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    • 2 people found this helpful

    Hectic Month

    Posted by Christine L, 4 years ago

    Hello again all. I'm back from the Dominican and my daughter is all married now! Good time was had by all! I was determined to get some reading done while I was there. Needless to say, not much of that happened. I have spent a little time over the last couple of days catching up on everyone's posts, and as usual, my TBR list is growing and growing.

    My meager list to finish off March.

    22. WHERE AM I? Why We Can Find Our Way to the Moon but Get Lost in the Mall by Colin Ellard. This was an ARC from Harper Collins and I posted a review on this site at www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/WHERE-AM-I-Colin-Ellard/978155468393-537829-Review.html

    23. MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON a collection of short stories by some of todays best known "supernatural" authors including Kelley Armstrong, Jim Butcher, and Rachel Cain. As the title suggests all of the stories were of the "supernatural" variety, were based on the honeymoon theme, and were for the most part light-hearted. It was a nice light read to take on vacation. It also introduced me to a new character by the name of Harry Dresden. I will definitely be checking out the books by Jim Butcher.

    24. CREEPERS by David Morrell. If anyone has ever given in to curiousity and walked through an old, abandoned building you will understand where the suspense in this book comes from. The "creepers" are a group of people who routinely explore these buildings. While exploring an old abandoned hotel scheduled for demolition they encounter slightly more than they bargained for.

  • Three New Authors For Me In March

    Posted by Bookworm, 4 years ago

    15. The Guernsey Literacy and Potatoe Peel Pie Society - Mary Barrows & Mary Ann Shaffer. Enjoyed this book. 4/5
    16. Picture Perfect - Fern Michaels - Love all her books. 4/5
    17. Plum Lucky - Janet Evanvoich - New author for me. 3/5
    18. The Tenth Circle - Jodi Picoult - Enjoy reading her books 4/5
    19. Plum Lovin' - Janet Enanvoich - Audio Book - Enjoyed 3/5
    20. Poison Study - Maria Snyder - New author - Loved this book 4/5
    21. The Vineyard - Barbara Delinsky - Good read 4/5

  • Getting caught up on March (Part 2)

    Posted by Bookmason, 4 years ago

    Move over cat mystery solvers - Chet is here to chase you right out of the scene. Great story brilliantly told from the dog's viewpoint. If you like mysteries and dogs you must try this.

    Part of my March list.

    Graphic Novels
    41/ Batman and Son - Morrison, Grant - Another partially good tale, missing pieces, I have to stop buying these collections from regular comics, and they leave one frustrated at the gaps. 3.0

    42/ Batman: The Man Who Laughs - Not Brian Vaugh's best, doesn't say much for the story when a week after reading it you can't remember anything good or bad about the tale. Back up story with Batman and Golden Age Green Lantern was better then title story. 3.5

    43/ Black Summer - Dark, bloody and truly a great comic. Warren Ellis writes truly thought provoking material whether in comic or novel form (Crooked Little Vein). He doesn't write to all tastes and doesn't pull any punches. A comic that opens with a superhero killing the President to save the country does grab your attention, even if President is George W. I rate this up with Watchmen near the top of superhero Graphic Novels. If you like graphic novels you should hunt this one down, I'm still thinking about it 2 weeks later. 4.5

    44/ Dark Tower: The Long Road Home Premiere - Bloody waste of time, paper and ink, for King purists only. Liked the first in this series but this one doesn't really go anywhere for most of the story, a little at the end, but first two thirds are just filler. 1.0

    45/ Hedge Knight - Sworn Sword - Martin, GRR - Not as good as the first, too much back story, not enough about the main character. Companion story to Martin's Fire & Ice fantasy series to hold you until next book arrives in a year or two. 3.0

    46/ Serenity Volume 2: Better Days - Josh Weldon - More please, loved the TV Series, loved the movie, if in a comic is the only way to get more I want more. 4.0

    47/ The Joker - They must have seen early cuts of Heath Ledger as Joker. Scary stuff, told from a henchman's point of view. Barely a bat insight, highly recommended. 4.0

    48/ Joker's Last Laugh - Silly, stuff, but fun. Unfortunately ruined as parts of the story in companion comics aren't included in Graphic novel. Marvel and DC need to learn to put entire story properly in Graphic Novels. It is very frustrating when notes in the story tell you to read elsewhere and they aren't included. Fine in a monthly, but not in a collection of the story. 2.5

    49 & 50/ Justice Vol 1 & 2 The best Justice League of America tale of all time, unless it ends poorly. - Thought this was only a two-parter and I'm left with a cliff hanger ending headed into 3rd book which isn't available in Kingston. Beautiful art, great story will need to track end of this down soon. 4.0

    51/ Weapon Omega - Marvel - Canadian Superhero, easy avoided, bought for the cover and though okay not something to recommended to anyone but comic enthusiasts. 2.0

    52/ Death of Captain America - Volume 3 - Death of Cap saga reaches as good a conclusion as a comic ever does. 4.0

    Books

    53/ Post-American World - Zakaria, Fareed - Brilliant look at America's role in our fast changing world. Every politician in the world should read this, lessons not just for America but for the rest of us as well 4.5

    54/ Resolution - Parker, Robert B. - Wonderful follow up to Appaloosa. Parker's sparse writing and wonderful dialogue says more then vast expository passages do in many other novels. Even if you don't like westerns give these a try. If you don't read the books, you can rent Appaloosa starring and directed by Ed Harris which is a brilliant adaptation of the first book. 4.0

    55/ Dog On It - Quinn, Spencer - Yes, move over mystery cats there is a new hero in Chet the Jet. A great first novel in what hopefully will be many more fun adventures of Chet the failed K-9 (he'll tell us about that later) and his partner (not owner) Bernie the PI. Loved this from start to finish and look forward to a follow-up. Told brilliantly from the dog's point of view, the description of riding in a car with his head out the window will strike any dog owner as brilliant. Highly recommended. Long wait until next January for book 2. 4.0

    56/ Monster - Myers, Walter Evans - Written from the main character's POV in film script style this YA title tells the story of a 16 year old on trial for murder in New York. Very effectively told story, ending leaves some open ended issues that I still haven't reached a conclusion on. Great story for teen boys as it outlines the seriousness of just being associated with the wrong crowd. 3.5

    • What Parker conveys in a few lines of dialogue is surprising. 2nd in Cole & Hitch series, in many ways a better tale then the first - Appaloosa.

    • Great YA title for teen boys about risks of association and choices. Very easy to read as it is written from POV of main character as a film script. Sparse, direct and believable.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    Getting caught up on March (Part 1)

    Posted by Bookmason, 4 years ago

    All hackers and you know who you are should read this!

    A bunch of Graphic Novels and a few books. End of the fiscal year and I had money to spend for the work library. Then lousy weekend of weather to read a bunch of Graphic Novels before I took them to work.

    33/ Drawing of the Dark - Powers, Tim - Fantasy - Beer and magic, what started as good as Guiness went a little flat like an Old Milwaukee by the end. 2.5 ( I did a review of this earlier in the month)

    34/ Azincourt - Cornwell, Bernard Another in Cornwell's excellent fictional recounting of actual historical events. A very bloody and almost unbelievable tale told mainly through the eyes of an archer. Highly recommended. 3.5

    35/ Amnesia Moon Lethem, Jonathan - Lethem sure may not be to all tastes but he is definitely got a fan in me. This is a very strange SF novel about dreams and reality that I thoroughly enjoyed this one again. 4.0

    36/ Beddle the Bard Rowling, J.K. - Very short, not all that great, for the Potter geeks out there. Found the extras by Dumbledore to be more distracting then helpful. 3.0

    37 & 38 - All Star Superman Vol 01& 2 - If you love Superman, you must read these. Best Superman story I have read since Death of Superman 15 years ago. 4.0 Graphic Novels

    39/ Downhill Lie Hiaasen, Carl - Laugh out loud funny for the hacker out there. You know who you are or you know a couple. Hiaasen hits it right, in his writing if not the golf, throughout the book. 4.0

    40/ End of the Alphabet Richardson, CS Odd little story about what one man does when he finds out he only has 30 days left to live. I liked it, but recommend it only if you get it from the library, way overpriced 3.0

    • 1 person found this helpful

    #8 - Blood is the new Black

    Posted by Brittney Thiessen, 4 years ago

    My newest read Blood is the new Black by Valerie Stivers, was interesting and wickedly-chic, combining both vampires with the fashion world. The main character Kate, joins the newest and most fabulous "it" magazine company, and soon realizes that her co-workers are somewhat different. When bodies start turning up and anyone is the suspect, it's up to Kate to save the day, while finding out a secret from her past. A really good book.

  • Books 33 and 34!!!

    Posted by Amy Peters, 4 years ago

    Back again everyone with two more books finished I'm getting more excited as I approach the number 50!! Excited because I can't believe I've found this many books that I truly enjoy. So these two books are technically re reads. However it was well over two years ago that I read these books and there part of a series that I accidentally read out of order. Opps not a mistake I plan on making again!!

    Book 33: Sandstorm - James Rollins- I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before but I love James Rollins!!! And I think its safe to say any fans of Dan Brown or Stephen Berry and Clive Cussler will certainly love these books. This book is a stand alone book or can be seen as a prequel to Rollins' Sigma Series. I love all of his books but I particularily love the Sigma series and the first character we meet as part of this team of killer scientists is Painter Crowe by far my favourite!! I love the history and religious mythology ( I say that carefully because not being particularily religious I can't say how much is true and who is fiction)

    Book 34: Map of Bones - James Rollins - I know I mentioned that I had read this series of books out of order so this is techincally the first book in the series and I think I accidentally read it second. The first time around I didn't like it much because I had already read The Black Order which is the second book and I absolutely loved it. It was the book that started my on Rollins. However after the second read of Map of Bones and having re read Sandstorm previously it made the book a whole lot more enjoyable and I of course had a great appreciation of the continued story lines and character's that popped up from Sandstorm.

    So anyone interested in reading these James Rollins books about killer scientists a la Indiana Jones better start reading fast because his next book is coming out in June!! Happy adventure reading everyone!

    • 3 people found this helpful

    Book 28, 29, 30: The Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare

    Posted by Liz (Midnight Bloom), 4 years ago

    The Mortal Instruments trilogy is one of my favourites and I absolutely love them! I always read them again and again! In anticiapation for when City of Glas was released into stores, I re-read City of Bones and City of Ashes so that everything was fresh in my memory.

    Shadowhunters (demon hunters), werewolves, vampires, warlocks, and faeries, topped with romance, witty/sarcastic dialogue, lovable characters, lots more action, suspense, plot twists, and surprises- how can you go wrong?

    Book 25- City of Bones
    As Clary Fray is swept into a world she knows nothing about, she takes us readers along for the ride. One thing is for sure... Clary's life will never be the same as she searches for her mother while also seeking one of the Mortal Instruments, the Mortal Cup.

    Book 26- City of Ashes
    Clary knows now that she can never be normal again. Her mother may be saved from Valentine, but she still won't wake up. And of course, Valentine, having escaped with the Mortal Cup at the end of City of Bones (the first novel), is up to no good again and has some unfinished business.

    Clary may be with Simon now, but she still loves Jace, even though she knows that she can't ever be with him (if you've read the first one, you'll know what I mean, but it not, then I've saved you by not spoiling it...).

    Book 27- City of Glass
    I'm sad that the trilogy is over but if there was any better way to end it, I can't think of any better way. Clary must travel to the City of Glass in order to find the cure to save her mother and there's the final showdown where Clary and Jace must face Valentine in order to stop him from trying to kill all the Downworlders (vampires, werewolves, etc) and his evilness.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    Book 27: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

    Posted by Liz (Midnight Bloom), 4 years ago

    Emotionally gripping, I couldn't put this book down until I was finished it, which was only a couple hours after I began.
    After Caitlin's perfect sister suddenly runs away on Caitlin's 16th birthday, her family is left devastated at to why she would do such a thing. Her parents, especially her mother, are withdrawn and are taking it very hard.

    Caitlin feels lost- like a part of herself is slipping away and that she's just invisible. She's been living in the shadow of her sister but now she doesn't know what to do.... all she knows is that is she wants to make her own path.

    Then she meets Rogerson Biscoe. Smart, rich, mysterious- she feels like she can be anyone when she's with him. But he's a bad influence, and soon, it becomes more dangerous for Caitlin to be with Rogerson than without him.

    I wanted to help Caitlin, even though I couldn't. Her life is getting out of control but she doesn't know what to do.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    Book 26: After River by Donna Milner

    Posted by Liz (Midnight Bloom), 4 years ago

    I began reading After River with the hope that it would be a great novel, but after reading more than 50 pages, I was soon getting disappointed.... The novel tells the story of 15 year old Natalie Ward and how when River arrives to her family's farm just outside Atwood, B.C for a job, Natalie's life is changed forever. 35 years later, Natalie now lives hours away from the town, with the intention of never returning. But when her estranged brother calls, telling her to come home and that their mother is dying, she can longer avoid it. The novel flashes from between when Natalie is a teenager to the present.

    I really did try to like the novel more, but it was too slow paced for me and I found that it was actually making me feel really tired after reading it. I struggled to complete it for that reason.I kept waiting and waiting for when I would learn what it was that had changed Natalie's life, but it seemed to never come. It was only after 2/3s of the novel had occurred that it finally happened that by the time it came, I had already lost interest.

    One of this year's nominations for the White Pine award.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    Book 25: Death at Deacon Pond by E.M. Alexander

    Posted by Liz (Midnight Bloom), 4 years ago

    Within the first few pages a murder occurs, thus hooking readers to learn the identity of the murderer. When Kerri Langston stumbles upon the body, she sees a vision of how the man had died violently. Kerri doesn't want these visions, but she still can't help herself by trying to help solve the crime.

    The reason she hates the visions is that when her father, a police officer, died 3 years ago, her vision told her that he had been murdered, but everyone else believed that it had been suicide. The police wouldn't believe her, and now her family life is not the same as it once was....

    To make things worse, her best friend, Seth, who she also has romantic feelings for, has been implicated as a suspect.

    Kerri has to figure out what to do.... is Seth the murderer? Or can she clear his name? And how does this murder relate to her father's death?

    I enjoyed this easy to read YA novel, but I've still read much better.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    Book 14- The Sweet Far thing by Libba Bray

    Posted by Ligeia, 4 years ago

    This is the last in the Gemma doyle series, and I am content with how everything ended. This book was substaintially large then the previous two and seemed almost daunting. Though each part of the book contained a clear path until the end. It seems to be a story about growing up as a woman, but also just the idea of power and how it corrupts. It was overwhelming reading this- the emotions in it are incrediably real. Although many might not like the sci-fi ascpet to this book, it seems to aid in the story instead of being the main focal point. 5/5

  • March Books and Feb Graphic Novels Concluded

    Posted by DLOTS, 4 years ago

    As March comes to an end I find that the months book count has reached 5, a vast improvement over January and February’s 1.

    The Books:

    6. Stonefather……………………………………………………Orson Scott Card
    This is a novella that leads into an upcoming new series that Orson is currently writing. I listened to an audio version of this as I was unable to find any other version. Not really willing to spend $50+ on a hardcover novella just because it had a low print run. I later found out it was part of an anthology called Wizards. Reviews of that book have left me with the conclusion that this was the best thing in there so I don’t really see myself picking that one up. I will be grabbing this new series once it begins though.

    7. Mystic Quest: The Bronze Canticles Vol 2………………….Tracy and Laura Hickman
    Taking place 20+ years after volume 1 we barely see the characters we cared about in the first book and find ourselves having to make do with their decedents. This has never been my favourite plot devices. I understand the author(s) are trying to make this sweeping epic story that takes place over all these years but I much prefer my trilogies to be limited to a narrower time line. If the series is successful, make up another trilogy of events that happen later on.

    The Graphic Novels:

    30. JLA: Golden Perfect – When Wonder Woman’s lasso breaks truth gets turned on it side and old wives tales start to work their way into reality. Definitely different for a JLA book.
    31. Batman: Private Casebook – A Collection of Paul Dini’s work with the caped crusader. Villains include Scarface now with a new puppeteer and Catwoman.
    32. Batman: Ego and other Tales: A collection of Batman stories from Darwyn Cooke. I noticed a repeat story from the Tim Sale collection in here.
    33. Hellblazer: Freezes over – Brian Azzarello brings Constantine to a bar in the middle of nowhere is snowed in and a good old fashioned who-dun-it ensues with a Hellblazer twist. The murders seem to be the work of an Urban Legend of the area known as The Iceman.
    34. Kingdom Come – Wow. This epic takes place on an alternate earth where the superheroes we know and love have all retired and the new group just doesn’t live up to the old regimes principals. Possibly one of the best superhero graphic novels I’ve read in the last year.
    35. Ultimate Fantastic Four: Devils – The FF travel back in time to save family members as a wizard from waaaaay back tries to break out from his impenetrable prison. Ultimate FF doesn’t hold a candle to the normal FF.
    36. Star Wars: Empire Vol 4 The Heart of the Rebellion – A bunch of stories that take place amongst the timeline just before Ep IV A New Hope through Ep V The Empire Strikes Back. Mediocre at best.
    37. Spider-man: Brand New Day Vol 1 – Review posted in my profile.
    38. Spider-man: Brand New Day Vol 2 – Review posted in my profile.

    Whew. Now I’m just 7 GNs behind in my posting.

    • Enjoyed this one much more than the second in the series. Hope the 3rd book ties it all togeather.

  • 22 -25

    Posted by Cathy, 4 years ago

    Maybe I can make it to 100?

    22. Yarn Harlot -by Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee
    A must read for all knitters! While I may not be as extreme as the author (my yarn stash is easily confined to a single closet and I limit myself to three ongoing projects at a time), I could relate to her funny and touching stories about her needles-and-yarn obsession.

    23. Twilight -by Stephenie Meyer
    I understand the appeal of this book, and since I own the series, I’ll probably read all the books. However, to me the story was melodramatic. I prefer my teen heroines sassy with a sense of humour.

    24. Pattern Recognition -by William Gibson
    My son gave me this science fiction book for Christmas. Set in the present day with technology driving the plot, I think it could be as easily categorized as fiction. Well written, but not an overly-exciting story.

    25. Water for Elephants -by Sara Gruen
    I wasn’t sure that a Depression-era circus story was going to appeal to me, but this wonderful book is deserving of every accolade it has received.

  • 30/50 Still Alice by Lisa Genova

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

    • 4 people found this helpful

    26) A Certain Slant Of Light - Laura Whitcomb

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    A Certain Slant Of Light Laura Whitcomb

    -Message Deleted-

  • #20 The Climb

    Posted by Lisa Voss, 4 years ago

    After reading Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer many years ago my father recommended and loaned me The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev and G. Dewalt ?. Both deal with the disasterous 1996 Mount Everest expeditions. Krakauer was with Rob Hall's expedition who lost 3 or 4 climbers (including guide Rob Hall) and Anatoli Boukreev was a guide with Scott Fischer's expedition. Scott Fischer perished on that climb. Krakauer felt Anatoli was to blame for several of the deaths even though he personally rescued 3 stranded climbers from his group. The Climb is Boukreev's version of events.

    I found both books fascinating. I don't know why anyone would ever want to climb that mountain and am not surprised at the number of people who do not survive. With each author being in a different group the perceptions of the climb are not the same. Anatoli Boukreev died in an avalanche shortly after his book came out so he couldn't respond to the continued accusations and criticisms against him.

    I may now have to reread Into Thin Air as I remember being angry at the climbers (including Krakauer) who stayed in their tents ignoring Boukreev's call for assistance. I don't think anyone who hasn't actually experienced high altitude climbing can understand how much it takes out of you.

  • Books 29 to 32!!! Wahoo!!!

    Posted by Amy Peters, 4 years ago

    Ok I'm back again!! I've finished reading four more books to post about. I'm so proud of myself that I've kept up with this. Not so much the reading I had a feeling that I tend to read at least 50 books in a year but I've never kept track of it. So thanks to everyone who has responded to my posts because that is what has really kept me going.

    Book 29- Dead House - Linda Fairstein: Creepy creepy!! I love her books because of the little pieces of history that Fairstein has added to the plot. And of course I love Mike Chapman as much as ever.. I know a lot of people have problems with his character and think he's obnoxious, sexist and racist. But I think it makes him more real and I think a lot of what the character says has a lot to do with the coping with the job.

    Book 30- Bone Vault - Linda Fairstein: Once again an amazing back drop for all these incredible stories that Fairstein writes. I've never really wanted to visit New York city all that much but after reading these novels and finding out the places she talks about eating at are all real places to visit I'm finding myself wanting to make the trip more and more. Oh and I don't like Jake.

    Book 31 - The Kills - Linda Fairstein: Again I love the history that Fairstein uses in her books but maybe that's just because I'm a history buff. But I'm also a bit of conspiracy theorist buff a la X-Files and I got a kick out some of that in this book.

    Book 32 - Entombed - Linda Fairstein: Again loved this one!!! I'm sure I never mentioned that I minored in English Lit. So how could I resist a tale woven around Edgar Allan Poe!! Other then that all I have to say is Oh Val!!!

    Guess that's it until I get the next two books in the mail!! I ordered them today so I should see them early next week. I hope. In the mean time I've decided to go back to an old favourite James Rollins but there is a method behind my madness. He's coming out with another book in the Sigma Series this June so I'm going to go back and read the books again.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    18 & 19

    Posted by Lisa Voss, 4 years ago

    18. Black Dogs - Ian McEwan. I was disappointed with this book. I've read several of Ian McEwan's books and this was the first one I didn't like. I do like his writing but this one simply bored me.

    19. Secrets of a Family Album - Isla Dewar. Maybe it was my mood but I really liked this book. It's a year in the life of a family based in Scotland. John and Mattie, the parents are having a year of bickering, Lily, the eldest might be a bit too good, Marie is living with a secret involving the break up of her marriage and Rory is simply having trouble committing. The book is a light read that made me both laugh and cry and what else can you ask for from a story.

  • 28 & 29/50

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

    • 4 people found this helpful

    Harrison, Harrison, Hopkinson, Harris

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 4 years ago

    Doesn't that sound like a law firm? I didn't do it on purpose. You'd think I was reading the H section of my bookshelf or something.

    Also, I see I've used the word "bleak" twice in this batch of titles--stylistically I should probably change it, but really, no other word quite suits, especially for the first book of this post.

    24. Light by M John Harrison. This book felt like it was written by a person in the late stages of a horrible acid trip. I couldn't get through it quickly enough. Bleak, terrifying and sometimes confusing.

    25. Skin Folk by Nalo Hopkinson. See my review; this was a strong collection of short stories by the talented author of Brown Girl in the Ring and Midnight Robber.

    26. Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris. Third in her mystery series about a woman who sees dead people after being struck by lightning. Much bleaker than the Sookie series. Harper's frailties make her the kind of character you worry about.

    27. White Witch Black Curse. A poor entry in a series that has always been patchy. Harrison (Kim, that is) needs better editing. Her writing and plotting are just too weak to carry the series any further, despite a charming world and a sympathetic main character. I think I'm giving up on it.

  • #20 -- A Deserter's Tale By Joshua Key and Lawrence Hill

    Posted by Joanna, 4 years ago

    A Deserter's Tale is the disturbing story of an Americian soilder who after his first deployment to Iraq decided to walk away from the war, flee across the border to Canada. This true story tells us why Joshua could no longer believe in the integrity of the US Government.

    This story touches on the theme of should we follow orders if we know what we are told to do is illegal and immoral.

    I first heard of this book a couple of years ago at a writers festival in Saskatchewan. I was attending a session with Lawrence Hill. Mr Hill was very passionate about this story and said that Joshua was living in Saskatchewan while waiting to hear from the Canadian government.

    Thanks to Lisa Voss for letting me know that I could find this book in the Bargain Bin at chapters.

    For anyone who has ever wondered about the Weapons of mass destruction and what was really happening in Iraq tis book is a must read.

    4****

  • #10 Introvert Power, Laurie Helgoe

    Posted by Eileen, 4 years ago

    Introvert self help

    First there was black power, then gay power, now introvert power. This self-help counsels us to embrace our introverted tendencies, stay home if that's what we really want and just say no to parties. I liked the book and would recommend it to anyone who wishes to be more comfortable with being an introvert. Written by a psychologist, it has good quotes from introverts and 'famous people', a few exercises, and doesn't take itself too too seriously.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    19

    Posted by Amanda Augustine, 4 years ago

    19. Double Cross - James Patterson

    It's been awhile since I read a Cross book, and found this to be an okay book. It had everything, but I think there was something missing, and I can't just quite put my finger on it. It was a fast and easy read, but nothing memorable. 2.5 *'s

  • 16-18

    Posted by Charity, 4 years ago

    Before I forget to post these (because with everything else going on, I would definitely forget to do that)

    #16 The Mammoth Book of Tattoos ed. Lal Hardy
    A lot of pretty pictures (with a few questionable tattoo designs as well) to celebrate the art of tattooing. Short bios for the artists give you a sense of their style and attitude towards what they do everyday (some call it passion, some see it as art, and some just do it for the paycheck). Missing in action were Kat Von D, even though everyone else from her shop are included. And even more annoying, no Canadians were featured at all.

    #17 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
    Ever have someone rave about a book and you wonder if the hype is justified? I kept hearing about this book from a friend and finally I decided to bite the bullet and it was completely worth it. Such a good read that really makes you want to fight against everything that is unjust and unfair. You will cry, and you will celebrate and you will really, really be mad when you realize the next book doesn't come out until September! I will likely do a review of this title when I have the time to really collect my thoughts about it.

    #18 Death's Daughter by Amber Benson
    Oh, I so wanted to like this book. I have read other things by Benson but this was just not good. I should mention that everything else she has done has been a collaborative effort and I am thinking that she is the idea girl and the other person does the actual writing. Because while the idea is pretty fantastic, the writing is pretty awful. Where Hunger Games makes me want to review it because it is so great, Death's Daughter makes me want to review it as a warning. And I knew from the first two lines of the book that I was in trouble but I finished it, even if it did make me consider physically throwing the book on a few occasions. Again, I will be writing a review at a later date to give you a little more to think about should you so desire.

    My reading in the near future may be in jeopardy as my books are packed and I can't really buy anything until I have finished moving. This means I am stuck reading what I can get my hands on, which might actually be an interesting experiment. We'll see......

    #7 - Eternal

    Posted by Brittney Thiessen, 4 years ago

    My lastest book read was Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith, because i mostly enjoyed the author's previous book so I decided to give this one a chance, that and the plot was interesting, an angel and vampire, not something that you read everyday. The characters Zach the angel and Miranda the vampire were great as well as the story, but i found it to be a slow read, finally picking up towards the end. This book was good but could have been better.

    25) The Dead Girl's Dance-Book 2 In The Morganville Vampires Series - Rachel Caine

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    The Dead Girl's Dance Rachel Caine

    -Message Deleted-

    • 2 people found this helpful

    #7 and #8

    Posted by Lins, 4 years ago

    So my 7th and 8th books for this year are Harry Potter Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. Half Blood Prince was my favourite Potter book out of the 7. It was more about the relationships of the characters and I just thought it was wonderful! Really getting to know the begining of Lord V. and watching the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore grow to a new level made everything to just fit together so perfectly!
    Deathly Hallows was an amazing adventure! so much action and adventure! I think it really rapped up the final details well and didnt cheap out. Ron is my favourite character and was from the begining and he finally stood out in this book as his own. Im sad now that its all over, but at least I can always just pick 'em up and start again when I miss Hermoine, Ron and Harry. These books truely are must reads!

    • 3 people found this helpful

    14. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

    Posted by Peachy TO, 4 years ago

    The Gargoyle is a divine marriage of contemporary and historical fiction. It's hard to believe that this is Davidson's first novel. Although grotesque at times, the creative imagery that we're presented with will leave you physically disturbed and emotionally drained.

    To read my complete review of this enchanting tale please visit my blog at www.booksnakereviews.blogspot.com or my indigo proile.

  • 8. Spanking Shakespeare - Jake Wizner

    Posted by Julie Woo, 4 years ago

    This book is on the "20 books to read before your 20" list, and I thought it sounded funny. The main character, Shakespeare, is a senior high school student who is writing his memoirs for a writing class. Shakespeare writes about all of the embarassing events that have happened in his life, his younger brother, Gandhi, is more popular than he is, he has never had a girlfriend, etc. It is really funny in a cringing sort of way.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    7. Addition -Toni Joran

    Posted by Julie Woo, 4 years ago

    This book is about a woman, Grace, obsessed with numbers. She counts everything, and I mean everything. Grace meets Seamus and they begin dating, he convinces her to see a therapist and the book deals with Grace's journey and how she accetps who she is. The book was hard to read sometimes, all of the counting was a little annoying, but overall I really enjoyed it.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    Mixing it up

    Posted by Denise Nielsen, 4 years ago

    24. The Fogou - this old kids adventure novel (by Kenneth Ireland) was given to my son by my husband’s great aunt last week. So of course I read it and though it was a bit dated, it was a fun read. I had never heard of a fogou before – so I got to learn about iron-age caves at the same time.

    25. Hornet Flight by Ken Follett – I forgot to take a book on vacation with me so in the few minutes I had last week, I picked up one of the books my husband had brought with him. This was a satisfactory, quick-paced spy thriller about a Danish resistance member who discovered a Nazi communications base and knew he had to inform the British authorities somehow…

    26. Nights of Rain and Stars by Mauve Binchy – My husband’s grandmother was in Florida for my birthday (wish I had been!) and when I saw her last weekend she gave me a box of chocolate biscuits and two Mauve Binchy novels. She and I share a love for Mauve’s novels, and I read this one first so I can give it back to her as she hasn’t read it before. Like most of Binchy’s novels this one is engrossing and sweet. Set in Greece, it intertwines the lives of four travelers and two local characters, and though I knew it would be a happy ending, I couldn’t put it down until I had finished and the world was once again as it should be – only better. Fans of Mauve will enjoy this novel, which is as gentle as a soft summer rain.

  • I wish I knew what colour my birthday was

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 4 years ago

    18. Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis. See my review, if you haven't already heard me go on and on about this awesome book in one of my other posts.

    19. Lord John & the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon. Slighter than her other work--this book contains several shorter stories--but still charming. I actually prefer the Lord John books over her others due to the interesting military content and less emphasis on romance.

    20. Hero by Perry Moore. Thom is a lonely teen who's short of money, wishes he had a boyfriend, and doesn't know how or whether to come out to his distant father. He's also a superhero, in a world where powers aren't much of an asset. This coming-of-age story started with a terrific premise and very sympathetic hero, but got a bit scattershot at the end, with all kinds of plot twists that weren't really necessary. Still, I'd read more by Moore.

    21. Broken Angels by Richard Morgan. Yes, I had to read it again, just because I like it so much.

    22. Bone Dance by Emma Bull. The main character is unlike any other I've read, and manages to keep some powerful secrets from the reader without feeling at all gimmicky. The world is also fascinating and believable.

    23. Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. Tammet, a savant, has memorized and recited pi to 22,514 decimal places, and learned Icelandic in one week. Unlike some other autistic savants, Tammet is high-functioning enough to run an online language-learning business, find love with a normally-functioning partner, and articulate his unique mental processes in this engaging memoir. Anyone who's read Temple Grandin's fantastic memoirs will be interested in this one too. The most fascinating thing to me was his discussion of synaesthesia, of which I hadn't previously read any detailed firsthand accounts. Apparently the number 9 is tall and looks a bit like David Letterman.

    • 4 people found this helpful

    2nd octet

    Posted by Booktasia, 4 years ago

    9. The Right Attitude to Rain – A McCall Smith – 3/5 – Mystery

    I love the author, A McCall Smith (the africa series). However, the Isobel Dalhousie series is not really doing anything for me. The characters are very bland, and after reading the book I couldn’t even remember the plot or what happened. Not his best works.

    10. Tropic of Thunder - Michael Gruber - 3/5 – Mystery

    Not the best mystery book I have ever read. Talks about voodoo and sorcery in a spat of recent gruesome murders. Paz enlists the help of the anthropologist, Delores, who is in hiding and running for her life to solve the murders.

    11. Crazy for You – Jennifer Crusie - 4/5 - Chick Lit

    Quinn Mackenzie is tired of her life, the same mundane routine day in and day out. She’s also tired of her boyfriend Bill. When she tries to break it off for good, Bill becomes obsessive and does everything to make her life miserable. Quinn has fallen for a childhood flame who is everything new and exciting.

    12. The Delicate Storm – Giles Blunt - 4/5 - Mystery

    Loved it. Set in the Ontario North. Bodies are turning up like snowmen. The setting is amazing – Algonquin Bay shrouded in fog. The case leads back the to FLQ crisis (although it’s not named specifically) and the death of a diplomat. A case that implicates the RCMP, the Montreal Police and CSIS. Where does it start and where will it end!

    13. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini – 4.5/5 – Fiction

    Amir and his slave Hassan are the best of friends and work together to win the Kite Race in Afghan. Well written about daily life pre and during the occupation. Amir leaves for America with his father and many years later hears from an old friend beckoning him back to Afghan to right a wrong.

    14. The Almost Moon – Alice Sebold – 4/5 – Fiction

    Claire and Helen Knightly (mother and daughter) only have each other to rely on. Helen’s father committed suicide years earlier. The enormous task of caring for Claire, her mother who has alzheimer’s, falls to Helen. Claire wishes to stay in the house. Helen can no longer take it and murders Claire. Helen then pleads with her ex-husband to come and help her dispose of the body. I don’t want to spoil the ending so you have to read it.l

    15. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley – 3/5 – Fantasy

    Not my kind of book really. Similar to Bradbury’s fahrenheit 51. Address a future world where people are told what to think and how to act. Written in post war era near the start of the industrial revolution.

    16. Divisadero – Michael Ondaatje – 3.5/5 – Canadian Fiction

    A family saga of a father, two daughters and the drifter Coop. It explores all their family relationships and how different events shaped their lives. Set in California and France over the time period of the First World War to the 70s. I love the character development and the role that Coop plays throughout.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    Book Thirteen- A Streetcar named Desire by Tennesse Williams

    Posted by Ligeia, 4 years ago

    This book is actually a screen play that I read. It was interesting and disturbing in many ways. Felt sympathy for Blanche and spent the majority of the play wanting to step into the book and give Stanley a piece of my mind. Williams is not a screenplay write that i would at in my spare time, but in the future I plan to either see or read his works. The dynamic he has within the family is realistic of the times and the double entendres within the play makes it all the better. My favorite being the loss of belle reve... meaning they lost a beautiful dream. Such a fantastic play, I would suggest reading it rather then watching the Brando version of it (though it's good it leaves some things out and changes the ending).

  • #9 Faceless Killers, Henning Mankell

    Posted by Eileen, 4 years ago

    Chilling....

    Mankell is one of my favorite mystery writers, and this did not disappoint. An old farming couple is murdered on their isolated farm. There are only two clues - the murderer seems to have fed the horse before he left, and the farm wife mumbles a word, 'foreign', before she dies.

    DI Wallander investigates and tries to rebuild his divorce-shattered life at the same time. Moody, slow and chilling. Great writing.

    #9. Marked by P.C.Cast

    Posted by Mary Ellen Anaka, 4 years ago

    It took me a wee bit to get into this book. The first half of the book I found rather boring. Midway through though, it started to pick up and I didn't mind it in the end. If I were a teenager I would have probably given it a 3/5, but I'm not so I'm giving it a 2. This is not for everyone and it is definately for older teens, not the younger ones.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    22)The Last Days - Scott Westerfeld 23)Dead Is The New Black - Marlene Perez 24)The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

  • 7. Ella Minnow Pea - Mark Dunn

    Posted by MacFly, 4 years ago

    A book I read completely because of this group! I enjoyed this book and marvelled at the author's ability to completely remove certain letters of the alphabet from his writing!

  • Book 26 & 27/50

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

    • 2 people found this helpful

    Book 12- Rebel Angels

    Posted by Ligeia, 4 years ago

    This book is second in a series set in 1895 London, and other realms. It's a mix of a finding an identity but also about power. The first book in this series laid down such a strong foundation for this one. The second book in the series, though much larger then the previous, was full of conflict and passionate description. This book was something that seemed to be a long read- due to it's length but ended up not being able to put it down . An exceptional book for those interested in this time period, but also enjoy some fantasy within their reading

  • For Neil Gaiman fans in the Toronto area

    Posted by Wendy Middleton, 4 years ago

    I have never read anything by Neil Gaiman, but I know that a lot of people in this group like his books. I just read a message from the organizers of Luminato that he will be appearing in Toronto at the Jane Mallett Theatre on June 8th for the Canadian debut of his new novel, The Graveyard Book. Tickets are $15. and go on sale in mid-April. You can get more details at www.luminato.com

    • 2 people found this helpful

    6. Everyone Else's Girl - Megan Crane

    Posted by Julie Woo, 4 years ago

    This book reminded me a little of Blue Castle, by L.M. Montgomery. The main character, Meredith has always been the good girl, trying to please everyone except herself. She finally starts being herself, and realizes that she isn't different than anyone else, even though she always thought she was. It was light, but I was suprised by how much I enjoyed it.

  • #8 Vinyl Cafe Diaries

    Posted by BookThia, 4 years ago

    I sped through this collection of short stories, based on Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe characters from the radio show. It was light, fun, illuminating and just-the-right-amount-of-sweet. Just what I needed after some relatively "heavy" reads. If you are unfamiliar with the Vinyl Cafe cast of characters, I recommend starting with "Stories from the Vinyl Cafe".

    • 1 person found this helpful

    Book 18-24: Vampire Knight Volume 1-7 by Matsuri Hino

    Posted by Liz (Midnight Bloom), 4 years ago

    Well, this was my first time reading manga, and I was quite impressed with Vampire Knight! I knew I would probably like it, but I didn't expect that I would actually fall in love with this series!

    It had me laughing at times and at others, it was suspenseful and mysterious. Readers easily get drawn into this wonderful (and sometimes scary) world full of humans and vampires trying to coexist peacefully.

    Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class, but what the Day Class students don't know is that the Night Class is actually vampires! Yuuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was attacked by a vampire 10 years ago. She had been saved by Kaname Kuran, a pureblood vampire who's now the dorm leader of the Night Class. Adopted by the Chairman at Cross Academy, she and Zero Kiriyuu, who's family was killed by vampires and who also taken in by the Chairman, they are the prefects and guardians of the school. Yuuki may believe that humans and vampires can live peacefully together, but Zero doesn't....

    That's a general synopsis, but there's tons of surprises and plot twists along the way that anything else would just be considered spoilers.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    #23 - Copy Cat by Erica Spindler

    Posted by Kay, 4 years ago

    I like this author and her writing style. I particularly like the short chapers based on day and time. It allows me to read to the end of the chapter when on lunch or break time.
    At times I find the story a little busy (feel like author is trying to cram just too much in) but the characters are interesting. I will definitely read her again but don't know if I want to read her works back-to-back.
    3/5.

    • 4 people found this helpful

    A standout alternate history, and some other things

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 4 years ago

    I'm way behind on posting so instead of dumping a huge list on you, I'm going to break it up into chunks until I am caught up.

    13. Nine Planets by Edward Riche; see my review.

    14. Dead Sexy by Tate Hallaway. A month after I read this, I almost bought it again... which gives you an idea of how forgettable it was.

    15. Farthing by Jo Walton. This mystery is set in an alternate history where Britain never entered World War II and Hitler rules Europe. The main character is a flighty but good-hearted young woman, scion of an influential family, who loves and marries a Jewish husband. The young couple, earnestly trying to win over the family, find themselves instead framed for murder. This was a riveting read and I was thrilled to discover there are more in the series.

    16. Last Stop Sunnyside by Pat Capponi; see my review.

    17. Mirror Prince by Violette Malan. Boring fantasy which I read because the author is Canadian. I don't think I'm going to review it for the Canadian Book Challenge after all, though, because I feel a bit bad writing a one-star review about a compatriot who's just trying to entertain people. This was just really not my kind of book.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    18

    Posted by Amanda Augustine, 4 years ago

    18. Scarpetta - Patricia Cornwell

    Well not as bad as the last couple, but not as great as the beginning of this series. I believe that the author has nothing left to conquer with these characters, and that's why as of late, this series has taken a nose dive. We last leave off with her turning Marino into an attempted rapist, and in this book, she actually had Scarpetta's now husband Benton, give Marino a second lease on life. I'm not sure what the heck she was thinking, but apparently it has nothing to do with suspenseful writing. Perhaps she should put this series on a shelf for awhile, and I mean quite a awhile.
    1.5 *'s

  • 24 & 25/50

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

  • #7 Mercy Among the Children, David Adams Richards

    Posted by BookThia, 4 years ago

    This remarkable novel is one of the most profoundly sad and difficult fiction reads I've encountered in a long time. I would remind myself that it was a work of fiction, and feel grateful. Richards creates characters that evoke empathy in ways that were completely unexpected. Yes, I felt empathy with the unfortunate Hendersons -- Sydney the father who made a pact never to knowingly "hurt" only to scar his young son Lyle in ways he never truly understood. And Lyle, the boy so determined to become different than his father, and yet was so like him he hid himself away. But I also empathized with those characters whose behaviours were abominable -- which surprised me and I credit that to the exemplary story-telling skills that Richards employs. This book made me feel ashamed -- ashamed of the many times I overlook poverty in my own community and ashamed of the complacency with which I accept my comfortable lifestyle as deserved. A truly remarkable novel.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    Book #28

    Posted by Amy Peters, 4 years ago

    So I'm making this post a little bit different for me and its not because anyone asked me to write my reviews in a more singular way. I'm writing this review because this book is very important to me and recommend to me by a phenominal gentleman who's life experience amount more then I could experience in three life times.

    Book #28 Charlie Rangers- Don Ericson and John L. Rotundo..
    This book is very important to me for several reasons.. Both my grandfathers fought in the Second World War and I know men and women who are now fighting again. I'm a history student with an avid interest in American history particularily the Cold War period. As well as I'm very fortunate to have befriended a Vietnam Vet. So if any body wants to read a very true account about the men who made up the elite squad of the Charlie Ranger this is the book I reccomend. If you don't know who the Charlie Rangers are they were the elite squad of men teamed but in groups of six who were dropped into some of the most dangerous areas of the war zone to make contact and take out the enemy.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    #6 - Thanks for the memories

    Posted by Brittney Thiessen, 4 years ago

    My lastest read was one of Cecelia Ahern's newer novels, Thanks for the memories, and as usual her book was great. Although it was a little slow at the beginning, The characters quickly won me over in this uplifting story about finding hope and love under unusual events.

  • 16 - 21

    Posted by Cathy, 4 years ago

    16. Personal Record -by Rachel Toor
    Subtitled “A Love Affair With Running”, this book will appeal to all runners. Through a series of essays, this memoir recounts how running is integral to the author's life.

    17. The Reality TV Handbook -by John Saade and Joe Borgenicht
    If you want to be on reality TV, this book may help you. For the rest of us, it’s a good laugh.

    18. What Was Lost -by Catherine O’Flynn
    Perhaps there was too much hype around this book. It was a good book, but I had higher expectations.

    19. Such a Pretty Fat -by Jen Lancaster
    A hilarious memoir about losing weight. Probably gives the most realistic representation of the Jenny Craig plan that I’ve heard (speaking from no personal experience).

    20. I Run, Therefore I Am - Nuts -by Bob Schwarz
    I know what you’re thinking: enough books about running already! This series of articles about the funny ways of runners is amusing though.

    21. Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak -edited by Smith Magazine
    A very quick and thought-provoking read. Six words can say a lot.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    February's reads

    Posted by Susan Nojonen, 4 years ago

    As usual a day (or more late) and a dollar short.
    7. The Broken Gate by Anita Burgh. A little slow in the beginning, But turned out alright in the end. Enough to want to read the 2nd in the trilogy.
    8. Kilt Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett. A fluffy mystery. Fair for a first effort.
    9. The Camel Club by Davis Balducci. (audio) Loved this. Lots of stitching done.
    10. Two for the Show by Janet Evanovich. (audio) Satisfying and no thinking.

  • Great Read!

    Posted by Denise Nielsen, 4 years ago

    23. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer - Read this Friday night and as I was promised by so many others here, I was unable to put it down. It’s the story of a writer looking for a story who strikes up a chance correspondence with a man from the island of Guernsey. Set shortly after World War II, and told through letters, this book was heartwarming, poignant, enchanting, gut-wrenching, and above all hopeful, and I loved it.

  • Book #8 - Obedience - Will Lavender

    Posted by Valerie Fitzpatrick, 4 years ago

    This was a very interesting read. Having studied Milgram's experiments in University as well as my interest in Nazi Germany and the "obedience" of Hitler's followers...it was interesting to read Will lavender's take on this topic.

  • #19-- At Wits End by Karen Joy Fowler

    Posted by Joanna, 4 years ago

    At Wits End by the author of The Jane Austin Book Club.

    This is the story of Rima Lanisell who has just lost her entire family and withdrawn to her Godmother's old Victorial Mansion in Santa Cruz California. Rima's Godmother is a famous Mystery writer & Rima becomes obsessed with Maxwell the detective in her Godmother's Novels.

    Rima spends a lot of time having conversations with Olliver (her dead brother) and Maxwell (detective in novel).

    Although i kind of enjoyed this novel I felt dissapointed after finishing the book. I have not read The Jane Austin Book Club but will try it and hope for a more satisifactory read.

    3***

  • My Friday Fun List

    Posted by Joanna, 4 years ago

    I've picked from the books which I carry back and forth on airplanes and ones that people lent me and I should return as well as those on my coffee table.

    1. In The Dark -- Deborah Moggach
    2. Conciet -- Mary Novik
    3, Three Cups of Tea by G Mortenson & D Oliver Relin + I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron (These are ones I should return so I'd better get busy and read)
    4. Fortune Rocks --Anita Shreve
    5. One Good Turn -- Kate Atkinson
    6. When Will There Be Good News -- Kate Atkinson
    7. Yesterday's Weather -- Anne Enright
    8. The Book of Negreos -- Lawrence Hill
    9. The Sirens of Baghdad -- Yasmin Khadra
    10. The Collected Works of Billy The Kid -- Michael Ondaatja

  • Friday Fun---Mary Ellen's Random Picks from her bookshelves

    Posted by Mary Ellen Anaka, 4 years ago

    1. The Ghost Writer by John Harwood
    2. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
    3. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
    4. Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden
    5. Come Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant
    6. Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J. Box
    7. The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin
    8. Slum Dog Millionaire (Chapters Bookclub Pick--Store #927)
    9. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
    10. The Believers by Zoe Heller

  • Friday Fun Top 10

    Posted by DLOTS, 4 years ago

    1. Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follet This looks like it would take a month to read rather than Bookmason's 24 hours.
    2 . Taliesin Pendragon 1 - Stephen Lawhead - Enjoying his Robin Hood Adventures and curious about his take on King Arthur.
    3. Uther - Jack Whyte - Have found this author to be hit and miss in the past.
    4. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon - Another of those reaaaally loooong looking books
    5. Moontide and Magic Rise #1 Word Without End - Sean Russell - Picked this up at used book store about 5 years ago along with its sequel Sea Without a Shore
    6. Star Wars Coruscant Nights #1 - Michael Reeves - always need a Star Wars book on the list
    7. Hex and the City - Simon Green - Tales from the Darkside
    8. Star Wars: Darth Bane Path of Destruction - Drew Karpyshyn - OK 2 Star Wars books on the list
    9. Demon Spirit - R.A. Salvatore - Continuation of the demon wars
    10. Order In Chaos - Jack Whyte - The conclusion of the Templar Trilogy due out this August

  • Books 23-27 I'm on a roll

    Posted by Amy Peters, 4 years ago

    Hey everyone... I hope that I'm not annoying everyone by the way I'm posting the books I've read so far this year. If people have ideas on a better way for me to do it I would be happy for the suggestions. But be warned I don't procrastinate with reading just writing my reviews which I know probably aren't very good. Anyway on with the show.

    Book 23 Likely to Die - Linda Fairstein: These books are interesting and I mean interesting in the sense that for the most part I actually find them to be somewhat dry. However something about makes me read them and I can't seem to put them down. I think its the characters I really love the relationship between the main character Alexandra Cooper and the two cops Chapman and Mercer.

    Book 24 Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris: So I decided I loved the Sookie Stackhouse books so much and I have a long wait until May when the next one comes out I'd try one of her other books. I don't want to say I was disappointed because I'm not sure what I expected from this book. The books are good if not somewhat tame compared to the Stackhouse books. However unlike the Stackhouse books I found that I wasn't dying to get to the end because I couldn't wait to see what happened but I was trying to get through them because I wanted to read something else. So all in all these books are okay.

    Book 25 Grave Suprise - Charlaine Harris: Pretty much the same feelings that I wrote above for the last book.

    Book 26 An Ice Cold Grave - Charlaine Harris: Again pretty much the same. However I'm starting to be a little more curious about what's going to happen and if Harper will ever find her sister. I am a little weirded out by the relationship with Harper and Tolliver. If you've read them you know what I mean. Will I read the next in the series...sadly the answer is yes becausee I'm just darn curious

    Book 27 Cold Hit - Linda Fairstein: Again these books are dry but I am very addicted apparently. I think it probably has to with the fact that I almost went into law. Anyone who is interested in art history will probably really enjoy this book.

    So that's it for now... I'll be back when I've broken 30! And just a word of warning it will be more Linda Fairstein.. I'm so addicted I ordered the next 4 books online and they should be here on Monday or Tuesday.. I'm so excited he he

  • A Few Books From My Stack

    Posted by Dusty, 4 years ago

    1) Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood It's been on my shelf forever but group therapy has pushed it up my list and I'm determined to read it this month...or next...well sometime this year anyway...

    2) The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death by Charlie Huston I haven't picked this up yet but it seems to have generated a lot of excitement so it's very high on my to-buy list...hope I can hold out till the paperback is released..sounds kind of like Elmore Leonard ((Get Shorty etc. )) to me

    3) Tripwire by Lee Child A Jack Reacher thriller, I've had this on hold at the library for about 9 months now and I think I'm up to about 60th on the hold list.

    4) Prisoner of Trebekistan..A Decade in Jeopardy by Bob Harris...OK, I can admit it...if I were a computer I would most definitely be a PC

    5) Reaper's Gale by Steven Erickson Massive volume number seven in this Canadian's insanely complex fantasy series...I'm saving it for summer vacation..I've got my campsite booked and a great spot in mind for my lawnchair with the sleeping giant in the distance, maybe a couple of deer nibbling on the grass nearby....ahhhh...

    6) The Story of Edgar Sawtelle Another that I haven't bought yet but that I'm almost certain I will...I mean it's got dogs in it and it got the big push from Oprah..it has to be good, doesn't it? My only worry is that a dog might die at the end...I can't take that..didn't go to Marley and Me because I was sure the dog was going to die. I have a rule against crying in public, even in the dark.

    7) The Sun Over Breda by Arturo Perez-Reverte Book three in his Captaine Alatriste series. Think Count of Monte Cristo. The two previous installments were both beautifully written.

    8) A New Kind of War by Anthony Price A John Le Carre-style spy thriller. I got four of Price's books years ago in a big box of unwanted books I lucked into. I think I enjoyed that treasure more than I would have a box of money. I know I've read two of those books but I can never remember which ones. Twice now, I've gotten 80 pages in to the "next" book before realizing that it was one of the two I'd already read. I hope I get it right this time.

    9) The Rincewind Trilogy by Terry Pratchett Read my first Discworld novel a couple months back and loved it. Ridiculously funny. Screwball fantasy.

    10) Cold Skin by Albert Sanchez Pinol Read an interesting article in the Star a couple weeks back about this popular Spanish author, whose work is just now being translated into English. I've been hugely impressed with the Spanish writers I've read recently (( Arturo Perez-Reverte, Zafon...the author of Shadow of the Wind)) This one sounds in ways like the TV show LOST.....a mysterious island in post WWI Antartica, castaways, dangers lurking in the dark..

  • Friday Fun- the books I wish I had time to read

    Posted by Ligeia, 4 years ago

    School has taken up all my time, leisure reading is becoming near impossible so my list of books to read keeps getting higher. though there are several books that have been on the list for longer then others those include
    1) Philip Pullman's Dark Material. Technically this is three books , the Golden Compass, the Subtle Knife and the Amber Spyglass. It seems these books have sat on my shelf for quite some time. I enjoyed Pullman's Clockwork and thought I would enjoy these as well but the movie put me off a pit- as the tone of the movie seems very different from Pullman's tone in the Clockwork.
    2) The Hobbit by Tolkien was read to me by Kay when I was growing up. She would read it to me and my two brothers but we never got past a certain point. When I read the book I always get so tired by what I've read in the past that I never make it through to the end, regardless of it being a wonderful novel.
    3) Dracula by Bram Stoker has been on my to read list since I was ten, but every time I go to read it I am overloaded with everything else. I am fascinated by vampire literature and think that Dracula was one of the main catalysts for the genre. It is only right that it would be read.
    4) One hundred years of solitude by gabriel marquez is off my classical list- of which there were 100 books i wanted to read from. This would be one of the first ones I picked up, and then put down. It seemed interesting enough but not as fascinating as all my new works that I kept buying.
    5) The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice is the third in the vampire chronicles which I've been reading slowly since grade eleven. it seems that these book have so much detail that it sticks with you no matter how long it takes you to read the books. i have read the books out of order and this is one of the last ones I need to read.
    6)Rebel angel by libba bray is the sequel to a far and terrible beauty. it is what would happen once a woman in earlier centeries would do without a mother, in a bording school. it also seems she has some magic in her, and this makese the book even more rich as it's not just her that she takes along with her but all her friends.
    7) Many Waters by madeline l'engle is a child's novel that completes but is considered seperate to the swiftly tilting planet series. These books were one of my favorites growing up- and I still enjoy reading them today but I have never really been interested in reading many waters. Feel i should give it a try instead of letting it sit on my shelf
    8) The sister stories by Harris is a four part series - including Sarah, France, Julia and Gwen books all about the same things occuring but from different perspective of each sister. These books have alway interested me just never had the time to read all four at once and I think some of the meaning would be lost if that was not done.
    9)The Age of Innocence by Edith Warton is a new edition to my shelf but seems to be one that I want to pick up as soon as possible. Within my american literature class I read some short stories by Warton and enjoy he take on the upper class life in particular with women. Her short stories "The other two" and "Roman Fever" have hooked me into her writting techinque. The characters have flaws and woman are displayed in a realistic manner, with motives and scheming.
    10) I would like to finish my Jane Austen readings as well- Northanger abbey, mansfield park, sense and sensibilty and emma. Currently I am reading persuasion in hopes of making the list smaller and smaller. These books are so rich with dialogue that sometimes it is hard to follow but they always leave me feeling like I 've learned something.

    I realise I have listed more then ten books, that is because I read series together or not at all. Hopefully by the end of the year i will have a whole new list of books that I want to read and all of these will have been read :) Happy reading.

  • 1-13

    Posted by Hannah Holborn, 4 years ago

    My 2009 reading so far.

    1. "Having Faith in the Polar Girls Prison" by Catheleen With.
    A unique voice and setting.

    2. "My Life at First Try" by Mark Budman (reading now). A Russian/American's ironic view of Stalin, misogony, racism, virginity, movie extras and much much more.

    3. "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" by Alan Bradley. Pure delight!

    4. "The Sudden Disappearance of Seetha" by Andrea Gunraj. Fascinating.

    5. "The Retreat" by David Bergen

    6. "When We Were Romans" by Matthew Kneale

    7. Lillabies for Little Criminals" by Heather O'Neil (second time)

    8. "Inside Out Girl" A bit too much coincidence for the plot to work for me, but terrific characters.

    9. "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" by David Wrollewski

    10. "DeNiro's Game" Rawi Hage

    11. "You Went Away" by Timothy Findlay

    12. "A Long Way Gone" non-fiction by Ishael Beah

    13. "Welcome to the Departure Lounge: Adventures in Mothering Mother" memoir by Meg Federico

  • 14 - 17

    Posted by Lisa Voss, 4 years ago

    14. Marked by P.C. Cast. Another teenage vampire book. I ended up liking this book. I liked the romance and fairy tale-ishness of Twilight better. Marked may have been a little too teen for me since I am waaaaay past my teens.

    15. The Believers by Zoe Heller. A family discovers a secret while their patriarch lies in a coma following a stroke. The characters is this book are completely unlikeable but, surprisingly, I still liked the book and would recommend it.

    16. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan. I love Ian McEwan's writing. This did not disappoint me.

    17. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. This is a creepy little mystery about a reporter who heads back to her home town to report about a possible serial killer. Camille has her own problems to deal with which we discover through the book. Her family is totally dysfunctional and downright weird.

  • Friday Fun - Lisa's Book List

    Posted by Lisa Voss, 4 years ago

    1. Apologize, Apologize by Elizabeth Kelly

    2. Tomorrow by Graham Swift

    3. Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada

    4. Black Dogs by Ian McEwan

    5. Additions by Toni Jordan

    6. The Terror by Dan Simmons

    7. Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

    8. The Widows of Eastwick by John Updike

    9. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

    10. Now You See It by Allison Lynn

    This is a random selection from my shelves. I think since I've actually typed the titles out I will try to read all these books before any others.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    This book may not exist, but it made my brain hurt

    Posted by Charity, 4 years ago

    #15 This Book Does Not Exist: Adventures in Paradoxes
    This is the second title out of the "Adventures" collection that I have read. The first one made psychology seem a lot more coherent than the university course I took. This made paradoxes confusing. Which is what they were to begin with. The most important thing I took from this is that I can never finish the race (which makes sense if you read the book). While it might not make paradoxes easier to understand (which I doubt is even possible) it was an interesting read, especially to find out that theoretically, time travel is possible! You should be able to find this title in the Bargain section of your local Chapters.

  • Friday Fun (even though it is now Saturday)

    Posted by Charity, 4 years ago

    Ack! I am moving and have packed most of my books which means I am going to have to either recall what I have waiting to be read, or pick things that I don't even own yet.

    1. This is Not a Book (packed) This is the third book in a current collection I have found in our bargain section. I will be posting about the second one shortly.
    2. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (packed) A sequel to American Gods and part of my "read all Gaiman all the time" plan, which was foiled by my packing
    3. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
    4. End of the Alphabet
    5. Flight Volume One (graphic novel)
    6. Curious Case of Benjamin Button and other Jazz Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald (packed)
    7. Fionavar Tapestry Omnibus by Guy Gavriel Kay
    8. Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
    9. Creepers by Joanne Dahme
    10. Blindness by Jose Saramego

    That was actually hard without having a collection of books in front of me. If it doesn't say "packed" beside it, I don't own it so these were books that have been on my "to read" list for a little while.

  • FRIDAY'S FUN - 10 BOOKS TO READ

    Posted by Booktasia, 4 years ago

    Picked these from my bookshelf:
    1. Six Seconds - Canadian - Detective - Mystery - Rick Mofina
    2. Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception - Fantasy - Eoin Colfer
    3. The Boys in the Trees - Canadian - Fiction - Mary Swan
    4. Service Included - Memoir - Phoebe Damrosch
    5. Mermaids in The Basement - Fiction - Michael Lee West
    6. Jewel Trader of Pagu - Fiction - Jeffrey Hantover
    7. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Fiction - Mary Ann Shaffer
    8. Reading Lolita in Tehran - Fiction - Azar Nafisi
    9. Agnes and the Hitman - Fiction - Jennifer Crusie, Bob Mayer
    10. The Secret River - Fiction - Kate Grenville

  • Bookmason's Friday Fun Pile of 10

    Posted by Bookmason, 4 years ago

    Even listing 10 isn't easy, I've got a pile (then a list of too buys) that between the list is easily 50+ books and that is just the ones I absolutely have to read, not the ones I'd like to read. Here goes a short list:

    1. The Naked and the Dead - Norman Mailer

    2. Hell at the Breech - Tom Franklin

    3 & 4 - Awaken Mage and Innocent Mage - Karen Miller

    5. Steel Remains - Richard Morgan (British SF author's first fantasy novel)

    6. Three Day Road - Joseph Boyden

    7. Song of Kali - Dan Simmons (old book by him I just got)

    8. The Samurai - Shusaku Endo

    9. Right is Wrong - Arianna Huffington (US politics)

    10. Only a Theory - Kenneth Miller (About legal battle to prevent teaching evolution in US schools)

  • FRIDAY FUN - VAL'S 10 BOOKS

    Posted by Valerie Fitzpatrick, 4 years ago

    1. The Hearth and Eagle - Anya Seton
    2. The Duchess - Amanda Foreman
    3. 90 Minutes in Heaven - Don Piper
    4. Jesus: The Story of Enlightenment - Deepak Chopra
    5. The Poe Shadow - Matthew Pearl
    6. Catherine the Great - Virginia Rounding
    7. The Reader - Bernard Schlink
    8.Princess Margaret: A Life Unravelled - Tim Herald
    9. Last Lion: The Rise and Fall of Ted Kennedy - Peter S. Canellas
    10. Joseph P. Kennedy: His Hollywood Years - Cari Beauchamp

  • Friday Fun - Betty's stack of 10

    Posted by Betty in Smithers, 4 years ago

    The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff

    I've marked my review books* and a contest prize book^ Obviously I have to read the review books first. Some of those aren't released yet.

    An Incomplete Revenge (a Maisie Dobbs novel) by Jacqueline Winspear*
    The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan*
    A Hotel in Paris by Margot Justes*
    The Journey Prize by “The Best of Canada’s New Writers”*
    Being Written by William Conescu
    Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
    The Spy Game by Georgina Harding^
    The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff
    The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
    The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

    * Review books
    ^ prize

  • Ten books waiting to be read

    Posted by Claire Humphrey, 4 years ago

    This is a random selection from my desk. I didn't pick any from my shelves.

    Porius by John Cowper Powys

    Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon

    James Tiptree Jr by Julie Phillips

    Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

    The Book of Dave by Will Self

    A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

    The Friends of Meager Fortune by David Adams Richards

    Voyageur by Robert Twigger

    Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

    Which one gets to be next??

  • Friday Fun - Lady Ethereal Butterfly's 10 Books

    Posted by Lady Ethereal Butterfly, 4 years ago

    Here are ten selection from my massive TBR pile:

    1. Geek Love – Katherine Dunn

    2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – Ken Kesey

    3. Tipping the Velvet – Sarah Waters

    4. number9dream – David Mitchell

    5. The Brutal Language of Love – Alicia Erian

    6. Exposure – Kathryn Harrison

    7. The Night Watch – Sergei Lukyanenko

    8. My Lobotomy – Howard Dully

    9. Neverwhere – Neil Gaiman

    10. The Unbearable Lightness of Being – Milan Kundera

  • 10 Books Waiting for Me

    Posted by Eileen, 4 years ago

    1. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson

    2. The Subtle Knife, Philip Pullman

    3. The Abstinence Teacher, Tom Perotta

    4. Late Nights On Air, Elizabeth Hay

    5. Atonement, Ian McEwan

    6. Three Cups of Tea (a virtuous read, who knows if I'll ever read it)

    7. Payback, Margaret Atwood

    8. The Woman Who Walked Into Doors, Roddy Doyle

    9. Introvert Power, Laurie Helgoe

    10. The Compass Rose, Ursula K. Le Guin (my childhood favorite author)

    Absent from this list are my usual diet of mysteries and self-help, as I get these more 'disposable' types of books from the library. I'd bet it'll take me this year to finish these, and it's a good reminder to list them so I know I do have things to read, no need to hunt down more!

  • Friday Fun – Here’s my 10.

    Posted by Denise Nielsen, 4 years ago

    I don't have all of these yet...but they're on my list.

    1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer – Bought it, am settling down with it this weekend and can’t wait!
    2. The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein
    3. Vernon God Little – March book club read
    4. The Fat Lady Next Door is Pregnant – April book club read
    5. In The Eyes of Anahita by Hugo Bonjean
    6. The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
    7. The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
    8. The Outlander by Gil Adamson
    9. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
    10. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

  • Fridays are fun! A small glimpse into the books on my TBR shelf ...

    Posted by Peachy TO, 4 years ago

    1. The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo (Ahk! My niece has been trying to get me to read this and return it to her for months)

    2. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells

    3. Spirit and Flesh: Life in a fundamentalist Baptist Church, by James M. Ault, Jr.

    4. A New Earth: Awakening Your Life's Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle

    5. This Book Has Issues: Adventures in Popular Psychology, by Christian Jarrett and Joannah Ginsburg

    6. Swimming Naked, by Stacy Sims

    7. The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young

    8. The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver

    9. Under the Bridge, by Rebecca Godfrey

    10. The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell

    Now, if I would just stop ordering books from the library, I might actually get the chance to read some of these in the next year!

    • 2 people found this helpful

    17

    Posted by Amanda Augustine, 4 years ago

    17. Book of the Dead - Patricia Cornwell

    There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this book and what people have said about it. Ms. Cornwell asked for her supporters to write good reviews to counteract all the bad ones. Well I can tell you this book is nothing to write home about but it certainly isn't the worst book she's written (I believe that title goes to the Predator novel). This story is lacking in any earth shattering plot or suspense and with that also came the dread of the characters turning into people for whom I did not fall in love with, like I did in the beginning of the series. With time Scarpetta has been turned into a self-toxic person with the personality of an ice queen. Then the lovable and what was once misunderstood Lucy, is now Cyborg-Lucy. And what she did with Marino crossed a huge boundary in the fact that she basically turned him into a rapist......I'm not sure how you can ever love a character like that again, and where did he vanish to? My advice? Borrow it or buy it at a garage sale, because really you're only spending the money on buying the paper it was written on. It was a lazy but fast read, and now I'm on to Scarpetta, which is her latest book I received at Christmas, hopefully this book will be better.
    1.5 *'s

  • #11 and 12 - More books unfinished than read

    Posted by Wendy Middleton, 4 years ago

    This is the second time I have written this post this morning. After labouring over the first one, it disappeared into the stratosphere after I hit Publish Post. However, maybe I will be more concise the second time that I write this up.

    I spent most of February rejecting books rather than getting into them. I started off reading Orpheus Lost by Janette Turner Hospital. I had read half of that book back in September and enjoyed it, but I put it aside when I left for Australia because I didn't want to carry a hardcover book with me. This time I didn't get as far, but I stopped reading it to start The Almost Archer Sisters by Lisa Gabriele. I liked the beginning of that book, but I was not drawn to pick it up after the first reading. Since my sister and I were planning a trip to New Orleans, I decided to read some short stories by Ellen Gilchrist, who often writes about that city. I read and enjoyed many of the early stories in Ellen Gilchrist: Collected Stories. Since they were listed chronologically, I was probably re-reading what I had read years ago. For the trip, I chose The Almost Archer Sisters for reading on the plane, and had really got into it this time and was about halfway through the book when I left it and my prescription glasses at O'Hare Airport in Chicago when we changed planes. Once we reached New Orleans, I pulled out The Fat Woman Next Door is Pregnant by Michel Tremblay, one of the Canada Reads selections. However, I became so confused by the various characters early in the book that I returned it to my suitcase.

    The first book that I read through completely in February was The Careful Use of Compliments by Alexander McCall Smith, the fourth book in the Isabel Dalhousie series, which are set in Edinburgh and influenced by Isabel's job as the editor of a philosophical journal. I am in my mid-fifties and had always presumed that Isabel is older than I am because of her attitudes, particularly towards her niece Cat's romantic life. So I was quite surprised to find in this novel that Isabel is only forty-one and she and her young lover, Jamie, are parents of a new-born baby. I blame my confusion on the fact that the author is a man and much older than forty-one. Isabel is a busybody, but she bases all of her conclusions on her moral philosophy, so she feels justified in investigating things which are none of her business. This novel also provides lovely descriptions of Jura, one of the Hebrides islands.

    While I was in New Orleans, I bought a copy of A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore at the William Faulkner Bookstore, although I really wanted Moore's newest novel, Fool, the story of King Lear's Fool. I started to read it when I got home, but I put it aside when Celestial Navigation arrived. I had named this novel as one of the most romantic books I had read when Chris asked a month ago for suggestions for romantic books for Valentine's Day. Writing about it reminded me that I had lent that book out, and it hadn't been returned. I was unable to find a new copy, so I ordered a used copy on-line. Celestial Navigation is the first book by Anne Tyler that I read maybe twenty-five or thirty years ago, and it started me reading everything that she has written before then and since. In fact I was pleased to learn that her newest book, Noah's Compass, is due to be published in September. Tyler's novels always involve quirky characters who are also recognizable. The main character of Celestial Navigation is Jeremy, an agoraphobic, almost autistic artist, who lives with his mother, who has turned their home into a boarding house. When his mother dies, his sisters are unsure whether Jeremy can cope, but surprisingly he rents their mother's room to a young woman and her daughter, who have left an unhappy marriage for another unfulfilling affair. Jeremy proposes to Mary, the new boarder, and they begin an unusual relationship. Jeremy manages to adapt himself to marriage and fatherhood, but as he becomes a more popular artist, he sometimes becomes lost in the production of his pieces more than Mary can bear. I had forgotten the frustration and sadness of this part of the book which is due to the lack of communication between the two. The reader knows what both of them are thinking, but they never convey it to their partner. So it was the early part of the book I was remembering when I nominated it as one of my favourite romantic novels. But it is still the Anne Tyler novel that I love the most and I really do enjoy them all.

  • Friday Fun

    Posted by Kay, 4 years ago

    1. The Bible of Clay by Julia Navarro
    2. Copy Cat by Erica Spindler
    3. The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
    4. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
    5. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
    6. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
    7. Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
    8. The Hour I First Believe by Wally Lamb
    9. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostava
    10. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet

  • Friday fun

    Posted by Cathy, 4 years ago

    1. Navigator of New York -by Wayne Johnston

    2. A Desirable Residence -by Madeleine Wickham

    3. Lessons for a Sunday Father -by Claire Calman

    4. One Dangerous Lady -by Jane Stanton Hitchcock

    5. Kit's Law -by Donna Morrissey

    6. Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid -by Bill Bryson

    7. Ten Thousand Lovers -by Edeet Ravel

    8. The Girls -by Lori Lansens

    9. An Unquiet Mind -by Kay Redfield Jamison

    10. The Romantic -by Barbara Gowdy

  • FRIDAY FUN

    Posted by Christine L, 4 years ago

    10 books ... good thing you limited it. These are currently awaiting my undivided attention.

    1. THE LIVING DEAD a compilation of short stories all focused on zombies including one by Stephen King and one by Joe Hill (from the library ... needs to be read soon)

    2. SUITE 606 a compilation of short stories by Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan and May Kay McComas (Borrowed from a friend ... needs to be read soon)

    3. MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON ... a compliation of short stories including authors Kelley Armstrong, Kate MacAlister (library ... needs to be read ASAP)

    4. PROMISES IN DEATH by J.D. Robb (borrowed from a friend ... needs to be read soon)

    5. DISGUISE by Hugo Hamilton (library ... soon ... ARGHHH!)

    6. APOLOGIZE, AOLOGIZE by Elizabeth Kelley (from Merlin ... must post review ... SOON)

    7. WHERE AM I? - WHY CAN WE FIND OUR WAY TO THE MOON BUT GET LOST IN THE MALL by Colin Ellard (ARC ... review to be posted by the end of March ... oh-oh)

    8. ROAD RAGE by Richard Matheson, Stephen King and Joe Hill (this is mine so no pressure - whew)

    9. CALLING MR. LONELY HEARTS by Laura Benedict (on the "to be picked up" shelf at the library)

    10. THE GARDNER HEIST: THE TRUE STORY OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST UNSOLVED ART THEFT by Ulrich Boser (also on the "to be picked up shelf at the library)

    Okay ... explain this to me ... why am I a lunatic?????

  • Friday Fun

    Posted by kalliekallie, 4 years ago

    Well I have more than 10 books on my nightstand, but these are the ones I plan to read next:
    1. Sookie Stackhouse Box Set - Charlaine Harris (7 books)
    2. Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
    3. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows - J.K. Rowling
    4.A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray
    5. The Darkess Powers series -The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong
    6.The Lady Elizabeth, A Novel - Alison Weir
    7. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen - Syrie James
    8. Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton
    9. Bitten - Kelley Armstrong
    10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
    Most of these books many of you have read, and recomended.
    Thanks again Chris M for the fun friday posts.

  • Friday Fun for Wendy

    Posted by Wendy Middleton, 4 years ago

    Ten of the many books on my night table are:

    The Secret River by Kate Grenville
    World without End by Ken Follett
    A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore
    The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
    The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
    The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
    Conceit by Mary Novik
    Exit Lines by Joan Barfoot
    The Gift of Thanks by Margaret Visser
    What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn

    Chris, on your list I have read Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee and Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. Coetzee is praised for his writing, but I found that novel too bleak to enjoy. I loved Case Histories because I had already liked Atkinson's writing, and I really liked the new direction she took in this one by beginning a detective series that is also a literary novel.
    I have enjoyed most of Graham Swift's novels that I have read, and I too am looking forward to reading Tomorrow. It is on my wishlist.

  • Friday Fun

    Posted by ChrisM, 4 years ago

    Friday Fun
    If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a mile high stack of waiting-to-be-read books. So for fun, I’m inviting everyone to pick up to 10 titles from that pile and post them here (everyone make their own post, it’s easier to follow.) Then, if you’ve read something on someone’s list- why not tell them your thoughts about that book. Maybe it’ll encourage someone to move a book to the top of the heap. No spoilers though!

    Here are ten of my waiting-to-be-read titles:

    13 Steps Down – Ruth Rendell

    The Keep – Jennifer Egan

    HeartSick – Chelsea Cain

    Disgrace – J.M. Coetzee

    Mr. Timothy – Louis Bayard

    Tomorrow – Graham Swift

    The Throat – Peter Straub

    The Sisters Mortland – Sally Beauman

    Case Histories – Kate Atkinson

    The Mercy of Thin Air – Ronlyn Domingue

    • 1 person found this helpful

    March Novels To Date and Feb Graphic Novels Continued

    Posted by DLOTS, 4 years ago

    Its been a couple of weeks since my last post and I never got around to finishing of Feb Graphic Novels. March has started off much faster on the novel front than the last two months and conversley Graphic Novels are way down. Funny how that works.

    First the Books:

    3. Batman: Gotham Knight....................................................Louise Simonson
    My first non Star Wars novel of the year but featuring a character present in a vast number of the Graphic Novels I've read to date. This one takes place between the movies Batman Begins and Dark Knight. The book was based on an animated movie of the same name that was a direct to dvd release. I haven't seen the movie yet so I can't compare the two. The book was OK but not great. It certainly doesn't rank near the top of the Batman fiction out there. My biggest problem with the book was that it seemed to lack focus. Too many villians and situations in a compressed format.

    4. James Bond: Quantum of Solace - The complete short stories.....................Ian Fleming
    This book contains the 10 short stories Ian Fleming wrote on everyones favourite superspy. The short stories were previously collected in 2 books but have been repoublished in single book format. Though some of the stories shared names with some of the Bond movies the stories themselves often had nothing to do with their Hollywood counterparts. Not the action packed adventures you may expect but still very worth reading.

    5. Entourage: A Lifestyle is a Terrible Thing to Waste.................HBO Books
    After finishing Season 5 of Entourage last month I couldn't pass up this book while browsing through the Library stacks on yet another graphic novel hunt. This book contains interviews, photos, quotes, behind the scenes info on everything to do with the hit shows first four seasons. When the heck is season 6 coming out? Aaargh, I guess I'll have to rewatch some past seasons to get my fix in now. Worth reading if you are a fan of the show.

    Now the Graphic Novels:

    22. Hellblazer: The Laughing Magician - John finds new troubles in the form of a Magician from Africa on the hunt to kill our intrepid hero and steal his power. Andy Diggle has done some fine work on the title.
    23. Hellblazer: Fear Machine - Constantine joins a band of hippies as he runs from the law. As always trouble follows John around but not in the way you might think. A Colleciton of Jamie Delano's early work on the title. I don't know that it stands the test of time as well as one might hope.
    24. Spiderman: One more day - This is the end of old Spider-Man continutiy. If you read one of the current collections without first having read this you will be left wondering what the heck happened. All Spider-Man fans must read this collection.
    25. Hellblazer: Black Flowers - Mike Carey had a great run on this title. This may not have been his best but its still good.
    26. Ultimate Fantastic Four: God War - The Ultimate universe is separate from the regular Marvel Universe. Though the superheros may be the same or similar, their backgrounds are very different including the method in which their powers were gained. I prefer the regular Marvel Universe to this one but I've always loved the Fantastic Four. In this collection they need to stop the earth from being taken over by a warlord from another dimension.
    27. Hellblazer: Reasons to be Cheerful - This Mike Carey Epic is sort of a prelude to another Constantine trip to hell which takes place in The Gift.
    28. Birds of Prey: Metropolis or Bust: The beginning of the end of the Birds of Prey title
    29. Hellblazer: Good Intentions - Brian Azzarello's second Hellblazer collection is even more disturbing than the first. Don't worry - that's a good thing.

    Note to Parents: Don't let your kids read Hellblazer unless you've read it first and know what they are reading. The comic deals with Mature Subject Matter and is most certainly not to everyones taste or sensabilites.

  • 13. The Fat Woman Next Door is Pregnant - Michel Tremblay

    Posted by Peachy TO, 4 years ago

    The budding of spring, a time for enlightenment and new beginnings, casts the mood for this beautiful and haunting tale told through magical realism, and reverent love for family, a place and a time. Michel Tremblay’s passion for his beginnings is shared with us through a day in the life of the residents of la rue Fabre in the heart of Montreal in the ‘40s, with the fat lady next door paying homage to his beloved mother.

    I came away from the novel with the feeling that ‘family’ is the true essence of our being, as through all of the chaos and ridicule that can be found on these pages, the love that emits from this clan is a fortress of undeniable strength and authenticity. By the end of the story you’re sure to have a fondness in your heart for the fat woman next door.

    To read my complete review for this, the second book to get voted out on Canada Reads 2009, please visit my blog at www.booksnakereviews.blogspot.com or my Indigo profile page.

  • #22 - Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

    Posted by Kay, 4 years ago

    I discovered this author through this reading group and am glad I did; however, I feel she is inconsistent in her offerings.
    This book was one of them that I rather enjoyed. I felt so many different emotions when I read it. The writing style is simple which makes this book a good choice for somebody looking for a quick read. The story line seemed unbelievable to me but each to his own. I particularly liked the interaction between atheist, Roman Catholic, and Jewish beliefs. It provides a glimpse into how people use each other at so many levels and the damage can be done. I will read Picoult again.

  • #8 The Reader, Bernhard Schlink

    Posted by Eileen, 4 years ago

    A young teenager in post - war Germany has an affair with an older woman. One day she vanishes from his life without any warning. Once he is older, he finds her again, now on trial for her actions as a concentration camp guard.

    Themes include German guilt about war crimes, but also parents and children and how we can judge a previous generation. The generation that loved us and sacrificed for us also committed horrific crimes...because they were trying to be good citizens, lacked courage, lacked insight...? Michael discovers nothing is as black and white as he would wish. He also learns that Hanna has a secret that becomes key in understanding what happened to her.

    Elegant and concise. There are a few problems with the translation from the German (for instance, Klasse is translated as 'class' when it should be 'grade') which made me doubt the rest of the translation, but still, a wonderful read. I have a German background, so doubly interesting for me.

    I'm also worried about seeing the movie, as was a previous reviewer, because the movie most likely will not do the book justice.

    15 and 16

    Posted by Amanda Augustine, 4 years ago

    15. Trace - Patricia Cornwell
    The book was okay but the ending was a complete let down. I dislike when a book builds up a lot steam then blows a tire in the end.
    2.5 *'s

    16. Predator - Patricia Cornwell
    No umph, no zing, no suspense, the villain is unusual but other than that nothing.
    1 *

  • 21) Dead Until Dark - Chralane Harris

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    Dead Until Dark Charlane Harris

    -Message Deleted-

  • It's March Already!

    Posted by Denise Nielsen, 4 years ago

    It must be just about a year since I found this web site and I must say that I enjoy all the comments and am constantly hearing myself say "oh, I must read that" about books I'd never have thought of before. This particular community both inspires me to read new books and motivates me to read the ones sitting on my shelves. So thanks.

    19. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien – Actually, I got this out for my son who is keenly interested in LOTR, but it’s not really a book to read aloud. Still it sat there on the table and I picked it up and read it before putting it back on the shelf.

    20. Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles by Margaret George – This is my second reading of this book and I am not enjoying it quite as much as I did the first time. I found it a slower read than I remember to start off with, and less of a page turner, but I would still recommend it to historical fiction fans.

    21. Pirate’s Passage by William Gilkerson – I was reminded of this book when my brother in BC called on my birthday and in passing mentioned that my nephew aged 5 was being a pirate. I love this tale of pirate lore and high sea escapades and it’s as good an adventure story as any in the tradition of the swashbuckling pirate. With a nod to Treasure Island, this book is a great one to read aloud, but by no means is it just for kids…the Long John Silver in everyone will enjoy this.

    22. The Splendour Falls by Susanna Kearsley – Battling with a cold, I couldn’t handle anything too heavy and settled in with this page turner – modern day mystery meets historic legend. Much fun.

  • 23/50 Multiple Blessings by Kate Gosselin

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

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    • 2 people found this helpful

    #18 -- The Reader -- An Amazing book

    Posted by Joanna, 4 years ago

    The Reader by Bernhard Schlink -- First published in 1995 in German

    The story of Michael Berg and Hanna is filled with much Human emotion and conflict.

    "I had already begun to ask myself back then: What should our second generation have done, what should it do with the knowledge of the horrors of the extermination of the Jews?-------Should we only fall silent in revulsion, shame and guilt? To what purpose? - - - -But that some few would be convicted and punished while we of the second generation were silenced by revulsion, shame and guilt? ------ how could those who had committed Nazi crimes or watched them happen or looked away while they happened or tollerated the criminials amoung them after 1945 or even accepted them --- how could they have anything to say to their children"

    This short novel is filled with thoughts which make one think about the horrors which have happened in our world.

    Bernhard Schlink has written an amazing novel and I am looking forward to the movie with mixed emotions; I hope that the movie has at least some of the deep thoughts and emotions which are contained in this book.

    This is a powerful novel which should give us all a lot to think about.

    "WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE"

    A must read

    5*****

  • 21 & 22/ 50

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

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  • MARCH TO DATE

    Posted by Christine L, 4 years ago

    17. THAT WENT WELL by Terrell Harris Dougan. This was a humorous, usually heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking book about a difficult subject. Terrell’s sister, Irene, suffered brain damage at birth and would forever be a child in heart and mind. After the death of her parents Terrell became primary caretaker for her sister. This book not only describes her trials and tribulations in that role, and the effect it had on her everyday life, but emphasizes that sometimes necessity is truly the mother of invention.

    There are two major things I took away from this book, one – I do not think I could handle a similar situation with the fortitude, grace and humor that Ms. Dougan did and, two – as Ms. Dougan so often points out, sometimes those we perceive as being challenged have a lot to teach those of us perceived as “normal”.

    18. FOOL by Christopher Moore. It’s a bawdy tale! To paraphrase - “Cauldron boil and cauldron bubble, stir the pot and make some trouble" seems to be Mr. Moore’s mission statement for this book. If you locked William Shakespeare, Monty Python, Benny Hill and Mel Brooks into a room and told them to write a comedy version of King Lear, I am sure that their combined forces could not have come up with a better version than FOOL.

    19. PEOPLE OF THE BOOK by Geraldine Brooks. Hannah Heath, a rare book expert, is called to Sarajevo in 1996 to take a look at the Haggadah, and illuminated Jewish religious volume. While restoring the book she discovers and insect wing, a wine stain, salt crystals and a single white hair. Her investigation into these clues leads the reader through not only through the history of the Haggadah, but through history itself.

    The format of a character in present time making a discovery and then taking us through history is not a new concept for writing historical fiction (GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING is the first one I remember reading in this manner), but I find that I enjoy the backward path these books take to bring us back to the present.

    20. TO SHIELD THE QUEEN by Fiona Buckley. This is a well written book that will appeal to readers of historical fiction, especially fans of Phillippa Gregory and Arianna Franklin.

    Although still married to Amy, Sir Robert Dudley is courting Queen Elizabeth. This does not sit well with members of the court, nor those in the kingdom still wanting to bring back their “catholic” monarchy. Enter Ursula Blanchard, a newly widowed young mother in dire straits needing to financially look after herself and her daughter. She takes a position as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and ends up caring for Amy Dudley, in order to dispel rumors that Dudley is slowly poisoning his wife to free himself for Elizabeth. Treachery and murder abound and Ursula finds herself in the role of investigator, sadly, to the detriment of her own love life.

    20. THE LITTLE BOOK by Seldon Edwards. I found this book an interesting read. BUT – like all time travel books, which I find thought-provokingly frustrating but which I continue to read - it led to a lot of “what would I do” type questions about the pros and cons of changing history.

    Imagine walking down the street in 1988 San Francisco, seemingly lifting your foot to take a step … and when you put that foot down you have been transported to 1897 Vienna. This is exactly what happens to Stan “Wheeler” Burden. While in Vienna he has encounters with the current mayor and just-stirring anti-semite Karl Lueger, the artist Klimt, and finds himself taking room and board with Sigmund Freud. Add to this mix his grandparents (could he really fall in love with his grandmother? … hmmm, Freud’s Oedipal complex personified?) and his deceased father, who died in a WWII prison camp. Obviously his father has some very strong feelings about Adolf Hitler, who in 1897 happens to live less than one hour outside of Vienna and is 9 years old.

  • The Tain

    Posted by Ligeia, 4 years ago

    This book took me a while to get through but I still enjoyed it. It's a Celtic story that usually is found in the Book of the Dung Cow but can also be found by itself. Without the pre stories at the beginning of this account it would be difficult to follow.
    There are many characters, a lot of repeatition and a lot of verse . It is amazing to imagine that this account was usually said orally. The story starts because of a competiton between husband and wife about who owns more- they end up fighting over a bull. The wife, Medb then spends the rest of the book attacking Cu Chulainn in order to get the biggest bull in the land.
    Realize this may not seem like the most enthralling plot line but I found it fascinating to see the otherworld, the honor within battle and the lifestyle of those which were displayed in the Ulster cycle.

    • 4 people found this helpful

    7) Keep The Faith

    Posted by Virtopia, 4 years ago

    This is a memoir of Faith Evans, R&B singer and wife of late Notorious BIG. I read this book in less than 24 hours - it was that captivating! As a fan of her music, it was great to read how she got to where she is today and it also gives me a newfound respect for some of the things she has endured in her life.

    • 3 people found this helpful

    #8 Come Closer by Sara Gran

    Posted by Mary Ellen Anaka, 4 years ago

    This was a quick read for me. It is in the bargain section in Chapters We picked it up for our bookclub.
    It is and was a psychological thriller. Amanda is the main character and she starts to have outbursts of anger and unsettling thoughts for no apparent reason. Amanda starts to behave in a manner in which her loved ones, particularly her husband, just don't understand. A childhood friend which she perceived as imaginery starts to appear before her and in her head. She has memory black outs that she can't explain and wakes up in strangers beds. Things go from bad, to worse to terrifying. Interesting read. A very disturbing little book.
    I give it a 3 out of 5.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    #7 Amsterdam by Ian Mc Ewan

    Posted by Mary Ellen Anaka, 4 years ago

    I liked this book, very much. This is the 3rd book I have read by this author, and each one I have liked for different reasons.
    Amsterdam, was very funny at times, but also very dark and sinister throughout. It starts off with the death/ and funeral of Molly Lane--and her relationships with her husband George, her friends and ex-lover's , composer Clive Linley and newspaper editor Vernon Halliday. Ian McEwan delves into the importance of marriage & friendships. How narrow minded, people can be. How forgiving others can be, in extrordinary circumstances, how full of themselves some people can be, how some can lose their way and all of their morales. We see how quickly tables can turn. This book has everything from infedeltiy, dirty pictures, to politicians. I found the ending somewhat shocking, but at the same time it became clear why the title was Amsterdam. The ending was brilliant.

  • #6 Still Alice by Lisa Genova

    Posted by Mary Ellen Anaka, 4 years ago

    I have to admit, I was a little reluctant about reading this novel. I kept picking it up and putting it down. The subject matter, after all, is a little scary. It starts with Alice, a 50 year old woman, who is an intelligent professional, whom suddenly realizes that she is starting to forget things more. She thinks that it could be menopause, after all some of the symptoms are menopausal. She is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers. This account is souly from Alice's point of view. Her denial, her acceptance, her telling her family and their reactions to her disease as she sees it. She has a husband who is a workalholic like herself. She has three grown children. This disease is hereditary. It is a must read, even for those of us that are afraid as I was. It is a wonderful story, that I am glad that I read. Although it is fictional, the author Lisa Genova, certainly did her research. She had first hand knowledge of the subject as her grandmother had alzheimers. I also learned many things about demenia and alzheimers that I did not know about. Give this book a try, you truly will not be sorry.

  • #5 & 6

    Posted by Lins, 4 years ago

    I know I'll probably never hit 50 books this year because I just read too darn slow but being able to write about the books Ive read and to read about other books really does help inspire me to keep on reading! I love to read, but I seem to not make it a priority above other things. This year, it's a priority so thank you all for keeping me inspired!

    So books 5 and 6 for me this year were Harry Potter 4 and 5; Goblet of Fire and The Order of the Phoenix. Both great books, I LOVED Goblet and I love Order too but Order I could have cut out about 150 pages of rambling on and on and on and on of Harry at Hogwarts. It really slowed me down and made me take full days off reading when I haven't been able to put Harry down since I've started reading them. But in the end it was worth it as you learn so much and the final duel was pretty awesome reading! I look forward to Half Blood prince since the movie is not yet out so I have NO idea what's going to happen now!!

    6) Last Voyage of the Valentina

    Posted by Virtopia, 4 years ago

    I absoluely LOVED this book. I somewhat connected with Alba, the main character, and some of her behavioural traits. It was nice to follow her through Italy and learn the story of her mother's past.

    • 2 people found this helpful

    20) Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    Twilight Stephenie Meyer

    -Message Deleted-

    • 1 person found this helpful

    #13 and 14

    Posted by Charity, 4 years ago

    I may be falling behind....

    #13 Dracula by Bram Stoker
    Okay, so maybe technically this book shouldn't even count, as I started it over a year ago. I had actually given up on this book, but as I was packing I have been weeding out titles I don't want to keep. I only had about 20 pages left to go, and I really couldn't leave it like that so I took a break from the packing (one of many) and finished it off. I remember why I stopped reading it but I still slogged through to the end so I can happily pass it on to a new home.

    #14 American Gods by Neil Gaiman
    I actually had a plan to read only Neil Gaiman for the next little while. When I found Anansi's Boys in our bargain section I picked it up but I knew I had to read this one first. I actually really enjoyed this title. However, while I was packing, I accidentally packed up the next book so my plan has been foiled. Typical.

    • Ugh, I really can't deal with overwritten literature, even if there is a bloodsucking fiend involved.

    • This seemed like a mixture of Christopher Moore (Coyote Blue) and Dean Koontz (From the Corner of His Eye) but it was still completely unique too.

    • 1 person found this helpful

    Children of my Heart - Gabriel Roy

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

    -Message Deleted-

    Sputnik Diner - Rick Maddocks

    Posted by Unknown User, 4 years ago

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    #5 - High Voltage Tattoo

    Posted by Brittney Thiessen, 4 years ago

    Being not only a huge fan of Kat Von D but also of the tattoo world, this book became a definite must have as soon as it came out, but only recently was I able to get my hands on it, and I'm glad I did. This book sums up Kat Von D, giving readers an indepth look at her life, works, triumphs as well as information about tattoos, stories and others artists who inspire her. The information and pictures filling the pages sucked me in and kept me hooked till the last page. A definite must read for any fan of either Kat or tattoos or both!

    • 2 people found this helpful

    6 - The Appeal - John Grisham

    Posted by Julie Woo, 4 years ago

    This is your basic John Grisham book. The book begins with a huge settlement awarded to the plaintiff for the death of her husband and son due to the illegal dumping of chemicals that end up in the water supply. The book deals with the appeal that everyone knows is coming and the ultimate result.
    It is a fast read, but nothing really suprising.

  • 5 - Obedience - Will Lavender

    Posted by Julie Woo, 4 years ago

    I read one of the reviews for this book online, and the person said that it would all depend on the ending, and I would have to agree.
    This is one of my book club books and it is about a university class where the assignment is to find a "hypothetical" missing girl before the course is over or she will be murdered. There were a lot of twists and turns, and characters in the book and did keep me interested. until the end. I was just really disapointed by the ending.