2013 BOOK CHALLENGE! Are you in?

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#24 Divergent by Veronica Roth

This one has been reviewed several times so I'll just give my thoughts on it..
It was a quick easy read but after reading so many YA dystopian books lately it was pretty easy to guess where the story was going. Seems like all the series have several different societies living around each other and then the main character comes in as a teenager and stirs things up in all of the societies, lol.
I give this one maybe 3 stars and will try to read the rest of the series but it doesn't seem like anything to rush right out and get.....

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal = 75

39. Last to Die--Tess Gerritsen

This is the latest of the Rizzoli/Isles series. I liked it. In this series you really need to read them in order because she carries over characters and plot lines from book to book. This one had a lot of the previous book in it and also some characters from farther back. It was a little different than the typical "somebody is murdered and now we solve it".

I read all this series last year & enjoyed it. How did I not know it was made into a tv series???

Oooops, brain fog....wrong series, lol. I read the "To Die" series by Lisa Jackson. Afraid to Die, Left to Die, Born to Die etc....the characters were Pescoli/Alvarez & was not made into a tv series, lol.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Goal 25 books

#7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Again, I don't think it really needs a summary.

My #7 was supposed to be a Sookie Stackhouse book but who am I kidding? I'm in a H.P. mood. I just started Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

 

[nemofans]

Book #21: Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Good book. Quick read. I could relate to her somewhat w/her OCD, like checking the locks, etc. I am a very anxious person & I do check locks through out the day. Not multiple times like her, but I can't go to bed until I do check. I can completely understand why she was like that b/c I also think if I don't, I won't be safe & I didn't have a traumatic experience.


When young, pretty Catherine Bailey meets Lee Brightman, she can't believeher luck. Gorgeous, charismatic, and a bit mysterious, Lee seems almost tooperfect to be true.
But what begins as flattering attention and spontaneous, passionate sextransforms into raging jealousy, and Catherine soon discovers that Lee's dazzlingblue eyes and blond good looks hide a dark, violent nature. Disturbed by his increasingly erratic, controlling behavior, she tries to break it off. Increasingly isolated and driven into the darkest corner of her world, a desperate Catherine plans a meticulous escape.
Four years later, Lee is behind bars and Catherine—now Cathy—is trying to build a new life in a new city. Though her body has healed, the trauma ofthe past still haunts her. Then Stuart Richardson, her attractive new neighbor,moves in. Encouraging her to confront her fears, he sparks unexpected hope and the possibility of love and a normal life.
Until the day the phone rings . . .


Next Book: The Graveyard Book

 

[Simba's Mom]

Currently reading Book #25-Death by Drowning (author's name is Abigail-last name begins with K). Usually you can read a series out of order, but not this one! I feel like I jumped into the middle of a story and I kept thinking my Kindle had accidentally jumped a bunch of pages on me.

 

[KrazyPete]

Goal - 24 books

Book #5 - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis - This a reread of book that I found to be tremendously helpful when I first read it twenty years ago. It was nice to return to it with a little more life experience. It's not perfect but I'm certain that if you read it with an open mind and heart you will find valuable, practical insights that you can apply in your life.

Next up - Defending Jacob by William Landay - I've been told that I have to read this book. The library is telling me that I can only have the eBook copy for one week. Challenge accepted!

 

[threeboysmom]

Goal - 50 books (But I really need to up it to 100, please!)

You've asked for it, you've got it! 100 books! My hat's off to you!

I'm going to up my challenge too to 50 books. I'm already at 12 or 13... so this will give me a real push to make it. I just have too many books that I'm dying to read to stop at just 30 books. Not sure if 50 is doable, but I'm going for it! Go 50!

 

[PigletsPal2]

Goal: 52 books this year

#24 down and done.

The Five Kisses by Karla Darcy is a Jane Austen-type short book following the story of Gillian Foster, the daughter of the local tutor hired to educate the boys of the local landed gentry. She is a playmate of the son of the Eighth Earl of Elmore, Lord Chadwick Kendale. If you are at all familiar with Regency Romances, you know where this is going, but it's a cute little story nonetheless. If you've read my previous posts, you know my favorite genre is murder and mayhem, death and destruction. I read these little stories to bring me back from the dark side (LOL).

Queen Colleen

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Book # 29 Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flagg

Review: The book was entertaining and even though the story seems simple at first, the author brought up a lot of touchy issues such as lesbianism, racism, aging and death. Middle-aged, overweight and insecure Evelyn Couch meets Ninny Threadgoode at a senior home. Ninny begins to tell a story about the Whistle Stop Cafe and the two owners, Idgie and Ruth. Of course those who have seen the movie need no introduction to the premise but the book is a lot more than that and introduces more characters and plots.

What I found interesting is the way that Flagg was straightforward about certain things which is admirable yet the author didn't harp on issues. She just let the stories tell themselves and wrote in such a simple way. The women in Fried Green Tomatoes are strong, beautiful and realistic but it is the adventurous Idgie and surprisingly enough Evelyn who really stole the show. Evelyn changes from this frumpy woman to someone who is beginning to come comfortable with herself and that was great to read.

 

[Christine]

Book #11 completed. Sisters by Patricia MacDonald

I'd give it a 3 out of 5. Just so-so. This book had no reviews on Amazon when I got it from the library so I'll be anxious to see what other think of it as more people read it.

Abby Woods was an only child of two loving parents who died in an accident. Shortly after their deaths, she was given a letter from her mother by the family attorney. The letter stated that, in high school, Abby's mother had a baby and gave it up for adoption. She had no clues as to where the child was placed but thought Abby should know she had a sibling out there somewhere.

Abby asks the lawyer to investigate and he quickly finds her sister, Dory Colson, and she is in jail--convicted of brutally stabbing her adoptive sister to death.

But, there's a technicality and Dory is able to be released from jail for mishandling of her original trial and Abby is the only one to take her. Things get weird after that. Dory's not very nice and exhibits jealousy toward her newfound sister. A violent turn of events takes place and the book ends up being a psychological type "whodunit."

It was just okay. The writing was sort of mediocre as was some of the dialogue.

 

[stacy347]

Goal 45
Book #16
Promise You Won't Tell? by John Locke

This one revolves around a young girl who hires a PI to investigate whether she was drugged/assaulted at a sleepover.
I did see the ending coming, but not exactly how it played out, so I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Book #17
An Apple for the Creature

This was a collection of short stories by authors in the supernatural genre.
A few were worth reading, but I was disappointed in the majority. Glad this was just a library book.

 

[dizluvah]

Uh, oh, my book club is reading The Light Between Oceans next month! What didn't you like about it?

No worries! I think it was just a matter of my personal preference. Many of my book club members enjoyed the book. According to my Kindle, I made it 57% of the way into it before I stopped reading. I typically read a book in two or three days if I get into it and can't put it down. This book I read for a week week straight before bed and just could not get into it - I found it slow. I don't want to give away any plot lines by giving specifics but I did not agree with the decision the main characters made and giving the nature of their location - not much really happens for sections of the book. Most of my book club said it gets better. I own the ebook so I could finish it, but after the meeting I inevitably heard how it ended and just have zero desire to finish it.

It will certainly generate a great discussion within your book club, I bet.

 

[dizluvah]

Book 33 The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth

From goodreads: An unforgettable story of the joy of motherhood, the bravery of a community, and the hope of one extraordinary woman

At the age of twenty-two, Jennifer Worth leaves her comfortable home to move into a convent and become a midwife in post war London's East End slums. The colorful characters she meets while delivering babies all over London-from the plucky, warm-hearted nuns with whom she lives to the woman with twenty-four children who can't speak English to the prostitutes and dockers of the city's seedier side-illuminate a fascinating time in history. Beautifully written and utterly moving, The Midwife will touch the hearts of anyone who is, and everyone who has, a mother.

FANTASTIC book - I gave it 5 stars (which I rarely do). This is a non-fiction book with such vivid descriptions and quirky characters - you feel like you are in London's East End after WWII. This is the book the series Call the Midwife is based on (Sundays PBS here in the states). I had never heard of the series or book before this was selected for book club and I groaned when I heard the selection - I did not want to read about midwifery....so glad I was so wrong!!! There is one story in the book I wish I could "unsee" because it was disturbing but not even that segment would deter me from recommending this book to every woman I know.

 

[portia9]

It's been nearly a month since I logged my books here. And sadly not a lot read for me.

Goal 100

#41. Charlotte Collins A Continuation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by Jennifer Becton-not bad for fan fiction
#42. Snodgrass Vacation by Dave Conifer-has been reviewed here.
#43. Europe Through The Back Door by Rick Steves-I may be travelling to Europe next year with my Mum!
#44. Northern Lights by Catherine Winchester-North and South by Gaskell fanfic. Was ok overall but seemed to end really suddenly.

No idea what is next. I have lots on my kindle ready to go.

 

[portia9]

Book 33 The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth

From goodreads: An unforgettable story of the joy of motherhood, the bravery of a community, and the hope of one extraordinary woman

At the age of twenty-two, Jennifer Worth leaves her comfortable home to move into a convent and become a midwife in post war London's East End slums. The colorful characters she meets while delivering babies all over London-from the plucky, warm-hearted nuns with whom she lives to the woman with twenty-four children who can't speak English to the prostitutes and dockers of the city's seedier side-illuminate a fascinating time in history. Beautifully written and utterly moving, The Midwife will touch the hearts of anyone who is, and everyone who has, a mother.

FANTASTIC book - I gave it 5 stars (which I rarely do). This is a non-fiction book with such vivid descriptions and quirky characters - you feel like you are in London's East End after WWII. This is the book the series Call the Midwife is based on (Sundays PBS here in the states). I had never heard of the series or book before this was selected for book club and I groaned when I heard the selection - I did not want to read about midwifery....so glad I was so wrong!!! There is one story in the book I wish I could "unsee" because it was disturbing but not even that segment would deter me from recommending this book to every woman I know.

Downloaded to kindle! I haven't seen the Call the Midwife series but everyone raves about it. I am really interested in midwifery too.

This thread is costing me money!

 

[Ginny Favers]

I'd better log my books before I start forgetting:

17/50 - FALSE MEMORY by Dan Krokos
18/50 - BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS by Anna Godberson
19/50 - WOOL by Hugh Howey
20/50 - MEET MOLLY (American Girl) Ok, I read this to my daughter
21/50 - STARTERS by Lissa Price

Honestly, I need to stop reading Series books because after reading the first book of any series, I never can bring myself to read the second one. The only series I read through to the end was Hunger Games. I guess I'm distracted by shiny objects.

 

[threeboysmom]

I'd better log my books before I start forgetting:

17/50 - FALSE MEMORY by Dan Krokos
18/50 - BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS by Anna Godberson
19/50 - WOOL by Hugh Howey
20/50 - MEET MOLLY (American Girl) Ok, I read this to my daughter
21/50 - STARTERS by Lissa Price

Honestly, I need to stop reading Series books because after reading the first book of any series, I never can bring myself to read the second one. The only series I read through to the end was Hunger Games. I guess I'm distracted by shiny objects.

I'm the same way! I haven't a clue how so many people can read through a series back to back!! I'm way too distracted I guess.

That being said, I do have five different series going (that I can REMEMBER! ) that I'm currently reading. But I space months and sometimes years between each book, lol.

Edited to add: I did read through the Wool series you mentioned. I believe I did those back-to-back, but they were so short, it seemed like one book.

 

[Ginny Favers]

I'm the same way! I haven't a clue how so many people can read through a series back to back!! I'm way too distracted I guess.

That being said, I do have five different series going (that I can REMEMBER! ) that I'm currently reading. But I space months and sometimes years between each book, lol.

Edited to add: I did read through the Wool series you mentioned. I believe I did those back-to-back, but they were so short, it seemed like one book.

Have you read SHIFT? That's the "Sequel" to the Wool Series. I think each of them are in 5 parts. I agree the first 5 parts of Wool seemed like one book, but then I had no desire to read SHIFT afterwards!

And it is getting increasingly hard to find books that the author doesn't want to continue with past more than one book. I just realized that ALL of the books in the list above are series with more than one volume! And I have no desire to read the second volume of any of them. It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, it's that I didn't enjoy the book enough, I guess. Nothing has been like, "I MUST continue on and find out how this turns out!". I guess I don't care enough.

 

[Caseheidi]

Book 25 of 100 - For whom the Spell Tolls by H.P. Mallory (book 6 of the Dulci O'Neil series)

From Goodreads:
A war between The Resistance and the Netherworld,
A vampire who isn't all that he appears,
And the ultimate price that must be paid.

Dulcie O'Neil thought her luck couldn't get much worse but it's about to get a whole lot worse.

Forced into declaring war against the Netherworld and her father, Dulcie will find herself fighting for everything she believes in. In the process, she'll have to decide whether or not to trust a centuries old vampire, a decision which literally will mean life or death.

Luckily she's got hunky love interest, Knightley Vander, by her side but things get even stickier when she finds herself the subject of multiple men's affections.

This has been a quick, easy series to read. There was a little more sex in this last book then has been in the rest of the series, and I could have done without it to be honest. I gave it 3 stars on Goodreads.

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Book #30 Palisades Park by Alan Brennert

Review: This book reads like a love letter but instead of the subject being a lover, it is to an amusement park. The Palisades in New Jersey, from Brennert's point of view, is a place that is both a magical land and a place of pure fun. The story follows the Stopka family, Eddie who fell in love with the park when he was just a kid, Adele his wife who has her own ambitions and their children, Jack and Toni who becomes a lady high diver. The book follows the family from 1922 until the park's closure in 1971. It is interesting that the family changes and forms their own identity but the Palisades Park stays constant. The book goes into detail about the shows, rides, foods and other amusements of the Palisades and at times it could be a little tedious but all together entertaining. I suggest it for a nostalgic read.