2013 BOOK CHALLENGE! Are you in?

[portia9]

Goal 100

#57 Vanities and Vexations by Sarah Waldock-P & P fanfic but this one was really good. Fleshed out the more minor characters from P & P really well.

 

[stacy347]

Goal 45
Book #19

Twisted by Sara Shepherd
This is the 9th book in the Pretty Little Liars series. The books sort of go in arcs, and this would be the beginning of the 3rd arc. I'm on the fence so far. I did like the ending, and I will start the next one today.

 

[threeboysmom]

Goal = 50

Book #22
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman: http://www.amazon.com/Light-Between...2275&sr=1-1&keywords=the+light+between+oceans

I loved this book. It is the story of a young couple who live on an island off the coast of Australia in the 1920s, where he is the keeper of the lighthouse. They have been trying unsuccessfully to have a child for several years, when a boat washes ashore with a baby and a dead man inside. The choices they make that day set off a series of events that determine their fate as well as the fate of many other people.

I thought this novel was beautifully written and I read the entire book in one day.

I'm thankful someone had a positive review on this book. Those on the DIS that have read it for book clubs have not enjoyed it.

I think I may make this my next to read book. I'm interested to find out which side of the fence I'll be on after reading it, lol.

 

[BearcatsFan]

17/30 - The Litigators by John Grisham

Ehh ... this was just okay. Definitely not as good as some of his other books I've read. I had to really suspend reality through most of it - the timelines didn't work, and some situations were truly unbelievable.

I hope his other book I'm waitlisted for (The Racketeer) is better.

3/5 stars

Next up: The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 100 books
Book #30 - "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

I never read this book in high school. Don't really know why. Maybe we were reading "1984" instead. I really loved this book!!! The animals revolt and overthrow their farmer/master and take over the farm. For a while, things seem to be much better, but one species of animal takes it upon themselves to be the new leader, and by the end of the book, the animals are wondering if they really made a good choice.

Quite a commentary on our society! Especially considering the time in which this book was written! I can see why Stalin wouldn't have approved of this book!

Next up: "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding (I'm trying to read all the books my daughter will be reading in English next year. I'm amazed how many of them I didn't have to read when I was in high school!)

 

[portia9]

I'm thankful someone had a positive review on this book. Those on the DIS that have read it for book clubs have not enjoyed it.

I think I may make this my next to read book. I'm interested to find out which side of the fence I'll be on after reading it, lol.

I really enjoyed this book so I will be interested in what you think.

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Book #36 Lighter side of Large by Becky Siame

Review: I was inspired by the two DIS threads regarding obesity. I picked up this kindle book and found myself interested in this book. Bella is an obese, single mother who has been beaten up emotionally with the news that her sister is getting married to a man...Bella's ex-husband who left her for the sister two weeks after Bella gave birth after their child five years ago. Since then, Bella has been insecure and just depressed about how life turned out.

So, with the news of this "joyful union" Bella decides enough is enough and decides to not only get a date for the wedding, be a success and lose weight. This is a long and hard road that involves online dating, a nasty NASTY ex-husband and a near death experience involving surgery.

I loved this book. I really identified with Bella's insecurity as I had (and still have some issues) with weight and body images. I could understand her and I cheered her on as she lost weight. However, it was the discovery that she had to love her body no matter that really got me. The author brings up weight discrimination in a way that is personal and doesn't ask for special consideration but to be treated with respect as everyone else. Becky is not a perfect character and is flawed with some negative traits but that makes her more believable. She doesn't make a lot of excuses about her weight gain, but she does has a victim mentality that she works hard to overcome.

The story was well-written, developed greatly and introduces a cast of characters that felt real. This book did a rare feat...it got me mad. Bella's thieving nasty sister Tiresa has a mouth on her and honestly I ran down this character in my head so many times. In the end, the sisters are not the best of friends but there is some insight into the relationship.

 

[Caseheidi]

I was wondering about this one!

I love the romantic suspense books she writes like Blue Smoke, Home Port, The Rescue etc...

Does it compare to those as far as the suspense goes?

It is not her best, but still good. There is some suspense, but not much. There is a nice little twist that I didn't guess until right before it was revealed, which I liked.

 

[CaliBear]

Book 9/40: The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale by Oliver Potzch

This book was ridiculous. It took two weeks for me to read it because I just didn't want to read it, but I kept trying. The only thing I liked about it was the character of the hangman and learning about the hangman dynasty life back then in Germany. Otherwise, the level of disbelief I had to suspend to get through the last quarter of the book was too much, even for a mystery about the Templars. Unfortunately, I already own the third ebook.

I started Assassin's Apprentice, first book in the Farseer Trilogy, for my next book. So far, so good.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #28: Shell Game by Ridley Pearson

This is the 5th book in the kingdom keepers series. This one takes place mostly on the Disney Dream. I am having trouble finding book 6, so I am reading The Host by Stephanie Meyer right now.
I don't think I have ever read Lord of the Flies, so I will have to add that one.

 

[Christine]

#12: A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon. This is a novella that is an offshoot of the Outlander books. It tells the story of what happened to Roger MacKenzie's parents. Now if I could just remember Roger MacKenzie from those books, I'd be happy!!! Seriously, I do remember that he was married to Briana but I'm a little rusty after that.

It was an easy read and easy to read because I think Gabaldon writes well and tells a good story, even if you're not crazy about her subject matter.

Just started The Dinner.

 

[cruisnfamily]

#12: A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon. This is a novella that is an offshoot of the Outlander books. It tells the story of what happened to Roger MacKenzie's parents. Now if I could just remember Roger MacKenzie from those books, I'd be happy!!! Seriously, I do remember that he was married to Briana but I'm a little rusty after that.

It was an easy read and easy to read because I think Gabaldon writes well and tells a good story, even if you're not crazy about her subject matter.

Just started The Dinner.

I read all of the outlander books twice....and I have NO IDEA who Roger MacKenzie is.

 

[Christine]

I read all of the outlander books twice....and I have NO IDEA who Roger MacKenzie is.

OK, so I don't feel so bad now!

He's Briana's husband. She met him at Claire's house in the "present" time. I think he was raised by some rector or something. We knew in the book that he was orphaned but they never really explain what happened. Roger is able to travel back into the past with Briana after they were married and that's a bit of a mystery but this novella sort of explains it.

 

[threeboysmom]

Just started The Dinner.

Very interested to hear your review! I have this book on my "summer reading" list.

I read all of the outlander books twice....and I have NO IDEA who Roger MacKenzie is.

This totally cracked me up! A girl after my own heart (and memory!), LOL! Too funny!

 

[PigletsPal2]

Goal: 52 books this year.

#31 down and done.

I just finished Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I should have read this when I was growing up, but I don't think I would have appreciated it as much. I love Anne Shirley - her exuberance, her imagination, her determination to "be good" and her ability to find joy and beauty in everything and everyone. Next up is Anne of Avonlea,

Queen Colleen

 

[dismom301930]

#12: A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon. This is a novella that is an offshoot of the Outlander books. It tells the story of what happened to Roger MacKenzie's parents. Now if I could just remember Roger MacKenzie from those books, I'd be happy!!! Seriously, I do remember that he was married to Briana but I'm a little rusty after that.

It was an easy read and easy to read because I think Gabaldon writes well and tells a good story, even if you're not crazy about her subject matter.

Thanks for letting me know about this.....don't know how I missed it! I loved the Outlander books and am looking forward to the next one (#8?) later this year.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Book 9/40: The Dark Monk: A Hangman's Daughter Tale by Oliver Potzch

This book was ridiculous. It took two weeks for me to read it because I just didn't want to read it, but I kept trying. The only thing I liked about it was the character of the hangman and learning about the hangman dynasty life back then in Germany. Otherwise, the level of disbelief I had to suspend to get through the last quarter of the book was too much, even for a mystery about the Templars. Unfortunately, I already own the third ebook.

I started Assassin's Apprentice, first book in the Farseer Trilogy, for my next book. So far, so good.

Yeah, book 3 was even more ridiculous and I preordered book 4 since it was .99! My favorite part was the travelogue.

 

[BearcatsFan]

18/30 - The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

This was a quick read and I enjoyed it. The storyline was good all the way through. I wish the epilogue had explained in more detail about the incident (can't say more without giving something away), but I'm fine with the way it ended.

4/5 stars

Next up: The Racketeer by John Grisham

 

[erincon23]

#12: A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon. This is a novella that is an offshoot of the Outlander books. It tells the story of what happened to Roger MacKenzie's parents. Now if I could just remember Roger MacKenzie from those books, I'd be happy!!! Seriously, I do remember that he was married to Briana but I'm a little rusty after that.

It was an easy read and easy to read because I think Gabaldon writes well and tells a good story, even if you're not crazy about her subject matter.

Just started The Dinner.

Have you read the other novella, "A Space Between"? It's in a compilation of stories, "The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination." I just finished reading the last book in the series, Echo in the Bone, and this novella takes place chonologically toward the end of Echo (shortly after Old Ian's death).

The funny thing about Echo -- I KNOW I bought this book probably the first day it came out, three years ago, because this is my absolute favorite series, reading it this time, I remembered NOTHING while I was reading. Nothing seemed familiar. But there were two things I remembered before I got there that happened in the very end -- so it was like reading a book for the first time that I had Claire's "pre-knowledge" about. And since I had read "A Space Between" just recently and hadn't understood where it fit in, reading this book fixed that issue.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

#6 I, Michael Benett
It was okay. Didn't really like ending. I ussually don't like when books end in an obvious continuation mode. It was one of the things that bothered me about Miss Perigrene’s Home for Peculiar Children as well.

#7 (Don't know if this counts, but I finished writing/proofing my latest work.
Written for You, is a dark comedy play, and in writing it I had to read it numerous times. If anyone is interested I will be putting it on Amazon and Nook in the coming week, would love feedback and reviews so please let me know if anyone is interested in receiving gist copy in exchange for honest review.