karenmarie's 75 book challenge for 2009

Last year was the first year I've ever recorded everything read in a year. I'm looking forward to doing the same for 2009!

My goal this year is to read more of the books in my 999 challenge than just random books. I learned a lot in the 888 challenge about what works and doesn't work for me, so I hope that this year's 75 books and 999 challenge books are closely aligned.

Each book will have title, author, date started, date finished, rating

January
1. Napoleon's Pyramids by William Dietrich 12/28/08 01/04/09 ***1/2
2. Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston 01/04/09 01/11/09 **1/2
3. The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter 01/04/09 01/06/09 ***
4. Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah 01/06/09 01/08/09 ***1/2
5. China Road by Rob Gifford 01/08/09 01/22/09 ***1/2
6. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett 01/12/09 01/14/09 ****
7. What Time Devours by A. J. Hartley 01/21/09 01/24/09 ****
8. The Perfect Scent by Chandler Burr 01/24/09 01/28/09 ****

February
9. Justinian's Flea by William Rosen 01/28/09 02/07/09 **1/2
10. On the Fifth Day by A. J. Hartley 02/07/09 02/08/09 ***1/2
11. The Mask of Atreus by A. J. Hartley 02/08/09 02/11/09 **1/2
12. Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth 02/11/09 02/16/09 ***
13. The Egyptian Coffin by Jane Jakeman 01/29/09 02/20/09 ***1/2
14. Chasing Shakespeares by Sarah Smith 02/20/09 02/23/09 ***1/2
15. Austenland by Shannon Hale 02/23/09 02/24/09 **1/2
16. Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer 02/25/09 02/27/09 ***1/2

March
17. Blindspot by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore 02/28/09 03/04/09 ****1/2
18. Thigh High by Christina Dodd 03/05/09 03/06/09 **1/2
19. And the Desert Blooms by Iris Johansen 03/06/09 03/06/09 **
20. Night of Sin by Julia Ross 03/07/09 03/08/09 ***1/2
21. In the Woods by Tana French 03/08/09 03/13/09 **** almost ****1/2
22. Virtue by Jane Feather 03/13/09 03/14/09 **
23. Storm Front by Jim Butcher 3/14/09 3/15/09 ****
24. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher 03/15/09 03/18/09 ***
25. Stupid American History by Leland Gregory 03/18/09 3/20/09 ****
26. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher 03/21/09 03/22/09 *** 1/2
27. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher 03/22/09 03/25/09 ***
28. Gallows View by Peter Robinson 03/25/09 03/27/09 ***1/2
29. Green Tea and Other Ghost Stories by J. Sheridan LeFanu 01/14/09 03/30/09 **1/2

April
30. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett 03/28/09 04/30/09 ****1/2
31. Those who Hunt by Night by Barbara Hambly 04/01/09 04/05/09 ***1/2
32. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe 04/05/09 04/08/09 ****
33. The 39 Steps by John Buchan 04/08/09 04/09/09 ***
34. The Secret Wedding by Jo Beverley 04/11/09 04/12/09 **1/2
35. A Precious Jewel by Mary Balogh 04/12/09 04/13/09 ****
36. Dancing with Clara by Mary Balogh 04/13/09 04/14/09 ***1/2
37. Tempting Harriet by Mary Balogh 04/14/09 04/14/09 ***1/2
38. A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh 04/14/09 04/15/09 ***1/2
39. The Nonpareil by Dawn Lindsey 04/15/09 04/17/09 **1/2
40. The Ideal Wife by Mary Balogh 04/19/09 04/19/09 **1/2

May
41. Don Juan and Deirdre by Jo Beverley 05/01/09 05/03/09 **1/2
42. The Final Detail by Harlan Coben 05/04/09 05/06/09 ***
43. One False Move by Harlan Coben 05/06/09 05/07/09 ***1/2
44. Deal Breaker by HarlanCoben 05/08/09 05/09/09 ***
45. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks 05/11/09 05/13/09 ***
46. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris 05/18/09 05/19/09 **1/2
47. Say it with Poison by Ann Granger 05/20/09 05/22/09 **1/2
48. Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier 05/22/09 05/23/09 ***1/2
49. A Pirate of Exquisite Mind by Diana Preston 05/23/09 05/27/09 ***1/2

June
50. Uncivil Season by Michael Malone 06/10/09 06/12/09 ****
51. Time's Witness by Michael Malone 06/12/09 06/20/09 ***1/2
52. The Tory Widow by Christine Blevins 06/21/09 abandoned 6/23/09 **
53. First Lady by Michael Malone 06/23/09 06/28/09 ****
54. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson 07/01/09 07/05/09 ****

July
55. The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater 06/28/09 07/07/09 ***
56. Alone by Lisa Gardner 07/07/09 07/08/09 ****
57. The Rapture by Liz Jensen 07/10/09 07/12/09 ****1/2
58. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin 07/13/09 abandoned 7/18/09
59. A Test of Wills by Charles Todd 07/18/09 07/20/09 ****
60. The Forge of God by Greg Bear 07/20/09 07/25/09 ***1/2
61. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson 07/25/09 07/26/09 ****
62. The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu 07/27/09 abandoned 07/28/09

August
63. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson 07/29/09 08/03/09 **** 1/2
64. Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter 08/03/09 08/07/09 **1/2
65. Death Masks by Jim Butcher 08/08/09 08/11/09 **
66. Knowledge of Angels by Jill Paton Walsh 08/12/09 08/16/09 ***1/2
67. A Café on the Nile by Bartle Bull 08/16/09 08/27/09 ****
68. Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All by Christina Thompson 08/27/09 08/29/09 ****
69. The Rapture of Canaan by Sherry Reynolds 08/30/09 09/01/09 (4 a.m.) ****

September
70. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut 09/0609 09/08/09 ****
71. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 09/12/09 09/15/09 ****
72. The Murder Stone by Charles Todd 09/15/09 09/19/09 ***
73. A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd 09/19/0909/22/09 ***
74. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell 09/22/09 09/23/09 ***1/2
75. Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman 09/23/09 09/24/09 ***1/2
76. Isabel's Bed by Elinor Lipman 09/24/09 09/27/09 ***
77. A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie 09/27/09 09/28/09 ***1/2
78. Nemesis by Agatha Christie 09/28/09 09/30/09 ***1/2

October
79. The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay 10/01/09 10/03/09 ***1/2
80. Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie 10/03/09 10/05/09 ***1/2
81. After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell 10/05/09 10/05/09 ***1/2
82. Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling 10/05/09 10/06/09 ***1/2
83. Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie 10/07/09 10/08/09 ***1/2
84. Passage by Connie Willis 10/09/09 10/14/09 ***1/2
85. The Battle of Waterloo by J. Christopher Herold 10/15/09 10/17/09 ***
86. Murther and Walking Spirits by Robertson Davies 10/16/09 10/20/09 ***1/2
87. World Without End by Ken Follett 10/21/09 10/28/09 ****

November
88. Viruses, Plagues, & History by Michael B. A. Oldstone 10/28/09 11/13/09 ***
89. Over My Dead Body by Rex Stout 10/31/09 11/01/09 ***1/2
90. Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas 11/02/09 11/02/09 ***
91. The Bone Vault by Linda Fairstein 11/03/09 11/05/09 **1/2
92. Land of Echoes by Daniel Hecht 11/07/09 11/12/09 ***1/2
93. Bag of Bones by Stephen King 11/12/09 11/22/09 ****
94. Gerald's Game by Stephen King 11/22/09 11/27/09 ***
95. Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews 11/28/09 11/29/09 **1/2
96. 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill 11/29/09 11/30/09 ***

December
97. The White Rhino Hotel by Bartle Bull 12/1/09 12/7/09 ****
98. The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen 12/7/09 12/11/09 **
99. The Devil's Oasis by Bartle Bull 12/11/09 12/20/09 ***1/2
100. Sunstroke by Jessie Kellerman 12/10/09 12/22/09 **1/2
101. The Dark Lantern by Gerri Brightwell 12/23/09 12/25/09 ***
102. Trouble by Jesse Kellerman 12/25/09
103. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan 12/13/09 12/31/09 ***1/2
104. Trouble by Jesse Kellerman 12/18/09 12/31/09 **1/2

Started
John Adams by David McCullough 05/31/09
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond 04/09/09
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 07/07/09
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe 08/03/09
This is Not Civilization by Robert Rosenberg 10/06/09

AudioBooks in 2009
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows
I started these audiobooks on January 1st and finished the 7th book on May 18th.
8. Mayflower by Nathan Philbrick 05/31/09 06/17/09 ****
9. The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto 09/22/09 10/09/09 ****
10.Duma Key by Stepen King 10/11/09 11/03/09 ****
11. The Genius by Jesse Kellerman 11/03/09 11/17/09 ****
12. Dreamcatcher by Stephen King 11/17/09

Admirable goals! We'll help encourage you should you need it. :)

Thanks, Severn! I've fallen off the wagon this month - only read one 888 challenge book and am (happily) wallowing in trashy romances and Hamish Macbeth mysteries by M.C. Beaton. I hope to get this silliness out of my system before January 1.

Heh...I was reading dreary stuff, so I've read action fantasy and nostalgic young adult fiction....silly is great sometimes. :)

Everybody needs a little silly sometimes. I call them BC (brain candy) books.

Like yin and yang providing the balance of life, thus light-hearted and intellectual provide a balance to our literary world.

So true. I'm still wallowing, although I have cracked open my November ER book The American Journey of Barack Obama. I lost track of time yesterday reading the beginning and forgot to make the salad for dinner at my in-laws - fortunately I was able to grab everything up and make the salad there.

My 999 challenge is already changing - I got the Easton Press leather-bound editions of Jane Austen's books so I'm making an Easton Press category and will pick 3 of the other 4 Easton Press novels I have. What a wonderful surprise from husband and daughter!!!!!

Karen,
Let me know what you think of that book. I still haven't figured out what I want to read for Obama in the Presidents Challenge.
Cheli

My recommendation: The Audacity of Hope because it deals so squarely with the many of the issues facing our country in this time. Rather than a puff piece or quickly thrown together biography/memoir, it deals with issues in a commons sense way. I am left to wonder if he deals with the issues as President the way he describes them in this book.

Oh I spect there'll be more than enough books about Obama to choose from over the next four years.

First book of the year finished, Napoleon's Pyramids. This is one of those books that you have to think about after you've finished. I was a bit deflated at the end, thinking it wasn't thriller-ish enough or something-enough, but I read the historical note and realized that it is quite subtle and better than I deserved.

#2 The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn. This is one of a series of Inspector Morse mysteries, the first one by Colin Dexter that I've read. It was very well done and I particularly liked the fact that Nicholas Quinn's deafness was an integral part of the story - what he lip-read and what the results of that information were. I found it a bit tedious at the end because there were a few red herrings and it felt like it dragged a bit. However, it was well written and articulate with good chacterizations. I will read more Inspector Morse books as I find them.

Always good to see the other 999ers threads! I'll be back.

#3 Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah. A wonderful book, sad, informative, puzzling. I've posted a rather extensive review. If I figure out how to link the review here, I'll come back and do so.

>14 karenmarie::

1) Go to your home page.
2) Click on Reviews
3) Find the review you want and click on the little chain link symbol below it.
4) Copy what's in your address bar to the clipboard.
5) Now come back here and type:

<a href="PASTE CLIPBOARD HERE">Interview</a>

Thank you TadAD!!!

Okay. Here we go.

Falling Leaves Review

You've unleashed a monster. I can see myself becoming link happy.

Tad, are you double posting these instructions on your html post?

>17 suslyn:: Umm, no. I'm eating a bagel.

lol! would you? Every time I see one of your instructions on these threads I try to post them on my profile comments so I can use them later. They almost always don't post so I can read them... You know how hard it is to find 'that post' you saw 'somewhere' -- and you've been sharing a lot of good stuff!

I just finished What Time Devours by A. J. Hartley - found it at the grocery store. I very much enjoyed it. There's not too terribly much to it besides being a thriller, but I liked the hero and felt that the author captured academia pretty well. It's about Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Won - a missing play. Thomas gets caught up in the search for it. Bad guys, interesting information about Shakespeare, champagne, and Westminster Abbey. A satisfying read.

ooh sounds fun. Wonder if it would be in my grocery store? LOL

I don't go down the magazine/book section of the food store very often any more because I get so many books via BookMooch and the Thrift Store, but the other day I just couldn't resist. And out of all the schlock, here was this little interesting sounding gem! It was definitely worth paying retail, because now I've found a new author AND gotten his two other books via BookMooch.

#20: I'm with Susan, karenmarie. It does sound fun! I will have to look out for both the author and the books.

I just finished The Perfect Scent and loved it!

Here's my review: The Perfect Scent Review

Loved the review of The Perfect Scent. Made my allergies flare up just reading about all those scents, lol.

I BookMooched A.J. Hartley's two other books, The Mask of Atreus and On the Fifth Day. I really enjoyed On the Fifth Day but was very disappointed with The Mask of Atreus.

A. J. Hartley has a new book coming out March 3rd called Act of Will which sounds interesting.

I'm just getting ready to start Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth, an archaeological thriller set in Baghdad in 1914.

Ooh, that sounds good, I'll be checking to see if you like it.

Land of Marvels sounds like something I would really like, karenmarie. I cannot wait to see what you think of it.

Hi beeg and alcottacre - I really enjoyed Land of Marvels. I wouldn't call it the thriller it's billed as because the pace is mostly so slow, but I appreciated its subtleties.

Land of Marvels Review

message 18

Tad...
I laughed right out loud when I read your response to suslyn...

Now then, you are a computer wiz and a comedian? Incredible..(I'm smiling)

I was dithering around trying to find the next book to read on Friday and came up with Chasing Shakespeares by Sarah Smith. It wasn't even on my 999 challenge, but I managed to find a spot for it. I really enjoyed it.

It inspired me to re-watch Shakespeare in Love. And, I might even dip back into Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson.

I've just read two Pride and Prejudice related books, Austenland which was only okay, and Darcy's Story, which was quite a good read.

Darcy's Story Review

I'm going to read Blindspot next, by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore, an ARC I should have read by now.

I'll go backwards another 50 or so years, still firmly embedded in the past.

I thought the same thing about Austenland, I"ll check out Darcy's story. Just finished watching The Duchess Amanda Foreman and wonder how good the book is?

Great minds, eh, beeg? I've only gotten about 20 pages into Blindspot but so far it's very good.

I've spent most of the morning putting in about 50 books to BookMooch and taking them out of my LT library. Time consuming, much!

#33:
I wasn't fond of Darcy's Story, myself. I thought it cribbed too many passages from P&P. Now I kinda want to check out Austenland to see if my opinion matches with both of yours!

#35 The thing I liked about it was that it did crib the passages. That reinforced it's authenticity for me.

I'm about half way through Blindspot by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore. It's a very interesting and richly detailed book that grabbed my interest from the first page.

#35: This is ending up to be a perfect example of how different things work for different readers! I was expecting a complete original novel written from Darcy's POV. So I was disappointed when I skipped reading 1/3 of the book because they were Austen passages. I'll admit that it might be influenced by the fact I had read my first Austen, P&P, that year... so a partial re-read might have been extra grating on me.

I'm wallowing in romances right now, trashy and historical fiction. Nothing serious sounds good. Fortunately I've found a few new ones at the thrift store.

That's some of my favorite reading. Life is serious enough without always reading serious, too.

agreed! I think that is why I am reading YA books these last few months. Work is stressful and it is nice simply to read something delightfully simple.

Two wonderful books:

Blindspot by Jane Kamensky and Jill Lepore. Here's my review: Blindspot Review

In the Woods by Tana French. Here's my review: In the Woods Review

I just adorerd both these books - they were serious, engaging works of fiction.

Now back to a trashy romance:

Virtue by Jane Feather - a BookMooch book.

Karenmarie, nice review of In the woods I clicked on your green thumb and added it to my list.

Thanks, beeg! I absolutely loved that book and can't wait to get my hands on her 2nd book The Likeness!

I discovered Jim Butcher on Friday when I found the first 9 books of his Dresden Files at the Thrift Store for 50 cents each.

I've just finished the first one, Storm Front and loved it. I was going to start something else for my bookclub, but my hand grabbed the 2nd one instead, Fool Moon!

congratulations! you are now a hot review :)

Yeah...Congratulations karenmarie. I also noted that you rec'd. hot review status for In the Woods. It was very well written!

Thanks, beeg and Whisper1! I've changed my home page so that I can see hot reviews closer to the top - I wouldn't have even noticed but for you guys pointing it out. Fleeting fame!

I have been off the wagon most of this month - Dresden files books including the THIRD one, trashy romances. I did read my ER book, Stupid American History: Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and Mythconceptions by Leland Gregory. It was fluff, but enjoyable fluff.

What I'm really doing is putting off reading Paris to the Moon, my RL bookclub book for our April meeting. I haven't opened it yet and just can't seem to get the energy up for it.

And, we've got Pillars of the Earth for our May read! I read it in 1991 or two on the recommendation of the General Manager of the company I was working for and remember loving it. Gotta get the energy up to read it again.

Karenmarie....Like you I read Pillars of the Earth back in the early 90's and really enjoyed it then, but I decided to re-read it prior to undertaking world without end which I'm hoping to tackle in May or June. Anyway, I'm really glad I did the re=read--I had 'disremembered' a lot, and there were several scenes I didn't remember at all. Enjoy. ( it's out on audio too--a gorgeous narration by John Lee

Thanks, tututhefirst for the encouragement. It's sitting on the shelf staring at me. I got it for $1 at the thrift store, which makes it special. I love getting deals. They make the reading sweeter.

I finished the third Dresden files book this morning and have been busy planting spinach and pea seeds, playing cards with my daughter, and now futzing on LT for a while. Next is Band Boosters Treasurer stuff for a while, then perhaps a book..... the question, always, is which one?

I'm envious of all you who are putting in spring gardens...We still have snow up to the pan of the pedestal bird bath in the yard. We won't be past frost until sometime in May. I remember living in Virginia when we always put in the peas on St Pat's day, so I have resigned myself to supporting our local CSA farmer who has gone to the expense of putting in plastic covered 'greenhouses' to get a head start, and buying my veggies from him.

Maine! I would say so that you won't be past frost til May. Our last frost date is end of April, but the peas and spinach like cold. Late April or early May I'll put in the summer garden - cucumbers, pole beans, tomatoes, herbs, zucchini, and, if my daughter will help, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, and pumpkins.

We were going to put in some cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower this weekend in addition to the peas and spinach, but daughter has a cold and I didn't want her aggravating it and can't do it by myself. (55 isn't terribly old, I keep telling myself, but the back and feet protest when I do too much!) It will be getting almost too late, but we'll do it next weekend.

In the south here, yesterday I pulled up all the carrots, planted bell pepper, eggplant, green beans and squash. I'm still waiting for my garlic to finish up so I can have it's bed. Got the herbs in as well.

And now I'm sore from all the stooping, pulling and squatting.

Well...I'm sitting here looking out at snow showers....but when you all are dying of heat, I'll be perfectly happy out in my gazebo watching the tide roll in while I sip lemonade and read a book...

ah, Tina..You make me long for Princeton Maine in the summer as I sit on the shore overlooking a tremendous sun set, a glass of wine and good book in hand.

Drat, now I remember the nasty mosquitoes and black flies that swarm and bite...

I lived in Connecticut for 3 years and remember the summers as short and sweet. What I remember about Maine were the stunning fall colors.

For about a week or so in early spring I regret the passing of winter. Our winter went late this year and we actually had two snow storms, one in February and one in March, so this regret was about a week ago or so. But, now with the forsythia and redbuds blooming, the daffodils up and the trees budding out, I'm getting spring fever!

I may not be sitting outside in the gazebo because I'd die of heat stroke, but spring and fall in North Carolina can hardly be beat.

I just devoured The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, an ARC courtesy of Shelf-Awareness.

I'll probably write a review in the next day or so. I have a few reservations, but overall the book is well worth reading.

Regency romance time! I snagged several old Mary Balogh romances at the thrift store for 25 cents each and now cannot resist reading all of them!

So much for The Pillars of the Earth and Guns, Germs, and Steel, both of which are excellent but much weightier.

I seem to be in a frivolous mood.

LOL, I can't escape the regencies, either. I just finished The Convenient Marriage even though I thought I would give the genre a rest for a bit.

Hi Cauterize - I noticed that on your thread. Did you like it better than These Old Shades? I love them both for different reasons, but seem to remember your disliking TOS.

#59: It was better... I liked how Horry was an imperfect heroine (the stammer) and how she was spunky in asking Rule to marry her. And I liked how it was obvious that he liked her spunk right from the beginning. But... I felt the last 50 pages were unnecessary and boring (the whole bracelet debacle). The book was waaaay better than TOS because I actually liked both characters of the couple even if I didn't love all of the plot. Rule was funny! If I could have waved my wand, I would have had part of the story about Horry going to Paris on the honeymoon and becoming the fashionable, charismatic lady she is when she gets back to England.

Hooray! I finally finished The Pillars of the Earth. 973 pages, and it took me almost a month. It was an amazing book about medieval England from 1135-1174. I can't even get my mind around the idea if a review yet - we'll see.

If you love historical fiction, or architecture, or Church history, or just a good story with lots of historical detail and sweeping adventure, you should read this book.

yes I do - thanks!

I finished People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks last night.

Here's my review: People of the Book review

For those of you who love archaeology, historical fiction, the panorama of history, I would like to recommend The Source by James A. Michener.

Reading People of the Book reminded me of it because they both use the same plot device - see my review for an explanation.

Congratulations for your "hot review" found on today's home page for your comments re. People of the Book!

Thanks, Whisper1! It's very flattering for people to flag my reviews.

Boo flunk! I was mildly disappointed with Dead and Gone, book 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris.

Here's the review: Dead and Gone review

I'm currently reading the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris. I hope to start the sookie Stackhouse series next. And, someone else here on LT mentioned they were also disappointed with book 9.

Interesting comments...while I love the Harper Connelly series, I have never been able to get into Sookie...

Maybe try her Lily Bard books. She's definitely one of the more unusual heroines out there.

I spent some time in Barnes and Noble bookstore today and right smack near the cash register was a huge display of Charlaine Harris books. She must be very popular these days....or perhaps she has been popular and I simply didn't pay attention until reading two of her books.

I think she really took off after they made a cable series from her Sookie Stackhouse books (which after a couple they got kinda boring). True Blood is the name of the series on HBO or Showtime? I can't keep these things straight, it's got sex, sex, and vampires and sex.

Did I mention the sex? Sweet little X-men Girl all growed up.

Hi guys:

TadAD - I tried the first Lily Bard book and thought she was mean compared to Sookie. I really like Sookie's sweetness and Southern-ness.

tututhefirst: I enjoy the Harper Conelly series too. Her "gift" is very different from Sookie's, and I like the way the stories have gone so far. It may start to get complicated with her "brother" soon, though. I hope it doesn't detract from the books.

Whisper1: I had never heard of the books until my husband went book shopping with me one day. We were in the mystery room - McIntyre's Fine Books and Bookends in Fearrington Village (Pittsboro, NC) - and he handed me a strange book that was "The Southern Vampire Series". It was the fourth book and I loved it - went back and read the first three and have bought the next 5.

beeg: Hmmm. I was literally going to buy True Blood today after discussing it with my family last night at dinner. They haven't read the books but I thought it might be fun since we like Buffy/Angel. Is there really too much sex? I'm not prudish, but I was going to let my almost-16-year-old daughter watch with us. I think I'll still get it... let me know your opinionm of its appropriateness for above mentioned daughter. Thanks.

>72 karenmarie:: Yes, Lily is definitely hard-edged compared to Sookie. It didn't bother me because it made sense given her history. I guess what I liked about the Lily books was the gradual unknotting of her that occurred as the books progressed, from the "touch me and I'll break your arm" attitude once she recovered from the attack to someone who could fall in love with a guy again.

BTW, beeg's right about the sex in the show—it's there in a big way, emphasized much more than in the books. It doesn't have that porn edge, but it's definitely full frontal and fairly explicit. Almost-16-year-old?...at that age, my guess is that those scenes would be awkward and embarrassing moments for her (though, these days, the odds are that the kids have seen something like it somewhere, anyway), particularly some of the ones in the middle and later episodes. But, as with all things, it really depends on the child and your relationship with her.

I have mother daughter clients that both watch the show, but the daughter (who is 25ish) refuses to watch it with her mother -say's it's too embarrassing. I would save it for myself it's worth watching. I think they have the characters nailed, but they don't fit the descriptions at all. If that makes sense? Not your Buffy/Angel series, this one is for the grown ups.

Thanks guys. I'll watch a few episodes and see if watching it with my daughter makes sense - she and I have watched some interesting stuff together. So far we haven't felt awkward watching things with sex in them together, but if this is more explicit or intense it may bother her.

Weighing in on Harris: Like Tad, I prefer the Lily Bard series to her Sookie Stackhouse series. I have read all of the books of both series and much prefer the character and development of Lily Bard. Just my 2 cents.

Well, here's another fan of Lily Bard, although I've only read several in the Aurora Teagarden series, not the Sookie Stackhouse or Harper Connelly series. I'm not overwhelmed with Harris's writing or characters, but her books are a nice cozy read--you know the mystery will be solved to everyone's satisfaction at the end and they are fast reads. I discovered her books on 75er threads, although she does seem to be all over the book store displays these days.

Hey Prop2gether and alcottacre - I guess we'll have to differ! I put the Lily Bard book on BookMooch as soon as I finished it and it went right away.

The whole family tried to watch True Blood the other night, and after 20 minutes of the f word, much nudity and vulgarity, we turned it off.

I think I'll be fine watching it myself, it's just not appropriate with husband AND daughter in the same room.

I'm slogging my way through John Adams by David McCullough. I'm on page 317 out of 656. It's moving quicker now. I think I'm going to have a bit of frivolity this week and read the first Justin Savile and Cuddy Mangum Series book by Michael Malone. I have go research it..... be right back!

Ah. It's Uncivil Seasons. Michael Malone lives about 30 miles from me. His books sound wonderful (don't know if they actually are, yet!) and I've been bookmooching them like crazy.

>78 karenmarie:: ...it's just not appropriate with husband AND daughter in the same room...

Ummm, that's a bit of an understatement. You didn't even get to the middle episodes of the season, where things got even racier!

I've watched a couple more episodes of True Blood and pretty much decided the show stinks. I watched them by myself. Quite a bit of the interaction between Sookie and Bill is true to the book, but I don't like the actress they chose to portray Sookie's Gran, don't like Tory, don't like the level of detail they're going into in Jason's life. Plus the level of vulgarity is boring after a while.

I'll probably watch the rest of them, fast forwarding through most of the crap that's not Sookie.

I breezed through Uncivil Seasons and am halfway through the second book of the series, Time's Witness. What I really like about the series is that the first book was told from the point of view of Jason Savile, one half of the "Justin/Cuddy" team, and the second book is about events two years after the first book told from Cuddy's viewpoint.

I just finished listening to Mayflower by Nathan Philbrick about the Pilgrims. It starts in Leiden Netherlands where they lived for 12 years prior coming to America, and ends up in 1676 after King Phillip's War. I found it to be occasionally boring, but overall a very well written (and spoken) book that alternates quotes from first hand accounts of the times with insightful analysis and opinion.

>80 karenmarie:: I guess the sex sells. Too bad, because the books are much better balanced and, therefore, much more fun.

They are fun, aren't they? What did you think of the newest one, #9, TadAD?

>82 karenmarie:: I've got it, but haven't read it. Waiting for that moment when I need mind candy and my stack from the library is lowered a bit.

Ugh. I abandoned The Tory Widow, even though it was my March ER book. I am very disappointed because I really enjoyed Blevins first book, Midwife of the Blue Ridge.

Here's my review: The Tory Widow review

I'm going to start the 3rd Justin/Cuddy mystery First Lady by Michael Malone. I have loved his first two, Uncivil Seasons, and Time's Witness.

I hope you enjoy your next read more than you did The Tory Widow!

Thanks, alcottacre! I finished First Lady this afternoon and it was as good as the first two and infinitely better than The Tory Widow. I'm very pleased with the Justin/Cuddy series. Good characterizations, rich story line, interesting details about the part of the country I live in. All three books take their time to tell the story properly, no skimping or shallowness.

I hope Michael Malone writes more in this series.

I will start my May ER book The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy by Maya Slater next.

#86 I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy. I received it as an ER book too, and liked it well enough.

I'm about 25 pages in. It seems to tie less to P&P than Darcy's Story, for example. I'm liking it well enough. I find it interesting that the author has Darcy knowing Byron and being rather rakish and tumbling the servants at Netherfields. That would be in keeping with how most gentlemen of the times would act.

I'm 144 pages in and disliking it more with every page. But it's a lightweight ER book and I will finish it. Darcy doesn't "feel" like the Darcy I know from P&P, and that is very irritating to me. A bit of a change from where I was on page 25.

I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and absolutely loved it. Here's my review: Dragon Tattoo

Good review on "Dragon Tattoo". I need to track this book down, everyone seems to love it. I'm reading a terrific non-fiction book (new release) called Crazy For the Storm about an eleven year old boy that survives a plane crash in the mountains. Excellent stuff!

Thanks, msf59! It is a wonderful book. I pre-ordered The Girl who Played with Fire from Amazon using some Birthday Money and can't wait for the end of July!

I just finished The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy and started writing a review. As I wrote the review, I realized that I was quite possibly comparing it to the BBC version of P&P with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and think that I must re-read P&P to make a fair judgment.

It's on my 999 challenge for this year anyway, and I have a brand new Easton Press edition given to me by my husband and daughter for Christmas. Off I go!

when's the birthday? I'm the 25th! It'll be the big 50 for me! Oh noooo...

My birthday was June 26th and I turned 56.

Your birthday is the same day as my brother's, although he turns 54 and you're ONLY going to be 50.

You young thing, you!

I really enjoyed A Test of Wills by Charles Todd, about a shell-shocked policeman returning to his job after the end of World War I. The psychological problems that men had coming home from war are a main part of the book and handled well.

The mystery is a good one and although the ending was a bit out of left field (there were some hints of it) I thought it a good start to the series. I'm off to track down book 2 now.

I finished The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson yesterday morning, and it may even be better than The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. If you like thrillers or mysteries and love good, complex, startling stories, you'll love these books.

As of the last check this morning, I'm number 55 on the reserve list at the library. If past history holds, I should get it in a couple of weeks! *bounces up and down expectantly*

Only two weeks for 55 readers? Or do people have to respond within a certain time and if they don't they're bumped? Inquiring minds and all that.

The only reason I have it is that my mother gave me money for my birthday and I splurged on Girl. Otherwise I'd be going crazy waiting for it too.

Hi Karen- How are you? Long time, no chat! Glad you enjoyed the Larsson books. I have plenty of birthday money, so I'm planning on picking up at least the 1st one and go from there. I love good crime fiction. Stop by my challenge some time, miss you over there!

#97 - Yeah, a reserver has 10 days to pick up the book or it goes to the next on the list. And you can't renew books that are reserved, so there's a 3-week due date. Plus, I think they bought more than 10 copies.

My wife works in the main library in Phoenix, AZ and I can confirm that the more popular a book is or is expected to be, the more copies they buy, so the time you have to wait for a hold is shorter.

I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

It's a marvelous read, a book to make you feel good at the end. Terrible things happen in it, but you're left with the feeling that there are some very good people in the world.

Here's my review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

If you like epistolary novels, read it!

#101: I read it last year and loved it, too. Glad to see it has found another fan.

Karen

Like Stasia, I read this book last year. It is a gem. I love your review and gave it a thumbs up.

Thanks, alcottacore and whisper1!

Writing reviews is a great way to gather your thoughts about a book. I love going back and seeing what I thought immediately after reading a book then looking at it later on to see if I think the same.

I just finished my second Charles Todd book - the mother/son writing team - called The Murder Stone and just pulled A Duty to the Dead off my shelves and am looking forward to starting it.

I've devoured several books in the last couple of days.

And, Hooray!!!

I just finished my 75th book. It's been a great reading year so far, with lots more books on my list.

Congratulations on completing the challenge!

Congrats Karen!

congratulations!

Mission accomplished! Nice job, friend!

Well done!

Congrats!

Thanks everybody! I'm feeling particularly happy about hitting my goal.

I might join the 100 book challenge next year, although y'all are so wonderful that exceeding my goal in September might be something to look forward to next year too!

I just finished a very good and over-long book called Passage by Connie Willis. Here's my review:

Passage

Thanks for the wonderfully written review of Passage. This book reminded me of a movie I saw years ago. It was called Flatliners and it actually was quite good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatliners

Hi Whisper1:

I've heard of Flatliners but never seen it. Maybe I'll persuade my husband to get it. :)

I'm glad you liked my review.

It's funny - I read quite a few books but usually only write reviews for ARCs, ER books, or books for my bookclub.

This one screamed "review" about 150 pages in. I felt compelled.

I'm adding Passage to my ever growing tbr pile. I think I have 900 books to read. I haven't read anything by Connie Willis. I see her books mentioned a lot her on our group threads.

This is the only book of hers I've read so far.

I also have over 800 books on my tbr pile - they are actually in the house and on my shelves! Plus the 217 books on my Bookmooch wishlist. No duplicates. Sigh. I'm 56 years old - there are definitely too many books, too little time.

Aaack! I just actually checked my tbr tag - there are 944. That's way worse than I thought.

I really shouldn't buy more, but the thrift stores, library sales, and bookmooch are a good way to get books inexpensively.

I hear you...loud and clear!

I just finished World Without End by Ken Follett, the sequel (although it takes place 200 years after the first book) to Pillars of the Earth.

It was a very satisfying read although there was less about actual building than the first book. But the characters were well drawn, the story moved along nicely, and I really cared about Merthin, Caris and Gwenda.

World Without End wasn't as good as Pillars of the Earth IMO, but was still a good read.

Karen- I'm glad you enjoyed World Without End. It seemed to have got mixed reviews. You'll have to stop by the group read of it in January and see what people are saying!

Hi Mark: I'll try to remember to check out the group read. Thanks for the info.

I just finished listening to Duma Key by Stephen King. It's my first King ever. I always said I would never read King, but this audiobook called out to me from the library. It took me from October 11 until November 3rd to listen to it.

I thought it was fantastic. The reader was crisp, clear, differentiated the voices without exaggeration. The characters were interesting, the story got creepier and creepier.

I'm almost afraid to read another King..... I don't know how it could be better.

DUma Key's one of my favorites of his. It's got the spirit of some of his older works that I felt like he lost mid-career. If you want to try some other good ones, the classics are a decent start: Carrie, 'Salem's Lot, The Shining.

Thanks, drneutron! I just posted a "Give me a Recommendation" thread in the Stephen King Fans group but this is a great start. It will be interesting to see what they say over there, too.

Karen: The Stand is King's best in my opinion. That seems to be a bit of a consensus among King fans.

I'm trying to find King on Bookmooch.

Separately, I love Amazon! My husband got a $25 gift certificate for something he bought a while back. I've lost it and found it a couple of times but today bought

The City and the City Mieville and The White Rhino Hotel Bull

Hoo-ya!

I agree that The Stand is King's best. Though I admit that The Shining is a close second.

Hey Karen- Speaking of Mr. King, I was planning on putting Just After Sunset on BM, it's his latest short stories collections, so let me know! And as far as his earlier books, you can't go wrong with at least the 1st 4 or 5.
BTW, both of your new books are high on my "Want" list! Nice catch!

Hi Mark:

Thanks for the offer of Just After Sunset, but I almost never read short stories. I have his son's short ghost stories - 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill, and haven't even cracked that one.

I just got Bag of Bones from Bookmooch yesterday.

I've had City and White Rhino on my BM wishlist for a long time and no hits, so I finally broke down and used the coupon. I'm very excited about getting them. The one from Amazon has already shipped (I'm Prime, so everything's two days free). White Rhino is from a 3rd party, so might take a bit longer, but 've been patient this long so can wait a bit more.

Karen- No problem! Before you start Bag of Bones, you should try a couple of his earlier novels, which are incredible!

Mark:

I didn't know Stephen King had a new collection of short stories Just After Sunset. I'll have to pick it up sometime. I really like his comments about the stories that he usually has with his short story collections.

I am listening to a very strange King called Dreamcatcher - don't like the red moldy junk and the "weasels", but love Jonesie, Beav, Pete, and Henry immensely.

I'm reading my second Bartle Bull - The White Rhino Hotel, which takes place in Africa just at the end of WWI. It's fantastic, a wonderful read. I'm savoring it.

Karen- How are you stranger? The White Rhino Hotel is high on my list. It looks like my kind of book! I'm reading Half Broke Horses. Were you a fan of The Glass Castle? Hey, I started a thread on the 75 Challenge! I'm moving on up! Stop by and visit me friend!

Hi Mark!

I've been lurking on your 75 thread. I tend to lurk a lot. I'll come on over and check in.

I read A Cafe on the Nile first, the sequel to this one, but I'm finding that it doesn't really matter very much at all.

Is anyone out there like me in that I like Stephen King's novels, but don't find them scary? I mostly love the unique characters.

Books that I find scary are those about things that really happened, like In Cold Blood.

Hi Charles! Hope you're doing well.

I'm listening to Dreamcatcher right now, and although I think I'm past the really scary parts, I was really scared out and icked out by the "shit weasels" and the takeover of McCarthy and the woman... can't remember her name. Jonesie being taken over by Mr. Gray and his battle to retain his selfhood is pretty spooky too.

Gerald's Game wasn't scary to me, nor was Bag of Bones. Duma Key on the other hand, was really spooky there for a while with "Persey".

I'm really having a lot of fun reading/listening to King right now. I'm trying to find a copy of The Stand on BookMooch or at the thrift store but I'm not having any luck, so will probably break down and use a Borders gift card I got recently.

I lerve gift cards.

Hi Karen:

I'm okay, hope you are too.

Mark (msf59) and I swapped books. I sent him two of James Sallis' mystery novels (Jim's my teacher in the novel class) and he sent me Just Past Sunset by Stephen King

The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen.

OMG. The worst ER book I've ever got. Wait. No. It's tied with Any Given Doomday by Lori Handeland. I'm at work and they've some network settings that prevent me posting my review when I edit my book, so I've e-mailed it to my home e-mail and will post tonight or tomorrow. But, here it is.

**********************
The back cover of The Silent Governess has a blurb: “With stunning prose, enchanting characters, and a beautiful setting, The Silent Governess whisks readers away to Jane Austen’s England amid a flurry of romance, history, and mystery.” False advertizing.

I looked forward to this book and was surprised at how poor I found it. Here’s an example of stunning prose: “The woman swallowed, a bony ball moving within her thin, withered neck.” Ugh.

The enchanting title character, Olivia, thinks she’s hit her father over the head with a fireplace poker, leaves him for dead, and flees.

The enchanting title character’s romantic interest, Edward, finds out he’s not the child of the Earl yet is willing to live the lie and cheat the true heir. He also insists that Olivia play a mute to ensure that she won’t tell his secret. Then, they make this strange young woman who was spying on him, the governess to his cousin’s children. Nonsensical.

I grant you the beautiful setting, although the description leaves a lot to be desired too: “A tall, grey Tudor manor in an E-shape, with a many-peaked roof. “ Not at all like Austen’s description of Elizabeth’s reaction to Pemberley: “They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road, with some abruptness, wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; -- and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something.”

This book felt two dimensional and obvious. Scenes are set up to make Edward, the heir apparent, fall in love with Olivia the enchanting title character. People scowl, faces glisten with moisture (tears, to you and me), there are wry grins. Blue gazes meld.

The plot grinds audibly

There is no flow, no lyrical prose.

I only finished this book to be able to write a review, as it’s my November 2009 ER book. Well here it is. I didn’t like the book, didn’t like the writing style, didn’t like the characters, didn’t find it worth reading. Two stars, which in my rating system is bad.

i'm surprised you gave it any stars...everyone once in awhile we get books that are so bad, they don't seem worth finishing. They do however serve a purpose by giving us something to measure against. Of course, one could say that 1 over 0 is a 100% improvement..LOL

Thanks for the honest review...I can mark one off the TBR list.

tututhefirst - I guess I could rate it lower, but I went from top down on my rating list and my first thought was "bad". One star is "don't bother" - I could change it to that but I like to keep my first impression intact.

I didn't want to finish it, but it's my ER book. I've read every word of every ER book except one, that I only skimmed starting about halfway through.... a book about the Negro Leagues. Everything else has gotten full attention, even if I really despise it.

Lots of people like this type of romance and don't mind the writing style. I'm going to put it on BookMooch and see if there are any takers. One's man poison is another man's feast.

Karen and all: I got a free book from member giveaway. From the author. Self-published. So I'm supposed to write a review. But I'm underwhelmed, to say the least, still I don't want to hurt the guy's feelings. Maybe, from now on, I should refuse any free books that come directly from an author?

Thanks for the heads up, Karen. This one is definitely not making my wishlist. You got me at your first quotation about the "bony ball moving within her thin, withered neck". At first I grimaced, then I started laughing because I started to picture Popeye's girlfriend, Olive Oyl swallowing a pea.

Hi Charles: I personally have never gotten a book directly from an author, but I did read Christine Blevins first book, Midwife of the Blue Ridge and loved it. Got her second book, The Tory Widow as an ER book and hated it. But I wrote an honest review even though I know reading it would hurt her feelings, especially since we had done some corresponding by e-mail.

I'd write the review but probably put as good a spin on it as I could without compromising my thoughts about it. Not much help, I bet.

cameling - that sentence just tore me up. Even before realizing how much I was going to dislike the book, I dog-earred the page - something I just don't do anymore. That sentence was just soooooo bad. Yes, it does make one think of Olive Oyl, doesn't it?

I'm very glad to be reading a good book again - The Devil's Oasis. Good writing AND a good story. Sigh of happiness.

Ouch! LOL, a book tied with Any Given Doomsday? Such a mythical thing exists? :D

Yes, Cauterize! It's pretty bad. In fact, Any Given Doomsday actually had some well written parts, even if the story was predictable and overwhelmed you with too many types of creatures and boring sex. There is no beautiful prose in this book at all. And,no sex at all. I read the only other review of this book after I wrote mine, and that person loved the book! She said it was Christian, which I totally missed, although I did notice lots of comments about God. I just don't see these pathetic characters even trying to say they're Christian based on their actions.

My biggest problem with Any Given Doomsday was the icky rape being touted as hot sex (there were many other problems, as well!). But my latest ER book, Powers, was almost as bad, too. Surprising that it was sneakily Christian Fiction (nothing in the ER blurb or on the first page of the publisher website). I'm not saying there's anything wrong with CF, but I know I'm not the target audience for such books, and I'd rather known it was CF and have not requested it, so that someone who would be more interested could have won it.

Amen, sister! (joke)

I thought that "sex scene" was rape too (and said so in my review).

What a nice way to say it - "I know I'm not the target audience for such books"

I'm not either. I just checked out Powers - the publisher, B & H Publishing Group is the oldest publisher of Bibles in the country, as it turns out. I guess it makes sense to check out the publisher before getting the book. I should have checked out The Silent Governess's Bethany House too - it's a Christian publisher. Caveat emptor!

Sorry your most recent ER book ws a dud. I've gotten 12 ER books and 7 were good. 3 were exceptionally bad, all romances. (Any Given Doomsday, The Silent Governess, The Tory Widow).