read Rumor of War by Phillip Caputo. An insiders look at the Vietnam War, and some stories of what happens when court marshalled. It was an excellent read, and one book I didn't sell back. Another was the classic "on the road" by Kerouac. I remember reading this in my dorm room, I read it in one sitting because I could not put it down. Who doesn't envision themself traveling cross country at least once? The best book though that I found thru required reading had to be Penrod by Booth Tarkington, from Indiana. This book is so good, and one I highly recommend. It chronicles the struggles of a troublesome little kid, kind of like a dennis the menace as he adapts to his role in life. This is a book I have probably read oh at least 20 times now, and worth a look at.

Pretty much now since I am out of school I read for the enjoyment of it. I have found some great authors, and I have a bookshelf full of books I have yet to read. Some of my favorite authors include Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Tammy Hoag, Lisa Gardner. It's funny because had I written this post about 2 yrs ago I would have easily said that my favorite author was Stephen King, but it has changed since then. My sister turned me onto a new author that she really likes, and sent me a shopping bag full of about 30 books by this author. The author is Iris Johansen, and she has me totally hooked. Her books are great, they are what I like in that it's mystery, horror, etc. and one thing I really like is she keeps characters around for other books. Like when I am done reading something I still want to know more about the lives of the characters I just read about, and she includes them alot of times in her new books. The sign of a good book however comes in two parts. One you can't put it down, and two it's a good fast read, and her books fit both of those. So, to leave you here are some of my favorites by some of the authors mentioned, if you're a bookworm like me give em a try.

My favorite King books,
Bag of Bones, Misery, The Shining, Salem's Lot
My all time favorit King book- The Long Walk- This is a fast page turner, and a book I guarentee you won't be able to put down because you will want to know what happens next. I will warn you I told my sister to read this book, and she didn't like it all, but she couldn't put it down. I however loved it!

My favorite Koontz books
Hideaway, Funhouse, Sole Survivor, Shattered, Whispers, Watchers, by the light of the moon
My all time favorite- Strangers- This book was VERY good and had me hooked from the beginning. To me this is the best Koontz book I have read so far.

My favorite Patterson books
4 blinde mice, The Lake House, The beach House, Mary Mary(I am reading now), Jack and Jill, Pop goes the weasel
If I have to pick a favorite I'd say Violets are blue, although lake house is VERY good as well. it's part of the Alex Cross series, and if you have ever read or seen kiss the girls, or along came a spider you know who I am talking about. I love Patterson books, might be my second favorite author right now.

My favorite Johansen books
All her books are great. I promise if you like to read these types(king, koontz, etc) you need to try her and you will be hooked. Some of my favorites include, Countdown, On the Run, Fatal Tide, Final Target, Blind Alley, Dead Aim, and Killer Dreams.
My personal favorites are any of these. I did really like Countdown, but that is in a series, and Final Target was also really good.

So there you have it, a hobby of mine. What are your favorite things to do in your spare time? Come on don't be shy share with me. Everyone have a great week.

Phats
Song on the blog is Vince Gill's If you ever have forever in mind.