2013 BOOK CHALLENGE! Are you in?

Goal 72

#66 Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Final (I think) book of the Delirium series.
Good, I would recommend.
Currently reading NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. Pretty good so far.
 
I finished Revenge Wears Prada last night. (book 20 of 25) It was just ok. I feel like this was written solely for the author to make money off the success of the original Devils Wears Prada. Revenge doesn't come into play at all so the title doesn't make any sense. Nothing interesting happened until the last few chapters of the book. And the whole thing was written in third person when the first book was in first person. Don't bother guys!
 
I finished Christmas Jars and Christmas Jars Reunion. These were a very quick read. The books are focused around the tradition of the Christmas jars. I don't want to say much more or there would not be a reason to read the books.

Count 3 & 4 out of 10.
 
#10 Know the Past, Find the Future: The New York Public Library at 100

I do not know if it is for sale, probably is. Was handed to me from coworker who knows I do research there some times.
Really interesting read of things that some famous (literary/nonliterary) (some I know/ A lot I don't) have found in the research Library at 5th avenue. I cannot help but think that most people will relate to or be touched by some responces..
Having used its facilities for very unique stuff, I could not agree more with some of the feeling expressed that you are touching history.
 

#29 - The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

This book was compared to Gone Girl. I don't think it is near as good. It has a psychological element plus the story of a bad marriage, so there are some similarities. I didn't like either main character and could just not get into it. There is a murder, but you know who did it at the beginning. You just need to read for the why, how, and if they get caught. I finished it, but the second half took me awhile which is not usually the case.
 
Finished book #63- Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice by Maureen McCormick

I didn't care for this book, but I am not a fan of celebrity autobiographies. I was hoping for more behind the scenes info on the Brady Bunch, but there wasn't much. Most of it is about her years of struggling after the show.

Marcia Brady had it all - style, looks, boys, brains and talent. No wonder Jan was jealous! Young woman across the generations cheered on as Marcia ran for student president and took her drivers test. We swooned when she got the lead role in "Romeo and Juliet" and sported those groovy ponchos and platform shoes. We understood when Marcia suffered through braces and a slight case of acne. We cried when she broke her nose, lost dates all because of her brothers and even lost the attic to Greg. What viewers didn't know about the always sunny, perfect Marcia Brady was that off-screen, the real little girl, Maureen McCormick, was living a very different and not-so-wonderful life. She discloses the devastating effects of a dark secret her mother tried to keep until near the end of her life, and also how that affected her relationship with her parents and five siblings, including a mentally disabled brother with whom she was very close.

Next: Still reading the Percy Jackson series by request of my DS
 
Goal - 28 books

Book #23 - The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning - It's a book about the unfathomable love of God. It's not a complete picture but it really made me think about some things. It was the right book for me right now.

Book #24 - The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks - A pretty stereotypical Tolkien-esque epic fantasy. Sometimes it was a bit cliche, and sometimes it was a little overwritten. But, it was a REALLY great story. It was thoroughly enjoyable all the way through and absolutely harrowing in the last quarter of the book. :thumbsup2

Next Up - Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen - It has a pirate monkey on the cover. There's really nothing else that you need to know! pirate:
 
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Um how did I just discover this thread?! This is right up my alley. I so want to join in for next year. Will there be a post here when a new thread is started?
 
Um how did I just discover this thread?! This is right up my alley. I so want to join in for next year. Will there be a post here when a new thread is started?

I want to join next year, too! I've been lurking and taking note of books that I want to read. My list is getting pretty long.:) Life has been so crazy that it's been taking me weeks to finish a book when I normally can finish a book in a couple of days.
 
Recently completed Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate, #63, then #64 was Murder's Last Resort, a cozy mystery by Marta Chausse. I picked that one up because it was set at a resort in Orlando, but you'd hardly know it as it turned out. Unfortunately, both books were total snoozes. I was so bored and relieved when both books were done.
 
I need to up my goal to 35 since I just finished # 28!

Defending Jacob by William Landay

I give this story five stars! It haunts me; I can't stop thinking about it.

Off to update you now! Nice work!! :hug:

Oh, and yes, I LOVED that book! It haunted me too!
 
Gosh, I think I'm behind in my reviews... I only have about 30-40 pages left of The Bell Jar so I might as well finish that then do them all at once.

Haven't read anything spectacular lately, so maybe that's why I've been uninspired...

And for those of you that have asked, I do plan on doing this again for 2014. I've had a lot of fun keeping up with this thread and reading all of your reviews. I'll put a link to 2014 at the end of this thread most likely end of December sometime. I think we're just about out of room anyways on this thread? Anyone know how many posts/pages you can have before the thread gets locked?
 
#38 - Ripper by Michael Slade

a nerve-shattering thriller combining the legend of Jack the Ripper, the terrifying secrets of the Tarot, and a "mystery weekend" on a secluded Canadian island, whereurder becomes all too real.
 
Goal - 28 books

Book #23 - The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning - It's a book about the unfathomable love of God. It's not a complete picture but it really made me think about some things. It was the right book for me right now.

Book #24 - The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks - A pretty stereotypical Tolkien-esque epic fantasy. Sometimes it was a bit cliche, and sometimes it was a little overwritten. But, it was a REALLY great story. It was thoroughly enjoyable all the way through and absolutely harrowing in the last quarter of the book. :thumbsup2

Next Up - Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen - It has a pirate monkey on the cover. There's really nothing else that you need to know! pirate:

I read Bad Monkey. Loved it as much as all of his other books: pure summer silliness to make me laugh!
 
Book #77 Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton

Review: Friend suggested this vampire series. Like a vampire...this book sucks.

:lmao:

Welcome back!

Gone Girl is still my favorite too. So dark & twisted on so many levels - I've read it twice now!

What's the book you're trying to get through? Maybe some of us have read it and can either yay or nay it, lol.

Thanks! I'm thinking of re-reading Gone Girl too - it's just so good!

I was trying to get through Never Look Away - Linwood Barclay. I think I will end up finishing it because it really bugs me to leave a book unfinished, even when I'm not crazy about it. :confused3 Anyone read his stuff & can give an opinion? He has several that sound interesting.

#29 - The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

This book was compared to Gone Girl. I don't think it is near as good. It has a psychological element plus the story of a bad marriage, so there are some similarities. I didn't like either main character and could just not get into it. There is a murder, but you know who did it at the beginning. You just need to read for the why, how, and if they get caught. I finished it, but the second half took me awhile which is not usually the case.

Might have to check this out. I like psychological books.

Um how did I just discover this thread?! This is right up my alley. I so want to join in for next year. Will there be a post here when a new thread is started?

I want to join next year, too! I've been lurking and taking note of books that I want to read. My list is getting pretty long.:) Life has been so crazy that it's been taking me weeks to finish a book when I normally can finish a book in a couple of days.

Gosh, I think I'm behind in my reviews... I only have about 30-40 pages left of The Bell Jar so I might as well finish that then do them all at once.

Haven't read anything spectacular lately, so maybe that's why I've been uninspired...

And for those of you that have asked, I do plan on doing this again for 2014. I've had a lot of fun keeping up with this thread and reading all of your reviews. I'll put a link to 2014 at the end of this thread most likely end of December sometime. I think we're just about out of room anyways on this thread? Anyone know how many posts/pages you can have before the thread gets locked?

Yeah! Glad we will continue in 2014!:wave2:

It's going to be cold here this weekend & DH is out of town. I'm getting chores done tonight so I can bundle up & read this weekend. Other than shuttling kids around, I plan to be pretty lazy & catch up on some books.

What about everyone else?
 
Even though I just discovered this (I can't wait to join in from the beginning for 2014!) I thought I could share some of my favorite books from this year? I do a friendly "contest" with friends every year, so I keep track! (If you read the most books, the only thing you win is respect :laughing: )

I've read 25 books so far this year. Some of my favorites were:

My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Hancock: An interesting book about a woman's "year of fear." She took Eleanor Roosevelt's advice to, "Do one thing every day that scares you" and ran with it. I was surprised at how much of this book I was jotting down for myself to refer to later. A fun read with a lot of great advice for people who are worriers or afraid to take risks in their every day lives. Loved this one.

A Visit from the Good Squad by Jennifer Egan: Hard to describe, but it's almost like a collection of short stories, but all of the characters the stories are about are connected to each other, so it still holds together as a novel. I went into this not really sure if I would like it, but I really really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting, and the device of them being entwined in each other's lives (and some of them don't even know it) was unexpected.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender: I couldn't understand the concept of this book from the jacket blurb. A girl can taste feelings in food? What? But the narrative is so lovely, and it all makes sense within the story. Definitely my favorite of the year so far, with high re-read potential.

Other books I read in 2013:
A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons by George RR Martin
How to Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran
My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About Me by Hilary Winston
Top of the Rock: The Rise and Fall of Must See TV by Warren Littlefield
The Receptionist by Janet Groth
Remember Me 1, 2 & 3 by Christopher Pike (nostalgia re-reads)
Dog Sense by John Bradshaw
Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
The Unofficial Guide: Disney World 2013 by Bob Sehlinger
The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Susan Veness
The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson
Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (re-reads to prep for Catching Fire NOVEMBER 22!!!)

Currently reading: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Wanting to read:
The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
If You Lived Here You'd Be Perfect By Now by Robin Hardwick
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
and
The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

A lot to get to in the next three months, but with our vacation coming up, I think I can do it!
 














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