Annual Reading Goal Challenge for 2016 - Come and join us!

[willowsnn3]

#9/72

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

From Goodreads:
Icy Sparks is the sad, funny and transcendent tale of a young girl growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky during the 1950’s. Gwyn Hyman Rubio’s beautifully written first novel revolves around Icy Sparks, an unforgettable heroine in the tradition of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird or Will Treed in Cold Sassy Tree. At the age of ten, Icy, a bright, curious child orphaned as a baby but raised by adoring grandparents, begins to have strange experiences. Try as she might, her "secrets"—verbal croaks, groans, and physical spasms—keep afflicting her. As an adult, she will find out she has Tourette’s Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, but for years her behavior is the source of mystery, confusion, and deep humiliation.

Narrated by a grown up Icy, the book chronicles a difficult, but ultimately hilarious and heartwarming journey, from her first spasms to her self-acceptance as a young woman. Curious about life beyond the hills, talented, and energetic, Icy learns to cut through all barriers—physical, mental, and spiritual—in order to find community and acceptance.

I really enjoyed this one. Not a page turner but the main character, Icy, drew me in. Would definitely recommend.

 

[miksilver]

5/35 Magic Edge 6/35 Mercenary Magic 7/35 Magic Games 8/35 Magic Nights -- These 4 books are from the “Dragon Born” Series from Ella Summers. They revolve around 2 sisters who are both mercenaries and fight supernatural baddies and who fight to protect a family secret they both have. It’s an urban fantasy and I zipped through these books. They are fun and flirty. Predictable? Of course, but there’s not a lot in the urban fantasy scene that isn’t. There are more books on the way and I plan on reading them when they are released.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #8/65 - The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My book club read this years ago & I never did, but they reference this book a lot in our discussions. So I thought I should finally read it. It's the story of how the author grew up with ridiculous parents that neglected them. I didn't really care for this book. I felt it was emotionless, just stating one event after another. There's no insight or reflection on surviving neglect and abuse or into her parents' state, possibly mentally ill. Just stating that it happened and it's bc her parents are eccentric. Then everything ends up wonderful in the end.

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.
Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

12/12

Eight keys
Suzanne LaFleur



About this girl who uses 8 keys to get to know her dad

 

[Glynis]

Finished book #11 - "The Whispering City: Barcelona 1952" by Sarah Moliner. From Goodreads: "General Franco's fascist government is at the height of its oppressive powers, casting a black shadow across the city. When wealthy socialite Mariona Sobrerroca is found dead in her mansion in the exclusive Tibidabo district, the police scramble to seize control of the investigation.

Ana Martí Noguer, an eager young journalist, is surprised to be assigned this important story, shadowing Inspector Isidro Castro.

But Ana soon realizes that a bundle of strange letters unearthed at the scene point to a sequence of events dramatically different from the official version. She enlists the help of her cousin Beatriz, a scholar, and what begins as an intriguing puzzle opens up a series of revelations that implicate the regime's most influential figures. The two women have placed themselves in mortal danger. As the conspiracy unfolds, Ana's courage and Beatriz's wits will be their only weapons against the city's corrupt and murderous elite."

This book was VERY slow to start. It took a good while to get all the characters introduced and the plot set. Once that was done, it took off, and was pretty interesting. I'll be honest, though, if I hadn't had to read it for my book club, I would have stopped.

Not sure what is up next. Got some books on hold at the library, so I'll pick them up and decide from there.

 

[Kirby]

#12 - Walk on Earth a Stranger - Rae Carson - I loved this book. Lee is forced to flee her home after her parents are murdered. Disguising herself as a boy, she heads west during the Gold Rush. Keeping her ability to sense gold a secret, as well as her true identity, she begins a dangerous, life changing adventure that teaches the meaning of trust, friendship, and courage. Lee is a wonderful, empowering character who learns to take charge of her own destiny, and works selflessly to ensure the survival of everyone in her wagon train to California. Recommended.

Adding this one to my list.

#9/72

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

From Goodreads:
Icy Sparks is the sad, funny and transcendent tale of a young girl growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky during the 1950’s. Gwyn Hyman Rubio’s beautifully written first novel revolves around Icy Sparks, an unforgettable heroine in the tradition of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird or Will Treed in Cold Sassy Tree. At the age of ten, Icy, a bright, curious child orphaned as a baby but raised by adoring grandparents, begins to have strange experiences. Try as she might, her "secrets"—verbal croaks, groans, and physical spasms—keep afflicting her. As an adult, she will find out she has Tourette’s Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, but for years her behavior is the source of mystery, confusion, and deep humiliation.

Narrated by a grown up Icy, the book chronicles a difficult, but ultimately hilarious and heartwarming journey, from her first spasms to her self-acceptance as a young woman. Curious about life beyond the hills, talented, and energetic, Icy learns to cut through all barriers—physical, mental, and spiritual—in order to find community and acceptance.

I really enjoyed this one. Not a page turner but the main character, Icy, drew me in. Would definitely recommend.

Adding this one too!

5/35 Magic Edge 6/35 Mercenary Magic 7/35 Magic Games 8/35 Magic Nights -- These 4 books are from the “Dragon Born” Series from Ella Summers. They revolve around 2 sisters who are both mercenaries and fight supernatural baddies and who fight to protect a family secret they both have. It’s an urban fantasy and I zipped through these books. They are fun and flirty. Predictable? Of course, but there’s not a lot in the urban fantasy scene that isn’t. There are more books on the way and I plan on reading them when they are released.

Looking into these.

So many books, too little time.

 

[MochaDrinker]

15/200-A Death I'm Vienna by Daniel Silva. One of my favorite books, and by far my favorite of Silva's. For a spy novel it is both Emotional and interesting

 

[NHdisneylover]

I finished book 2 of 12 today.

Ins Nordlicht Blicken by Cornelia Franz

It is one DS17 has to know inside out and upside down for a high stakes test in April. He'S dyslexic and adding reading in German on top of it is very hard--this one is not available in translation or audio book, so i read it too so we can talk it over and make sure he gets all the important points. It'S the first time I have waded my way through a book in German. It was pretty good, but I don't really see a point in summarizing or reviewing since it can't be bought in English yet.

 

[tiggrbaby]

They said a lot of things about Bergen County, someplace called Pateson, also Hackensack.
http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and...s-bergen-county-sisters-in-new-book-1.1400889

I went to college near Paterson, and when my son was young took him to a specialist in Hackensack! Just put in a hold through my library; thanks!

#2/20 The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin - I enjoyed this book about Charles Lindbergh and his family told as if his wife were telling her story. I learned many things about this complicated man. Read this if you like reading about historical figures.

#3/29 Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng - I was not in love with this book. It tells the story of death of a young girl born to a Chinese father and Caucasian mother. It gets into the pressure parents put on their children to fulfill their own failed dreams.

We read Under a Wing by Reeve Lindbergh, which inspired us to read The Aviator's Wife. It was interesting to see how his public and private personas were so different.

Also, I had the opportunity to go on a bus tour to see the house where the kidnapping took place. It is currently used as a halfway house for young women. In his will, he had requested it be used for educating boys.

 

[tiggrbaby]

#5/50: Bird Box by Josh Malerman (3/5) (post-apocalyptic)
#6/50: The Martian by Andy Weir (5/5) (movie was based on this novel/I saw the movie first but still loved the book)

 

[nemofans]

#5/50: Bird Box by Josh Malerman (3/5) (post-apocalyptic)
#6/50: The Martian by Andy Weir (5/5) (movie was based on this novel/I saw the movie first but still loved the book)

Didn't you want more information in Bird Box? And why did she name the kids Boy and Girl?

 

[tiggrbaby]

Didn't you want more information in Bird Box? And why did she name the kids Boy and Girl?

Yes! I felt that there were too many unanswered questions. I think perhaps she didn't name them because she needed to keep her distance emotionally to be able to raise them as she did.

 

[piglet too]

I thought she did name them; it was very briefly mentioned, maybe a paragraph. The girl was Olympia after her mom, and the boy was Tom.

 

[hulagirl87]

I just finished The Detour by S.A. Bodeen. I liked The Raft so I thought I would like this. I didn't. It started out good, like it was going to be creepy and suspenseful, but I ended up just wanting more, and the main character bugged me. She wasn't a very strong character and I wanted her to be! The story called for it. Oh well. At least I borrowed it from the library and didn't waste money on it!

I also just read The Secret Garden. I read it once a year and I love it!

 

[MochaDrinker]

16/200 the secret diaries of miss Miranda Cheever by Julia Quinn. A nice little romance novel on a lazy Saturday afternoon

 

[Kogo Shuko]

Just finished Book #4:

Christopher's Diary: Secrets of Foxworth by V.C. Andrews

Jealousy, tragedy, survival, and revenge- the discovery of Christopher's diary in the ruins of Foxworth Hall brings new secrets of the Dollanganger family to light and obsesses a new generation. With Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind both now major Lifetime TV events, this first new addition to the Dollanganger story in nearly thirty years is a timely look at the events in the attic- from teenage Christopher's point of view.

Christopher Dollanganger was fourteen when he and his younger siblings-Cathy and the twins, Cory and Carrie-were locked away in the attic of Foxworth Hall, prisoners of their mother's greedy inheritance scheme. For three long years he kept hope alive for the sake of the others. But the shocking truth about how their ordeal affected him was always kept hidden-until now.

Seventeen-year-old Kristin Masterwood is thrilled when her father's construction company is hired to inspect the Foxworth property for a prospective buyer. The once grand Southern mansion still sparks legends and half-truths about the four innocent Dollanganger children, even all these decades later. Foxworth holds a special fascination for Kristin, who was too young when her mother died to learn much about her distant blood tie to the notorious family.

Accompanying her dad to the forbidden territory- they find a leather-bound book, its yellowed pages filled with the neat script of Christopher Dollanganger himself. Her father grows increasingly uneasy about her reading it, but as she devours the teen's story page by page, his shattering account of temptation, heartache, courage, and betrayal overtakes Kristin's every thought. And soon her obsession with the doomed boy crosses a dangerous line...



I'm certainly interested in reading the rest of this series, but not because of the current ghost writer's talents.

I found the dialogue between the present day Kristin and everyone around her to be quite stilted. And halfway through the novel she claimed she was falling in love and yet to my point of view she had remained just as aloof as before with the guy in question.

However, everything in Christopher's diary is good to read, and it's nice to return to that famous series that I once loved.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I thought she did name them; it was very briefly mentioned, maybe a paragraph. The girl was Olympia after her mom, and the boy was Tom.

Yes.

I thought she referred to them as "Boy" and "Girl" because it was easier for her to detach should something happen and I thought she mentioned it was for ease of communication.

I wanted more info too but it wouldn't have been possible with the way it was written I guess.

Still a great read though. One of my favorites from last year.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I'm not adding this to my actual list but it has taken up quite a bit of time this week...

I had to read "Metamorphosis" for my Lit class. It was... interesting. I've never had a short story take so long to read. I was not a fan.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I'm not adding this to my actual list but it has taken up quite a bit of time this week...

I had to read "Metamorphosis" for my Lit class. It was... interesting. I've never had a short story take so long to read. I was not a fan.

Who is it by

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Who is it by

Franz Kafka