Here it is - the OFFICIAL 2014 READING GOAL CHALLENGE THREAD

[wrestlingchick26]

The surviving the zombie apocalypse has a lot of survival and action in them, if you like watching the walking dead you will like the series. I haven't read much action books, I get my action from the zombie books I read lol

Just thought of an author Matthew Reilly he is an Australian author but his books are action packed. Try scarecrow or ice station.

 

[xlsm]

Finished 23 and 24 of my 45 book goal.

23) Joyland by Stephen King - Probably one of my favorite SK books. Everyone calls him the master of horror, but he's really the master of telling a human story. This was more of a whodunnit/coming of age story and I loved it.

Dev Jones is recovering from heartbreak while working a summer job at Joyland, an amusement park on the coast. There he meets lifelong friends, encounters a mystery, learns life lessons, and tries to solve a 4 year old murder.

I recommend this to anyone, even if you think you don't like Stephen King novels.

24) Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum - Continuing the quest to read all of the Oz books with my kids...This particular book is the one I remember most vividly (aside from the first, of course) from reading them as a child. If you've seen the movie Return to Oz, you'll recognize parts of this book.

Dorothy finds herself back in a fairy land. This time, it's the Land of Ev. Just when she thinks all is lost and she is trapped by a crazy princess with a room full of heads, her friends from Oz come marching in on the horizon. The group is then off on a new adventure, to rescue the ruling family of Ev from the Nome King.
This book is hilarious and a lot of fun.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Midnight Crossroad
Charlaine Harris


I don't know exactly what I was expecting with this book, but it wasn't what I got. This is supposed to be a supernatural mystery. It is a mystery, but I found it light on the supernatural aspect that I have come to love about Harris.

With that said though, it was an enjoyable read and it introduces the major players of the series. Hopefully through the trilogy, we will learn more about them and the town of Midnight because I see a lot of potential for a fun series.

Thanks for the recommendation on this. Unfortunately this book wasn't in the Ebooks at my library, but lots of other Charlaine Harris books were. She sounds like an author I'd like to read. I like cozy mysteries, but the ones I've read lately haven't been too funny. Are there any others that are kind of light on the supernatural aspect? Any particularly heavy?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Thanks for the recommendation on this. Unfortunately this book wasn't in the Ebooks at my library, but lots of other Charlaine Harris books were. She sounds like an author I'd like to read. I like cozy mysteries, but the ones I've read lately haven't been too funny. Are there any others that are kind of light on the supernatural aspect? Any particularly heavy?

The Southern Vampire series is the series the show True Blood is based on.

She has a couple of other series that I think(I've only read the first one or two of each) are lighter on the supernatural aspect. I can't recall the names right now and I'm not on my computer, sorry.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #38 - James Potter and the Hall Of Elder's Crossing by G. Norman Lippert

I found out about these books from a prev poster on here. This is fan fiction written about Harry's son James & his 1st year at Hogwarts. I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter series so of course I will read this. I have enjoyed being back at Hogwarts, but I do have to say, this book is not nearly as good as JK Rowling's series. This book obviously has a different voice & doesn't come across as magical as the original series did for me. It leaves me missing the Harry Potter series. I do like some of the things he added & am glad to read new stories in the wizarding world, I just wish JK Rowling wrote them. Since that most likely won't happen, this will be the closest to it. Anyway, I will read the next 3 books as well. You can download these for free.

Next book: James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper

 

[timsprincess]

#15 Peak by Roland Smith 4 stars

After fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, he's left with two choices: wither away in Juvenile Detention or go live with his long-lost father, who runs a climbing company in Thailand. But Peak quickly learns that his father's renewed interest in him has strings attached. Big strings. As owner of Peak Expeditions, he wants his son to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit--and his motives are selfish at best. Even so, for a climbing addict like Peak, tackling Everest is the challenge of a lifetime. But it's also one that could cost him his life.

#16 - The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice 3 stars

In the five years since Julia last visited her aunt and uncle’s home in Malibu, her life has been turned upside down by her daughter’s death. She expects to find nothing more than peace and solitude as she house-sits with only her dog, Bonnie, for company. But she finds herself drawn to the handsome man who oversees the lemon orchard. Roberto expertly tends the trees, using the money to support his extended Mexican family. What connection could these two people share? The answer comes as Roberto reveals the heartbreaking story of his own loss—a pain Julia knows all too well, but for one striking difference: Roberto’s daughter was lost but never found. And despite the odds he cannot bear to give up hope.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#41 The Forest Of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan

What can I say? YA book about a fenced in community ruled by the Sisterhood & protected by the Guardians. Outside the fence is nothing but a forest where the Unconsecrated roam and who relentlessly try to break in and devour the people inside the fence, thus turning them into Unconsecrated zombie like things.
Throw in the curious/rebellious young girl who grew up on the whispered stories that her mother told her of a whole different world outside the fence, beyond the forest. A world with tall buildings & an ocean......

So many YA books with this theme but I have to say this is one of the best! I really enjoyed it and have started the 'companion' book. I do recommend it.

 

[CaliBear]

16/30 The Yard by Alex Grecian

from amazon:

1889, LONDON.

JACK THE RIPPER’S REIGN OF TERROR IN FINALLY OVER, BUT A NEW ONE IS JUST BEGINNING.

Victorian London—a violent cesspool of squalid depravity. Only twelve detectives—The Murder Squad—are expected to solve the thousands of crimes committed here each month. Formed after the Metropolitan Police’s spectacular failure in capturing Jack the Ripper, the Murder Squad suffers the brunt of public contempt. But no one can anticipate the brutal murder of one of their own…

A Scotland Yard Inspector has been found stuffed in a black steamer trunk at Euston Square Station, his eyes and mouth sewn shut. When Walter Day, the squad’s new hire, is assigned to the case, he finds a strange ally in Dr. Bernard Kingsley, the Yard’s first forensic pathologist. Their grim conclusion: this was not just a random, bizarre murder but in all probability, the first of twelve. Because the squad itself it being targeted and the devious killer shows no signs of stopping before completing his grim duty. But Inspector Day has one more surprise, something even more shocking than the crimes: the killer’s motive.

I think this book is about 2 years old, but it's the best book I've read this year regardless, not even a contest. 5 stars

 

[xlsm]

Thanks for the recommendation on this. Unfortunately this book wasn't in the Ebooks at my library, but lots of other Charlaine Harris books were. She sounds like an author I'd like to read. I like cozy mysteries, but the ones I've read lately haven't been too funny. Are there any others that are kind of light on the supernatural aspect? Any particularly heavy?

If you're interested in a Charlaine Harris series, I suggest the Aurora Teagarden series. Book one is called Real Murders. It's a murder mystery series vs. a supernatural one. This series is my favorite of hers, and one I wish she'd continue.

If you want a supernatural series by her, I'd recommend the first 9 books of The Southern Vampire series (aka Sookie Stackhouse stories, and what True Blood is LOOSELY based upon. After book 9 they go downhill. I don't know if she was coasting due to the popularity of TB, but wow...they just really declined after that), or maybe the Harper Connelly series (titles are grave sight, ice cold grave, etc...Can't remember which ones are first). The Sookie books have some humor, Harper Connelly not so much. I didn't really like the Harper books, but finished them out of obligation to see the mystery through, if that makes sense.

She also writes the Lily Bard series, starting with Shakespeare's Landlord. I enjoyed this book, but I haven't continued the series yet.

A non-Charlaine Harris cozy that I enjoyed a few months ago is called Night of the Living Deed by EJ Copperman. It's the first in a series called the Haunted Guesthouse series. I've only read the first one but I really enjoyed it. It has ghosts in it, but it's more of a whodunnit, and there is a lot of humor.

Sorry, I get long winded sometimes (most of the time, really, lol!!)

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks. I found the Aurora Teagarden series, including Real Murders. It must be good-I had to wait list for Real Murders, but it did sound enjoyable, so I'm on the list. A few from the Aurora Teagarden series were available, but do I assume it's best to read them in order? I also added A Fool and his Honey (?) and Grave Secrets to read.

 

[wilma-bride]

Finished 23 and 24 of my 45 book goal.

23) Joyland by Stephen King - Probably one of my favorite SK books. Everyone calls him the master of horror, but he's really the master of telling a human story. This was more of a whodunnit/coming of age story and I loved it.

Dev Jones is recovering from heartbreak while working a summer job at Joyland, an amusement park on the coast. There he meets lifelong friends, encounters a mystery, learns life lessons, and tries to solve a 4 year old murder.

I recommend this to anyone, even if you think you don't like Stephen King novels.

The only Stephen King book I've ever read and really enjoyed (other than Cujo) is 11/22/63. Based on your recommendation, I have added this to my wish list though. Although it might have to be one of next year's books as, thanks to this thread, my wish list is VERY long

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #19 - Sleep Tight by Rachel Abbott

When Olivia Brookes calls the police to report that her husband and children are missing, she believes she will never see them again. She has reason to fear the worst; this isn’t the first tragedy that Olivia has experienced.

Now, two years later, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Douglas is called in to investigate this family again, but this time it’s Olivia who has disappeared. All the evidence suggests that she was here, in the family home, that morning. But her car is in the garage, and her purse is in her handbag – on the kitchen table. The police want to issue an appeal, but for some reason every single picture of this family has been removed from albums, from phones, from computers.

And then they find the blood…

Has the past caught up with Olivia?

This was recommended to me on a FB reading group that I am a member of and I am really glad I read it. It was a nice quick read but really held my interest and had lots of interesting twists and turns in the story. I have downloaded another book by the same author and hope it is just as good.

 

[kinntj]

Book #4 Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

I loved this book! There were small parts in the book that I glazed over because it was too military speak for me. The story of Louie opened my eyes to the story of Japan in World War II. You hear so much of Germany and for good reason, but besides Pearl Harbor I knew nothing else.

I'm trying to find the cord to my Kindle to charge it. There's 3 books on there I want read. I do have some small soft cover YA books I could start while I look.

 

[WowLookAtThat]

Book #41 Empire Strikes Back by Donald Glut

Book #42 Return of the Jedi by James Kahn

Book #43 Maleficent by Elizabeth Rudnick

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#42 The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

Second of the 'Forest of Hands & Teeth' books. Very good, looking forward to the third book.

 

[timsprincess]

Book #17
In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner 2 stars
Rose is a thirty-year-old attorney with a secret passion for romance novels. She's going to start exercising next week, and she dreams of a man who will slide off her glasses and tell her she's beautiful. Maggie is twenty-eight and drop-dead gorgeous. Although her stardom hasn't progressed past her hip's appearance in a music video, she dreams of fame and fortune. These two sisters claim to have nothing in common but DNA, a childhood tragedy, and a shoe size, but when they're forced into cohabitation, they may just learn that they're more alike than they thought.

Maybe the movie was better but this book did not move me.

 

[mumloveseeyore]

book 66/150packing for mars by mary roach
interesting but not if you are are squeamish about bodily functions
book 67/150 Dune by frank herbert
reread of a classic sci fi series
book 68/150dune messiah by frank herbert
second in the series.
book 69/150Hilda hopkins murder she knit bu vivienne fagin
We start off with Hilda Hopkins, OAP and knitting machine addict, escaping from the police. As we read on we find out what Hilda has done, whilst evading police capture.

Trying to make a small income Hilda took in a lodger, but when he died she decided to rather than report it, clear out his bank account and carry on collecting his pension. Finding it an easy way to make money, Hilda then starts bumping off further lodgers, or 'paying guests' as she likes to call them, creating woolen dolls of them that she has around the house.

Hilda may be old, but she still has her marbles, and is quite spry, so will the police be able to capture her? This is quite a fun but dark little read

 

[kinntj]

Book #41 Empire Strikes Back by Donald Glut

Book #42 Return of the Jedi by James Kahn

Book #43 Maleficent by Elizabeth Rudnick

I have Maleficent added to my wish list now. Thank you!

 

[Pig Pen]

I agree completely about Defending Jacob. All I will say is that it is worth persevering. Despite not actually enjoying reading it, I'm glad I made it to the end as it was worth it, if that makes sense.

I have tried three times to start The Rosie Project and just couldn't get into it. Is it worth trying again?

I loved The Rosie Project! Probably one of my favorites this year.

 

[Pig Pen]

#15 of 25 - The Rosie Project.

This has been reviewed here before so I won't go into the plot, but I did enjoy it and really connected with the characters. It's kind of Big Bang Theory meets the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Next up is the OrphanTrain. I also have had Joyland sitting on my shelf for a few months. If I get a break between library ebooks, I will start that one.