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

[Christine]

#12/50: A Banquet of Consequences: A Detective Lynley novel by Elizabeth George. This was your typical murder mystery with a little disturbing parental abuse thrown in. It was just okay. I've heard good things about Elizabeth George though so I might give another book of hers a try.

 

[wilma-bride]

4 / 15 - The Paladin Caper by Patrick Weekes. Rogues of the Republic #3

I am a little shaky on how to rate this, because I found it a little hard to follow and kept following asleep. I think that's my fault because I mostly waited until bed time to read it. I don't think this is a problem with the book, because when I was more lucid, I quite enjoyed it. A complicated heist/plot and some good backstory on the rogues! 3.5 out of 5.

Feels like the end of a trilogy. Not sure if there are more books coming.

I always read before bed and, no matter how much I am enjoying a book, inevitably fall asleep while reading. Glad you enjoyed it anyway.

14/72
Friction by Sandra Brown
Crawford Hunt wants his daughter back. Following the death of his wife four years ago, Crawford, a Texas Ranger, fell into a downward spiral that left him relegated to desk work and with his five year old daughter, Georgia, in the custody of her grandparents. But Crawford has cleaned up his act, met all the court imposed requirements, and now the fate of his family lies with Judge Holly Spencer.
Ambitious and confident, Holly temporarily occupies the bench of her recently deceased mentor. With an election upcoming, she must prove herself worthy of making her judgeship permanent. Every decision is high stakes. Despite Crawford's obvious love for his child and his commitment to being an ideal parent, Holly is wary of his checkered past. But her opinion of him is radically changed when a masked gunman barges into the courtroom during the guardianship hearing. Crawford reacts instinctually, saving Holly from a bullet.

Ok, the story line was good, the main character wasn't all that likable. There was a quickie sex act between them a few chapters in that was discussed repeatedly in every other chapter til toward the end when they finally hooked up again. Lordy, it took about five pages for them to complete that one, lol. Seems like the author used every corny phrase I've ever read describing this......what he did, how she reacted and vice versa.
I may give the author another chance since she supposedly has 66 best sellers, lol, but I'm not into a lot of raunchy sex.

OK, this does not sound like my kind of book. Same reason I haven't read the 50 Shades of Grey books.

#10/30 - The life all around me by Ellen Foster - Kaye Gibbons

The sequal to Ellen Foster which I read earlier this year

#11/30 - The life we bury - Allen Eskens

College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for an English class. His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing subject. There he meets Carl Iverson, and soon nothing in Joe's life is ever the same. Carl is a dying Vietnam veteran--and a convicted murderer. With only a few months to live, he has been medically paroled to a nursing home, after spending thirty years in prison for the crimes of rape and murder. As Joe writes about Carl's life, especially Carl's valor in Vietnam, he cannot reconcile the heroism of the soldier with the despicable acts of the convict. Thread by thread, Joe unravels the tapestry of Carl’s conviction. But as he and Lila dig deeper into the circumstances of the crime, the stakes grow higher. Will Joe discover the truth before it’s too late to escape the fallout?

The Life We Bury sounds good - adding that to my list

Goal: Undetermined. As many books as possible.

#9 - Dead Water: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson. This is the latest of Larson's thoroughly researched historical narratives. I knew OF the sinking of the Lusitania but I knew nothing ABOUT it. Larson provides such meticulous detail and deep background on the incident that one feels as if it happened just last week. The notes at the end of the book were as interesting as the main text; anecdotes and background that wouldn't exactly fit into the main story are included here and greatly enhance the telling of the story. Larson hits the bullseye once again.

Queen Colleen

This sounds really interesting

Finished book #17/65 - The Homecoming of Samuel Lake by Jenny Wingfield

I liked this story and it kept me wanting to keep reading, just one more chapter even though it's late. I had expectations for what this book was going to be, but was happily wrong. I thought the whole story would be about the father, Samuel, but it's about the whole family. There are some difficult things that happen that are hard to read, but it fits in the story. I recommend it.

Every first Sunday in June, members of the Moses clan gather for an annual reunion at “the old home place,” a sprawling hundred-acre farm in Arkansas. And every year, Samuel Lake, a vibrant and committed young preacher, brings his beloved wife, Willadee Moses, and their three children back for the festivities. The children embrace the reunion as a welcome escape from the prying eyes of their father’s congregation; for Willadee it’s a precious opportunity to spend time with her mother and father, Calla and John. But just as the reunion is getting under way, tragedy strikes, jolting the family to their core: John’s untimely death and, soon after, the loss of Samuel’s parish, which set the stage for a summer of crisis and profound change.
In the midst of it all, Samuel and Willadee’s outspoken eleven-year-old daughter, Swan, is a bright light. Her high spirits and fearlessness have alternately seduced and bedeviled three generations of the family. But it is Blade Ballenger, a traumatized eight-year-old neighbor, who soon captures Swan’s undivided attention. Full of righteous anger, and innocent of the peril facing her and those she loves, Swan makes it her mission to keep the boy safe from his terrifying father.

This one sounds interesting.

15/72

Standoff by Sandra Brown
TV reporter Tiel McCoy is driving down I-20 on her way to New Mexico for a well earned vacation. But her itinerary is rewritten when she hears on the radio that the teenage daughter of well known multi-millionaire Russell Dendy has been kidnapped. At least that's the official report. In truth Sabra Dendy is pregnant and has run away with her boyfriend, Ronnie. After calling her editor, Tiel abandons her holiday plans in favor of pursuing the story.
Then, in a small town convenience store, Tiel will come up close and personal with the barrel of a gun, the desperate young lovers and the scoop of a lifetime.

Ok, so I gave this author another chance and glad I did. This was very good and only had one of those wild sexual hook ups toward the very end of the book. Still 4 pages describing it tho, lol.
So guess I will try some of Brown's other works.

Glad there was less sex in this one

"wilma" I hope you have a great trip!


Book 4/12

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

From Good Reads:

"A debut psychological thriller that will forever change the way you look at other people’s lives.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

Compulsively readable, The Girl on the Train is an emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller and an electrifying debut."

I enjoyed it---especially the way it explored how we make judgement about people and even ourselves.
I knew what happened and where it was going LONG before the main character did, but that was OK because it wasn't the mystery or "thriller" aspect of it that was appealing--it was more that exploration into the psyche.

I'd give it 4 of 5 stars

I read Girl on the Train last year and, like you, worked it out long before the end. But, as you say, that didn't detract at all from the enjoyment.

#15: The Frozen Lake by Elizabeth Edmondson
#16: The Wild Princess by Mary Hart Perry
#17: Seducing the Princess by Mary Hart Perry
#18: The Heiress of Linn Hagh by Karen Charlton

Lavender and Woods find themselves trapped in the middle of a simmering feud as they uncover a world of family secrets, intrigue and deception in their search for the missing heiress.

Taut, wry and delightful, The Heiress of Linn Hagh is a rollicking tale featuring Lavender and Woods—a double act worthy of Holmes and Watson.

#12/50: A Banquet of Consequences: A Detective Lynley novel by Elizabeth George. This was your typical murder mystery with a little disturbing parental abuse thrown in. It was just okay. I've heard good things about Elizabeth George though so I might give another book of hers a try.

Ooh, 'parental abuse' - not sure I am liking the sound of this. Going to look it up now.

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #16 of 50 - Killing Cupid by Louise Voss and Mark Edwards

When Alex Parkinson joins a creative writing class, he soon realises that he and his tutor, Siobhan McGowan, are meant to be together. Alex will do anything to be with her. Like buying her designer clothes and lingerie...with her own credit card. Like breaking into her house and reading her diary. Like threatening her ex-boyfriend – and watching his love rival plummet from a rooftop.

But when Alex finally admits defeat and seeks solace elsewhere, Siobhan decides to take revenge. How dare he lose interest in her? He picked the wrong woman to stalk then just back off! As their lives begin to unravel and the past closes in, Alex and Siobhan embark on a collision course that threatens to destroy both themselves and everyone around them...

Having read a couple of other books by this writing duo, I was really looking forward to this and it started off well. But somwewhere around the middle it started to get faintly ridiculous. A woman who had been stalked and was petrified by a strange (and, believe me, he did seem a little strange) all of a sudden does a complete about turn and realises she quite fancies him after all. And it just seemed to get a little more ludicrous (and, frankly, far fetched) as it went along. All in all, while it was an enjoyable enough read, the storyline itself was laughable.

Book #17 of 50 - Her Last Tomorrow by Adam Croft

Could you murder your wife to save your daughter? On the surface, Nick Connor's life is seemingly perfect: a quiet life with his beautiful family and everything he could ever want. But soon his murky past will collide with his idyllic life and threaten the very people he loves the most in the world.

When his five-year-old daughter, Ellie, is kidnapped, Nick's life is thrown into a tailspin. In exchange for his daughter's safe return, Nick will have to do the unthinkable: he must murder his wife.

With his family's lives hanging in the balance, what will Nick do? Can he and his family survive when the evil that taunts them stems from the sins of his past?

Well, I suppose my run of good books had to end at some point. And, had I not thought it ended with the last book, it definitely did with this one. That's not to say that this wasn't an easy (and fairly enjoyable) read but, yet again, a storyline that felt rushed and a plot with more holes than a pair of fishnet stockings! I guess the ending was supposed to be a 'twist' but it really just felt like a contrived twist, rather than one that worked. Luckily, I got this book via a free download. If I had paid for it, I would have been pretty disappointed.

 

[Christine]

Ooh, 'parental abuse' - not sure I am liking the sound of this. Going to look it up now.

I probably didn't identify that correctly. It was sort of a distasteful subject. By basically, the children (now adults) had been sexually abused by their mother.

 

[MochaDrinker]

30/200 The pentagons brain by Annie Jacobsen

 

[wilma-bride]

I probably didn't identify that correctly. It was sort of a distasteful subject. By basically, the children (now adults) had been sexually abused by their mother.

Oh, OK, I was thinking you meant they had abused the parents

 

[threeboysmom]

Finished #8 (I think...) - Ape House by Sara Gruen

Despite LOVING Water for Elephants and At the Water's Edge, I really did not like this book at all. I really enjoy the author's style of writing and I feel this book's storyline had the potential for being great, but it just fell flat for me.

Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships - but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.

Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn’t understand people, but animals she gets - especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she’s ever felt among humans... until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what’s really going on inside.

When an explosion rocks the lab, severely injuring Isabel and “liberating” the apes, John’s human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he’ll risk his career and his marriage to follow. Then a reality TV show featuring the missing apes debuts under mysterious circumstances, and it immediately becomes the biggest - and unlikeliest - phenomenon in the history of modern media. Millions of fans are glued to their screens watching the apes order greasy take-out, have generous amounts of sex, and sign for Isabel to come get them. Now, to save her family of apes from this parody of human life, Isabel must connect with her own kind, including John; a green-haired vegan; and a retired porn star with her own agenda.

Ape House delivers great entertainment, but it also opens the animal world to us in ways few novels have done, securing Sara Gruen’s place as a master storyteller who allows us to see ourselves as we never have before.


The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult came available so I've already started this one. First 50 pages or so I toyed with just quitting it because it was boring me and I have another library book in the wings waiting for me, but now at page 146, I'm hooked. The book has done a complete 360 turn and I am enthralled with where this story is going.

Actually I DID quit a book between Ape House and The Storyteller.

Did You Ever Have a Family - has anyone here read this one? I don't do this very often, but I was halfway through the book and it STILL was not grabbing me at all and I was struggling with remembering who every single character was... not a good sign. So I quit reading. But it bugs me still, lol.

 

[jenny105]

I finished book #6, the Red Queen, which I really enjoyed. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Next up is All American Girl by Meg Cabot while I wait for some of my holds to come in.

 

[Glynis]

Just finished book #15 or 16 (I can never keep track), "As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust" by Alan Bradley. This is number 7 in a series. From Goodreads: "Hard on the heels of the return of her mother’s body from the frozen reaches of the Himalayas, Flavia, for her indiscretions, is banished from her home at Buckshaw and shipped across the ocean to Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Toronto, her mother’s alma mater, there to be inducted into a mysterious organization known as the Nide.

No sooner does she arrive, however, than a body comes crashing down out of the chimney and into her room, setting off a series of investigations into mysterious disappearances of girls from the school."

I really love this series! I've enjoyed each book and can't wait for the next one! Really likable characters, and a great mystery!

Next up: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #18/65 - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This is the book for my book club this month. I really enjoyed this story and gave it 5 stars. It's about 2 French sisters both dealing in different ways with World War 2 when Nazis take over France. I will give a warning to say this will make you cry!

FRANCE, 1939
In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.
Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences.

 

[rigs32]

#15 - The Last of the President's Men, by Bob Woodward

The story of Alexander Butterfield, the Nixon aide that revealed the taping system.

I like Woodward's writing style and this was a somewhat quick read, but it would have benefited from some editing or incorporating another source. The content was stretched a bit to fill space. I would recommend if you like this sort of thing.

#16 - Crap Dates: Disastrous Encounters from Single Life, by Rhodri Marsden

Do not bother. The "author" simply collected tweets and put them in a book.

#17 - From Scratch: Inside the Food Network, by Allen Salkin

Interesting, but focused heavily on the business side of things and it was clear who was talking to the author and who was not based on coverage and attitude. Was worth my time, but not overly engaging.

#18 - Concierge Confidential: The Gloves Come Off - and the Secrets Come Out! Tales from the Man Who Serves Millionaires, Moguls, and Madmen, by Michael Fazio

This was an entertaining read.

#19 - Primates of Park Avenue, by Wednesday Martin

A supposedly anthropological study of upper east side mothers in Manhattan. It was more of a memoir and it was hard to take the author seriously when you consider the obvious wealth in her family.

 

[rigs32]

Forgot one!

#20 - crewshiplife: Cruise Ship Life, by Tobias Biddick

The story of an Englishman who decides to take a job on a cruise ship as a pursuer. It's pretty clear early on he's working for Princess. A quick read, but glad i got it free with the amazon prime subscription.

 

[threeboysmom]

Next up: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Oh can't wait for your review on this one. It's on my list for summer reading.

Finished book #18/65 - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This is the book for my book club this month. I really enjoyed this story and gave it 5 stars. It's about 2 French sisters both dealing in different ways with World War 2 when Nazis take over France. I will give a warning to say this will make you cry!

This was the first book I read for 2016 - LOVED it!!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

[QUOTE="Glynis, post: 55355757, member: 65839"

Next up: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese[/QUOTE]

This is one of my favorite books! It did take me a few chapters to get into but ended up being a favorite. I haven't read it for quite awhile, so I should re-read it!

 

[Kogo Shuko]

Book # 10: Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World by Bill Nye

Just as World War II called an earlier generation to greatness, so the climate crisis is calling today's rising youth to action: to create a better future.

In UNSTOPPABLE, Bill Nye crystallizes and expands the message for which he is best known and beloved. That message is that with a combination of optimism and scientific curiosity, all obstacles become opportunities, and the possibilities of our world become limitless. With a scientist's thirst for knowledge and an engineer's vision of what can be, Bill Nye sees today's environmental issues not as insurmountable, depressing problems but as chances for our society to rise to the challenge and create a cleaner, healthier, smarter world. We need not accept that transportation consumes half our energy, and that two-thirds of the energy you put into your car is immediately thrown away out the tailpipe. We need not accept that dangerous emissions are the price we must pay for a vibrant economy and a comfortable life. Above all, we need not accept that we will leave our children a planet that is dirty, overheated, and depleted of resources. As Bill shares his vision, he debunks some of the most persistent myths and misunderstandings about global warming. When you are done reading, you'll be enlightened and empowered. Chances are, you'll be smiling, too, ready to join Bill and change the world.


An interesting read about climate change. Bill Nye explores multiple ways to help turn back climate change, including the different kinds of renewable energy, space exploration, and living life day to day.

There are a few areas in which I simply can not agree, but overall this is an important book to read.

 

[Christine]

[QUOTE="Glynis, post: 55355757, member: 65839"

Next up: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

This is one of my favorite books! It did take me a few chapters to get into but ended up being a favorite. I haven't read it for quite awhile, so I should re-read it![/QUOTE]

This was one of my favorites too, but I read it SO many years ago, it seems that I can barely remember it. Just knew that I loved it.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Finished #8 (I think...) - Ape House by Sara Gruen

Despite LOVING Water for Elephants and At the Water's Edge, I really did not like this book at all. I really enjoy the author's style of writing and I feel this book's storyline had the potential for being great, but it just fell flat for me.

Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships - but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.

Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn’t understand people, but animals she gets - especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she’s ever felt among humans... until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what’s really going on inside.

When an explosion rocks the lab, severely injuring Isabel and “liberating” the apes, John’s human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he’ll risk his career and his marriage to follow. Then a reality TV show featuring the missing apes debuts under mysterious circumstances, and it immediately becomes the biggest - and unlikeliest - phenomenon in the history of modern media. Millions of fans are glued to their screens watching the apes order greasy take-out, have generous amounts of sex, and sign for Isabel to come get them. Now, to save her family of apes from this parody of human life, Isabel must connect with her own kind, including John; a green-haired vegan; and a retired porn star with her own agenda.

Ape House delivers great entertainment, but it also opens the animal world to us in ways few novels have done, securing Sara Gruen’s place as a master storyteller who allows us to see ourselves as we never have before.


The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult came available so I've already started this one. First 50 pages or so I toyed with just quitting it because it was boring me and I have another library book in the wings waiting for me, but now at page 146, I'm hooked. The book has done a complete 360 turn and I am enthralled with where this story is going.

Actually I DID quit a book between Ape House and The Storyteller.

Did You Ever Have a Family - has anyone here read this one? I don't do this very often, but I was halfway through the book and it STILL was not grabbing me at all and I was struggling with remembering who every single character was... not a good sign. So I quit reading. But it bugs me still, lol.

I loved all the parts about the apes, but many other parts were rather silly.

I had gotten tired of JP, but maybe I should retry her.

Finished book #18/65 - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This is the book for my book club this month. I really enjoyed this story and gave it 5 stars. It's about 2 French sisters both dealing in different ways with World War 2 when Nazis take over France. I will give a warning to say this will make you cry!

FRANCE, 1939
In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.
Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences.

This is my bookgroup's May choice; looking forward to it!

 

[Swimnoid]

I need to catch up on my postings!


9. Quantico by Greg Bear
From Goodreads: It’s the second decade of the twenty-first century, and terrorism has escalated almost beyond control. New weapons are being spawned in remote basement labs, and no one feels safe. In North America, the FBI uses cutting-edge technology to thwart domestic terrorists. The War on Terror has reached a deadly stalemate. The FBI has been dispatched to deal with a new menace. Like the Anthrax threat of 2001, a plague targeted to ethnic groups has the potential to wipe out entire populations. But the FBI itself is under political assault. There’s a good chance that agents William Griffin, Fouad Al-Husam, and Jane Rowland will be part of the last class at Quantico. As the young agents hunt a brilliant homegrown terrorist, they join forces with veteran bio-terror expert Rebecca Rose. But the plot they uncover-and the man they chase-prove far more complex than anyone expects.

This was a little hard to get into but was interesting once you did. There are a couple of plot threads that develop and come together at the end. Enjoyable but not riveting.

10. Run by Blake Crouch
From Goodreads:
5 D A Y S A G O
A rash of bizarre murders swept the country…
Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected.
A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike.
A mass of school shootings.
Prison riots of unprecedented brutality.
Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.

4 D A Y S A G O
The murders increased ten-fold…

3 D A Y S A G O
The President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace…

2 D A Y S A G O
The killers began to mobilize…

Y E S T E R D A Y
All the power went out…

I've had this in my kindle for a long time and finally read it. I have liked anything I've read from Crouch and this is no exception. This book follows the flight of a family trying to survive murder. It's a page turner!

11. Doggone Dead by Teresa Trent
This is a cozy series following a small town reporter, Betsy Livingston. As usual there is a murder that she helps solve much to her father's (the town Sheriff) consternation. Its as much fun just to catch up with all the recurring characters as it is to find out who did it! Light and funny.

12. A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin
I listened to this in the car. I had listened to the first of the series and it took me awhile to get into it but I do enjoy the saga. This continues the story following different viewpoints of characters in the Seven Kingdoms. I like it but it can get boggy at points. I'll wait awhile before I take on the next installment.

13. All I Want for Christmas is Fudge by Nancy Coco
Another cozy series. I have never read this author or series before. I needed something light after A Clash of Kings. This was a very short novel about a murder (of course) and the characters in a small town. It was fine and served its purpose as a light, fun read.

14. Backspin by Harlan Coben
This is the 4th in the Myron Bolitar series. This series is quite a bit different from his stand alone books which are usually more suspenseful and taut. Myron is a sports agent who gets involved in problems of his clients. In this one a teenage son of tennis pros has been kidnapped and Myron pitches in to find him. It is good and worth the read. Even though it is a series the stories stand on their own.

15. A Dublin Student Doctor by Patrick Taylor
This is another series about a general practice doctor in a small town in Ireland. I've read several of them and they are good. This book takes you back to when the main character went through medical school in the 1930s. It's fun to see how he started out and some of the other characters that are still involved in the books set near his retirement.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #19/65 - Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein

Book 2 of kids' series. The first book is better, but i think my DS will enjoy both of these.

 

[wilma-bride]

Finished #8 (I think...) - Ape House by Sara Gruen

Despite LOVING Water for Elephants and At the Water's Edge, I really did not like this book at all. I really enjoy the author's style of writing and I feel this book's storyline had the potential for being great, but it just fell flat for me.

Sam, Bonzi, Lola, Mbongo, Jelani, and Makena are no ordinary apes. These bonobos, like others of their species, are capable of reason and carrying on deep relationships - but unlike most bonobos, they also know American Sign Language.

Isabel Duncan, a scientist at the Great Ape Language Lab, doesn’t understand people, but animals she gets - especially the bonobos. Isabel feels more comfortable in their world than she’s ever felt among humans... until she meets John Thigpen, a very married reporter who braves the ever-present animal rights protesters outside the lab to see what’s really going on inside.

When an explosion rocks the lab, severely injuring Isabel and “liberating” the apes, John’s human interest piece turns into the story of a lifetime, one he’ll risk his career and his marriage to follow. Then a reality TV show featuring the missing apes debuts under mysterious circumstances, and it immediately becomes the biggest - and unlikeliest - phenomenon in the history of modern media. Millions of fans are glued to their screens watching the apes order greasy take-out, have generous amounts of sex, and sign for Isabel to come get them. Now, to save her family of apes from this parody of human life, Isabel must connect with her own kind, including John; a green-haired vegan; and a retired porn star with her own agenda.

Ape House delivers great entertainment, but it also opens the animal world to us in ways few novels have done, securing Sara Gruen’s place as a master storyteller who allows us to see ourselves as we never have before.


The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult came available so I've already started this one. First 50 pages or so I toyed with just quitting it because it was boring me and I have another library book in the wings waiting for me, but now at page 146, I'm hooked. The book has done a complete 360 turn and I am enthralled with where this story is going.

Actually I DID quit a book between Ape House and The Storyteller.

Did You Ever Have a Family - has anyone here read this one? I don't do this very often, but I was halfway through the book and it STILL was not grabbing me at all and I was struggling with remembering who every single character was... not a good sign. So I quit reading. But it bugs me still, lol.

I loved Water For Elephants and have At The Water's Edge on my 'to read' list, but I don't think I'll bother with this one. I had looked at it a few times but didn't think it sounded great.

I really struggled with The Storyteller and actually gave up a few chaters in, but I have heard so many people rave about it, I might have to give it another go.

I finished book #6, the Red Queen, which I really enjoyed. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Next up is All American Girl by Meg Cabot while I wait for some of my holds to come in.

Just finished book #15 or 16 (I can never keep track), "As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust" by Alan Bradley. This is number 7 in a series. From Goodreads: "Hard on the heels of the return of her mother’s body from the frozen reaches of the Himalayas, Flavia, for her indiscretions, is banished from her home at Buckshaw and shipped across the ocean to Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Toronto, her mother’s alma mater, there to be inducted into a mysterious organization known as the Nide.

No sooner does she arrive, however, than a body comes crashing down out of the chimney and into her room, setting off a series of investigations into mysterious disappearances of girls from the school."

I really love this series! I've enjoyed each book and can't wait for the next one! Really likable characters, and a great mystery!

Next up: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

That was book 16

Finished book #18/65 - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This is the book for my book club this month. I really enjoyed this story and gave it 5 stars. It's about 2 French sisters both dealing in different ways with World War 2 when Nazis take over France. I will give a warning to say this will make you cry!

FRANCE, 1939
In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.
Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences.

OK, so many people have given this good reviews, I have to try it.

#15 - The Last of the President's Men, by Bob Woodward

The story of Alexander Butterfield, the Nixon aide that revealed the taping system.

I like Woodward's writing style and this was a somewhat quick read, but it would have benefited from some editing or incorporating another source. The content was stretched a bit to fill space. I would recommend if you like this sort of thing.

#16 - Crap Dates: Disastrous Encounters from Single Life, by Rhodri Marsden

Do not bother. The "author" simply collected tweets and put them in a book.

#17 - From Scratch: Inside the Food Network, by Allen Salkin

Interesting, but focused heavily on the business side of things and it was clear who was talking to the author and who was not based on coverage and attitude. Was worth my time, but not overly engaging.

#18 - Concierge Confidential: The Gloves Come Off - and the Secrets Come Out! Tales from the Man Who Serves Millionaires, Moguls, and Madmen, by Michael Fazio

This was an entertaining read.

#19 - Primates of Park Avenue, by Wednesday Martin

A supposedly anthropological study of upper east side mothers in Manhattan. It was more of a memoir and it was hard to take the author seriously when you consider the obvious wealth in her family.

This is one of my favorite books! It did take me a few chapters to get into but ended up being a favorite. I haven't read it for quite awhile, so I should re-read it!

This was one of my favorites too, but I read it SO many years ago, it seems that I can barely remember it. Just knew that I loved it.

Added this one to my 'to read' list

Book # 10: Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World by Bill Nye

Just as World War II called an earlier generation to greatness, so the climate crisis is calling today's rising youth to action: to create a better future.

In UNSTOPPABLE, Bill Nye crystallizes and expands the message for which he is best known and beloved. That message is that with a combination of optimism and scientific curiosity, all obstacles become opportunities, and the possibilities of our world become limitless. With a scientist's thirst for knowledge and an engineer's vision of what can be, Bill Nye sees today's environmental issues not as insurmountable, depressing problems but as chances for our society to rise to the challenge and create a cleaner, healthier, smarter world. We need not accept that transportation consumes half our energy, and that two-thirds of the energy you put into your car is immediately thrown away out the tailpipe. We need not accept that dangerous emissions are the price we must pay for a vibrant economy and a comfortable life. Above all, we need not accept that we will leave our children a planet that is dirty, overheated, and depleted of resources. As Bill shares his vision, he debunks some of the most persistent myths and misunderstandings about global warming. When you are done reading, you'll be enlightened and empowered. Chances are, you'll be smiling, too, ready to join Bill and change the world.


An interesting read about climate change. Bill Nye explores multiple ways to help turn back climate change, including the different kinds of renewable energy, space exploration, and living life day to day.

There are a few areas in which I simply can not agree, but overall this is an important book to read.

Wow, this sounds quite interesting - I just can't think read this without thinking of Ellen's Energy Adventure though

I need to catch up on my postings!


9. Quantico by Greg Bear
From Goodreads: It’s the second decade of the twenty-first century, and terrorism has escalated almost beyond control. New weapons are being spawned in remote basement labs, and no one feels safe. In North America, the FBI uses cutting-edge technology to thwart domestic terrorists. The War on Terror has reached a deadly stalemate. The FBI has been dispatched to deal with a new menace. Like the Anthrax threat of 2001, a plague targeted to ethnic groups has the potential to wipe out entire populations. But the FBI itself is under political assault. There’s a good chance that agents William Griffin, Fouad Al-Husam, and Jane Rowland will be part of the last class at Quantico. As the young agents hunt a brilliant homegrown terrorist, they join forces with veteran bio-terror expert Rebecca Rose. But the plot they uncover-and the man they chase-prove far more complex than anyone expects.

This was a little hard to get into but was interesting once you did. There are a couple of plot threads that develop and come together at the end. Enjoyable but not riveting.

10. Run by Blake Crouch
From Goodreads:
5 D A Y S A G O
A rash of bizarre murders swept the country…
Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected.
A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike.
A mass of school shootings.
Prison riots of unprecedented brutality.
Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.

4 D A Y S A G O
The murders increased ten-fold…

3 D A Y S A G O
The President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace…

2 D A Y S A G O
The killers began to mobilize…

Y E S T E R D A Y
All the power went out…

I've had this in my kindle for a long time and finally read it. I have liked anything I've read from Crouch and this is no exception. This book follows the flight of a family trying to survive murder. It's a page turner!

11. Doggone Dead by Teresa Trent
This is a cozy series following a small town reporter, Betsy Livingston. As usual there is a murder that she helps solve much to her father's (the town Sheriff) consternation. Its as much fun just to catch up with all the recurring characters as it is to find out who did it! Light and funny.

12. A Clash of Kings by George RR Martin
I listened to this in the car. I had listened to the first of the series and it took me awhile to get into it but I do enjoy the saga. This continues the story following different viewpoints of characters in the Seven Kingdoms. I like it but it can get boggy at points. I'll wait awhile before I take on the next installment.

13. All I Want for Christmas is Fudge by Nancy Coco
Another cozy series. I have never read this author or series before. I needed something light after A Clash of Kings. This was a very short novel about a murder (of course) and the characters in a small town. It was fine and served its purpose as a light, fun read.

14. Backspin by Harlan Coben
This is the 4th in the Myron Bolitar series. This series is quite a bit different from his stand alone books which are usually more suspenseful and taut. Myron is a sports agent who gets involved in problems of his clients. In this one a teenage son of tennis pros has been kidnapped and Myron pitches in to find him. It is good and worth the read. Even though it is a series the stories stand on their own.

15. A Dublin Student Doctor by Patrick Taylor
This is another series about a general practice doctor in a small town in Ireland. I've read several of them and they are good. This book takes you back to when the main character went through medical school in the 1930s. It's fun to see how he started out and some of the other characters that are still involved in the books set near his retirement.

Haven't they made Quantico into a TV series? Or did I imagine that?

Added RUN! to my 'to read' list - I wasn't a fan of the Wayward Pines books but this one sounds great.

Finished book #19/65 - Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein

Book 2 of kids' series. The first book is better, but i think my DS will enjoy both of these.