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

[Kirby]

Book # 19 - The Vintage Guide to Love and Romance by Kirsty Greenwood



I am not a romance person, so when I give this book 5 stars, you have to understand... it isn't your average romance. It's more comedy than anything else, and quite frankly more of a "personal growth" novel than a "romance" novel.

I loved it! It was funny, and easy to read!

It kinda reminded me of the movie Down With Love, to be truthful.

That sounds like a book I'd like to read!

#27/80 - Dragonsong: Volume One of The Harper Hall Trilogy by Anne McCaffrey. Genre - Fantasy

Forbidden by her father to indulge in music in any way, a girl on the planet Pern runs away, taking shelter with the planet's fire lizards who, along with her music, open a new life for her.

I enjoyed reading this book.

 

[tiggrbaby]

#34/60: A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny (4/5) (Inspector Gamache # 4/Canadian mystery)

#35/60: Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson (5/5) (nonfiction)

 

[jenny105]

I finished book #13 Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I liked it but I think I would have liked it more if it didn't end so abruptly.

I currently am reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I've heard good things about the Lunar Chronicles series.

We are going on a cruise next Thursday and I have Murder on the Orient Express and Slammed by Colleen Hoover loaded into my tablet and ready to go!

 

[Kirby]

I currently am reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I've heard good things about the Lunar Chronicles series.

I'm almost through with the last book Winter. I've enjoyed reading them.

 

[rnorwo1]

I just discoverd this thread from someone's signature on a post on the budget board (3boysmom?). My fist thought was outrage that I have missed such an amazing thread. But, then I realized this will be a really, really bad thread for me! I love to read, and when I get a good book, I become a neglectful mother, wife, and employee. I actively restrain myself from reading, it's something I have to schedule and reward myself with. I forced myself to stop reading the thread after the first page, I was like a kid in a candy shop. So, rather than making a goal of how many I will read, maybe I should vow to stay under a certain number!

I think I want to try the outlander series, and I have a question: should I start with the real book 1 or with the prequel? I generally like to only start series after all the books have been released (waiting on George R.R. Martin is killing me!); does anyone know how many more books will be in Outlander? I may want to rethink this...

 

[Christine]

I just discoverd this thread from someone's signature on a post on the budget board (3boysmom?). My fist thought was outrage that I have missed such an amazing thread. But, then I realized this will be a really, really bad thread for me! I love to read, and when I get a good book, I become a neglectful mother, wife, and employee. I actively restrain myself from reading, it's something I have to schedule and reward myself with. I forced myself to stop reading the thread after the first page, I was like a kid in a candy shop. So, rather than making a goal of how many I will read, maybe I should vow to stay under a certain number!

I think I want to try the outlander series, and I have a question: should I start with the real book 1 or with the prequel? I generally like to only start series after all the books have been released (waiting on George R.R. Martin is killing me!); does anyone know how many more books will be in Outlander? I may want to rethink this...

I would read the books in the order they were written and start with #1. Later, you can go back and read some of the smaller ones that provide fleshing out of some of the other characters. I have no idea how many more books Gabaldon will write. She has a pretty good Facebook fan page and sometimes she gives hints on that there. The last was supposed to be her last book but I don't think it is now. She certainly has not completed the story (but didn't leave it hanging either). An in an unusual situation, I find myself REALLY enjoying the TV series. Don't think I would have without the books but I love it.

 

[Christine]

#20/50: Modern Lovers by Emma Staub: This was a good book. Not a great book, but a good one. It was mainly about 3 people who were in a band together in college. They are now in their 50s. Two of the band members are married to each other, the other one is married to another. They live in the same neighborhood and have teenage children who have grown up together and are now having their own romance. Their world is shaken a bit when a company wants to make a movie about one of the deceased band members and wants the rights to their work. Lots of soul searching and secrets ensue. Good character development and pacing. Happy enough ending.

 

[rnorwo1]

I would read the books in the order they were written and start with #1. Later, you can go back and read some of the smaller ones that provide fleshing out of some of the other characters. I have no idea how many more books Gabaldon will write. She has a pretty good Facebook fan page and sometimes she gives hints on that there. The last was supposed to be her last book but I don't think it is now. She certainly has not completed the story (but didn't leave it hanging either). An in an unusual situation, I find myself REALLY enjoying the TV series. Don't think I would have without the books but I love it.

Ok, thanks, I'll do that!

 

[moniqueand2]

#23/30 - The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean

Here's one that DISers may enjoy! It was short in length but I learned a lot.

From amazon.com

Bit by bit, the ravages of age are eroding Marina's grip on the everyday. An elderly Russian woman now living in America, she cannot hold on to fresh memories—the details of her grown children's lives, the approaching wedding of her grandchild—yet her distant past is miraculously preserved in her mind's eye.

Vivid images of her youth in war-torn Leningrad arise unbidden, carrying her back to the terrible fall of 1941, when she was a tour guide at the Hermitage Museum and the German army's approach signaled the beginning of what would be a long, torturous siege on the city. As the people braved starvation, bitter cold, and a relentless German onslaught, Marina joined other staff members in removing the museum's priceless masterpieces for safekeeping, leaving the frames hanging empty on the walls to symbolize the artworks' eventual return.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

13/15 - The Gifts if Imperfection. Had an epiphany reading this
14/15 - Tricky Twenty-Two - just wanted an easy read

 

[Kirby]

28/80 - Winter: The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.

I've enjoyed The Lunar Chronicles and it's links to fairy tales.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Book 7 of 15: Star Wars: Bloodline by Claudia Gray

When the Rebellion defeated the Empire in the skies above Endor, Leia Organa believed it was the beginning to a lasting peace. But after decades of vicious infighting and partisan gridlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope seems like a distant memory.

Now a respected senator, Leia must grapple with the dangers that threaten to cripple the fledgling democracy—from both within and without. Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. Desperate to take action, senators are calling for the election of a First Senator. It is their hope that this influential post will bring strong leadership to a divided galaxy.

As the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia faces with distrust the prospect of any one person holding such a powerful position—even when supporters suggest Leia herself for the job. But a new enemy may make this path Leia’s only option. For at the edges of the galaxy, a mysterious threat is growing. . . .

Great story about Leia and her struggles with the ineptitude of the New Republic Senate. Takes place 6 years before The Force Awakens. Action, adventure, romance, intrigue. Perfect Star Wars story.

4 out of 5 stars.

Up Next: The Weapon of a Jedi, which yes, is a young readers book. It's canon Star Wars material, so I am reading it.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Goal: Undetermined number of books; as many as possible

#14 - My Life in Letters and Pictures by Helen Mirren. (The title may be slightly different; I've already taken the book back to the library.) I'm a huge Helen Mirren fan and was delighted to find this in my local library. She tells her story via letters from her grandfather, an officer in the Russian Army, and correspondence exchanged within her family, both personal and professional. The family photographs are stunning and the professional shots revel a Helen Mirren not seen by the casual fan. A lovely book to read with a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon.

#15-18 The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. I'm counting this as four books, because it's set up as four books recounting the "what if?" story of Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes' apprentice who becomes his assistant. Book 1 - Apprenticeship - details their meeting and his subtle schooling of Mary in the ways of a detective. Book 2 - Internship - records their first case together, where Mary takes initiative in solving a case. Book 3 - We Have A Case - Sherlock and Mary are equal partner in a case. Book 4 - Mastery - Mary proves her mettle as a master detective as the previous major and minor cases recorded her are solved and the ends are neatly tied us.

This was an extraordinarily good read! At the recommendation of portia9, I read one of the more recent Laurie R. King Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes novels, and it left me eager to know how their relationship started and develops. I've since learned that there are 12 Mary Russell books, and I intend to devour every one of them. Thank you portia9 for leading me to this excellent series.

Queen Colleen

 

[Colleen27]

#36 - Allegiant by Veronica Roth

The third book in the Divergent series and by far the weakest. I had a hard time sticking with this one all the way through and was very, very disappointed in the ending. So much of the action all the way through left me scratching my head, wondering what happened to the characters from the first two books, because much of the plot hinged on them acting in ways that felt out of character. And the ending felt very forced all the way around, not at all consistent with what I'd come to expect from the key characters at all. I'm glad I finally finished it, since this has been on my to-read pile basically since it came out, but I wasn't impressed.

#37 - Four by Veronica Roth

A much better read. I enjoyed seeing things from his perspective, especially the early stories which took place before the events in Divergent. And the format, as a series of short stories, made it the perfect read in between the many distractions of end-of-year stuff with my kids.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

#13 Good Omens
Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

I was very excited when my transfer request came in from the library. Two authors I really love, working on a book together.
That said, I think I may have become too excited and set my expectations too high.
The book was good, funny, and charming. It's just, I was expecting great, hilarious and enchanting; especially with the topics of the end of the world, riders of the apocalypse, and the antichrist.
I loved Adam and Azirophale, but it took a little while for me to really like either. Crowley I loved right away, but, you always love the demon immediately. I would recommend this book, but tell those before reading it to not get so excited about it.

(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.)

 

[PigletsPal2]

#34/60: A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny (4/5) (Inspector Gamache # 4/Canadian mystery)

#35/60: Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson (5/5) (nonfiction)[/QUOTE

Two of my favorite authors! Have you read Death in the White City or In The Garden of the Beasts or Thunderstruck, all by Erik Larson? His research is meticulous and he makes the most mundane information sound like something you have wanted to know all your life!

Queen Colleen

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Book 8 of 15: The Weapon of a Jedi by Jason Fry & Phil Noto

The REBEL ALLIANCE has destroyed the Empire's dreaded DEATH STAR, but the galaxy remains convulsed by civil war, and the Imperial starfleet is hunting the rebels throughout the galaxy.

LUKE SKYWALKER, the pilot who destroyed the Death Star, is now hailed as a hero. But Luke seeks only to support the freedom fighters, serving the Rebellion behind the controls of his X-wing fighter.

Even as he flies alongside the pilots of Red Squadron, Luke feels stirrings in the mystical energy field known as the Force. And this farm boy turned fighter pilot begins to suspect his destiny lies along a different path....

This is a middle-school age book about an early adventure of Luke Skywalker as he learns about the Force. One of the side characters, Sarko Plank, had a small part in The Force Awakens, but it ended up being cut.

3.5 out of 5.

Up next: Exploring Calvin and Hobbes: An Exhibition Catalogue

 

[tiggrbaby]

I have not yet read any of his others, but I am adding them to my list after I run through the ten books I currently have on hold!

 

[MochaDrinker]

58/200 Storm Prey by John Sandford

 

[MochaDrinker]

59/200 Deadline by John Sandford