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1. Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
This was cute but pretty darned far-fetched. I liked the characters, though, which goes a long way. Not much substance, but okay for a romance.
2. Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli. This made me cry my eyes out. No joke. I mean, it was about the Holocaust, so, yeah. In terms of content it was definitely a YA but in terms of writing it felt like it was aimed younger. I wasn't exactly happy with the ending because it didn't really spell out and ending.
3. The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts. What can I say? I am Nora Roberts lap dog. I love this woman. This didn't have a real solid ending, either, though. It was third in a series so it should have been solid. However, it was pleasing enough and I would recommend the series to any romance readers who also like fantasy and demons/magic/etc.
4. Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. This wowed me. It is a YA novel but it reads a lot like prose. The concepts seemed to just roll out and dance. I didn't particularly like this ending either, because I could see another way for it to work that was a little less...melancholy. On the other hand, it fit the theme for the book pretty well.
5. I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
This is a book of essays ala David Sedaris. Funny as frack. But written by a girl. Man, some of the stuff she talks about felt like she was writing down a conversation I'd had. Seriously funny.
6. Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher. Another tearjerker YA. This time about the Middle East, Pakistan/Afghanistan. A bittersweet ending that rang truer than a forced happy!happy ending would have. Be warned, young children being hurt are hard for me to deal with and I'm passing that warning on.
7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
This is my absolute favorite book so far this year. Even over zombies. Think Battle Royale (the Japanese movie) with a touch of Fantasy and a helping of SciFi. Plus, the main male lead reminded me of Neville Longbottom a bit. I'm a sucker for Neville's ilk. I am telling everyone I come across to read this book. I will help ship it overseas, guys. Just let me know.
8. Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I enjoyed her Nobody's Baby But Mine so I gave her newest book a chance. It was riddled with spelling errors. Just enough to tick me off. And there were a few issues with her description of how Scrabble really works. I had doubts, and really, if your romance novel reader is actively having doubts about something she already has to suspend her disbelief to read? So, at times cute, mostly long, convoluted, and ultimately not worth it.
9. The Negotiator by Dee Henderson. I gave religious fiction a try. Turns out the God part doesn't sit well with me. In that I can read fiction that has God, angels, His work, and His presence. I cannot read a book designed to preach about the way God should work in our lives. It laid it on too thick, with God solving problems instead of people solving problems with God's guidance. Sad part? I like the family introduced in the stories. A bunch of kids who make their own definition of family. It's kind of the story I have always wanted to write. Only with less religion. And more romance.
10. World War Z by Max Brooks. Man, I loved this book. In a vaguely horrified, making-a-plan-for-the-zombie-apocalypse way. It was dead on (hee) exactly how I imagine a zombie apocalypse going down. I need the survival guide. (I know, I know, why don't I have it already?)
11. The Secret World of Sparrow Delaney by Suzanne Harper. I apparently have a hard-on for the name Suzanne-Susan. Wow. Sorry, distracted, back to the book. This is YA, of course, and it was actually really cute. Sparrow can see, talk to, hear and smell ghosts. The four markers of a good medium are covered. Of course, she doesn't want to tell anyone she can do this. Friends and the such would think she was weird. Her family wouldn't, she's a third generation medium, but she's the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter and her family thinks its fated that she'll be great. That's a lot to live up to. So, she's perfected her blank stare when confronted with ghostly specters. Until Luke. He just won't give up and Move On. The end wraps up pretty neatly, of course, with just a little tug at your heart strings for a love that could have been. I was thoroughly charmed. And a bit inspired!
12. Alamo House by Sarah Bird. A bit antiquated. And yet I couldn't help but love the main characters. Seriously, these women were coming into their own and OWNING it.
13. Sister Salty, Sister Sweet by Shannon Kring Biro and Natalie Kring. Supposedly on par with David Sedaris. I didn't see it. Interesting, but only up to a point.
14. Mending Fences by Sherryl Woods. THIS IS NOT A ROMANCE NOVEL. If someone tells you that it is they are a lying liar who lies. This is a telenovella. Well-written but in no way romantic.
15. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Surprisingly good. The ending was just a touch too fracked up. And I had some questions on it. It does make me want to check out the sequel Speaker for the Dead. Which I probably will do at some point.
16. Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard. All I can say about this is that I should have read the ending before I A. bought it and B. read it. Why didn't I check the ending? Why did you have to break my heart?!
17. Gossamer by Lois Lowry. This author continues to make my heart sing. Ever since I read The Giver way back when, shortly followed by Numbering The Stars, I have been hooked. Gossamer was a quick read, even sometimes predictable, but good. The young boy already being fracked up at so young an age, the mother being hopeful that she could get her life back on track, and the dreams of what was, what might be, what could be...It was beautiful.
18. The Walking Dead: Days Gone Bye (Volume 1) by Robert Kirkman. I checked this out from the library so that I could rec it at the book store. Its got some stellar art. A very far-fetched plotline, though. Not the zombie part. I love the zombie part. And the encampment's portrayal? Spot on. I'm talking more about the loan guy in a hospital filled with zombies who survives and fines a trapped, live horse to ride part. People fully capable of defending themselves are dying. So, no, I don't think helpless people would manage it. I'll probably read more from the series, though.
19. Emma by Jane Austen. I enjoyed it a lot more than I anticipated. It's the first Austen I've ever read, actually, which is sad for an English major with a women's studies concentration. Hee. About 1/3 through I had to call my friend and confirm each of Austen's characters to their Clueless counterparts. Just so I'd know what was coming up ahead. I might give some other stuff a try. After Pride and Prejudice and Zombies of course.
20. U.S. of Eh by can't remember. NOT AS FUNNY AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN. All about Canada's secret control of the U.S. It should have either been actually funny or walked a completely straight line about Canada secretly controlling the U.S. It waffled too much and I found myself easily setting it down.
21. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin. This was pretty good even though it was effed up royally. 15 year old girl dies. She ends up in Elsewhere to live her life over...in reverse. There were some truly amazing parts to it and I loved this take on the after life. Also, since I have a pug, I was happy about the pug in the story. Pretty good YA, I've got to admit.
22. Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broagh. I, uh, had some problems. I'm willing to disbelieve up to a certain point. This just kept throwing fantastical coincidences one after another. So, I kind of stopped caring because it was pretty obvious these weren't real people in the slightest. I'll give it props for thinking creatively about "the real Shakespeare" and Anne Boleyn. It was cute and it was obvious why 8-12 liked it. It's just a shade too under YA for me to handle.
23. Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer. This seems pretty classic YA. Protagonist saves the day while learning a lesson. Major tear-jerker in that it dealt with two personal demons - alcoholic parent and grandmother with Alzheimer's. What was truly interesting was that this story, ostensibly about the travels Jenna takes with her boss on a six week store tour is actually about being a shoe salesperson. It was unique, it was good, and I have more than one person who I would recommend read it.
24. Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts. I love Nora Roberts. To the point that I've been watching some seriously bad Lifetime channel movies based off of her books. And the Quinn brothers series is, bar none, my all-time favorite of her books. Somehow, though, I managed to buy and not devour the fourth book - about Seth. The only issue I take with it is that I had lived my life thinking they'd resolved things with his mother only to find out it was a half-truth. Otherwise, I loved getting to revisit this world.
25. A Summer of Kings by Han Nolan. This was a Golden Sower nominee. In Nebraska this is a big deal. There are three categories - primary, intermediary, young adult. Ten books each category, each year. Every school reads them and rewards kids for completing them all. As a book-seller I cannot tell you how these fly off the shelves. That said...
Civil Rights Movement era. White girl forces black man to justify why he's upset. Then teaches him the joys of non-violent protest. Man dies. Girl saves the world by marching. I find it pretty hard not to be offended in a great deal of ways.
26. Tokyo Fiancee by Amelie Nothomb. I enjoyed reading this. It was quick, it was easy, and it was translated (conveniently) into English. The only issue I took with this book was A. it started throwing out Japanese things like a touchstone (Hey, I too know what okonomiyaki is and how to spell it!) and B. the female protagonist is kind of a bitch. It is supposed to come off as free-spirited but she doesn't really care who she hurts while she is at it. I mean, I still enjoyed the story. I, personally, can be kind of a bitch. I just thought I'd warn you.
27. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Aside from previously stated issues I found myself intrigued by the Cullen family. Coming from a blended family, I liked the thought of a family together by choice and love. Even with vastly differing personalities - Rosalie being coldy cut-off from human emotions as compared to Alice's bubbly love for the human experience. Emmett's straight-forward approach to life versus Jasper's layers upon layers of thought. All of this centering around how Carlisle views them as his children. I wanted to know more.
28. New Moon by Stephanie Meyer. Meyer has a surprisingly sensitive and effective treatment of mental health issues. Bella shuts down with the trauma of Edward leaving. It is more than just him being gone, though, but the very real sense of the life she intended to live being ended. She ghosts through life - trying to be who she was before even though she can't be that girl since she isn't heading in the same direction. The slow awakening from her depression, the little milestones marking her healing, and her reconnection with her life are all pretty well done. Bella remains rude to her friends, though, so that sucks.
29. Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer. Turns out Jasper is a functioning member of the family. Who knew? He can fight like the power of a thousand armies are behind him. I certainly liked that aspect of his character development. Also the fact that he made a conscious decision to not be a monster. Also, he talked about having trouble controlling himself. Suddenly I went all D/s in my mind and you can't beat that. I'm sure more stuff happened but you'll forgive me for getting distracted.
30. Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. GROSS. Seriously. Like 90% of this book grossed me out. And I'm not even talking about blood and guts and stuff. Also, Jasper is missing for like half the book so I got kind of bored. There is a character, Jane, who is described as looking pretty young to have been turned into a vampire, who can cause people pain just by looking at them. In the movies she will be played by the intensely awkward looking Dakota Fanning. This made her part in the end way more interesting. Also makes me excited for Push, of all things.
31. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. I love Bechdel's work. The world that she can convey in a handful of panels is so dead-on, so intense, so achingly similar to my own that I do not exaggerate when I say her work haunts me. Her art is well done, her narrative, the setting and pace delivered in this graphic novel? I cannot more highly recommend it. Amazing.
32.The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I generally enjoyed reading this book. However, much like The Summer of Kings, I find it difficult when Lily is the catalyst for Zach to truly devote himself to his dream of being a lawyer. I know that it is representative of how we find a new level of confidence and ambition when supported by our True Love Forever. At the same time, Zach was loved by family and friends. He was driven. He was educated while looking for more. I'm pretty sure he didn't have to have a strange white girl show him the way. Maybe I'm reading too much into it? Like I said, I generally liked it. The characters were complex but ultimately you care for them. Everything wasn't wrapped up in a neat, little, perfect bow. Maybe a little too sunny for realism, but not so much sweet you got sick. I'm going to watch the movie soon, despite/because of Dakota Fanning being in it. (Going to have to see Push, sometime. And waiting on New Moon, of course.)
33. Moresukine: Uploaded Weekly From Toyko by Dirk Schwieger. A German man, who writes his webcomic in English, is living in Japan for a few months working. And then the Pope walks into a bar. Sorry, couldn't help myself! Schwieger has a very basic gimmick. Viewers sent in missions for him to accomplish. He did them weekly. Sometimes it was as easy as "discuss gender roles in society" which he could do from his day-to-day observations. And sometimes it was more like "eat fugu!" (Which he did. And lived to tell the tale.) I wish that the collection would have centered more on what he did (or, I guess, that he would have done more?) The second half of the book is other famous webcomics responding to his own little challenge. All of the different art was superb. I particularly like Marcel Guldemond's response. This isn't really an in-depth read. More of a light skim, fun time.
34. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. How have I not heard of this author before? I blame you. Yes, you. I checked this out of the library to review it for the bookstore and I was just very impressed. Yes, there are a few trite familiar threads. I hope I'm not ruining anything by telling you that, yes, the prince is exactly who you think it is. Surprise, everything turns out all right! Yet there are definitely darker aspects to this story - something that was traditionally being witheld from YA of yore but is making a comeback. Authors are realizing that teenagers deal with crazy, heavy stuff all the time and are now writing to reflect this. At the same time, Hale avoids being edgy for the sake of being edgy. She's conscious of how social class structures would have worked at the time while also recognizing that very similar goings-on happen in today's society. Sorry, I'll stop writing my own book on this.
35. Veronica by Nicholas Christopher. I occasionally felt like things presented in this story were fracked up just for the sake of being fracked up. For the most part, though, they were fracked up for a reason. It was pretty refreshing, actually, to read something as dark and twisty as my own imagination. Keys that open doors that only exist long enough for the key to unlock. Stairs that transcend space and time. Time that transcends space and time. Throw in a little bit of circus music, a handsome man in occasional drag, and a neurotic female lead? Yes, please!
36. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris. Much anticipated installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series. It felt forced, was shorter than I would have liked, and ended rather abruptly. On the other hand...ERIC. I've loved that vampire since he lost his memory and was laughing at Buffy the Vampire Slayer like a little kid. His background is fleshed out a little, he is delightfully ancient Nordic, and I now imagine him looking/sounding like Alexander Skarsgård. Hot. So, I mean, I was happy to read it. There were many things I liked. At the same time, if it had meant waiting a little bit longer? I would have really liked to have had this polished and shining.
37. Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris. I started reading Harris with the Sookie Stackhouse novels. I loved her mix of the magic with the mundane. Like, there Sookie is, faced with a vampire. Who says his name is Bill and she giggles. It's just amazingly absurd. Like, this is how the world would be changed with the known presence of magical entities by all people. Just the same, with a little extra. Anywho, that has NOTHING to do with the Shakespeare series. Well, still a good mix of the mundane with something extra. In this case, the main character was attacked/tortured while in her early 20's. After which she is one part house-cleaner one part amateur detective. I'm all for it but I need to read a second one to make a firm decision.
38. The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm by Nancy Farmer. This is a different style than I normally read. I loved it. I'm used to more structured books, while this had a feel of folklore. I would be interested to see if any of her other books are similar in nature, and if not, find other books that have the same feel. The Giver was like that, for me. It was a book steeped in the setting and told from the people experiencing the awe of directly relating to their culture. Does that make any kind of sense? Plus, mutant super power detectives. YES.
39. 1,001 Cranes by Naomi Hirahara. I thought this was YA but it's actually more the age between kids’ book but before YA really applies. I hope that makes sense. It isn't quite one or the other. Angela's parents are separated - maybe even divorcing. She ends up folding cranes for her grandmother who makes wedding displays. There are boys, bad decisions, and a whole lot of questions that no one in her family will answer. It was good for what it was but not really my cup of tea.
40. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. So, right before a movie there was a trailer for the movie made from this. It looked intriguing, we had the book at my store, and I had money. I stayed up til 3 a.m finishing it. I liked it, every single heart-wrenching second of it, until the last two chapters. I might have to pull a Deathly Hallows on this and rip out the offending part. It wasn't that it broke my heart (it did, we saw death hurtling towards us from the first page) but the sheer unfathomable idiocy of it just threw me off. I mean, I have to suspend my disbelief a little bit. This family is more fracked up than the most fracked up family I've ever experienced. That's a little stretched, for my tastes. But then it goes a step further. So, yeah, last two chapters = didn't happen. Otherwise, the story was well done.
41. Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelnor. I got this because there was a Sookie Stackhouse story in it. BEST DECISION EVER. I now have a ridiculous amount of authors to look into. As you'll see below, Jim Butcher was one. I also have the Vampires of Morganville series on my nightstand. Too many good things to read. I liked the diversity of subject matter. There was also a good selection of POC within the stories, something I appreciate. I have no idea about the writers, though.
42. Storm Front by Jim Butcher. So, uh, the previous book had a story by Jim Butcher in it. And everyone's been telling me to read Harry Dresden. So, I read the short story, fell in love, and here I go. I imagine it will not take long for me to get halfway through this series. In the meantime, it did encourage me to order the graphic novels for the bookstore. So, cool! I liked how human Harry is with his powers. He recognizes his limitations even as he seeks a more complete understanding. I was occasionally thrown off by the firsthand offhand comments, ala, "It's not easy for us wizards. But it's what we do." (NOTE: Not a quote. I don't have the book next to me to give you an exact example.)
43. Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Cruise, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich. Cute book but not a lot of substance. Since there was so much going on I didn't really get a feel for any of the guys they fell in love with which doesn't really seem a big deal. After all, this is about woman power.
44. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. Great book. I want to read the rest of the series, of course, but I some how ended up with two copies of the first book rather than a copy of the first and second. I know. Totally me.
48-Hour Book Challenge books:
45. The Forest of Teeth and Hands by Carrie Ryan. A
46. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine. A
47. The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn. A
48. Sexy by Joyce Carol Oates. B-
49. Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner. B
50. All We Know of Heaven by Jacquelyn Mitchard. B+
51. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson. B+
52. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible! by Jonathan Goldenstein. I wanted a few people, who I thought had the right sense of humor, to read this. Turns out none of them are religious and probably won't get half the stuff going on because they are unfamiliar with the source material. That seems a shame. I'm sure non Bible readers can enjoy this but I feel a lot of things come across as an inside joke.
53. Skin Trade by Laurell K Hamilton. I've invested a lot of time in this series. Enough that I figured spending four hours on her latest book made more sense than not. And there were definitely some parts that I really liked. I'm pretty sure. But I'm a college educated woman who, not to toot my own horn, is pretty intelligent. And I couldn't remember who was who and what they looked like and where they came from and why I was supposed to care. For, like, three-fourths of the characters in this book. Okay, so, Haven used to be called Cookie Monster and he has blue hair? And he worked for the mob. So he can't get involved with the cops. But he is her tiger to call? Wait, no, that's Crispin. Who is Crispin? Did I meet him. When? I liked Auggie. He worked for the mob. Is he in the same area? Why didn't I see him? Where am I? How am I not myself? Why am I still reading this?
54. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This book is amazing. My rule of thumb, though, held true: no happy endings in Nazi Germany. I cried through the last three chapters of this book. And yet, I think it brings up a pretty good point. At what point do we hold people responsible for going along with the crowd? When they do it without question? When they question but do not act? When they act but not hard enough? I do not have any answers. I recognize that there is always shades of gray but also that we like to soften history. We like to make our actions more palatable. Well written story that depicts almost every side a person could be on during that time. Tragic but ringing truth.
55. The Sisters 8: Annie's Adventures by Lauren Baratz-Logstead with Greg Logsted and Jackie Logsted. Sorry to 180. This was light, cute, and meant for a younger reading set than I normally gravitate towards. Still, I've always loved books/stories about large families, particularly with multiples. And there being 8 sisters all the same age? I think, target wise, that it is aimed more for girls. I might have my youngest brother read it, though, because it has the large family aspect. Will the girls ever figure out what happened to their parents? I'll let you know if I find out.
56. The Sisters Grimm: 1 by Michael Buckley. Now this, while still younger, is only a bit younger. It deals with more adult fare that is written superbly. If you are a fan of fairy tales you might give this a try. Tough as nails "orphans" (who find out what happened to their parents if not where they are being kept for rescue) aren't going to be fooled by anyone. Of course, the giant didn't exactly trick them. He just picked up the car with Granny in it and walked away. They can't turn their back on the only family they have left but they also know NOTHING about the family line of work: fairy tale detective sleuthing. YES!
57. Ghost World by Daniel Clowes. This really captures exactly the feel it was going for - I just didn't appreciate it. I have a trouble witnessing people be humiliated and I will forever be haunted by the guy they set-up thinking he was going to meet someone who he might connect with. We all want that in life. To connect, to be loved, to love in return. And he'd done all the right things. He looked normal (actually, nearly precisely like my dad which might be why it was hard on me) he was thoughtful to bring a flower, and he waited in case she was just running late. I fracking tear up thinking about it. WHY. WHY. Sorry. Like I said, haunted. I'm not sure I would recommend reading this unless you like depression and/or your awkward teenage years.
58. Guide to the Ghosts of Lincoln: 3rd Edition by Alan Boye. OH, man. You'd think this would be awesome, right? Ghost stories. TRUE ghost stories. True ghost stories set right here in Lincoln.
You would be wrong. This guy needs an editor, fast. Preferably someone who knows English. Because just the writing was atrocious. But the grammar, sentence structure, and flow were jacked up too. I would have cut out half the stories, edited the hell out of this, and maybe threw in a demon. Makes me want to read the 1st and 2nd edition. Did I mention the author is a narcissist? It was AWESOME how he inserted his own thoughts/feelings/day-to-day activities into EVERYTHING.
59. Finger Lickin' 15 by Janet Evanovich. Oh, man. See, the classic debate is Ranger vs Morelli. And I have to ask myself, why just one? I firmly believe in polyamory. Why can't all three of them live in the Rangeman apartments? It could work. Right?
Going on, favorite quote of all the books happens in this installment. Lula: Fire! Fire! We're all going to die! We gonna burn like we was in hell!
60. Disquiet by Julia Leigh. I reviewed this for the bookstore. It was a quick read, just a couple of hours, and utterly conveyed what it wanted. The only issue is that what it wanted to convey was a lot creepy. A family destroyed by another stroke of tragedy. A family held together by history. A family reborn through the fire.
61. Wake by Lisa McMann. Cute YA. Janie is pulled into other's dreams. Even when she is awake herself. Which is okay when you're ten but hazardous when you are a newly minted driver at 16. The book deals with abuse, alcoholism, class and self-determination. That's pretty hefty for a fantasy-based young adult book. Could never figure out how to pronounce the main guy's name, though. Cabel. Like, cable? Like Kah-bell? Dunno.
62. Fade by Lisa McMann. The sequel ratchets up the tension. Janie is discovering more about her powers. The police are asking her to do more for their investigations. (P.S. Throwback to 21 Jump Street.)
63. V for Vendetta by Alan Moore. They changed a bunch of stuff for the movie. We discussed this in my graphic novel book club. What is "dumbing down". What is just needed for the medium change. One thing I liked? They didn't change the Valerie scene at all. It was spot on perfect for both versions. When she says that she'll never hug or kiss you or drink a beer with you I just broke down. Because it isn't just the big things that won't happen, but all those tiny things that add up and make-up the human existence. Friendship, heartache, hard-work. All robbed. BROKE MY HEART.
64. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. I love Stephanie! I would like to see a scenario where she is with Ranger, Morelli, and Diesel. Like, she has a mansion and they are her boys. And they play nice. You know.
65. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Reading this for Young Adult book club. Since most of the readers are actually young adults I felt like the sexual situations might have been warned at. I don't want any parents getting pissed at me. That aside, I LOVE vampire politics. Hey, this also deals with class, abuse, and drugs. Wierd. Must be a sign that teenagers are mature enough to talk about real life issues. Emphasis on REAL LIFE. I, uh, went and bought the next two books. You know, instead of buying gas for my car. Whoops. This is what mass transit is for.
66. Anita Blake: Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton. A lot like you would imagine but Edward looks about ten years younger than I thought he would. He looks like a very, very, very hot (but psychotic!) 20-something looking for a good evening. God, Edward is the man. Good translation from book to graphic novel, though.
67. Wolfsbane and Mistletoe edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelnor. Granted, I don't like werewolves as much as vampires. However, this book was not as good as the other collection. Some of the stuff was truly ridiculous. As in, I felt like the authors did not know what "fantasy" means as a genre, and had some preconceived ideas, and then decided to make something completely fracking ridiculous because its fantasy, who cares? I care. Build me a believable world with politics and laws and infrastructure. Then tell me a story.
68. The Guardian by Dee Henderson. Still really religious. Still really awesome. I love the O'Malley family. They are in for some rocky roads with their sister's illness though. And I totally called the next book in the series. They are going DOWN. (The wedding aisle.)
69. Grandmother's Memories by Thomas Kinkade. This one is most important because it was a guided journal that my grandmother filled out for me. It is amazing, and dear, and freaking long. She typed out her answers so that she would have more space to write. She literally plastered over the Kinkade "art" to make room for writing. I just wish there was more of her handwriting in it.
70. Vampire Academy: Frost Bite by Richelle Mead. Darn this book series and it's addicting abilities. I love all the guys. And am fond of the girls. And want them to all end up happy. But I don't think it will happen.
71. Vampire Academy: Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead. I cannot wait for the fourth book to come out. Soon. Soon. The 25th. Oh, man. I love this series.
72. Impossible by Nancy Werlin. OH MAN. I loved the lyrical qualities of this book. Both literally, in relation to the musical theory of this book but also the way Werlin wrote. I felt drawn to the characters such that I cared for them. One of the first books in years that I had to turn to the end to know if I could handle the ending. (I could.) Main guy character is named Zach and I kept picturing Zac Efron. Weird, but worked based on the character.
73. Batman: Vampire by a bunch of guys. Doug Mench, Kelley Jones, John Beatty, Malcom Jones III. I found this so-so. I mean, Batman! Vampires! Creepy Tim-Burton artwork! It didn't solidify well, though. Also, it was one half contained story, one half short story-arc. I wish it would have gone as a one-shot or actually been long. Oh, well. It was diverting.
74. The Demon’s Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. I really, really liked this book. I liked that the main protagonist isn’t necessarily someone you would normally connect with. I liked the fact that it had a gay friendly character. One thing that I noticed, though, was that there was some light-hearted banter at the beginning. About 1/3rd in you see that disappear. It seemed inconsistent. I just felt that either Nick knew within himself that way of life and it should have been maintained, or that he truly couldn’t connect on that level and so the lighter bits wouldn’t have happened.
Though I loved him telling Alan to get into the kitchen and make him a pie.
75. The Nobody by Jeff Lemire. I liked every single bit of this graphic novel. I just wish that there had been more to love, you know? It feels incomplete. On the other hand, that feels very real. We so rarely have full closure when it comes to the events of our lives. I highly recommend this for graphic novel fans who like macabre mysteries.
76. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. Oh, man. This was super well written but it just broke my heart. Like, I cannot even face reading the sequel to it. I come from a large family so the whole FAMILY FIRST aspect really struck a cord with me. But…just…I cried too much to want to put myself through that again for the second book. Let alone the third. Let alone a new book is being released this summer. If you like tragic fantasy, though, go for it. Heh.
77. Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer. This was cute. I thought the end chapter recipes, cosmetic procedures, and such were a cute twist. I don't love this as much as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum. However, and this is sort of dubious at best, I felt Bubbles was a little more real.
78. Bubbles in Trouble by Sarah Strohmeyer. I guess I thought it was cute enough that I bought the next in the series. It turns out Bubbles isn't really more realistic. Unless that movie For Richer, For Poorer was more realistic than I thought. Think that, but Bubbles doesn't have a man by her side.
79. The Truth-Teller’s Tale by Sharon Shinn. God, I love Sharon Shinn. Even so, I didn't like this as much as my previous time with her. I wish there had been more opportunity to see how the previous book influenced this one. (Like, where was Reed?) I felt, maybe because necessity required two story lines, that each conclusion was more rushed. Still, I'll probably get the Dream-Maker's Magic.
80. Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier. DUDE. Well written, well written. However, I just can't get over the fact that I spent ALL of that first book falling in love with the family to the point that I, too, believed they were destined to be reunited as a family. Then the last book ends with them all separating now that the COULD be together. This one starts with, oh yeah half of them are dead. Why fall in love? I'm not sure I'll read the third book.
81. Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling. Weird that I hadn't read this yet. Right? Also, stuff keeps popping up that I'm not sure I support. Like, Dumbledore saying that Lucius Malfoy tried to get him kicked out of Hogwarts so Dumbledore tried to get him kicked out of being head Death Eater. Sure, it sounds funny. Haha, that Dumbledore! Rascal. Wait, wasn't that really bad for his kid? Draco spent two school years believing that unless he got over his natural aversion to actual torture/maiming his family would be brutally killed. I know, logistically, that Lucius would have had to be subverted to effectively bring down the Death Eater's efficiency. But, seriously, to go about such an important undertaking with those intentions?
Further, the book's footnotes explained that the greatest threat of muggles knowing about wizards is that THEIR FREAKING CHILDREN couldn't defend themselves. If the greatest threat to your world was that non-magical people were BURNING YOUR CHILDREN TO DEATH, I think that some open discourse is okay. I'm just saying, maybe that would have been a good rejoiner to Hermione? "You are bigoted and hate muggles for no reason!" "Buggles killed my great uncle when he was three." "Oh. Well." "Yeah." "I mean, they don't really do that anymore." "Yeah, I'm still wary." "Okay." "Okay."
Also, there were some fairy tales?
82. The Government Manual for New Wizards by Matthew David Brozik and Jacob Sager Weinstein. This book was amazing. Seriously. Go out and get it. Right now. The first ten pages make you think, "This is intended for an 8 year old." Keep with it. Few eight year olds know about Asimov's laws. Or would understand the joke about greeting a Fairy with "It is an honor to meet you" and greeting a Faerie with "It is an honour to meet you." Or the one about creationism that nearly made me fall over. So goooood.
83. Demonkeeper by Royce Buckingham. This is less exciting than I thought it would be and I was underwhelmed. Still a cute story, but there wasn't much substance. It is totally meant for a younger audience than I originally supposed.
84. Wonderland by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew. We will be discussing this in two weeks for my graphic novel book club. That I run. People think I know things? Yeah. I was excited by this, actually, because it draws the better elements of "Demented Alice" while making it retain a bit more of the original flavor. It is like the well blended child of the two extremes. Also, veryvery pretty.
85. Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn. I found this at a used bookstore. A mystery store, actually, but I didn't quibble. I'd seen this FOREVER ago and thought I'd give it a try. It's pretty pretty cover actually reminded me a bit of Broken by Daniel Clay. I liked the Heathers reference, the mixture of finding oneself and the knowledge that it's an ever-going process, coupled with teenage rebellion meets girl carrying a doll.
86. Blood Promise by Richelle Mead. I had to wait a month between devouring the first three books and this one coming out. Let me just say that I HATE the thing where they lure you into a series by releasing the first couple in cheap paper backs hoping to get people addicted. Then, when they succeed and people start reading the books, they switch to hardcover release to get more money. Seriously, that cardboard cover is worth $10 more?
That aside, I loved this. I liked where it is going and I spend at least a few minutes each week speculating on what will happen. I managed to love all the guys AND girls in this story. I wonder about Simon, though. I don't know why. I just do. I want more backstory there.
87. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. MUCH ANTICIPATED. MUCH LOVED. OMG! I devoured this book and already cannot wait for the next one. Can I just say that I'm in love with Cinna, Peeta, and Finn. Also, I would have Katniss' babies if that was an option/want/need. Though I think she needs a new name. Pronto.
88. Pride of Baghdad by Brian Vaughn. This broke my heart into a million pieces. Based on a true story the whole thing is an allegory. It is a pretty easy to figure out allegory, but that is okay. It has lush art. Also manages to inject humor into the story which I think is important because that is a very real human coping mechanism. It adds a sense of credence to the personification of the animals and it relieves some of the reading tension.
89. Speak by Laurie Haals Anderson
90. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
91. Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
92. Horns & Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson. This was a pretty cute book. Claire’s cousin Duke gets her mixed up in river magic. Claire was a very likable main character. She seemed real in that she grumbled about having to help but was ultimately always there for her family members. Helgerson also managed to work an identity crisis into the adventure tale. The cousin Duke comes across as slightly one dimensional but this was redeemed by the show stealing Stump.
93. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. The main character, Samantha Kingston, starts off as the type of person you love to hate. She’s pretty, thin, and popular but a little nasty with it. As seniors, her and her friends believe it is their place to put the freshmen “into their places”. They make fun of Juliet, class weirdo, in particularly cruel fashions. For all of that, though, you see hints of Sam’s core values. She believes in friendship, loyalty, and love.
After she dies in a car accident only to wake again on the same day Sam begins to change. Here is the meat of the story. Her reactions are infinitely human and even more impressively - actually reflective of teenage life. She doesn’t want to tell anyone because she thinks they’ll call her crazy. After the third day she does whatever she wants because no one will remember. She plays sick and has a free day. Day after day she discovers little secrets about people and sees how small actions reverberate throughout each others lives. More importantly, she sees how she can make a difference in both life and death.
By the end of the book you love Sam. Not because she goes back on her friends of before and her life from before but instead because she embraces those who love her despite their flaws. Be it her insecure and rude best friend, the unpopular boy who crushes on her while wearing crocs, or her family that accepts her mood-swings and all. In death, Sam finally learns the meaning of life. I swear to the goddess, I’m in love.
94. Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri. I really liked this book even though the introduction was somewhat formulaic. I’m so glad that I stayed with it through that first rough spot. I’ll warn you that the end sort of falls into this category. The characters, though, were amazing. They were identifiable by their vices and weaknesses yet managed to often attain a well-rounded portrayal. They were greedy, mean, selfish and gloriously self-aware the entire time. Favorite quote? “Selling your soul - it’s not like that. It’s something you keep doing every day. It’s something you can stop doing now!”
95. Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris. This set off some warning bells for me. Yes, you finally get the solution to the whole Cameron(sister) issue. No, I won’t tell you. But the Harper/Tolliver relationship really drives me crazy. I kid you not. It’s just…ew. I could never think of my step-siblings as potential mates/lovers/partners. Sorry? No. No, I’m not sorry for that.
96. Need by Carrie Jones. I found this an interesting faerie story. The ending was both incredibly unrealistic (even given the parameters of there being faeries) and yet spoke to my baser instincts. Revenge motivates people sometimes. Its part of being human (as opposed to being a faerie.) So, I’m glad I read it. I was intrigued and I was satisfied. It didn’t spark that special something though.
97. Harry Dresden Files #2 by Jim Butcher. Yeah, so, I just started reading this series again. Now that I had some time to devote to utterly inhaling the series. Oh, man. I’m satisfied. It feels like each one gets better and better.
98. Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande. This book finds a way to combine faith in god and faith in science. It was definitely intended for 12-15 year olds in language and the way it handled the subject matter. Still, I would recommend it for book clubs, school lit, and young adults. It might spark some controversy but I believe in healthy debate.
99. Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin. This is some weird mash-up of historical fiction, biography, and straight-up history. This is the story of Alice of Wonderland’s inspiration - Alice Liddell. The real Alice, the Alice who had to grow up, and the consequences of a life that isn’t a fairytale.
100. The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb. DUDE. Obsessed Batman. This is classic noir complete with jerky tough cops, criminals that aim for the heart, and a voice-over mantra that imprints itself on your memory. A series of comics released once a month for a year, from one Halloween to the next, creates the backdrop for a Batman that is separate from criminals only by intent. Dark, gritty, and AMAZING.
101. Epileptic by David B. Talk about break your heart. David B tells the story of growing up from multiple facets. He’s a son, a grand son, a neighbor, a brother and a young man during a vulnerable time. His brother, who is epileptic, shadows the entire story. While everything doesn’t happen because of him…everything tangentially connects back to the core. This was an amazing read but was very, very intense.
102. The Imposter’s Daughter by Laurie Sandell. I liked reading this. I liked it the way I like reading People Magazine. Occasionally, with indulgence, and aware that it’s a bit silly. The main character claims to be over her father issues. Yet she devotes an entire book to the subject. She claims to be separate from his grandiose claims and yet she name drops with the best of them. I liked that the art very much got the point across. You could tell who was who without it being very formal. It was an easy, relaxed read. I prefer Fun Home for father-daughter tell-alls though.
103. Harry Dresden Files #3 (Grave Peril) by Jim Butcher. Still like it! I love Michael (and could leave his wife) but the thought of magic being equally part of the world where faith has power = amazing. Also, ghosts played a large part of this. I found the whole thing fascinating.
104. Harry Dresden Files #4 (Summer Knight) by Jim Butcher. Like I said: it gets better each time. The Winter Court versus the Summer Court of the faeries. You might have guessed I like faeries. Its true. So, the way the courts played an always rotating game of power was cool. Power structures in stories always fascinate me because it’s a sign of good world building.
105. Harry Dresden Files #5 by Jim Butcher. I literally ran out to buy number six. Well, okay, figuratively. I had to wait until the bookstore reopened.
106. The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley. Similar to Memoirs of a Geisha except written less well, more lasciviously, and with less to say about the world around us. So, there you go.
107. Sweet, Hereafter by Angela Johnson. This is the third in a series about Shug. I will admit that this was an ARC that I was reading to review…so I never read the first two books. I do want to now, though. This was sparse. Short chapters (to draw in the teens) made each one seem vastly important. Only the most important words, thoughts, actions got put to paper. It was heart wrenching and I felt like I had come through the other side of something after finishing it. It is a timely piece that speaks about war, what love means, and who counts as family.
108. High Stakes by Erin McCarthy. Blah. This even had power structures, and vampire politics, and all those things I look for but remained formulaic and blah. This is a series. I don’t want to own the rest of the series so…
109. Vision in White by Nora Roberts. First of a new series. Now, I LOVE Nora Roberts. Like, stalker-worthy almost (this is hyperbole. I do not now, nor have I ever, stalked Nora Roberts). Four friends open a wedding planning business. Each on has separate functions, with their own business attached, that they run. Mackenzie runs the photography. She has employees to help in certain areas, does her own thing on the side, and is the person taking pictures when the wedding starts. Laurel does cakes and desserts. (They contract catering out based on the clients wishes. People get their dresses, etc elsewhere. Hair/make-up come in on their own.) Parker manages everything to a big capital T. Emmaline does flowers and décor. They work together, love each other, and are now all falling hard for good men. All is right in the worlds of Nora Roberts.
110. Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud. I read this when a customer leant it to me. He knew I was organizing the Graphic Novel Book Club at Indigo. I really liked seeing it. It let me know (and speak of) some of the behind the scenes things going on. Generally we talk about dialogue and story structure and the art for novels. This let me know about font, placement, flow and etc. Good grounding.
111. Life Sucks by Jessica Abel. VAMPIRES. So, what if you were a vampire? And you still had to have a job, get home before the sun shine killed you, and follow directions of people higher in the hierarchy than you. Yeah, life sucks. But there’s always the chance of love.
112. Spirit Seekers by Some Nebraska Nurse/Local Author. I read this forever ago. I’m not sure why I never wrote anything about it until the 7th hour. However, I didn’t think this book was a good fit for the store so we didn’t buy it. I found it in need of a good editing, polishing, and a few changes to the story. So, uh, not so shining.
113. 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man by Matt Kindt. I loved the art in this. There were mixed media elements that made were so amazing for what they were - old fashioned advertisement, fake photos, almost collage work. It was very smartly presented. There were a few detractions from them, though. I didn’t really feel like there was a lot of substance to the “history” - more an overview.
114. Parker: The Hunter by Darwyn Cooke. This graphic novel was based off of a book series. This is the first and only adaptation to be allowed use of the name Parker. That’s why that Mel Gibson movie Payback has a character named Porter. This book was a faithful adaptation. It is truly a pictorial telling of The Hunter. Violent, misogynistic, and slight insanity in all of their glory. I’m eager for the next one to come out - with Parker’s new face.
115. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop. Shae lent me this series. There are some parts that are seriously messed up. On the other hand, who can’t help but love a world that points out where our society has gone wrong by flipping gender roles. The first time a guy said that women were hassling him about being “easy” because he got together with a girl he thought mutually loved him I went…wait. What? Oh. Oh. Clever.
116. Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop. The story continues. More bad guys. More clever good guys. Deep mysticism. Drama. Love. Politics. Everything I could have wanted.
117. Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop. The only background character that I liked died. Of course. Thus making me super sad. However, the story ends with hope. So, I’ll give you that. It was a wild ride, Anne Bishop.
Re-Reads:
Twilight 1-4 (sad to say)
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris. (This is my favorite Sookie Stackhouse book.)