Book: Perfect Match

It was time for another Jodi Picoult and this one did not disappoint. Brilliant ending which I did not see coming! Perfect Match is the sad story about a young boy who was sexually abused. His mother, a District Attorney, shot the alleged killer in court. However, a bizarre DNA thing discovered that the Priest she killed wasn't actually the murderer. Anyway, it is quite complex but like all her books there is a major ethical dilemma, and the court case behind it. I just loved this one. Really recommend it!

Victorian Library Tech Group Xmas Dinner

Staying on the dinner theme, I headed down by myself a week later for the LT Dinner in Chapel St at the Temperence Hotel. I couldn't get Kim to come as she had to work so this time it was just me. Once again, lovely to chat to everyone as it was about 18 months since my last LT event appearance. Hopefully I will be back to some more events in 2010!

Health Libraries Inc Dinner

In late Novemeber I headed to Melbourne for the annual HLI Dinner, this time with Michelle. It is great to have another library person up here just to travel up and down that highway with. Plus I was a passenger this time which I love (nice car too!) Anyway, this year Stephen Due of Geelong was awarded the Life Membership and he has done so much for the Health Library Industry since I started that it was most deserving. Again it was also just great to catch up with everyone from the health library world (especially the lovely Laura) (you too Margaret but I saw you not too long ago). I will be back in the loop next year but it was just nice to touch base considering I hadn't seen the majority of them in over a year! Nice food too!!

Ballarat Library Industry dinner

In early November the library folk of Ballarat gathered once again for dinner. This time it was at the University of Ballarat Tafe restaurant called Prospects (I think). The food was amazing. What a brilliant 3 course meal for only $30. I never thought it would be so good but it was by far one of the best meals I have had in town (service a bit rusty though). Anyway, the food was not only good but so was the company. As I have been out of the loop for the majority of the year it was awesome just to catch up with everyone (mainly from my own work) just to see how everything and everyone was going!

Books: The Shopaholic Series (all 5 of them)!

Save Karyn reminded me of the Shopaholic books which I had yet to read. So I picked up the first one and couldn't put them down. I had number 2 also so read that, then texted my book nerd friends to see if they had number 3. I managed to get book 5 from Michelle (cheers babe) but was forced to go out and buy books 3 and 4 (Bookmooch would have been too slow). I raced through them loving them to bits!

The main character Becky Bloomwood is a financial journalist who is absolutely crap with her money and has massive amounts of debt (which no one knows about). All she does is shop - for clothes, shoes, handbags, makeup etc. Anyway, the first book sees her become a TV Financial journalist and she ends up with handsome PR mogul Luke Brandon. The second book sees her follow Luke to New York but the TV shows find out about all her debts and she loses her job but ends up as a personal shopper at Barneys. The third book sees her get married to Luke (twice - long story), the fourth sees her reunited with a sister she didn't know existed (but one who hates shops, consumerism etc.) and the fifth sees her pregnant and shopping for baby things. Apparently there is a sixth book underway.

I mean these are not the best written book ever, but they were awesome for escapism. Chick lit at its best. I love Becky even though at times I loathed her! Loved them. A great book bender!!

Book: Save Karyn

I really enjoyed reading this book and it actually sent me on a book bender (see next post). Anyway, true story, she had $25,000 in credit card debt and set up a website asking for donations. She details the bumpy road that got here there in the first place and how she got out of it. Just a great little read. Highly recommend it!