2013 BOOK CHALLENGE! Are you in?

[Caseheidi]

Book 30 of 100 - The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Summary from Goodreads:
The first book in the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series—The Maze Runner is a modern classic, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it unique and kept wanting to know more. And the ending made me want to get the next one in the series.

I have to admit that lately with all the young adult books I have been reading, I am begining to wonder what we are doing to our children? They all seem to make kids solve the worlds problems. I really hope this is not a reflection of our true lives!

 

[Caseheidi]

Book 31 of 100 - Shield's Lady (Lost Colony #3) by Jayne Ann Krentz

Summary by Goodreads:
Sarianna was a cool, confident businesswoman, an outcast from the East determined to regain her rightful status. Gryph was an intense mercenary respected and feared throughout the opulent cities and savage frontiers of the West. But from the moment they met, fate made them one. Was it their destiny to be bound to a force that both captivated and frightened them?

I did not even know that this was a series until I just looked it up on Goodreads. I guess that means it is a good stand alone book. It was just okay for me. It was the typical romance with a smart girl who trys to be in charge and talks a good game and a many who is full of himself and trys to order everyone around. The romance was predictable, but the environment and side story were unique, which is what kept me reading. It was good for a quick easy read. I might pick up the other books in the series, but have not really decided yet.

I keep taking breaks from reading. I may need to do a few more quick, easy re-reads to get where I need to make my final goal.

 

[CaliBear]

Goal - 100 Books

Book #33 - "The Enchanted April" by Elizabeth Von Arnim

This is the second book I've downloaded based on your review. I got this one for free from Amazon.

 

[Glynis]

This is the second book I've downloaded based on your review. I got this one for free from Amazon.

Wow! I hope I'm not steering you wrong! Hopefully, you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

 

[Ginny Favers]

I have to admit that lately with all the young adult books I have been reading, I am begining to wonder what we are doing to our children? They all seem to make kids solve the worlds problems. I really hope this is not a reflection of our true lives!

One of the big things about YA is how is 95% of it, the parents are noticeably absent. One common plot device was having parents be dead in a car or plane crash . . . I think I read 5 YA books in a row where that was the case. And it is because . . . kids don't like reading about parents. They're boring.

34/50 IF YOU STAY by Courtney Cole
Twenty-four-year-old Pax Tate is an *******. Seriously. He's a tattooed, rock-hard bad boy with a tough attitude to match. His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with an intense guilt that he doesn't understand. What he does know is that he and his dad were left alone, and they have never been close. Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the black void in his soul. He pretends that the emptiness isn't there and this has always worked . . . until he meets Mila.


Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air that Pax has never known in his life. He doesn't know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he'd better figure it out because he needs her to breathe. When the memories of his mother's death resurface to haunt Pax, Mila is there to save him from his overwhelming guilt. Mila restores his broken heart, even as she evokes his powerful, sexual desires. Now for Pax to keep Mila, he needs to work on his issues and stop being an *******. But is that enough to make her stay?

This book started out really good but I felt the end was a little rushed. Still, it had the sweetest ending. I enjoyed it.

 

[threeboysmom]

Book 30 of 100 - The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Summary from Goodreads:
The first book in the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series—The Maze Runner is a modern classic, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it unique and kept wanting to know more. And the ending made me want to get the next one in the series.

I have to admit that lately with all the young adult books I have been reading, I am begining to wonder what we are doing to our children? They all seem to make kids solve the worlds problems. I really hope this is not a reflection of our true lives!

I've been purposely staying away from YA books, but this one actually sounds too good to ignore. Thanks for the review!

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I've been purposely staying away from YA books, but this one actually sounds too good to ignore. Thanks for the review!

May I ask why you are staying away from YA books

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 100 Books

Book #34 - "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

Billy Pilgrim is adrift in time. He finds himself wandering from his time as a soldier in WW 2, to his time as an optometrist, to his old age. From the cover..."His journey through time is a reflection of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we fear the most."

I really enjoyed this book, but I don't think I'd say that I loved it. There were moments that were entertaining, and moments that were disturbing, and moments that made me think. Ultimately, I think that's what the best books do, right?

Next up: "Sonoma Rose" by Jennifer Chiaverini

 

[tiggrbaby]

One of the big things about YA is how is 95% of it, the parents are noticeably absent. One common plot device was having parents be dead in a car or plane crash . . . I think I read 5 YA books in a row where that was the case. And it is because . . . kids don't like reading about parents. They're boring.

34/50 IF YOU STAY by Courtney Cole
Twenty-four-year-old Pax Tate is an *******. Seriously. He's a tattooed, rock-hard bad boy with a tough attitude to match. His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with an intense guilt that he doesn't understand. What he does know is that he and his dad were left alone, and they have never been close. Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the black void in his soul. He pretends that the emptiness isn't there and this has always worked . . . until he meets Mila.


Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air that Pax has never known in his life. He doesn't know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he'd better figure it out because he needs her to breathe. When the memories of his mother's death resurface to haunt Pax, Mila is there to save him from his overwhelming guilt. Mila restores his broken heart, even as she evokes his powerful, sexual desires. Now for Pax to keep Mila, he needs to work on his issues and stop being an *******. But is that enough to make her stay?

This book started out really good but I felt the end was a little rushed. Still, it had the sweetest ending. I enjoyed it.

Years ago I heard Anthony Horowitz (author of Alex Rider series and other things) speak and he said that if the teen main character had parents, he or she would never be allowed to experience all the wild adventures, so his advice to anyone interested in writing a YA book, kill off the parents first!

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Book #39 The Food of a Younger Land by Mike Kurlansky

Review: This book was pretty interesting. The Food of a Younger Land is basically a combination of short articles written by authors during the depression however instead of the pieces being about different things, Foods of a Younger Land's basic premise is regional food. I thought it was pretty interesting as there were meals that were not familiar (beaver tails, coca cola parties and geoduck) and what was (menudo, tacos and certain types of seafood). It was pretty good.

 

[Swimnoid]

Goal = 75

51. Virals by Kathy Reich
From Goodreads:
Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

I really liked this book. It is a YA novel. The kids are likable and their mystery is a little "out there" but consistent with YA interests. This was the first of a series and I'll probably continue it.

 

[erincon23]

35. Six Years, Harlan Coben. Some of Coben's stuff (other than the Myron Bolitar books, which are all fun) is really awful, but this was ok. And there's a very subtle "shoutout" to the Bolitar books toward the end.

 

[BearcatsFan]

23/50 - Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

This was a good book, but it was very, very dark. Much darker than Gone Girl. I didn't see the end coming, and I liked how it ended. It had some strange elements to it - at times I had to step away from reading it because it was so dark, but it was a good read.

4/5 stars

Next Up: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

I gave up on Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I just couldn't get into it.

 

[Pop Daddy]

..

 

[low-key]

23/50 - Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

This was a good book, but it was very, very dark. Much darker than Gone Girl. I didn't see the end coming, and I liked how it ended. It had some strange elements to it - at times I had to step away from reading it because it was so dark, but it was a good read.

4/5 stars

Next Up: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

I gave up on Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I just couldn't get into it.

yep that was Dark, but I liked it, Im kind of dark in some ways myself, Dark Places is also kind of Dark, it might be a tad better then sharp objects. My observation is Gillian Flynn is one dark women

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Zoo by James Patterson. This was a great book!! It's extremely intense and gripping from page 1. Have to say I didn't really care for the ending. It will make you think. It's basically about animals going insane and practically taking over the world. The way it was written makes me think it could happen in the real world!

 

[GILL635]

Thanks guys, I'll compile a list of the books I have read so far and update the thread.

I love the I Heart series of books (sorry, someone mentioned that they have started I Heart New York), they get better as they go on, I'm gutted there won't be more of them

I'll also be having a look on AMAZON to see if I can get any of your recommendations here in the UK, and also on the Goodreads website a few of you mention.

I'm so excited, I've always wanted to be part of a book club!


Gill x

 

[MissHippy]

I hope it's not too late to join. I just signed up at Good Reads and joined over there too under MissHippy.
I will decided tomorrow on my book count. I have just started reading Wicked and am about to re read The Great Gatsby.

Thanks

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks guys, I'll compile a list of the books I have read so far and update the thread.

I love the I Heart series of books (sorry, someone mentioned that they have started I Heart New York), they get better as they go on, I'm gutted there won't be more of them

I'll also be having a look on AMAZON to see if I can get any of your recommendations here in the UK, and also on the Goodreads website a few of you mention.

I'm so excited, I've always wanted to be part of a book club!


Gill x

Thanks-I just added the "I heart" books to my to-read shelf. As soon as I read that they're for fans of Sophie Kinsella, that's for me! But tell me honestly, did you find the book to be similar to Sophie Kinsella? She's my favorite author. But not far behind is Laura Levine, of the cozy mystery genre. I just read "Killing Bridzilla" and enjoyed it. Funny, with eccentric parents and a typically stuck-up cat.

 

[Glynis]

This may be a little off topic, but a conversation with my daughter last night got me thinking about this thread and how lucky I am.

Her English/History teacher has been listening to students whine about having to read "The Great Gatsby" and "Farenheit 451", and yesterday kind of got fed up. She asked the class to raise their hands if they've read a book (cover to cover) in the last year. Most of the class raised their hands, but the majority confessed that they were only reading the books because they were assigned for class. The next question was, how many had read a book in the last year for fun. Half the hands went down. How many had read a book in the last month for fun. Half of the remaining hands went down. How many had read a book in the last week for fun. By this point, only a couple of hands were up; my daughter's and maybe 2 other. Last question, how many are reading a book today, for fun. My daughter was the only one with her hand up.

As she lowered her hand, she heard one of the kids in the class whisper under his breath, "Nerd." She turned to him and said, "Yup. And proud of it!"

While I'm proud that my daughter enjoys reading, and stands up for herself, I'm saddened that so many kids aren't reading anymore. We live in a well to do area, where there are many libraries and book stores, so it's not like there aren't books available. I just don't understand it!

I'm so thankful for this thread, because it gives me hope to see so many people reading, and sharing what they've read!