what entertained me this year...

I don't read nearly as much as I used to. There was a time where I held two part-time jobs and had a 17 credit courseload and could eat a Stephen King novel (even the uber huge re-relase of The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition) in two day at best. Now, I am not nearly as fast. There are kids and a husband and paperwork for school, a fat dog, and oh yeah, I write books. So I'm chin-deep in words most days and I've slowed considerably since then. So when I find something that can keep my ass in the seat-as it were-I like to share the info. Here are a few (but not all) of my favorite entertainment ploys from 2009. Bright shiny baubles that kept me amused during my 'down-time'. Maybe you'll find something for yourself...or share yours with me!

I was hesitant at first because very few horror books really grab me now. I like to be scared in a deep-seated way, like an itch under my skin I can't reach. I don't like to be shocked or grossed out. I want you to work for it. Joe Schreiber did-and then some- in his super creepy, intensely written No Doors, No Windows. And I think I will be forever and ever grateful to Miss Scarlett Greyson for phrasing her love of this book in just the right off-the-cuff way to pique my curiosity to the point that I had to read it. I now must own it and plan to do just that very shortly. The Gargoyle is a book that must, must, must live on my shelf. I have never read anything quite like it before.

Now you know my man Stephen King had to be on here, and he was back with a classic King-sized book per his usual. Under the Dome made me remember (again) why I bow down to King in the writing department. And how he can still make me turn my head from a page and shut my eyes before returning to the book and soldiering on.

I actually got to see this author this year, thanks to the man (and I have a penguin!), and I have to recommend Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk because you will never ever ever read anything like this book. It took me forever. Why? He is one of my favorite authors, you say? He sure as hell is, but since he basically constructed an entire language to write the book, you have a huge learning curve at the beginning just to decipher what's being said. Don't worry, once you do, it's fascinating and creepy and terribly wonderful and all the surreal stuff that Chuck is made of. And yes, per the norm, there was scene that was so perfectly awful I had to put my head down and laugh until I cried. Awesome!

I discovered this band totally by accident (via who else...the man) and have never ever been addicted to any music so fast and so thoroughly. I don't think I've played anything sinc mid-November but Roll Away and Christmas music. And on Christmas Eve (before the plague hit me) the man surprised me with the brand-spanking-new Coming Up for Air. Happy, happy girl. Do yourself a favor, if you haven't checked out Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, do it now, now, now! You can thank me later.

Okay, so I'm a little late to the party. So sue me. But we did find True Blood: The Complete First Season this year and we basically sucked that baby dry in about three days. Watched them back to back and took frequent nookie breaks. Something about a bunch of sexy vampires did me in. And on the tails of my visual addictions comes audio so...I played this soundtrack to death (heh, pun totally intended) --->True Blood

Finally, one of the three movies I saw in the theatre this year comes in as my favorite movie. It's been a suck-ass year for movies for me. I didn't find any that really wowed me. Except Harry. Good old Harry did it to me again (heh, he's legal now, at least in real life) and this is by far my favorite HP installment. Well worth the schizophrenic projector at the movie house that had to be medicated into submission before the picture cleared. I plan to own it on DVD, this week! Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Widescreen Edition)

And there you have it. The things have kept me occupied during my non-smut time all year. If you want to know what kept me occupied during smut time or about all the toys, movies, books etc that have crossed my hot little hands this year, then all you need to do is hop around my blog. I guarantee you'll find something that suits you in that area too.

Now you! If you have read, seen or heard anything that you want to share, drop it in the comment box. I have Christmas money to spend and I'm making a list. I might even check it twice.

XOXO

Sommer