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

[Kogo Shuko]

Not sure if I should be plugging another board, but the folks on the Exchange board (can find it at the top of the Community Board) is going to have a Book Exchange. The first one will be sending someone one of your favourite books.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/book-exchange-1-your-favourite-novel.3494726/

 

[tiggrbaby]

You must have posted at the same time as me, so I missed you off the end. Glad you are still enjoying the series. I find that a lot of these 'series' do tend to become a bit predictable. Not sure if the author runs out of ideas or the writing style just becomes too 'samey'.

I agree!

As for the Carly Simon book, I read it because I really enjoy her music as well. However, it was sometimes tough as she had such a dysfunctional life.

BTW, have a magical vacation!

 

[Kirby]

#12/80 - A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice—not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.

In the summer of 1953, two eleven-year-old boys—best friends—are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after that 1953 foul ball is extraordinary.

This is the book that I stopped in the middle of to read my book club selection. I really enjoyed reading this book. The youngest son on the earlier episodes of the tv sitcom The Middle remind me of Owen Meany or at least that is who I would see in my mind while reading the book. I give this book a 4/4.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #20/65 - The Girl In The Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz

I enjoyed this book as much as the others. Lisbeth is a great character and I love when she gives hell to those who deserve it.

She is the girl with the dragon tattoo—a genius hacker and uncompromising misfit. He is a crusading journalist whose championing of the truth often brings him to the brink of prosecution.
Late one night, Blomkvist receives a phone call from a source claiming to have information vital to the United States. The source has been in contact with a young female superhacker—a hacker resembling someone Blomkvist knows all too well. The implications are staggering. Blomkvist, in desperate need of a scoop for Millennium, turns to Salander for help. She, as usual, has her own agenda. The secret they are both chasing is at the center of a tangled web of spies, cybercriminals, and governments around the world, and someone is prepared to kill to protect it . . .

 

[jenny105]

Finished book 7 out of 30. Just started #8 yesterday - Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella. I've read every book she's written so I'm continuing the trend!

 

[Kirby]

#13/80 - The Funeral Dress by Susan Gregg Gilmore.

A deeply touching Southern story filled with struggle and hope. Emmalee Bullard and her new baby are on their own. Or so she thinks, until Leona Lane, the older seamstress who sat by her side at the local shirt factory where both women worked as collar makers, insists Emmalee come and live with her. Just as Emmalee prepares to escape her hardscrabble life in Red Chert holler, Leona dies tragically. Grief-stricken, Emmalee decides she'll make Leona's burying dress, but there are plenty of people who don't think the unmarried Emmalee should design a dress for a Christian woman - or care for a child on her own. But with every stitch, Emmalee struggles to do what is right for her daughter and to honor Leona the best way she can, finding unlikely support among an indomitable group of seamstresses and the town's funeral director.

In a moving tale exploring Southern spirit and camaraderie among working women, a young mother will compel a town to become a community.

I really enjoyed this book as I have her other two. Now I will have to just sit back and wait for her to come out with another one.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

#6 Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie
Took out of the library as I wanted to read an Agatha Christie Book. I had read a few when I was younger and after reading a review here(I think), suddenly had desire to read one. Never read this book but for some reason felt like I had. Don't know if I read it in a shortened version, heard it, or saw it but everything that happened felt like I heard it before long time ago. Not normal Agatha Christie as it takes place in ancient Egypt. Still really liked it.though did not really fill m desire to read Agatha Christie book.

(If anyone is interested in reading any of my works, I would gladly send kindle gift versions of any (Written for You , Cemetery Girl, Three Twigs for the Campfire, or Reigning).

 

[Christine]

#13/50: Better than Before: What I Learned About Making and Breaking Habits - Gretchen Rubin

I was in a little bit of a mood for a self-help book. One that I could easily pick up and put down. This one wasn't too bad, although I don't think I can be helped! It's about the four personality types and how, based on what type you are (I think I'm an Obliger), how can set up good habits such as exercise, eating better, etc. I enjoyed the booked.

 

[nemofans]

Finished boo #21/65 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

A few women from my book club recommended this one so I read it. Although it had some sad moments, it was more of an uplifting, charming story about the time after WWII. I did enjoy it, though I think I would have enjoyed it so much more if I hadn't just read a WWII book with all the horror & atrocities that happened during that time. It made it harder for me to take in the humor and lightheartedness of Guernsey. It's written as letters from and to a young English author. I did like the story and it's a quick read.

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Book 5 of 15: Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall in love, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous old universe.

From bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan, Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds. Fantasy and science fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama for adults.

The best graphic novel I've read since Sandman. Collects the first six issues of the Saga comic series. High fantasy/sci-fi meets Romeo and Juliet. With nudity and gore.

5 out of 5.

Next book: Brotherhood in Death

 

[kmb584]

#19: The Sans Pareil Mystery by Karen Charlton

On a cold February night in Regency London, a dark curtain falls on the Sans Pareil Theatre following the death of April Clare, a promising young actress, whose body is found in mysterious circumstances.

Detective Stephen Lavender and his dependable deputy, Constable Woods, quickly discover that nothing is quite as it seems. As successive mysteries unfold, they soon realise that it is not only the actors from the Sans Pareil who are playing a part.

With the Napoleonic War looming dangerously across the Channel, this is a time of suspicion and treachery. Following the clues from the seedy back streets of Covent Garden up through the echelons of society, Lavender and Woods begin to fear that the case is much bigger than they’d dared imagine—and worse, that they are at risk of becoming mere players in a master criminal’s shadowy drama.

It will take all of Lavender’s skill and wit, and help from the beautiful Magdalena, to bring the mystery of the Sans Pareil Theatre to a dramatic conclusion in the final act.

#20: One of Us by Tawni O'Dell

Dr. Sheridan Doyle, a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist, is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney's office whenever a twisted killer's mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he's still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and mental unraveling of his mother years ago.

Returning to a hometown grappling with its own ghosts, Danny finds a dead body at the infamous Lost Creek gallows where a band of rebellious Irish miners was once executed. Strangely, the body is connected to the wealthy family responsible for the miners' deaths. Teaming up with veteran detective Rafe, a father-like figure from his youth, Danny, in pursuit of a killer, comes dangerously close to startling truths about his family, his past, and himself.

I can't recommend Tawni O'Dell's novels enough. The first time I came across her was when I found "Fragile Beasts" in the dollar store. I wasn't expecting much, but soon found that I couldn't put that book down, and within 10 days I had read every book she'd written.

#21: Lady in Waiting by Denise Domning

Diamonds, doublets and double-crosses; stately dances; religious intrigue; one deflowered maiden and a Virgin Queen--LADY IN WAITING has it all.

Commanded by her grandfather to snare a wealthy husband, Anne Blanchemain enters the lavish court of Queen Elizabeth. But the beautiful, headstrong Anne is a lamb among wolves, easy prey to treachery and an aging queen's jealousy. She never suspects that handsome courtier Chirstopher Hollier has been sent to ruin her.

Christopher Hollier is the only man in Elizabeth's court uninterested in making a rich marriage--for himself. All that matters to Christopher is reclaiming the title Lord Graistan for his brother. If doing that requires him to destroy Anne, so be it...even if her destruction costs him his life.

But a tide of betrayal sweeps Anne and Christopher into a dangerous dance of plots to defy crown and country that could ultimately cost them their lives, and their love.

#22: The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning

In the village of Lauscha in Germany, things have been done the same way for centuries. The men blow the glass, and the women decorate and pack it. But when Joost Steinmann passes away unexpectedly one September night, his three daughters must learn to fend for themselves.

#23: The American Lady by Petra Durst-Benning

Tempestuous and beautiful Wanda Miles, daughter of Ruth and Stephen Miles (or so she thinks), aspires to more than the life of a debutante, but the trouble is she doesn’t know precisely what she wants. Then her aunt Marie, the family’s renowned glassblower, arrives from Lauscha, Germany, and Wanda decides that learning about her ancestry may hold the key to her future. When Marie accidentally reveals a long-held secret about Wanda’s parents, Wanda goes to Lauscha to unravel the truth.

While Marie finds herself increasingly swept up in New York City’s bohemian social scene—catching the eye of a handsome young Italian in the process—Wanda explores a past she never knew in the village of her mother’s youth—and begins to build a life that she never expected.

A sweeping tale that takes readers from the small town of Lauscha to the skyscrapers of New York and the sun-kissed coast of Italy, The American Lady is a tribute to the enduring power of family and what we’ll do in the name of love.

#24: The Paradise of Glass by Petra Durst-Benning

Johanna, the oldest of the three Steinmann sisters, has successfully managed the family glassblowing business since her father’s death, and her sister Marie’s artistic gifts have made their wares unexpectedly famous. But now the livelihood of the town of Lauscha, Germany—known around the world as the “paradise of glass”—is in danger. The local glassworks is about to be sold, and rumor has it the buyer wants to make changes that will challenge glassblowing tradition.

Wanda, the daughter of the middle Steinmann sister, is freshly arrived from America and engaged to an ambitious local glassblower. Yet as soon as the bold young woman learns of the impending sale, she decides to do as her mother and aunts did—cast aside her expected role in order to save the day. With the help of a handsome bank clerk, she will take a daring risk with the villagers’ hard-earned money. Just like glass, though, love and commerce are fragile, and what begins as their last hope may just end in shattered dreams.

 

[Christine]

#14/50: Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Sempel. Since I'm sick, I've finished off two books rather quickly. This one was fairly good; however, it's written in a style of letters and emails by the different characters. I liked the story. There were a few times that I had to skip through some pages of text written by the young daughter because there was just too much drivel in the writing. But that might have been me with my illness. Not much patience for anything and even TV shows are hard for me to concentrate on.

Unfortunately I have nothing else to read now as it seems my library has slowed to a snail's pace with the ebook line they have. I am waiting MONTHS for books where it used to be weeks.

 

[MochaDrinker]

31/200 Pope Francis among the wolves by Marco Politi

 

[Swimnoid]

16. The Underside of Joy by Sere Prince Halverson
This is about a battle between two women; one a stepmother of two young children whose father has died, the other their birth mother who deserted them several years earlier. The story was well written and appropriately heart wrenching. A little sappy and predictable but I enjoyed it.

17. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
I am in the process of rereading the whole series between other books. I am a huge HP fan and enjoy them every time I read them.

18. Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
Jeffrey Archer is always good for an intriguing saga. This is the first book of the Clifton Chronicles which follows Harry Clifton from about 3 to 18. It tells the same time frame through different peoples' perspectives. I am looking forward to continuing the series.

 

[Kewz1]

#4/12 - The House at Riverton by Kate Morton. I saw this book recommended here on the boards and the description piqued my interest. I decided to check it out and I'm so glad I did. I haven't had a book capture my attention like this one did for quite some time. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work in the future. Description below:

The House at Riverton is a gorgeous debut novel set in England between the wars. It is the story of an aristocratic family, a house, a mysterious death and a way of life that vanished forever, told in flashback by a woman who witnessed it all and kept a secret for decades.


Kristen

 

[Christine]

#15/50 - The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon. So as I said upthread, I'm sick and reading quickly. I've had nothing come available in my queue of ebooks so I had to search through our library's Overdrive last night to find something that was available. This book was and had at least 4 stars on Amazon so I took a chance.

I have to say I really liked it. I love when a book catches you by surprise. I'd never even heard of this book. It's about a young woman and man who are obviously fleeing from somewhere and they arrive on an elderly woman's doorstep during a storm looking for help. The woman quickly determines they are quite normal and must be from "the School" close by. They have a newborn infant with them. Very quickly authorities from the School arrive and catch them but not before the baby is hidden and the woman takes on the role as grandmother to the child at the pleas of the new mother.

The book, in fiction style, familiarizes the reader with the practice of institutionalization of the "feebleminded" that went on in the U.S. until the 70s and 80s. It also loosely gives a story/life to a real, African-American deaf man who got caught up in this.

The story was happy and sad in so many ways and all the characters were well written and likeable.

If you like this sort of thing, I highly recommend it.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

#9/15 - Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore

I LOVED this book and was sad to see it end. It kept me intrigued throughout. If you like Dan Brown type mysteries without the gore then I would highly recommend this book.

 

[willowsnn3]

#16/72
River by Roderick Thorp
From Goodreads:
In this novel, bestselling author Roderick Thorp takes on the true-life terrors of a maniacal serial killer known as the Green River Killer, who is suspected of killing at least fifty young women in the Seattle-Portland area during the '80s, and who has never been convicted . . . Breathtaking in its pacing, RIVER takes the reader into the minds of both a detective fighting personal demons and a human demon whose wanton disregard for human life is so despicable his actions and motivations make the reader cringe. Thorp has imagined a surprise ending to his roller-coaster thriller that is genuinely surprising."

This one started out interesting but really, really slow and if I had had another book handy I would have put this one down. But after a few chapters it got a lot better and turned out to be a good read. Not too exciting but good.

Just started Dust, which is #3 in the Silo series.

 

[miksilver]

17/35 Defy (Book 1 of the Defy Series) by Sara B. Larson – (from Amazon) Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

This first book in the series is a strong start. It’s a debut novel that doesn’t read like a debut novel. It was a fast read for me with enough details to make it interesting, but not too many to get bogged down with a new land and characters like some debut fantasy novels can do. I'll be reading the other books in this series.

 

[threeboysmom]

Finished #10 What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan

This was the author's debut novel - I found it compelling, but not quite a "stay up until 2 am because I can't put the book down" type of book. I loved the book until near the end. I don't know what it is about books and their endings - Do I really have too high of an expectation when it comes to ending a story? Seems like more often than not I'm let down by the time I finish a book.

Rachel's 8-year old goes missing after a walk in the woods with him - she let him run up ahead and within minutes he had vanished without a trace. Now she has to grapple with that regret over her split second decision in the woods & even question whether she was a bad mother to Ben. People begin to turn against her via social media as she becomes suspect in the world's eyes.

Currently reading: #11 Wild by Cheryl Strayed (this book has been on my "to read" list for a LONG time!) and #12 The Guest Room