bohemiangirl's throwdown

Hope everyone had a fun holiday and new year's celebration! Wishing everyone a peaceful, happy, stress-free and blessed 2012!

I've made my 75 for two years in a row, and I'm looking forward to more good books this year. Thank you for broadening my reading experience and enticing me to try authors and genres that are outside my normal reading fare. I may not log on as often as I used to, but I am glad to have met you all and happy to lurk on your threads and pick up literary (and not so literary - ha ha) nuggets. :)

1. The Other Life by Ellen Meister - comments

Glad to see you back with us again, Sacil!

Sorry your first book of the year was disappointing. I hope your next read is much better for you.

Hi Stasia! Hope all is well with you. Happy new year! The Other Life had so much potential, but it really fell flat. I've already tried to listen to two others and I just could not take the narrators voices. Trying to decide now if I can listen to Kate Atkinson's One Good Turn or not. Hoping to make it to the library tomorrow to look for something else.

I love the Jackson Brodie series. I can understand about the narrator though - a good narrator can make or break a book.

Welcome back!

#5 The story sounded good, but I've decided to leave it on my wish list for later.
#6 Thank you! happy new year!

2. Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult - comments here

Sorry your first read of the year wasn't great, Gail. I liked your review of Sing You Home ... might just need to put this one on my obese wish list.

I need a Jackson Brodie readathon, I think. I love the series, but I can't do audio books. Am considering (after my book buying challenge year is up) getting the whole series on the Kindle.

#8: I am going to give that one a pass. Nice review, Sacil.

#9 and 10 - thank you very much! Glad you liked the review. Stasia, if I had known what it was about, I probably would have passed on it as well. But it was good for what it was. :)

3. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - comments

4. Mystery by Jonathan Kellerman - not going to write a review. Suffice it to say that the book was just okay. I half listened to the whole thing. Nothing new or exciting.

Good to see you again, Sacil!

5. House Divided by Mike Lawson - comments I had a link to the wrong book! Fixed it. :)

6. The Deal, the Dance and the Devil by Victoria Christopher Murray - comments

14 Thank you Darryl!

7. The Second Opinion by Michael Palmer - comments

Rats. The Second Opinion sounds like a book that I might have been interested in.

#19 Sorry. :)

8. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn - comments

Review thumbed! I liked this one too.

#12: I have owned that one for a while now. I still need to get it read. Nice review, Sacil!

#22 :D
#23 Thank you, Stasia! Wow! You've liked two of my reviews this year! I'm honored. :)

Had an interview with Va Tech this past Friday. The job sounds like it was tailor made for me. They plan to notify everyone within a week and a half. Wish me luck!

Good luck on the Virginia Tech job, Sacil! Please keep us posted.

Dark Places is one of those novels that really intrigues me, but I keep forgetting to look for. Nice review! And good luck with the job, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

# 26 & 27 - Thank you!

9. The Accidental by Ali Smith - I picked this one up after seeing it on Darryl's list. comments

10. What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz - comments

I just applied for a job that sounds ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for me! It's also at VA Tech and would allow me more creativity and autonomy than the first one I applied for, and it would pay about the same as the job I had before. Woo woo! It would be great to not take a pay cut. The request for apps is open till late February, but I think I have a really good chance. Please wish me luck! :)

Listening to Stephen King's 11/22/63 - what idiot decided that having three 20-25 minute tracks per cd for a 30 cd book made sense? grrrrrr. finding your place when you have to turn it off is ridiculous.

Oh. That's unfortunate. :(

Hmm...as you say, I'll have to form my own opinion about The Accidental, as the reviews have been all over the place about it. Thanks for your comments.

11. 11/22/63 by Stephen King - comments

#34 - thank you for reading them!

* Lurking, enjoying your reviews *

12. Toys by James Patterson - comments

#37 Thank you! :D

13. The Grim Reaper's Dance by Judy Clemens - comments

Ha ha ha! Just noticed the grim reaper was posted as the 13th book. I actually read that as number 12, but forgot to post it. :)

14. The Confession by John Grisham - comments

15. The Long Fall by Walter Mosley - comments

16. Fallen by Karin Slaughter - comments

Tried to listen to In Too Deep but I it didn't hold my attention. I think part of it was the narrator.

Tried to listen to The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. I wasn't as into it as when I read She's Come Undone. I didn't even get a third of the way through. I might try to read it again later, but maybe not because it fictionalizes the Columbine High School killings. Not sure I want that in my brain.

17. Crimes by Moonlight by Charlaine Harris - comments

18. Erasure by Percival Everett - comments

I am a finalist for the grant specialist position at Virginia Western Community College! Wish me luck! I meet with the president of the college on Friday. He's going to ask me two questions. Any idea what they might be?

Good luck on your interview tomorrow!

I put the The Hour I First Believed on my wishlist, thanks to you. Funny, given that you weren't into it. But somehow the school killing stories have that "can't look away" power over me. And I know Wally Lamb is well regarded.

19. Black Water Rising by Attica Locke - comments

20. Phantom Prey by John Sandford - A little goofy, not very believable, but still good.

21. Horror Stories by Jack Kilborn - comments

No word from VA Tech. Promised notification within 2 weeks and it's been over a month. Wouldn't politeness dictate at least a "We hired someone else" email, if not a letter? Still hopeful about Va Western. Praying and fingers crossed!

I would give VA Tech a call, and ask them about the status of your application. It shows initiative and desire, and keeps your name in front of them.

Thanx, I plan to call Va Western tomorrow since I was in the final 3. I really want that job. I was just griping about Tech. :)

22. Death Echo by Elizabeth Lowell - eh, so-so.

23. Rock Bottom by Erin Brokovich and C. J. Lyons - comments

24. House of Reckoning by John Saul - comments

25. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood - comments

26. The Hunt Club by John Lescroart - eh, *shrug*. Didn't like the narrator. Story was just so-so.

27. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - comments

28. Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice - comments

29. The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde - comments

30. Long Gone by Alafair Burke - comments

31. Getting Things Done by David Allen - comments

32. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman - comments

33. Krik? Krak! - comments

Nice review of Krik? Krak!. I loved that book, too, along with practically everything else she's written.

Thank you!

34. The Killing Edge by Heather Graham - Did not know that this was romantic suspense when I checked it out. I don't do romance novels. But it was okay for what it was. Have no idea where the title of the book came from...edge of the water, maybe? I might have missed something when I zoned out during one of the sexcapades and didn't come back soon enough.

35. The Cobra by Frederick Forsyth - comments

36. Assumption by Percival Everett - comments

37. The Night Circus - comments

38. Secret Prey by John Sandford - I'm reading the books out of order as I come across them at the various libraries I visit. This one was pretty good and I got a better feel for Lucas' and Weather's relationship.

39. Camouflage by Bill Pronzini - forgettable

40. The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman - comments

41. Blindfold Game by Dana Stabenow - better than The Conspiracy Club but I wasn't really into it

42. 17 Day Diet by Mike Moreno - comments

43. Though Not Dead by Dana Stabenow - comments

44. The Bone House by Brian Freeman - comments

45. Brought in Dead by Jack Higgins - a bit campy...the dialogue was hilarious!

46. From Fatigued to Fantastic by Jacob Teitelbaum - Need to get the updated version. A lot of what he says makes sense. Some of it seems more like opinion than researched fact because he says, "I think" so much or references one doctor for a whole section instead of several. However, much of what's in the book dovetails with what I've read/heard in other places.

47. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks - comments

48. Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans - comments
idk why this link isn't working. I tried to update it, but it is still wonky.

49. Random Acts of Kindness by Conari Press - comments

50. The Vanishers by Heidi Julavits - comments

51. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko - comments

52. The Devil's Teardrop by Jeffery Deaver - comments

53. A Corpse's Nightmare by Phillip DePoy - comments

54. The Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver - definitely not his best. disappointed.

55. Black Cherry Blues by James Lee Burke

Hi everyone. If you are interested, my website is now up: www.MyCreativeMischief.com. I have a few clients. Yay! I have some interest from some businesses for major contracts( for their employees and clients). Please wish me luck or send up a prayer. :)

56. The Stone Monkey by Jeffery Deaver - I like the Lincoln Rhyme series except that the endings remind me of Matlock. Lincoln and Amelia explain everything and even the hardest thug caves once Rhyme figures him out.

57. Sunset Limited by James Lee Burke

58. Garden of Beasts by Jeffery Deaver - comments

59. The Last Child by John Hart - comments

60. Bitterroot by James Lee Burke - comments

61. the Devil's Code by John Sandford - comment

Accepted a job offer yesterday! Moving in August and starting on the 27th! Woo hoo! Also have several teaching spots now. :D Yay!

Congratulations, Sacil! That's great news.

Congrats!

thank you both. :)

62. The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman - comments

63. The Leopard by Jo Nesbo - comments

64. Neon Rain by James Lee Burke - comments

65. The Power of Full Engagement - comments

66. Situations Matter by Sam Sommers - comments

67. The Thing on the Doorstep by H.P. Lovecraft

Cool...Lovecraft!

*waving* at Sacil

#110 - yes, lovecraft is cool!

#111 - Hi Stacia! Hope all is well with you! Miss you guys. Been really, really busy teaching, drumming up new business, packing to move, and getting ready for my new full time job as grant writer for Goodwill Industry of the Valleys. :)

68. In the Name of Honor by Richard North Patterson - comments

69. The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke - comments

70. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - comments

71. The Litigators by John Grisham - comments

72. The Siege by Stephen White - comments

73. Stay Close by Harlan Coben - comments

74. Power Play by Joseph Finder - comments

75. Need You Now by James Grippando - comments

75 books! Woo hoo!

Congratulations!

Congrats!

Thank you!

76. A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block - comments

I tried to listen to this and couldn't make it past disc one. And the sad part is that I got charged overdue fees because I didn't return it on time!

77. Taken by Robert Crais - comments

Sorry that I missed the magic number, but better late than never, right Sacil?

:D thank you so much! Yes, late is definitely better than never.

78. Line of Fire by Stephen White - comments

Sacil dear...PM me please?

#128 Stasia, just gotta say how much I am loving that jumping happy face! I keep coming to my thread just to watch him. :) thank you for that.

#132: I am glad you enjoy jumpy guy so much :)

79. Fall From Grace by Richard North Patterson - comments

80. Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child - comments

81. The Night Gardener by George Pelicanos - comments

82. Oath of Office by Michael Palmer - comments

83. Buried Prey by John Sandford - comments

84. Gideon's Corpse by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child - comments

85. Martin Misunderstood by Karin Slaughter - comments

86. Virtually Dead by Peter May - comments

I've made the stuffing. I've prepped the brussels sprouts with apples. I've got the noxious bird-meat brining in my own souped-up whiskey brine mixture. Yam nastiness baking now. Must roast the sprouts, some white potatoes with garlic, oil and rosemary, and birdie. Sweet potato pie, pecan pie, southern mincemeat pie, and apple pie all done. Life is good, but my knees and feet are killin' me! Happy holiday for you and all those you love.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, bohemiangirl!

87. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn - too cute! thanx for reviewing it, richard!



88. Lords of Corruption by Kyle Mills - comments

89. Ask the Parrot by Richard Stark - comments

90. Twenty-seven Bones by Jonathan Nasaw - comments

91. Nerve Damage by Peter Abrahams

92. The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon

Anyone else having trouble updating their books?

93. Delusion by Peter Abrahams - predictable



94. Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

95. Pure by Julianna Baggott - comments

Sacil! Happy Boxing Day! I've eaten myself into rotundity, and am nursing a very very painful knee (gout flare-up) with ice and fire...cold pack, heating pad alternating.

More wet and blowy weather. Yuck. Reviewed two books today, neither of which finished up with as many stars as they started out with.

My 2013 thread in the new 75er forum is up, but I didn't see yours and came looking for you.

*smooch*

Awesome! Enjoy your rotundity. :) Sorry about the knee. Maybe you ate the wrong things?

The weather here is nasty, too. I drove from Newport News to Roanoke in rain, snow, sleet, dense fog and then rain again. Saw 5, FIVE, car accidents that all ended with cars in ditches due to the slippery highway streets. I made it home safely, despite the idiots on the road.

Had a great Christmas with my family. Now I have to rest tonight so I can go to work tomorrow.

Haven't been on LT longer than a minute for the last few weeks. I'll head over and set up my 2013 thread right away!

Hugs!

Oh don't I wish it was that...the knees have been bad for over two weeks. It waxes, it wanes, it waxes...boo hoo and boo hiss!

Happy happy New Year!!

96. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger - comments

Lovely review! Duly thumbs-upped.

#156 Thank you!

:D Thank you!