View from Page Thirty: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Hello, dear Readers! Since I'm still in quite a slump (damn you Netflix), I went to the list of books you call provided to me, the lovingly named Slumplist, and gave one of them a try - hence A View from Page Thirty*

As I perused the Slumplist, I decided to look up a book that I have been meaning to read for ages but never had - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe recommended by Ania.

The Book: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg 
Release Date: 1987
Publisher: Random House
Genres: Historical Fiction

Summary: 

It's first the story of two women in the 1980s, of gray-headed Mrs. Threadgoode telling her life story to Evelyn, who is in the sad slump of middle age. The tale she tells is also of two women -- of the irrepressibly daredevilish tomboy Idgie and her friend Ruth, who back in the thirties ran a little place in Whistle Stop, Alabama, a Southern kind of Cafe Wobegon offering good barbecue and good coffee and all kinds of love and laughter, even an occasional murder.

A View from Page Thirty:
Erm I guess this section should more accurately be called the View from Page 81. I sort of just got lost and kept going. And I full blame the theme music playing in my head on that. The theme music from the movie from the early 90s. The theme music from one of my all time favorite movies.

So knowing that background, I can't really say if this is a valid View from Page Thirty. I already pretty much know the story from the movie (at least I think I do), and I heartily love it to pieces. It brings ALL OF THE FEELS.

I can't help but compare it to the movie and so far, I literally hear lines as I read them. I can't help but hear it narrated by Jessica Tandy. Personally I see this as a plus.

Things are a bit more disjointed than the movie though. The movie, while keeping the flashback reveal that the book is doing, seems to focus more on the four main ladies, while this is almost the story of Whistlestop, Alabama. I am getting more information on the lives of some of the background characters in the movie, which I find quite charming. The order of things is all over the place though so I am not sure if people who don't already know the characters and the story like I do would enjoy it as much. But honestly I am still leaning towards the "Still enjoyable" camp.

I was worried when I started this that all of the magic the movie has for me would be gone when reading the book because I know everything, but that's not the case. I am still loving the look at 1930s southern life. I am actually really looking forward to delve more into Ruth and Idgie's relationship and see how that compares with the screen.

I am going to keep reading for sure, but I do think that when this is all through, me and my well watched DVD are going to curl up for another session of feels.


So, is anyone else like me and avoiding reading a book a movie or tv show was based off of because you loved the adaptation so much? How about those that have taken the plunge, did it work out for the best or not so much?



*For those not familiar with a View from Page Thirty, basically it is me giving my thirty page first impression of a book. I have a personal rule that every book I start gets at least thirty pages. If I am not feeling it by then, time to move on. So I figured it would make a fun feature. 

View from Page Thirty: Every Day by David Levithan

Happy Monday, dear Readers! It's been a while since I went to the list of books you call provided to me, the lovingly named Slumplist, and gave one of them a try. Since I had to read a stupid work book (which actually wasn't too bad, just nothing I feel like reviewing) and I just started The Silkworm, A View from Page Thirty* post seems just what we need today!


Today, I am actually reading the beginning of something that I put back on my To-Read list on Goodreads in September 2012. It was suggested on the Slumplist post by Rachel saying that it had "that addictive quality" that I was requesting to get out of my slump.

The Book: Every Day by David Levithan
Release Date: August 2012
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genres: Contemporary YA, Fantasy

Series: I thought it was a stand alone, but apparently book two comes out this summer.

Summary: 
Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day


A View from Page Thirty:
Well, those first two chapters went by fast! This book starts off right into the action. This person has an interesting life in that every day he wakes up as a different person. The author jumps right away into a decent enough explanation without getting too bogged down in the details from page one. Since his first body that I read about was a guy, I am going to call him a guy and use male pronouns, but the book says he can be either guy or girl though always around the age of how old he would actually be if he were a stationary person.

Anyway he ends up being this kid Justin and we get a glimpse into how his day usually works. How do you figure things out about a person without letting any of the people in their life know that somethings is off? It's quite a balancing act... and one that you would never get a day off from.

He meets Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon, and ends up breaking all of his rules and forming an attachment to her. They actually have a really sweet afternoon together, but soon night comes and he wake as Leslie.

Leslie's brother and thus family is not having a good day, which makes it harder for the main character. Even harder still because he can't stop thinking of Rhiannon. But he navigates his way though the waters, trying to do things that seem like the would be Leslie's actions without trying to change the course of her life too much.

What I am Loving:
This concept is outstanding. I keep wondering off thinking about all of the consequences of living a life like this - no possessions, no family, no ties, no real sense of self. It truly sounds like an awful existence. I love that he gave himself a "possession" in the form of an email address. That's smart! I also wonder how this life would work as an adult with having to figure out jobs and how that would work. Urg, so much stress in this life!

I am curious about how he is going to cope with this attachment that he has made even though it broke his "don't interfere too much" rule. Is he going to start altering other people lives just to get to her? These are the big questions that suck you in!

What I am Unsure of
I don't know how I feel about the narrator. I get his life is horrible, but I am a little worried at how much I will be able to connect. But I am still curious to see where and how the story play out. Will he get to see and explain everything to Rhiannon?

Another thing is that I am fearful this could turn into a story that I have read before (boy meets girl, boy has problems getting to girl, YA drama, love triangle, etc) and thus lose site of the awesome concept.

Final Verdict:
I am definitely going to keep going on this. It seems it's only a few hungered digital pages long. I like the concept and I think it has a lot of potential, but I am a little concerned that it may turn into every other YA model love story and the concept will fall to the wayside...

So have you guys read this? Should I keep going? Try to keep it spoiler free for me if you will. :) Also if you have any books you want me to read for the Slumplist or this feature, please feel free to suggest some!


*For those not familiar with a View from Page Thirty, basically it is me giving my thirty page first impression of a book. I have a personal rule that every book I start gets at least thirty pages. If I am not feeling it by then, time to move on. So I figured it would make a fun feature. 

A View from Page Thirty: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

The Great Reading Slump of 2014 continues on into October for me, so I’d say that means I should take another stab at The Slumplist. This View from Page Thirty* features a selection recommended by two commenters: Rockyriverteenlibrarian and Incredibraian (I am sensing a theme here). Incredibrarian’s recommendation said, “I haven't had a truly GOOD read since Out of the Easy.” With words like that I say no? Also, Jen reviewed this back in July of 2013 if you want to check out a full review.

The Book: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Release Date: February 2013
Publisher: Philomel Books
Genres: Historical Fiction, YA

Series: Surprisingly, it’s a standalone!!

Summary:

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. 
She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.
With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

The View From Page Thirty:

First thought after reading the summary? Hell yeah! New Orleans! A setting I can vividly picture since I was there recently and the French Quarter has such an old world feel that I doubt much has changed since the 1950s aesthetic wise.

And I just got the title. It’s late, whatever. I mean, they even call it The Big Easy in the summary. Wow. Anyway, this book starts off with a powerful first paragraph. 

“My mother’s a prostitute. Not the filthy, streetwalking kind. She’s actually quite pretty, fairly well spoken, and has lovely clothes. But she sleeps with men for money or gifts, and according to the dictionary, that makes her a prostitute.”

Nice. I like this. I like knowing where she is coming from. The whole first chapter is a flashback to arriving in New Orleans in 1940 and how her mom got her prostitute job.  Josie isn’t a conventional kid in this chapter which make me believe that the bulk of this story we won’t be dealing with a conventional 17 year old.

The rest of the first five chapters are setting up the main plot and setting up Josie as an adult. She’s not had the easiest childhood and is trying to figure out how she wants to forge her future. One thing she does know is she wants out of the Easy (ha. See that? Now that I got the reference, I had to use it again. I wonder if this is a metaphor for her growing up and “out of the easiness” of childhood as well as the literal out of New Orleans thing. Probably. I like this title a lot if you haven’t noticed).

What I am Loving:

I am really liking the turns of phrases that just keep popping up. It is really easy to get lost in the words of this story. I am liking Josie so far. It’s easy to get attached to her. I don’t know much really about the other characters yet to make any sort of assessment on them.

What I am Unsure Of:

Damn it. I think this is a love triangle. We’ve already met the boy who has all the girls following him around but could never like me. Then there is the shop owner’s son who is that bff who probably has a secret crush on her but is like her brother or whatever. Sigh. I hope I am wrong about this one. I don’t think I am. I am so over this.

I hope that this book focuses more on her growth into adulthood and the amazing New Orleans 50s vibe that I am getting.

Final Verdict:

I am definitely continuing on with this one. The prose has some beautiful turns of phrases already and it’s easy to get lost in the story. Josie, our lead, is someone that is easy to get attached to and someone who you want to see succeed. I am holding judgment on our two male love interests, but other secondary characters have already leaped out of the pages of history and into my mind. The setting is so vivid and rich in my mind is it easy to picture every location. I haven’t read much set in New Orleans, and nothing set in a historic New Orleans, so I am looking forward to this quite a bit. Let’s hope that it lives up to what I am hoping is going to be an enjoyable ride back in time into the 50s French Quarter.

EDIT: This isn’t really an edit, since I haven’t posted this yet. But I wrote this entry after chapter 5, but I didn’t stop reading. Now I am on page 147. Remember when I was gushing over that beautiful turn of phrase? I just came across this gem and it made me laugh “God I need that coffee. I feel like a bag of smashed assholes” Ha!

EDIT 2: Again not really an edit since I haven't yet posted it. But I read this book through the night and finished at four in the morning. It was one of those stories that you just get sucked into and doesn't let you go. Sine I didn't have anything to do this morning, I figured, why not stay up and read? Anyway my fears were not realized. It was a love triangle but it wasn't a normal love triangle. I really liked how it was played. Also the story doesnt focus on her love triangle. The focus is on Josie and on Josie growing up. This was a great read and it really transported me into New Orleans. I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction and wants to read something set in a time period you dont normally read much about. Great book! I'd give it 4.5 stars! Thanks for the recommendation guys!

*For those not familiar with a View from Page Thirty, basically it is me giving my thirty page first impression of a book. I have a personal rule that every book I start gets at least thirty pages. If I am not feeling it by then, time to move on. So I figured it would make a fun feature. 

View from Page Thirty: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

It's been a while since I've done A View from Page Thirty, so I thought I would bring it back. And what better way to bring it back then with a new graphic and using the list of suggestions that you guys gave me during my reading slump post.

For those of you not familiar with this, A View from Page Thirty is a feature where I read thirty or so pages into a book and give you guys my first impression. Some books are great out of the gate, some take a little bit of warming up to. Some are just books that you know right away are going to be tough to read.

My general rule with books is that if I am not interested at all by around page thirty, I don't have to go on. There are too many books in this world for me to waste my time on something that I don't enjoy. But every book I start (barring some rare cases) get's thirty pages.

Hence was born A View from Page Thirty.


Today's book as I mentioned comes off of the reading slump post. I compiled all of the suggestions into a list of 65 books, which I am lovingly calling the slumplist, and I plan to look at them all. Of those 65 books I've already read 4, so only 61 more to go. I decided to start with Patrick Ness' The Knife of Never Letting Go. Four people, Hayley, Susan, Kritika, and Rockyriverteenlibrarian recommended it saying:

"It's the first in the Chaos Walking series, and it's really amazing. I've been recommending it to everyone since I read it in January." - Hayley

"The narration in the Ness series is a little hard to get used to at first, but don't let that dissuade you -- it's a great, unique YA series." - Susan

"I love both of those series! I'd recommend the audio for both of them as well - the narrators are excellent." - Kritika

I am going to go into detail on what happens in the first thirty pages. While it is nothing that isn't in the summary, if you consider that spoiler territory, jump down to my Final Verdict.

The Book: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Release Date: January 2008 
Publisher: Walker
Genres: YA, Dystopian, SciFi Fantasy

Series: Chaos Walking #1

Summary:

Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.
But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

The View From Page Thirty:

The book starts off with a first line that is quite intriguing, "The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs don't got nothing much to say." From that I have learned that this is some sort of alternate Earth where dogs can talk I guess, and that this is going to be a book with annoying first person misspelled like the person thinks narration. Surprisingly both the first person and the 'yers' and 'thrus' stopped annoying me almost immediately because the story starts off right away.

Our narrator is Todd, the youngest boy in a city of men on the verge of becoming a man himself (he's 13 turning 14 in our years. Years in this world at 13 months so he keeps mentioning his 13th birthday, but I stopped and did the math). Todd explains through these 31 pages (first three chapters) that this is a new world of some kind where women and men went to colonize for maybe religious freedom (?). But once they arrived they got into a war with some sort of native people they call the Spackle who release some sort of chemical weapon that killed all the women. Todd was the last baby to be born before the women died. 

That right there would be interesting enough right? But remember that talking dog? Apparently when that happened it also warped reality into making every human and animal telekinetic. So Todd can think to his dog Manchee and Manchee can think back. They call this noise because there isn't really much control over it. Holy hell, is that a scary thought. I couldn't imagine being around people who can always hear my thoughts. No secrets, no privacy. But I guess it would be cool to talk to dogs and things...

Anyway, the story kicks off in the first chapter with Todd coming across silence. Something is there and it has no noise. He high-tales it back to town where since there are no secrets his adoptive fathers immediately know what's up. The last line I read in the selection was, 

"But all Ben says is, 'Oh, my God," real quite like, and then he says it again, 'Oh, my God," and then, without even moving or looking away, he says, "We have to get you outta here. we have to get you outta here right now."

What I am Loving:

I am really liking the pace of this. It is clipping right along and getting me into the action. At the same time, it is slowly revealing the rules of this world and not just telling me how it works. It's all show. I love that. I'm interested to find out more about their enemies and why all the women died off. And obviously what this silence is and why it is chasing him...

What I am Unsure Of:

I was unsure of the narration, with the colloquial speech patterns in the writing, but that grew on me quickly. I guess I am still unsure of my narrator Todd. Will I be able to connect with the 13 year old boy who is coming of age? I had a hard time of doing that when I read The Outsiders in my twenties (I loved it when I read it at 13 though). This isn't going to deter me from reading on though. I am very interested in this story.

Final Verdict:

Yeah I am totally reading on. I am really curious to see how the story unfolds and what the rules and limitations of this world are. It sounds like a different twist on the dystopian thing, rather than just the controlling government makes us do something strange that our main character is rebelling against. I want to know more and can't wait to continue on!

View from Page Thirty: What Alice Knew by Paula Marantz Cohen

There are times when a book starts off slow and takes a mad dash for amazing. There are times when a book is awesome right out of the gate but can't quite make the course. Then there is the solid stinkers and the solid gold. Each book is different.

I have a rule with books: If I am not interested by page thirty, I don't have to go on. But every book (except in some rare cases) gets that thirty page treatment.

With View From Page Thirty, I'll give you a point of view that you don't often get with reviews, and that's from the 'Getting to know you' phase. Here's my first date with...

The Book: What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James & Jack the Ripper by Paula Marantz Cohen
Release Date: September 2010 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genres: Mystery, historical fiction

The View from Page Thirty:
Warning. There will be spoilers from the first two chapters. I doubt this is much different from what one may get in a description, but ye' be warned.

I literally found this book at an airport by a most gripping cover. I added it to my Goodread's shelf and boarded my plane. In December, it was on sale at B&N for 99c. I remembered it immediately both for the cover and how much I have been intrigued I was to read it. When I thought about a book to do for this series, this jumped at me. Let's begin.

So we meet Henry James, and infer that he is drunk. Well, he tells us so in the first sentence. He's eating dinner with Oscar Wilde and other people who I think I am suppose to know, but may not be cultured enough to. In a way I am fitting in with drunk James, who can't reliably tell me anyone's name at the table until it comes up in dialog. Literally. So we have a lot of "the female to his left"; "the elderly gentleman"; "the American women"; and let's not forget "the pretty, impressionable woman". I have no idea who anyone is and I am starting to think James may be an unreliable narrator.

Anyway, I do know what they are talking about. After getting in a few jibes at Jekyll and Hyde and Stevenson, the table conversation turns to Jack the Ripper. So this whole chapter we learn 1)Jack the Ripper is killing poor women 2)what Henry James has for dinner.

Okay then.

Wow, we literally went from falling asleep at a table over food, to stumbling about and worrying about puking or pooing himself. I am not kidding. Did Henry James suffer from IBS or is this artistic license? I don't even know what to think. He gets lost in the slums, heaves the contents of his stomach on a prostitute, falls to the ground puking while someone tries to rob him and then is mysteriously saved by someone. End chapter two.

What the hell is going on here?

Chapter three is two pages. It's a letter from the police in London asking William James, Henry and Alice's brother, to come over to England from America to help solve the mystery of Jack the Ripper. William James is a professor, whom according to the letter, "engaged in important research in the new science of the mind." Apparently this qualifies him to help with the case.

In chapter 4 (page 26 if you all are wondering), we finally meat our titular character, Alice. Apparently Alice is a "professional invalid." She has a whole list of maladies that she decides makes more sense to stay in bed rather then be walking around when one strikes. All three siblings are together here chatting. First topic of conversation is Alice's invalid-ness. William thinks he can cure her, and Alice wants none of it. Same with marriage apparently.

They move on to why William came to London and he shows them the letter. Alice decides that this is finally a step in the right direction because between the three of them they can solve it.

"It occurred to me, as I read William's letter, that the solution to these horrific crimes requires the three of us. 'Tri-ocular vision,' I would call it." She paused, as if working out an equation. "Henry, to observe the social world where I sense the murderer lurks and to plumb his friends and acquaintances for gossip. William, to study the physical evidence through his contact with the police and to supply psychological analysis where needed."
"And you?" William asked in amused wonder. "What will you do?"
"Me?" She leveled her intelligent gaze at her brothers. "I will review what you gather... and solve the case"

What I am Loving:
I am not going to lie. This wasn't what I expected. Maybe it's the disjointed narration thus far, and the unlikability of Henry those first two chapters. However, I am still really intrigued on where this is going. Maybe now that all three characters have been established and a goal set, the narrative will smooth out a bit and catch some steam.

What I am Unsure Of:
In chapter one, I felt rather like I am suppose to know these people. I don't know if they are important to the story yet, but getting them to grab and pull me in did not work. Maybe they are meant as nods to people who know the era. I know Oscar Wilde, but who are these people? Should I know them like Wilde? Lady Dalrymple? Mrs. Drummond? Edmund Gosse? George Du Maurier? Whistler? Shaw? (he's alive now?!)

I feel like I'm in a dream with people I may have vaguely heard once mentioned in English class and expected to produce wit. Oh no! Maybe I am "American Woman"!!

I think the first two chapters, instead of enrapturing me into the world, just made me raise my eyebrow. The scene with the siblings, however, gives me some hope that this is where the story would be going and not staying with Henry, drunk at a table, unable to identify people and throwing up on prostitutes.

Final Verdict:
Like I said I am still rather intrigued. I will keep going and hopefully get caught up in the mystery that is Jack the Ripper and the interactions between these rather non-traditional siblings.

PS: After I started this book, I made a quick jump to the ever resourceful Wikipedia to read up on the James clan and all those people who I thought may be famous literary people. Some of them are, apparently. And yes, Shaw was alive at this time (I thought he was more of an early 1990s guy. But I guess the late 1800s isnt too far away from early 1900s). I did find out more about the siblings, but I think I would have been happier not knowing, so then I can live in ignorance of any artistic license. Will this hinder my enjoyment? Probably not. I guess it's good to know, though.

View from Page Thirty: The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent

There are times when a book starts off slow and takes a mad dash for amazing. There are times when a book is awesome right out of the gate but can't quite make the course. Then there is the solid stinkers and the solid gold. Each book is different.

I have a rule with books: If I am not interested by page thirty, I don't have to go on. But every book (except in some rare cases) gets that thirty page treatment.

With A View From Page Thirty, I am going to try and give you a point of view that you don't often get with reviews, and that's from the 'Getting to know you' phase. A first date and first impression if you will. Let's see how it goes, shall we?

The Book: The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent
Release Date: August 14, 2012 
Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR
Genres: YA Steampunk (and I am not going to rule out romance)

The View from Page Thirty:
Warning. There will be spoilers from the first two chapters. I doubt this is much different from what one may get in a description, but ye' be warned.

Chapter one really starts off with a bang of an opener:

The Sphinx stares at me from her plinth. I edge closer, daring her to open her mouth and enspell me with her riddles. She crouches, eyes a-glitter, teeth gleaming through parted lips.

But she never moves.

She can't, trapped as she is by the paralytic field that holds her suspended.

We find out soon enough that we are in a museum featuring the magical and our narrator is sixteen year-old female protagonist, Vespa Nyx (Really. that's her name). We get introduce to the rules of this world through some clever weaving in of backstory. We find out that in this world magic and fate are all unacceptable and they revere Sts. Darwin and Newton.

But while we are learning all these things, Vespa is pushed into letting the Sphinx out. Luckily a Pedant, whom I gather are like scientific clergy, shows up to save her and retrap the Sphinx. We meet this Pedant and her father, the museums director and are moved into the next scene... a new chapter.

Chapter two completely switches gears. We are now following a different narrator, Syrus Reed, who likes to tell his story in the third person past... anyway we meet Syrus and his family. He is part of a ragtag band of magical people that is constantly growing as city-dwelling magic haters leave their magical-like babies outside the gates (!). Magic is illegal in the city.

These people are called Tinkers and live by the old ways.  Magic is sacred, Syrus' musings tell us, and with the widespread fear or it, the world is losing those talents. He talks with his Granny a bit, which I liked a lot because you can see how close they are and he also addresses her by Nainai, which is Mandarin for Grandma. Why does this excite me? Because it reminds me of Firefly the TV series. And the last book that did that was Across the Universe, which I also really enjoyed.

Anyway, we are taken for most of this chapter into the land of backstory. Really what happens Syrus sings to a new baby, talks with his Granny, and walks down the road to find something (I don't know what yet. That's how the chapter ended). He also muses. Do I have an issue with that? Nope. I like the way so far at least, the musing on the history is pretty balanced with actual actions.

What I am Loving:
So far I am in love with this world and really want to know why the City doesn't like magic, what is going on with the Waste, what Chinese culture has to do with anything? The questions I am asking really make me want to keep reading.

What I am Unsure Of:
I hate flipping narrators to an extent that it completely stops the current action. Worse, I am flipping POV. Vespa is narrated in first person present (not my most favorite) and Syrus is in third past. The funny thing is, I liked the first person narration more than the third, which is totally not my normal style. I didn't notice the present until I started typing the earlier quote. Maybe I'll be surprised and there is a reason for this jarring POV switching, only time will tell!

Final Verdict: I am totally going to keep reading!

FYI: These two chapters are only 20 pages, but I know I am going to keep reading and thirty pages is more of a state of mind anyway :)