ANNUAL READING GOAL CHALLENGE for 2015!

[tiggrbaby]

Behind in my updates so will only list titles/authors/stars. Currently reading #10.

Maisie Dobbs (3/5) and Birds of a Feather (4/5) by Jaqueline Winspear

By a Spider's Thread (4/5) and No Good Deeds (4/5) by Laura Lippman

 

[zippitydoo]

Book #22 of 50: Taking on the Dead by Annie Walls

From Goodreads:
Life for Kansas was perfect until the day the world changed.

She has been hiding out for four years in solitude. It's the only way to survive. The only way not to draw the living dead. Helping a small group of people, she learns the new world might not be what she assumes. Venturing out of her refuge and comfort zone, she meets Rudy, who helps her find a greater purpose. She realizes that the world has moved on without her. Only it's not what she expects. Her knowledge of the living dead grows and only makes her more curious as humanity continues to hang on by a thread. While on her search for answers she finds comfort in new friendships and love, but her past seems as if it will haunt her forever.

Kansas takes it upon herself to help other survivors, which would be easy if the famished were the only obstacles.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

4 of 12

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.

Marlowe befriends a down on his luck war veteran with the scars to prove it. Then he finds out that Terry Lennox has a very wealthy nymphomaniac wife, who he's divorced and re-married and who ends up dead. and now Lennox is on the lam and the cops and a crazy gangster are after Marlowe.

While I have watched several noir films, this was my first experience with the literary genre (unless you count the noir-inspired Gaiman short story "Only the End of the World Again"). The first 100 pages of so had me hooked. I really like Chandler's voice. I mean, check out this passage:

He was looking at me and neither his eyes nor his gun moved. He was as calm as an adobe wall in the moonlight.

I love the metaphor.

Except, I found that the action got pretty tedious after a while. Marlowe would spend a lot of time shaving and making coffee. We'd have scenes in between the action where Marlowe just goes home and showers, shaves, etc. The book probably could have been 50 pages shorter if that was cut out. Maybe he was paid by the word like Dickens. I also felt like there was an unnecessary romance thrown right at the end of the story that could have been skipped all together.

I can probably just chalk up both of these issues to the genre.

I did like the book, in general. I'll probably read more Chandler.

Next up: I have to read Church Unique by Will Mancini for a committee I joined in church. I'm not sure I'm going to count that. So, probably Gaiman's new short story collection Trigger Warning. Although with the recent passing of Terry Pratchett, I might read Good Omens, next, for like the 6th time.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Quoted instead of edited...

again.

 

[E&Cmom]

Book #14/65

Funny Girl by Nick Hornsby

From Goodreads

From the bestselling author of High Fidelity, About a Boy, and A Long Way Down comes a highly anticipated new novel.

Set in 1960's London, Funny Girl is a lively account of the adventures of the intrepid young Sophie Straw as she navigates her transformation from provincial ingénue to television starlet amid a constellation of delightful characters. Insightful and humorous, Nick Hornby's latest does what he does best: endears us to a cast of characters who are funny if flawed, and forces us to examine ourselves in the process.

---------------
I did not care for this one. Could not get into it and didn't like the main character. I gave it a 2/5.


Book 15/65

Confess by Colleen Hoover

From Goodreads


From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover Owen is keeping major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…
-----------------

Not my favourite of her's but still a great read. I gave it 4/5.

 

[kmb584]

21/100: Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy. There's just something about her storylines and the way she writes that keeps me going back for more. From Goodreads:

Big, generous-hearted Benny and the elfin Eve Malone have been best friends growing up in sleepy Knockglen. Their one thought is to get to Dublin, to university and to freedom.

On their first day at University College, Dublin, the inseparable pair are thrown together with fellow students Nan Mahon, beautiful but selfish, and handsome Jack Foley. But trouble is brewing for Benny and Eve's new circle of friends, and before long, they find passion, tragedy - and the independence they yearned for.

 

[threeboysmom]

Not weird. I feel the same way about Jamie and Claire. Ok, maybe, we're both weird, lol.

I'm weird too then! Taking a small break from Outlander to read a couple books that came in from the library - The Girl on the Train (love so far!) and The Selection (hate to admit but I'm enjoying this one too). Once I'm done with these, I'll get right back to Jamie & Claire!!

 

[sj&k]

Finished 11th Hour by James Patterson and company over the weekend, so that was number 2/20. Moving slowly again this year, but I hope I pick up the pace. I have been reading the Women's Murder Club series for years and I will probably continue, but as with most of the books I read in a series, especially mystery type books, after a while they start to seem like they're searching for plots, and this was no exception. It was entertaining enough but nothing thrilling. I started Reconstructing Amelia and it's holding my interest so far, probably because the format is a little different than the normal books I read. Hope to finish soon-there are a lot more books on my "to read" list thanks to this year's recommendations!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

#6 The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

It begins in 1964 when a doctor delivers is own twins only to discover his daughter has Down syndrome. He gives the baby away to the nurse, and she runs away and raises her herself.

I started out liking this book, but it got tedious. I'm glad I finished it but also glad I am done with it.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I started Reconstructing Amelia and it's holding my interest so far, probably because the format is a little different than the normal books I read. Hope to finish soon-there are a lot more books on my "to read" list thanks to this year's recommendations!

I read this last year and enjoyed it. I just could not believe how cruel the students were to each other.

 

[kt_mom]

Finished 11th Hour by James Patterson and company over the weekend, so that was number 2/20. Moving slowly again this year, but I hope I pick up the pace. I have been reading the Women's Murder Club series for years and I will probably continue, but as with most of the books I read in a series, especially mystery type books, after a while they start to seem like they're searching for plots, and this was no exception. It was entertaining enough but nothing thrilling. I started Reconstructing Amelia and it's holding my interest so far, probably because the format is a little different than the normal books I read. Hope to finish soon-there are a lot more books on my "to read" list thanks to this year's recommendations!

I read this last year and enjoyed it. I just could not believe how cruel the students were to each other.

I read this last year too and really enjoyed it! I haven't read anything else by this author but I'd like too.

 

[xlsm]

Finished 7, 9, and 9.

7. Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage.
Another I read with my kids. This was on a list of books for a library challenge at their school. I am SO GLAD that we chose this one!. This book is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Mo, the main character, reminds me so much of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. She is such a strong, smart, witty, positive character and role model for anyone - boy or girl.

Mo knows nothing about where she came from except she was washed up in a hurricane as a baby, and has been raised by the man who saved her (The Colonel) and the vibrant Miss Lana. Together they make a family and run the local cafe. Mo's greatest wish is to find her "upstream mother".
One day, a detective from the city comes through the cafe investigating a murder a few towns over. When one of their own is murdered a few days later, Mo and her best friend decide to launch their own investigation.
Colorful characters, fabulous writing, heart wrenching moments and lots of excitement. I recommend this for ANYONE, child or adult alike.

8. Cupcakes, Trinkets, and other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doige.
This was a freebie on my nook. Nothing special, fairly entertaining, just your usual supernatural cozy featuring shifters and vampires.
I started this one just to get out of Westeros for awhile...I've been reading the Game of Thrones books, and part of the way through book 5, I just needed something mindless and light. This fit the bill.

9. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
I know several of you have already read this, so I won't go into a lot of plot detail. I will say, this is the first book in a loooong time that I sat and read through in one sitting (or as close to one sitting as I can get anyway!)
The characters are not likable, but I felt so much empathy for the titular "Girl on the Train", Rachel. She was infuriating at times, and I just wanted to shake her, but I also just felt so sorry and sad for her. I was a little disappointed in the ending, but I will say, as a reader of many, many, MANY mystery novels, this one had me waffling a little as to how I thought the story would end up. I was *pretty* sure I knew what had happened (and I was right), but there was just enough doubt there...
I really enjoyed this one!

 

[timsprincess]

Hello everyone! I am so very far behind on posting. Farther behind than I thought. Here we go.

The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton 4/5 stars

13 Curses -Michelle Harrison 3/5

Sycamore Row -John Grisham 5/5

The Lincoln Myth -Steve Berry 3/5

Tesitmony -Anita Shreve 2/5

How To Break A Dragon's Heart -Cressida Cowell 3/5

Swimsuit -James Patterson 4/5

Raising Dragons -Bryan Davis 4/5

A Passion For Him -Sylvia Day 2/5

Pathers Play For Keeps -Clea Simon 3/5

Wish -Jake Smith 4/5

Buried Prey -John Sanford 3/5

Leepike Ridge -N.D. Wilson 4/5

14/75 for the year

Happy Reading!

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #17 - The Invention Of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

This is a story about 2 girls growing up together; one a southern white girl and one a black slave. The story just didn't do it for me though. It started out good, but the 2nd half of the book was lacking substance mainly due to Sarah's chapters. I read Secret Life of Bees from the same author & really enjoyed that book, so I'm disappointed this one wasn't as enjoyable.

Hetty “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women.
Kidd’s sweeping novel is set in motion on Sarah’s eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership of ten year old Handful, who is to be her handmaid. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next thirty-five years, as both strive for a life of their own, dramatically shaping each other’s destinies and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love.
As the stories build to a riveting climax, Handful will endure loss and sorrow, finding courage and a sense of self in the process. Sarah will experience crushed hopes, betrayal, unrequited love, and ostracism before leaving Charleston to find her place alongside her fearless younger sister, Angelina, as one of the early pioneers in the abolition and women’s rights movements.

Next Book: Girl On A Train

 

[camreesmom]

Finished up with 7/24

Silver Girl by Elin Hildebrand

From Goodreads:
Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.

Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.

I enjoyed this book but then again, I've never read anything by this author that I didn't like.

Next up: #8 - Prodigal Son by Danielle Steel

 

[Simba's Mom]

Finished up with 7/24

Silver Girl by Elin Hildebrand

From Goodreads:
Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.

Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.

I enjoyed this book but then again, I've never read anything by this author that I didn't like.

I'm so glad you enjoyed this book, so did I. Unlike you, I haven't read anything from this author before, but I'm definitely going to add her to my list now that I know it was a fairly typical read.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#16 You Could Be Home By Now by Tracy Manaster
#17 Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

 

[mumloveseeyore]

28 To the letter by Simon Garfield, this was ok a history of letter writing and it's decline in the modern world. Ihink i was expecting more of an anthology of letters.
29 Lizard in my luggage by anna nicholas, this was a feel good memoir of the writers commute fro a high flying offic job in london to rural Mallorca. It was well written, a fun read.

 

[camreesmom]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this book, so did I. Unlike you, I haven't read anything from this author before, but I'm definitely going to add her to my list now that I know it was a fairly typical read.

I think there are some of hers that are even better. Try reading The Castaways.

 

[timsprincess]

#15/75

The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott

3/5 stars

It was a nice story to read. I put it right at 3 stars as not great but not bad.

From Goodreads:
Determined to forge her own destiny, Alice Barrow joins the legions of spirited young women better known as the Mill Girls. From dawn until dusk, these ladies work the looms, but the thrill of independence, change in their pockets, and friendships formed along the way mostly make the backbreaking labor worthwhile. In fact, Hiram Fiske, the steely-eyed titan of industry, has banked on that. But the working conditions are becoming increasingly dangerous and after one too many accidents, Alice finds herself unexpectedly acting as an emissary to address the factory workers' mounting list of grievances.

After traveling to the Fiske family's Beacon Hill mansion, Alice enters a world she's never even dared to dream about: exquisite silk gowns, sumptuous dinners, grand sitting parlors, and uniformed maids operating with an invisible efficiency. Of course, there's also a chilliness in the air as Alice presents her case. But with her wide, intelligent eyes and rosy-hued cheeks, Alice manages to capture the attention of Hiram's eldest son, the handsome and reserved Samuel Fiske.

Their chemistry is undeniable, soon progressing from mutual respect and shy flirtation into an unforgettable romance. But when Alice's best friend, Lovey, is found strangled in a field, Alice and Samuel are torn between loyalty to "their kind" and a chance for true love.