2013 BOOK CHALLENGE! Are you in?

[jenny105]

Goal - 28 books

Book #29 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling - This book came out 15 years ago and I never succumbed to the hype. Having read it now, I'm not entirely sure it's good enough to justify all of the attention that it got but it was really good. It's certainly a kids book. It was a fun, light read. I'll probably read the second book the next time I feel like giving my brain a rest.

The first two are easy, light reads. As you get further into the series the books get bigger and bigger & the story evolves. I love HP!

 

[CaliBear]

Goal - 28 books

Book #29 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling - This book came out 15 years ago and I never succumbed to the hype. Having read it now, I'm not entirely sure it's good enough to justify all of the attention that it got but it was really good. It's certainly a kids book. It was a fun, light read. I'll probably read the second book the next time I feel like giving my brain a rest.

Next up - The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - OK, now for something a little bit heavier... physically heavier... 973 pages to be exact.

Give HP at least to book 3 before you decide whether it's worth the hype! Like the PP said, the books become more complex as Harry grows up.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I agree. As Harry matures and the books take a darker turn, they get better.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Goal: 100 books this year

#88 down and done.

Chelsea Mansions by Barry Maitland. An American tourist is killed, seemingly at random, right outside the Chelsea Flower Show. When a Russian ogliarch is murdered in the same vicinity, Scotland Yard detectives DI David Brock and DI Kathy Kolla begin to uncover the all-but-forgotten secrets that are key to a string of bloody murders, a string that has just begun.

I usually prefer my murders to take place in Victorian times, but Maitland's characters and attention to detail are compelling. I'm going to look for another Brock and Kolla mystery.

Queen Colleen

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#81 Wild Child by Molly Gloss

In the early 1900's Charlotte is a thoroughly modern woman. Sole provider for her five young boys, Charlotte is independent, freethinking woman of the West . She dresses in men's clothes avoids housework and supports her family by writing popular women's adventure stories.
Charlotte joins a search party for a child who has disappeared in the deepwood wilderness on the border between Oregon & Washington. But when she gets lost herself, she is thrust into a mysterious world that not only tests her courage but challenges her entire concept of reality. Starving and half dead from exposure, she is rescued by a band of elusive, quasi human beasts.....
Sounds a lot more interesting than it really is. Only 255 pages but very 'wordy'. Didn't get interesting til the last third of the book but was still too over written for me.

 

[nemofans]

Yes, read all of the Harry Potter series! One of my favorites! The series matures & becomes darker as they get older. It is a very deep story with so many aspects to it. My favorite chapter from any book I have ever read was "A Prince's Tale" in HP and The Deathly Hallows. It hit me hard & I had to process through everything after reading it. I can't wait to read it all again when my younger DS gets a little older.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Reached my goal of 75! I finished "Burn Down the Ground". If you're interested in Domestic Violence, it's more interesting. I was mostly interested in her experiences with the Deaf Community, and it didn't focus on that as much as I'd hoped. Next up, "Rent a Husband" for some comic relief.

 

[portia9]

#130 Artichoke Hearts by Sita Bramachari-a young adult, coming of age story, quite sweet.

#131 Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber-romantic Christmas story, not great literature but I am a sucker for a Christmas story.

Very tempted to see if I can read another 18 books before the end of the year to get to 150 but think that might be pushing it.

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #81 One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis

An apparently happy marriage. A beautiful son. A lovely home.

So what makes Emily Coleman get up one morning and walk right out of her life? How will she survive? And what is the date that looms, threatening to force her to confront her past?

No-one has ever guessed her secret. Will you?

I started this book on Friday night after unsuccessfully trying to plough my way through another book. I decided to give the other one a rest and try this. I finished this book at 1am, having been completely unable to put it down until I knew what Emily's secret was. A really great book with a fab twist right at the end. I never saw it coming

 

[PigletsPal2]

Goal: 100 books this year.

#89 down and done.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr. This is a psychological thriller set in 1890's New York. Someone is luring young boys from the brothels in the slums of New York, torturing them, and killing them, using particularly nasty methods. Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt enlists the help of two former Harvard classmates, one a psychologist (or alienist), the other a New York Times crime reporter, to determine the psychological profile and methodology of the killer to ultimately track him down.

All I can say is WHEW! This book captured my attention from beginning to end, even though some of the descriptions of the torture were particularly gory.

I have 11 books to read by Dec. 31 if I want to meet my third re-set goal of 100. I'm going to try, but if I don't make it, there's always next year!

Queen Colleen

 

[Caseheidi]

It has been a while since I posted.

Book 61 - Jult LIke Hevan (Smythe-Smith Quartet #1) by Julia Quinn
Book 62 - A Night Like This (Smythe-Smith quartet #2) by Julia Quinn

If you enjoy Victorian England Romance, Julia Quinn does a good job. These books are good easy reads.

Book 63 - Dark WItch (Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy #1) by Nora Roberts

Summary by Good Reads
With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends.

Ireland.

County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits.

Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives.

When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horsemen, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.

Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive…

I always enjoy Nora Roberts books, and am excited for the next one in this group.

Book 64 - Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Book 65 - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Book 66 - Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins

I decided to re-read Hunger Games and Catching Fire before seeing the movie, and of course had to do Mocking Jay as Catching Fire leaves the story hanging. I was as drawn in the second time as I was the first.

Book 67 - Mirror, Mirror

This book includes Five all new twists on classic fairy tales from five different authors, including J.D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McComas and R.C. Ryan. All the stories are good reads, but I admit I got it for the JD Robb story.

I won't be making my goal of 100, but since I made the first two I made, I am not too upset over it. I figure I will have a few more read before the end of the year.

 

[zippitydoo]

Book 45 of 45
Yea I did it, can’t wait for next book challenge

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Frost

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's 17th birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.
A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.

She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.
An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.

Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

 

[zippitydoo]

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

 

[WowLookAtThat]

# 89 The Supreme Macaroni Company by Adriana Trigiani

Review: I loved Very Valentine and Brava Valentine so I was excited to see the last book which concludes the Valentine series. Reading it, I delved into Gianluca and Valentine's life and sometimes I laughed and sometimes I was frustrated with the characters however I wasn't ready to cry when the book takes a sudden twist. In the end I just feel unsettled after ready Supreme Macaroni Company.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#82 In Case We're Separated by Alice Mattison

I really enjoyed this book.
It is a series of 13 connected stories spanning the 20th century about a family of Jewish immigrants in the 20's & 30's and follows their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as they all lead urban, emotionally turbulent lives against the backdrop of political assassinations, the Vietnam War, and the AIDS epidemic.
Not something I would normally pick out to read but am glad I did.

 

[Swimnoid]

Every year at holiday time I read several Christmas themed books. So a lot of my next few books will be in this theme.

103. The Christmas Cookie Murder by Leslie Meier--Who would have thought Christmas and murder would go together? This is a series starring Lucy Stone. She is your average family mom but always gets involved in solving murders usually revolving around some holiday. I have read several of this series and enjoy them for their characters. A very cozy series.

104. Stranded by Lorena McCourtney--The last one (so far) of the LOL (little old lady) series featuring Ivy Malone. I always enjoy these characters and hope she continues the series.

105. Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier--Another Lucy Stone book. This was the first of the series introducing all the characters. I thought it was one of the better that I have read. This again involves murder around Christmas.

I've got 5 more Christmas books on my counter. Hopefully I can get away from murder on Christmas for a change!

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Book #100 Christ the Lord:Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

 

[keenercam]

143/150 -- Meant for Love by Marie Force - I love this author and am always waiting for her next book to come out. This is a standalone story, but many characters from her previous books in this series appear in this book, and the story is even more enjoyable if you know the back stories of those other characters.

144/150 - The Accident: A Thriller by Linwood Barclay- I have never read Linwood Barclay but I am adding him to my list of authors whose other books I will consider reading. The story was very complex and interesting.

145/150 - The Final Detail (Myron Bolitar) by Harlan Coben. Another author I really enjoy. He is good at building suspense with lots of detail and then delivering on the twist.

146/150 - Misplaced Princess by Lexxie Couper - Kindle freebie. Fluff romance which appealed because of its setting in Australia, but there wasn't enough of detail about life on a cattle station to have made that the selling point.

147/150 - Everything You Want by Evelyn Lyles. Another Kindle freebie. Just okay.

Next up is The Fault in Our Stars. Seems like it might take a lot out of me emotionally, but the reviews I've read compel me to take the risk.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#83 The Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

For some reason I put off reading this book. Turned out to be very good.

 

[kinntj]

Book #1 out of 12. Lol! Divergent. I thought it was good.

I already have the next two lined up, since they are part of the Divergent trilogy.
next up #2 Insurgent, #3 Allegiant.

I also just bought three for my Kindle. 5th wave, Legend, and 1984.