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

[jenny105]

Finished book 15/30 Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. I absolutely love her books.

Just started Landline by Rainbow Rowell during lunch!

 

[MochaDrinker]

79/200-Dark Invasion by Howard Blum

 

[Christine]

#22/50 - Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld: This one was pretty good. A light, fun read; definitely chick-lit.

This version of the Bennet family—and Mr. Darcy—is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.

Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master’s degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won’t discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane’s fortieth birthday fast approaches.

Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip’s friend neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming. . . .

And yet, first impressions can be deceiving.

 

[Kewz1]

#8/12 - The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

I loved her other three books so much I broke my own rule and read the third one immediately after finishing the second one. Below is an overview of the book from bn.com:

It starts with a letter, lost for half a century and unexpectedly delivered to Edie’s mother on a Sunday afternoon. The letter leads Edie to Milderhurst Castle, where the eccentric Blythe spinsters live and where, she discovers, her mother was billeted during World War II. The elder Blythe sisters are twins and have spent most of their lives caring for their younger sister, Juniper, who hasn’t been the same since her fiancé jilted her in 1941. Inside the decaying castle, Edie searches for her mother’s past but soon learns there are other secrets hidden in its walls. The truth of what happened in “the distant hours” has been waiting a long time for someone to find it. In this enthralling romantic thriller, Morton pays homage to the classics of gothic fiction, spinning a rich and intricate web of mystery, suspense, and lost love.


Kristen

 

[Kirby]

37/80 - Windhaven by George R. R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle. Genre - Science Fiction

George R. R. Martin has thrilled a generation of readers with his epic works of the imagination, most recently the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling saga told in the novels A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords. Lisa Tuttle has won acclaim from fans of science fiction, horror, and fantasy alike - most recently for her haunting novel The Pillow Friend. Now together they gift readers with this classic tale of a brilliantly rendered world of ironbound tradition, where a rebellious soul seeks to prove the power of a dream.

The planet of Windhaven was not originally a home to humans, but it became one following the crash of a colony starship. It is a world of small islands, harsh weather, and monster-infested seas. Communication among the scattered settlements was virtually impossible until the discovery that, thanks to light gravity and a dense atmosphere, humans were able to fly with the aid of metal wings made of bits of the cannibalized spaceship.

Many generations later, among the scattered islands that make up the water world of Windhaven, no one holds more prestige than the silver-winged flyers, who bring news, gossip, songs, and stories. They are romantic figures crossing treacherous oceans, braving shifting winds and sudden storms that could easily dash them from the sky to instant death. They are also members of an increasingly elite caste, for the wings - always in limited quantity - are growing gradually rarer as their bearers perish.

With such elitism comes arrogance and a rigid adherence to hidebound tradition. And for the flyers, allowing just anyone to join their cadre is an idea that borders on heresy. Wings are meant only for the offspring of flyers - now the new nobility of Windhaven. Except that sometimes life is not quite so neat.

Maris of Amberly, a fisherman's daughter, was raised by a flyer and wants nothing more than to soar on the currents high above Windhaven. By tradition, however, the wings must go to her stepbrother, Coll, the flyer's legitimate son. But Coll wants only to be a singer, traveling the world by sea. So Maris challenges tradition, demanding that flyers be chosen on the basis of merit rather than inheritance. And when she wins that bitter battle, she discovers that her troubles are only beginning.

For not all flyers are willing to accept the world's new structure, and as Maris battles to teach those who yearn to fly, she finds herself likewise fighting to preserve the integrity of a society she so longed to join - not to mention the very fabric that holds her culture together.

While I prefer the Game of Thrones series, I did enjoy reading this book.

 

[Colleen27]

#49 - Undeniable by Bill Nye

Meh. This book arose out of Nye's debate with creationist Ken Ham and was basically a series of well-documented, scientifically rooted arguments supporting the idea of evolution. But unlike his book on climate change, I didn't feel like this one added anything to my understanding of the subject. It just rehashed evidence and theories that I would consider to be fairly common knowledge. He makes a persuasive case but really, what's the point? The only people who are going to take the time to read it are those who already agree.

#50 - The Darkest Secret by Gena Showalter

Another purely escapist read from an author that writes supernatural romance beautifully. I enjoyed her YA series (Alice in Zombieland) but I like her adult romances a lot more!

#51 - The Wild Princess by Mary Hart Perry

I loved this one. I added it to my list based on someone else's review on this thread and it was just a perfect summer read all around - well-paced, full off interesting and enjoyable characters, romantic but not to the point of detracting from the rest of the story.

 

[rigs32]

Apparently I haven't posted since early May. My reading slowed down as summer got busy and work picked up.

#29 - Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again by Teresa Giudice

I typically enjoy these peaks into the life of fake celebrities. I didn't like how she glossed over her criminal conduct and basically acted as though it wasn't a big deal and/or she didn't know what was going on. I can't say I'd recommend it, but I also didn't regret reading it.

#30 - At the Captain's Table: Life on a Luxury Liner by Hugh Thomson

This was my free book from amazon prime for May. It's the story of a man who travelled the world on luxury cruise ships working as a guest lecturer. It's a nice gig and he was allowed to bring a guest. I need to look into this for when I retire.....

#31 - NFL Confidential: True Confessions from the Gutter of Football by Johnny Anonymous

The identity of the author has been pretty well established, but this was a fun read, especially with the focus on the health concerns of pro players. Most NFL players are done in a few years rather than become franchise players. This is the story of one of those people.

#32 - Whip Smart by Melissa Febos

This is the memoir of a woman who worked her way through school as a dominatrix. It was at times disturbing and disconnected, but I think that's because the author was using a lot of drugs during that time in her life. It was tough to finish as the writing style was more of literary fiction and that's not what I go for.

#33 - Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

This collection of stories was hit or miss. Some were funny or interesting. Others felt like they were there to fill space and it was a slog to get through them.

#34 - The Last Englishman by Keith Foskett

This tells the story of a Brit walking the Pacific Coast Trail from Mexico to Canada. You really get a sense of what it's like physically from the writing, which I enjoyed. It was much more about that - the actual experience - rather than any personal discovery. I would recommend this for anyone who is curious about what a six month hike would be like.

#35 - The Dancer Within: Intimate Conversations with Great Dancers by Rose Eichenbaum

I took many months to read this book. Each dancer takes up a short segment of the book and I'd find myself reading a couple and then needing a break. But as a former dancer, I enjoyed the book. Wish there had been even more photography, actually.

#36 - Joyland by Stephen King

I'm trying to work in King books I haven't read now and again. This was an interesting tale with a bit of suspense, but more of a character study. I will say I felt like the end was rushed after a slow build to get to know the characters and the location. I get that it is supposed to make me feel a certain way, but I spent the last bit trying to figure out what was going on.

#37 - Sage's Eyes by VC Andrews

I wish this was acknowledged to be written by a ghost writer. I mean, she's been dead for quite a number of years. Anyway..... This was OK. I felt like it ended just as it was getting started. I wanted another 100 pages or so of the story. I also *hate* when female teen characters do really stupid things and/or cannot see what is right in front of them. An 8 year old might not understand, but a 16 year old?

#38 - Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting and Got a Life by Kelsey Miller

Of the weight loss memoirs I've read, this one focused a lot on the mental part of the weight struggle. A concept that I'm sure is relate-able to many women. Though it sort of stalled about 2/3 of the way through and I found myself almost speed reading sections just to finish or to see if it got more engaging.

 

[MochaDrinker]

80/200-The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva

 

[zippitydoo]

How did you like this one? It caught my eye the other day at the bookstore since I enjoyed the Wayward Pines series, but I haven't gotten around to requesting it from the library yet.

Honestly, it was just ok. I liked Wayward Pines better.

 

[zippitydoo]

Book #29/50: The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen

From Goodreads:
For his whole life, the boy has lived underground, in a basement with his parents, grandmother, sister, and brother. Before he was born, his family was disfigured by a fire. His sister wears a white mask to cover her burns.

He spends his hours with his cactus, reading his book on insects, or touching the one ray of sunlight that filters in through a crack in the ceiling. Ever since his sister had a baby, everyone’s been acting very strangely. The boy begins to wonder why they never say who the father is, about what happened before his own birth, about why they’re shut away.

A few days ago, some fireflies arrived in the basement. His grandma said, There’s no creature more amazing than one that can make its own light. That light makes the boy want to escape, to know the outside world. Problem is, all the doors are locked. And he doesn’t know how to get out.…

 

[MochaDrinker]

81/200-Portrait of a Spy by Daniel silva

 

[tiggrbaby]

Book #29/50: The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen

From Goodreads:
For his whole life, the boy has lived underground, in a basement with his parents, grandmother, sister, and brother. Before he was born, his family was disfigured by a fire. His sister wears a white mask to cover her burns.

He spends his hours with his cactus, reading his book on insects, or touching the one ray of sunlight that filters in through a crack in the ceiling. Ever since his sister had a baby, everyone’s been acting very strangely. The boy begins to wonder why they never say who the father is, about what happened before his own birth, about why they’re shut away.

A few days ago, some fireflies arrived in the basement. His grandma said, There’s no creature more amazing than one that can make its own light. That light makes the boy want to escape, to know the outside world. Problem is, all the doors are locked. And he doesn’t know how to get out.…

Did you get that as a Kindle First selection? I did and I really didn't like it.

 

[MochaDrinker]

82/200-the Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva

 

[Christine]

82/200-the Fallen Angel by Daniel Silva

MochaDrinker--you are on FIRE!! Are you reading a book a day lately?

 

[MochaDrinker]

C

MochaDrinker--you are on FIRE!! Are you reading a book a day lately?[/QUOTE

Yeah pretty much.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #43/65 - The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

I really liked this story about a girl and her dream growing up in London during the Jack the Ripper days. It has romance, murder, heartbreak, struggle. The book is too long though (700 pgs!) It easily could have been trimmed down at least 100 pgs, but most of the storyline is great. The author continues the story in 2 more HUGE books, but I just can't dive into those right now.

East London, 1888 - a city apart. A place of shadow and light where thieves, whores, and dreamers mingle, where children play in the cobbled streets by day and a killer stalks at night, where bright hopes meet the darkest truths. Here, by the whispering waters of the Thames, Fiona Finnegan, a worker in a tea factory, hopes to own a shop one day, together with her lifelong love, Joe Bristow, a costermonger's son. With nothing but their faith in each other to spur them on, Fiona and Joe struggle, save, and sacrifice to achieve their dreams.
But Fiona's life is shattered when the actions of a dark and brutal man take from her nearly everything-and everyone-she holds dear. Fearing her own death, she is forced to flee London for New York. There, her indomitable spirit propels her rise from a modest West Side shop-front to the top of Manhattan's tea trade. But Fiona's old ghosts do not rest quietly, and to silence them, she must venture back to the London of her childhood, where a deadly confrontation with her past becomes the key to her future.

Goodreads says I have read 46 books, yet on here I have only 43. I need to figure out which books I forgot to post a review for.

 

[nemofans]

Ok I figured out which books I missed:

Finished book #44/65 - Did You Ever Have A Family by Bill Clegg

I didn't care for this one. The story is told through lots of characters as you try to piece together what happened.

On the eve of her daughter’s wedding, June Reid’s life is completely devastated when a shocking disaster takes the lives of her daughter, her daughter’s fiancé, her ex-husband, and her boyfriend, Luke—her entire family, all gone in a moment. And June is the only survivor.
Alone and directionless, June drives across the country, away from her small Connecticut town. In her wake, a community emerges, weaving a beautiful and surprising web of connections through shared heartbreak.
From the couple running a motel on the Pacific Ocean where June eventually settles into a quiet half-life, to the wedding’s caterer whose bill has been forgotten, to Luke’s mother, the shattered outcast of the town—everyone touched by the tragedy is changed as truths about their near and far histories finally come to light.


Finished book #45/65 - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

This wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

Finished book #46/65 - Lethal by Sandra Brown

This is a perfect summer read. Fast paced, mysterious, sexy. I wanted the story to continue.

When her four year old daughter informs her a sick man is in their yard, Honor Gillette rushes out to help him. But that "sick" man turns out to be Lee Coburn, the man accused of murdering seven people the night before. Dangerous, desperate, and armed, he promises Honor that she and her daughter won't be hurt as long as she does everything he asks. She has no choice but to accept him at his word.
But Honor soon discovers that even those close to her can't be trusted. Coburn claims that her beloved late husband possessed something extremely valuable that places Honor and her daughter in grave danger. Coburn is there to retrieve it -- at any cost. From FBI offices in Washington, D.C., to a rundown shrimp boat in coastal Louisiana, Coburn and Honor run for their lives from the very people sworn to protect them, and unravel a web of corruption and depravity that threatens not only them, but the fabric of our society.

 

[camreesmom]

14/15 One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

From Amazon:

From the author of Maybe in Another Life—named a People Magazine pick—comes a breathtaking new love story about a woman unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiancé who has finally brought her back to life.
In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?
Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

I really, really enjoyed this book. So much so that my next book was another Taylor Jenkins Reid book.

 

[camreesmom]

15/15 After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

From Amazon:

From the author of Forever, Interrupted—hailed by Sarah Jio as “moving, gorgeous, and at times heart-wrenching”—comes a breathtaking new novel about modern marriage, the depth of family ties, and the year that one remarkable heroine spends exploring both.
When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.

Eh…….this one wasn’t so great. I’d only give it a 2.5 out of 5.

 

[camreesmom]

Upping my goal to 24 since I made it to 15. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to read once school starts but I thought 24 would be good.

16/24 The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanan

From Amazon:

How well do you ever really know the family next door?
Bucolic Newport Cove, where spontaneous block parties occur on balmy nights and all of the streets are named for flowers, is proud of its distinction of being named one the top twenty safest neighborhoods in the US. It’s also one of the most secret-filled.

Kellie Scott has just returned to work after a decade of being a stay-at-home mom. She’s adjusting to high heels, scrambling to cook dinner for her family after a day at the office—and soaking in the dangerous attention of a very handsome, very married male colleague. Kellie’s neighbor Susan Barrett begins every day with fresh resolutions: she won’t eat any carbs, she’ll go to bed at a reasonable hour, and she’ll stop stalking her ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Gigi Kennedy seems to have it all together—except her teenage daughter has turned into a hostile stranger and her husband is running for Congress, which means her old skeletons are in danger of being brought into the light.

Then a new family moves to this quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac. Tessa Campbell seems friendly enough to the other mothers, if a bit reserved. Then the neighbors notice that no one is ever invited to Tessa’s house. And soon, it becomes clear that Tessa is hiding the biggest secret of all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This one wasn’t as suspenseful as they tried to make it seem. It wasn’t a great book but it was ok. I’d say 3.5 out of 5. It was one that I'd forgotten that I'd pre-ordered on Amazon.


Next Up: First Comes Love by Emily Giffin