saraslibrary's 75 Books Challenge for 2009

I'm also working on another challenge (Paranormal 999), but this one takes precedence, since it's more likely I'll finish this one.

1) Slugs* by David Greenberg
Read: Jan. 1 - 1
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Suggests many unpleasant things that can be done with and to slugs and warns that even the lowly slug may have its revenge.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, picture book, humor, poetry, animals, slugs
My Notes: Cruel and disgusting, but twisted and funny by the end.

(*Touchstones the wrong title.)

Welcome back with us! Glad to see we are going to have you for the whole year this time.

Hey, thanks. :) I just hope I can make it to 75 again.

2) The Story of the Little Mole Who Went in Search of Whodunit by Werner Holzwarth & Wolf Erlbruch
Read: Jan. 1 - 1
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: When Little Mole tries to find out who pooped on his head, the other animals show him how they poop in order to prove their innocence.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, picture book, animals, moles, humor
My Notes: Gotta love bathroom humor.

3) Abadazad #1: The Road to Inconceivable by J. M. DeMatteis
Read: Jan. 1 - 2
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Kate's little brother Matt is missing, and Kate thinks she will never see him again. But then she finds out that Matt is trapped in the world of Abadazad. Will Kate have the courage to look for her brother? And if she leaves home, will she ever return?
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, fantasy, abadazad, diaries, graphic novel
My Notes: I loved the comic book feel to it; beautiful illustrations. I almost believed Abadazad was a real century-old series by a guy named Franklin O. Davies; but after doing some Googling, I found out it was all based on L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz books. No surprise there. An interesting twist: most of the characters are black.

Hi saraslibrary - good to see you back here! Funny how things translate across the ocean - your second book is 'The Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business' in the UK ("business" being a slightly old-fashioned slang word for that poop!).

Hi Flossie. Thanks for the re-welcome. :)

The Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business??

LOL! That is too cute. I like that title better, especially after you explained the slang for it. :D

4) Cut by Patricia McCormick
Read: Jan. 2 - 4
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Burdened with the pressure of believing she is responsible for her brother's illness, 15-year-old Callie begins a course of self-destruction that leads to her being admitted to Sea Pines, a psychiatric hospital the "guests" refer to as Sick Minds. Although initially she refuses to speak, her individual and group therapy sessions trigger memories and insights. Slowly, she begins emerging from her miserable silence, ultimately understanding the role her dysfunctional family played in her brother's health crisis. Patricia McCormick's first novel is authentic and deeply moving. Callie suffers from a less familiar teen problem--she cuts herself to relieve her inner frustrations and guilt. The hope and hard-won progress that comes at the conclusion of the novel is believable and heartening for any teen reader who feels alone in her (or his) angst. Along with Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak and E. L. Konigsburg's Silent to the Bone, McCormick's Cut expertly tackles an unusual response to harrowing adolescent trouble.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, psychology
My Notes: An intense subject, which is thankfully talked about more with books like this. A quick, engrossing read.

hi Sara
This sounds as a good book, sadly not available in Dutch.
But I did find they have Speak and Silent to the Bone at the library, so I added them to the list.
Anita

Hi, Anita. :) Yes, I really liked Cut. That's too bad it's not available where you are. I have Speak, so I'll be reading that in a week or so. Let me know if you read it before I do and what you thought of it. Silent to the Bone sounds good, too, but I haven't found a copy yet. Good luck with your list! :)

5) Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, & Vicki Pettersson
Read: Jan. 4 - May 8
My Rating: 3/5
Synopsis: This holiday, spend quality time with family and loved ones—living and dead . . . There's no place like home for the horrordays—unless you'd prefer a romantic midnight walk through a ghost-infested graveyard . . . or a haunted house candlelight dinner with the sexy vampire of your dreams. The (black) magical season is here—and whether it's a solstice séance gone demonically wrong with the incomparable Kim Harrison, a grossly misshapen Christmas with the remarkable Lynsay Sands, a blood-chilling-and-spilling New Year's with the wonderful Marjorie M. Liu, or a super-powered Thanksgiving with the phenomenal Vicki Pettersson, one thing is for certain: in the able hands of these exceptional dark side explorers, the holidays are going to be deliciously hellish!
My Tags: fiction, romance, horror, short stories, anthology, christmas, thanksgiving, new years, shapeshifters, witches, vampires, ghosts, ohio, china
My Notes: LibraryThing's prediction: Will Love. Hmm, not exactly. Don't get me wrong; Holidays Are Hell isn't bad; but it's not great either. It's pretty lukewarm/skip-worthy like the previous anthology (Dates from Hell) I read last year. Fans who're familiar with the characters might like this book though.

6) Night Bites: Vampire Stories by Women edited by Victoria A. Brownworth
Read: Jan. 6 - 13
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: An anthology of seventeen original vampire tales by women includes such chilling works as Terri de la Pena's "Refugio," Linda K. Wright's "The Last Train," and "Anita, Polish Vampire, Holds Forth at the Jewish Cafe of the Dead" by Judith Katz.
My Tags: fiction, horror, vampires, lamias, short stories, anthology, europe, shapeshifters, lesbians, chicago, philadelphia, new orleans
My Notes: Not a whole lotta "blood and lust" as the cover mentions, except for maybe Diane DeKelb-Rittenhouse's "To Die For", which is one of my favorites in the bunch. Two more memorable stories: "Immunity" by Toni Brown, because it involves lamias, something I haven't read much about except in Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton; and "Bad Company" by Joyce Wagner, because of the almost comical blooksucker in the story: a Barbie doll (no joke).

7) Water Tales: Aquamarine & Indigo by Alice Hoffman
Read: Jan. 14 - 16
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Friendships are forever. Love knows no bounds. The supernatural graces the everyday in unexpected ways. These themes have made Alice Hoffman a cherished best selling author across the country. Now, with AQUAMARINE and INDIGO, she gives us wonderful magic realism for all ages. Unforgettable stories of love, loss, hope, and amazement -- in one mass market volume.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, fantasy, short stories, mermaids, friendship, summer
My Notes: I loved the illustrations in "Indigo"; but I can't say I really connected with either story. How they got enough material from "Aquamarine" to make a movie, I don't know. A very quick read, though, due in part to the wide spacing.

8) Little Monster Treasury Book by Mercer Mayer
Read: Jan. 17 - 17
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: 11 Books in One: "Mother Goose", "How the Zebra Lost Its Stripes", "At Home", "At School", "101 Penguins", "The Smelly Mystery", "The Lost Wish", "The Bubble-Gum Pirates", "Bedtime Book", "Alphabet Book", & "Word Book".
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, picture book, series, little monster, anthology
My Notes: I loved these books as a kid, so I was happy to find an 11-in-1 collection for the price of one. How-ev-er, this must be a bootlegged copy, because I've never found another one online or elsewhere. All that aside, I still liked the book, except for the first story ("Mother Goose"): there's just too much going on at once.

9) Love Lessons* by David Belbin
Read: Jan. 17 - 23
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Rachel has a crush on her new English teacher. Mike fancies Rachel, too. But neither plans to do anything about it. Then a school play brings them close together. Really close. Romeo and Juliet is a very romantic play. But this is real life. The star-crossed lovers are constantly afraid of discovery, of losing everything. What began as a schoolgirl fantasy has turned into an X-rated nightmare...
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, romance, teachers, england, acting
My Notes: Considering the subject matter and targeted audience, I thought this was very daring book. I liked that the characters had some depth to them, which isn't seen very often in Point novels. The p.o.v. switch between Mike and Rachel was great, allowing the reader to see both sides of the story. It wasn't one-dimensional at all; and to be honest, the topic is a guilty pleasure of mine, because who hasn't had a crush on a teacher, etc.? But thankfully, this book doesn't glorify statutory rape.

(*Touchstones the wrong title.)

10) Princess Spider: True Experiences of a Dominatrix by Princess Spider
Read: Jan. 19 - 22
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Princess Spider is the best known female dominatrix on the UK fetish scene. In her book she will be offering unrestricted and unprecedented access to her fascinating, shocking and very bizarre world: extraordinary true stories from her private and public domination of both men and women; expert detailed knowledge on every aspect of female domination including role-playing, imagery, dress-codes, rituals, equipment, playrooms and dungeons; access to slaves and their slave diaries; the slave-mistress relationship revealed in full; reportage on femdom rituals and sessions as they happen.
My Tags: nonfiction, autobiography, erotica, bdsm, england
My Notes: By LibraryThing's "Will you like it?" gizmo, I should've hated this book; however, I thoroughly enjoyed it. One of the nice touches are the diary excerpts from her slaves. Whether they're authentic or not, who cares? It's one thing for Princess Spider to explain her sessions, but it's so much more effective for her slaves to describe their experiences with her. The whole time I kept trying to visualize these people outside of the dungeons and wouldn't mind reading more about them. Very interesting.

11) The Most Evil Women in History by Shelley Klein
Read: Jan. 23 - Feb. 21
My Rating: 3/5
Synopsis: A catalogue of female killers from the first century AD to the present day: Agrippina the Younger (Nero's murderous mother), Aileen Carol Wuornos (American serial killer--of men), Audrey Marie Hilley (a.k.a. the 'Black Widow', American killer and con artist), Catherine the Great (merciless Empress of Russia), Elena Ceausescu (corrupt and murderous wife of Romania's dictator), Grace Marks (Canada's most famous murderess), Karla Homolka (notorious Canadian sex killer), Lizzie Borden (American parent killer who escaped justice), Mary Ann Cotton (multiple arsenic murderer and bigamist), Marie Noe (American serial killer of her own children), Myra Hindley (Britain's most reviled murderess), Queen Ranavalona I (despotic scourge of Madagascar), Rosemary West (a killer ten times over), Tz'u-hsi (ruthless Empress Dowager of China), and Valeria Messalina (depraved wife of the Emperor Claudius).
My Tags: nonfiction, historical, true crime, biography
My Notes: Wow, who knew a book on serial killers could be so boring. Don't get me wrong--there were some women killers I wasn't even aware of--but I was kind of disappointed overall. It read more like a textbook, so I can't imagine this holding the interest of a casual reader. Probably the cases that intrigued me the most were the ones closest to the present time (eg, Myra Hindley, because I had just finished watching "Longford" and wanted to know more about her and Ian Brady, her accomplice) over the more political ones (eg, Valeria Messalina). I wouldn't really recommend this book unless you're a diehard true crime fan.

Well, I must say you are doing some interesting reading this year, Sara. I cannot wait to see what you think of The Most Evil Women in History.

Thanks, alcottacre. I rarely know what I'll choose to read next. I just thumb through my shelves and wait for something to jump out at me--or fall on me, in some cases. ;) I just started The Most Evil Women in History today, so I don't quite have a feel for it yet. But I would've thought there would be more than 15 notorious women killers in the world than are shown here. I guess I'll just have to keep reading . . . . :)

12) Lucky by Alice Sebold
Read: Jan. 23 - 30
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: In a memoir hailed for its searing candor and wit, Alice Sebold reveals how her life was utterly transformed when, as an eighteen-year-old college freshman, she was brutally raped and beaten in a park near campus. What propels this chronicle of her recovery is Sebold's indomitable spirit -- as she struggles for understanding; as her dazed family and friends sometimes bungle their effords to provide comfort and support; and as, ultimately, she triumphs, managing through grit and coincidence to help secure her attacker's arrest and conviction. In a narrative in turns disturbing, thrilling, and inspiring, Alice Sebold illuminates the experience of trauma victim even as she imparts wisdom profoundly won: "You save yourself or you remain unsaved."
My Tags: nonfiction, autobiography, rape, college, new york
My Notes: Again, this was a book LibraryThing inaccurately predicted I would dislike. Wrong. I was hooked right from the beginning. The first paragraph, in particular, really stuck with me the entire time: "In the tunnel where I was raped . . . a girl had been murdered and dismembered. . . . In comparison, they said, I was lucky." Hence the title. It also made me flash on The Lovely Bones (the first book I read by Alice Sebold), which she began to write before this memoir, then set it aside so she could finish Lucky. This is a deeply emotional and moving story; and I hope if anything as traumatic happened to me, I would be as strong as she was (well, minus the subsequent heroin abuse). I can't wait to read more by her.

>21: looking forward to hearing what you make of Lucky, Sara - I just finished The Lovely Bones last week and got a lot out of it ("enjoyed" kind of feels the wrong word somehow). The memoir sounds pretty harrowing though.

Hey Sara - love the little format you've got going on for your ratings + reviews! I want to try genres I don't usually read this year, and after seeing your reads I think I should try some ya/juvenile fiction, I don't think I've read many in that area. Good luck with the challenge!

Lucky was a good book (so to speak) but I hated The Lovely Bones. The end really turned me against the entire book.

#22: Thanks, Flossie. I posted again to your thread, so I may be repeating myself here. :) I know what you mean about "enjoying" a book like The Lovely Bones or Lucky, because it makes the reader sound sadistic or something; but I'm already drawn into this book as well. Alice Sebold is certainly a talented writer. And, yes, it has been pretty harrowing so far. She doesn't keep much back.

#23: Hi, girlunderglass, and thanks. :) I set up my list like that more for me than anything else. Seeing the front cover helps me remember a lot about the book for some reason. That's a great challenge to set for yourself. When I'm out book-shopping, I try to browse through romance and sci fi novels, because those are the two genres that I'm not too keen on. (I still haven't gotten into westerns yet. :) I love how you set up your list, too, and good luck!

#24: I'm totally with you on that one, cal. I mean, I liked The Lovely Bones, but it was the ending that turned me off. I really wanted the killer to receive more than he did.

13) This Is My School by Mercer Mayer
Read: Jan. 27 - 27
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Describes Little Critter's first day at school.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, little critter, picture book
My Notes: (none)

#26: I remember when the girls were younger and we went through a ton of the Little Critter books. I am not sure who enjoyed the books more, the girls or me.

#27: I know what you mean. I regret getting rid of all my kids books, because the inner child in me still really loves 'em (especially Little Critter :).

14) Trinity Blood: Volume 1 by Sunao Yoshida
Read: Jan. 30 - 30
My Rating: 3/5
Synopsis: In a dark and distant future, Armageddon has giving rise to the fabled Second Moon--and a perpetual war between the vampires and the humans! Esther is a nun in the city of Istavan. When she crosses paths with Abel Nightroad, a priest sent from the Vatican to combat the local order of vampires, the two form a holy alliance to battle the most evil of threats: Gyula, the leader of the vampires. In this gorgeous, gothic-action series--part of the super-popular Trinity Blood franchise--the very survival of the human race is at stake!
My Tags: fiction, manga, series, trinity blood, vampires, sci fi, juvenile
My Notes: Loved the characters (priests, vampires, cyborgs--oh my!), just not the pacing. The action's too erratic at times, which made the whole thing confusing; but I still felt myself getting sucked in, even being the novice manga reader that I am. (Maybe that's why I found it confusing?)

15) Trinity Blood: Volume 2 by Sunao Yoshida
Read: Jan. 30 - 31
My Rating: 3/5
Synopsis: All roads lead to Rome and the Vatican, as Abel, Tres, and Esther set off to meet up with the rest of AX after the death of Gyula and the destruction of Esther's home church in Istavan. Esther's on a new mission, seeking to find herself and the source of her suffering, and new orders from the Vatican may lead to the answer. But the journey is filled with many twisted turns, including a formidable vampire, a bloodsucking tree, and a dangerously beautiful mermaid! In these original, never-before-told stories--which you will not find in the Trinity Blood novels or anime--all's fair in blood and war!
My Tags: fiction, manga, series, trinity blood, vampires, sci fi, juvenile, shapeshifters, mermaids
My Notes: Same as above for Volume 1.

16) Simple Principles to Eat Smart and Lose Weight by Alex A. Lluch & Sarah Jang
Read: Feb. 5 - 15
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Over 60 percent of all Americans are either obese or overweight. Many of them could lose unwanted pounds by making a few simple changes in their lifestyle and eating habits. Simple Principles to Eat Smart and Lose Weight gives readers practical tips they can apply immediately to help them lose weight and keep it off. In a direct, easy-to-read style, this book provides the basics on topics such as counting calories, increasing physical activity, planning balanced meals, and making healthy lifestyle choices. No matter their age or physical condition, readers will find ideas they can apply immediately to begin losing weight. No special foods are needed. The wisdom contained in Simple Principles to Eat Smart and Lose Weight will benefit readers no matter what diet they are currently following. In addition to the 200 powerful principles for losing weight and their supporting text, this book contains detailed information on everything the reader must know for a successful weight-loss program.
My Tags: nonfiction, health, diet
My Notes: I didn't buy this book to lose weight (I'm underweight as it is, and I'd have to hack off a leg to lose more weight); I was more interested in the tips on how to eat right. Unfortunately, there weren't any miraculous revelations; it reiterates everything I--and most people--already know: count calories and exercise. But what I liked most about this book is how small and portable it is; and you don't have to necessarily read it in order (though I did). Just flip to a page and follow one of the tips. My best advice: keep a food journal, which they shamelessly plug: I Will Lose Weight This Time! Diet Journal. A plain notebook works just as well, imo.

Since I am actively trying to lose weight, I cannot wait to see your review of book #16!

>31 haha my wii's got me covered on the weight issue ;)

#32: I should've been done by now, but I've gotten pretty lazy with my reading. :/ But it basically says the same thing that all diet/exercise books say--eat less, exercise more--which is easier said than done. ;) Best of luck with taking the weight off. It's hard, but I'm sure you'll do it!

#33: Oh, those things are lethal. :D I never thought about using wii's as cardio machines, but I guess they are.

17) My Hot Dog Went Out, Can I Have Another? by Bill Amend
Read: Feb. 8 - 9
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: In his 18th collection of the fabulous comic strip, FoxTrot creator Bill Amend delivers a look at teen and family life that is consistently fresh, irreverent, and wacky. The antics of adolescent siblings Jason, Peter, and Paige try parents Roger and Andy but deliver laughs to readers as they're drawn into their chaotic world. The wildly popular and enduring strip has won-and kept-fans nationwide, as they keep coming back for more of the crazy life of the Fox family. Amend keeps his comedy fresh by dipping into the pop culture pool, which never fails to provide plenty of fodder for him to parody brilliantly.
My Tags: fiction, humor, comics, series, foxtrot
My Notes: Love it! I've been a fan for years and am eager to find more FoxTrot books. Jason's by far my favorite character.

18) Unshelved: Volume 1 by Bill Barnes & Gene Ambaum
Read: Feb. 10 - 21
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Welcome to Unshelved, the world's only daily comic strip set in a public library! Writer Gene Ambaum (the made-up name of a real-life librarian) and co-writer and artist Bill Barnes have been publishing since February 16, 2002. Some of the stories are made up, some of them are based on real life, and some are absolutely true stories sent to us from our readers. And the stranger the story, the more likely it is to be true.
My Tags: fiction, humor, comics, series, unshelved
My Notes: Obviously a first book, but still fun. I love the naked hippie, which we thankfully don't have running around in our mag section--yet. My coworkers introduced me to this comic strip (it wasn't printed in my local newspaper), so I totally blame them for making me a fan. ;) And even if you don't work in a library, most readers can still relate. (More of a 4 1/2.)

>36, Sara, that looks like so much fun... I have a librarian friend who I've been secretly stockpiling books for, and this definitely has to go on the list.

#37: Yeah, Unshelved's a pretty good comic strip, though it gets a little funnier later on. Your librarian friend will probably get a kick out of it.

#36: No way can I resist that one. On to the Continent it goes!

#39: Glad I can help. How big is your TBR pile now? :)

It is going to be Universe TBR here shortly - does that answer your question? lol

:D Yes, it does. That big, huh?

Yes, and expanding every day, just like the universe :o)

19) Hot Blood: Stranger by Night edited by Jeff Gelb & Michael Garrett
Read: Feb. 14 - April 2
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: A collection of erotic horror stories highlights the works of such authors as Ramsey Campbell, Brian Lumley, Graham Masterton, Brink Stevens, Brian Hodge, Edward Lee, Lucy Taylor, and Mike Newton.
My Tags: fiction, horror, erotica, short stories, anthology, series, hot blood, lesbians, computers, los angeles, holland, wisconsin
My Notes: I love this series! Each story is perverse and horrifying in its own way. "Dead Girls in Love" by Edward Lee and Gary Bowen is probably one of my favorites, because it's the only one that's out-and-out funny (two dead incestuous sisters seek revenge on their killer/boyfriend). "Godflesh" by Brian Hodge wraps the whole book up nicely with one sick take on amputees. Edo van Belkom's "End of the Road" also deals with the latter topic. I could probably go on and on about each story, but there are too many to critique each one. Good stuff though.

Hi Sara, I decided to take a look at your 75 thread. Some very interesting books. I am attempting 50 books this year since it is my first time doing a challenge, along with the 999 challenge. You have some very interesting books listed. I enjoyed your review for the Simple Principles. I am trying to loose weight so I have been reading all my exercise and weight loss books this year. It is hard when you use to be thin and never had to worry about your weight before. That book sounded interesting yet at the same time similar to all the books I currently own. I am going to watch your thread even though I am not in this challenge, this year...

Congrats on being a challenge newbie. :) I think I did the 50 book challenge once and was surprised to actually beat that record (I'm a lazy reader sometimes :). Good luck with both your challenges! I'll keep an eye on your threads, too. I love seeing what other people read.

You're right--Simple Principles to Eat Smart and Lose Weight pretty much says the same thing most health books say, so it's not necessary reading. I like it just 'cause it's so small and I can bring it anywhere. For me at least, reading about exercise, etc helps me get in the right frame of mind, so it's a little easier to stick with it. Best of luck with your weight loss goals!

Thanks Sara!! I may look for the book Simple Principles to Eat smart and Lose Weight, since it is small. That is something I should have handy at all times.
Monica

20) Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck Dictionary: Words You Thought You Knew the Meaning Of by Jeff Foxworthy
Read: Feb. 21 - 22
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Hey, you! The one holding the book. Have you ever seen a volume like this? Well, whether you realize it or not, it’s the one you’ve been waiting for. Jeff Foxworthy’s Redneck Dictionary will teach you how to speak this unique Southern dialect fluently. Whether you’re blue-collar or hoity-toity, swimming in cash or betting your bottom dollar, a little bit country or a lot of city slicker, this practical reference to redneck words and turns of phrases will give you hours of laughs. So expand your horizons and learn another language with this fun, instructive, and hilariously illustrated book as your guide. After all, speaking redneck is a heck of a lot easier than speaking French!
My Tags: nonfiction, dictionaries, humor, series, redneck
My Notes: Good for a smile and chuckle, but not "European on my boots, isso funny." This book confirms it, though--Southerners speak an entirely different language.

21) Revenge Gifts by Cindy Cruciger
Read: Feb. 22 - March 19
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: TARA COLE SPECIALIZES IN REVENGE In fact, she's an expert. Lace pillows filled with cat hair-for your least-favorite, most allergic relative; boxer shorts that set off metal detectors-for your cheating spouse; and her best seller at RevengeGifts.com: chocolates for your worst enemy, so you can watch gleefully as she packs on the pounds. Tara's best friend warns her that all this revenge is damaging her karma, but Tara doesn't care about her next life-she wants to enjoy this one. Besides, her kitchen is full of cranky ghosts. Tara figures she'll be the same one day, when she leaves the mortal plane. That might happen sooner than she thought, because someone has put a curse on her. A black cat, a black dog, even a black goat, appear, each followed by bizarre, almost-disastrous events. And it all started around the time Howard showed up. Howard says he wants to go into business with Tara, but it seems like he wants to go to bed with her. Unless he's the one who cursed her . . . . Is this karma coming full circle-or destiny knocking on Tara's door?
My Tags: fiction, romance, horror, ghosts, revenge, florida, voodoo
My Notes: Great heroine; I loved how mischievious and sarcastic she is. This was more of a light paranormal romance, since the ghosts and voodoo/curses seemed to be added as an afterthought. Dislikes: a tad too many characters to keep track of; and I found the killing/eating of the goat at a party really cruel and unnecessary, but hey, that's just me. Plus the ending was pretty forgettable. Something about a voodoo priestess? Meh. (shrugs)

22) Garfield Makes It Big: His 10th Book by Jim Davis
Read: March 3 - 3
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: This is his tenth book--and Garfield and the gang want to celebrate. Millions of fans just can't get enough of Garfield and company, so join them for an old-fashioned hoe-down and then sit down so you can read all about the fun!
My Tags: fiction, humor, comics, series, garfield
My Notes: (none)

23) Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Read: March 3, 2009 - April 30, 2010
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob --- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, horror, romance, vampires, werewolves, washington, series, twilight saga
My Notes: I can't believe this book took me just over a year to read! I guess my interest in this series has really started to drop. I know: just one more book to go before I'm finished with the series; and I just may buy/read the last installment. We'll see. I just hope something exciting happens (and not just in the last 100 pages, which is the case in every book). Way too long.

Oh Sara I love Garfield. I am going to have to find that book you just read for myself. I have or had a Garfield book some where in my house. I just need to find it.

I hope you are enjoying Eclipse. I have to re-read it because I can't remember too much about the book.

I hope you find it, Monica. I was pretty sure I had a Garfield book, too (especially since I loved the animated series as a kid); but after sifting through my comic books one day, I realized I didn't. Lucky me, someone donated their copy to our library a couple weeks back. :)

Eclipse's pretty good, though I'm only a couple chapters into. I've really been slacking on my reading, as you can tell, because a lot of my DVD holds came in at work, and all I've been doing is watching movies.

24) The Rights of the Reader by Daniel Pennac
Read: March 18 - May 23
My Rating: 3/5
Synopsis: First published in 1992 and even more relevant now, Daniel Pennac's quirky ode to reading has sold more than a million copies in his native France. Drawing on his experiences as a child, a parent, and an inner-city teacher in Paris, the author reflects on the power of story and reminds us of our right to read anything, anywhere, anytime, so long as we are enjoying ourselves. In a new translation with a foreword and illustrations by Quentin Blake, here is a guide to reading unlike any other: fresh, sympathetic, and never didactic, it is a work of literature in its own right.
My Tags: nonfiction, essays
My Notes: Pluses: short chapters (some only a sentence long), and illustrations by Quentin Blake (one of my favorite children's book illustrators, like Roald Dahl's books). However, I have to agree with LT's prediction that I wouldn't like this book. I love to read (obviously), but reading about reading?? Yawn! It's still a keeper, though, even for just the 10 readers' commandments on the back cover.

25) Ruby Gloom's Guide to Friendship by Matt Riser
Read: March 20 - 20
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: While Ruby's comfortable being alone, her friends mean the world to her. In Ruby Gloom's Guide to Friendship, Ruby introduces her many strange pals: Skull Boy (hopefully one day her boyfriend), Doom Kitty (her best girlfriend in the animal world), Scaredy Bat (her pet bat who's scared of the dark), and more. She offers a host of tips for making and keeping friends, including: "Never be two-faced . . . unless of course you were born that way . . . then you're excused," "Friends help you to see things differently . . . especially when they have multiple eyes," and "Birds of a feather flock together . . . but it's still OK to fly your own way sometimes." A role model for her myriad of 'tween and teen fans, Ruby (think Beetlejuice crossed with Eloise) accepts herself for who she is, and so, in turn, accepts others for who they are.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, picture book, friendship, humor, series, ruby gloom
My Notes: Loved the red velvet cover (oooh, soooft), and especially one of the friendship quotes: "The early bird gets the worm . . . but a good friend will save you a piece even if you're late." Definitely for the junior goth crowd.

26) The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl
Read: March 21 - 21
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: The Enormous Crocodile decides that he wants a nice juicy child for lunch, horrifying the other animals in the jungle--his friend, the Notsobig One; Humpy-Rumpy, the hippopotamus; Trunky, the elephant; Muggle-Wump, the monkey; and the Roly-Poly Bird. Despite his secret plans and clever tricks, what the boastful crocodile doesn't know is that the brave jungle animals have plans of their own for him!
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, animals, crocodiles, africa, picture book
My Notes: Not one of my faves by Roald Dahl, but it's a quick read. And really, squizzled should be added to the dictionary.

Referring way back to message 9 and Cut, you might be interested in my review of Anderson's new book Wintergirls. It's here on my 50 Challenge thread and on my blog too.

Ooh, that does look good! I've been meaning to start Speak by the same writer, but I haven't got around to it. I guess the topic of self-mutalition became more of a deal for me when I found out a couple of my family members cut, as well as some friends. I was shocked by how widespread it is--and not just among young girls. I'll have to take a peek at your thread and blog once I get home. (I'm at work right now). Thanks! :)

27) Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl
Read: April 3 - 16
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: A 14-year-old girl, who can transform herself into an owl at will, discovers interesting new relationships with both humans and owls when she develops a crush on her science teacher.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, romance, fantasy, shapeshifters, animals, owls, teachers, new york
My Notes: Engaging from the first page (one of those books I was absentmindedly thumbing through and then couldn't put it down). A quick read, though it took me considerably longer than I expected due to work, etc. My only complaint is how rushed everything is on the last page.

28) Wilding* by Melanie Tem
Read: April 20 - May 22
My Rating: 2/5
Synopsis: A family of female werewolves, united by their primitive rituals, runs through the streets of Denver in desperate pursuit of their youngest member, a uninitiated, half-human runaway whose reckless life threatens the survival of the group.
My Tags: fiction, horror, werewolves, colorado
My Notes: In a vague way, Wilding reminded me of Personal Darkness by Tanith Lee (one of my favorite books), ie, a murderous child on the loose is hunted by her family. However, this book lacks any real urgency. There's no bloodhunt for Deborah (the pregnant runaway) like I had expected by the back cover. In fact, the family seems to be like, "Deborah who?" There're too many female characters (the men are almost always killed), all of them unsympathetic and hard to differentiate from each other. So, in a word, Wilding was very disappointing. I'd skip it, unless you're an avid Melanie Tem fan. (Surprising, since LT predicted I would just love it.)

(*Touchstones the wrong title.)

Hey Sara - I've only just twigged that you come back and edit your comments, tags etc. in later: doh! Off to re-read your thread with my brain switched on...

#60. If nothing else, that cover sure will haunt me.

#61: Hey, no problem. It's not the most effective method, but it works for me. I've been trying to keep up on everybody's challenges, but I've become more of a lurker. (Wow, are you on your second or third thread?? Congrats! :)

#62: Bwa ha ha. My work is done here. Pleasant dreams. ;)

29) Mother Goose and Grimm's Night of the Living Vacuum! by Mike Peters
Read: April 27 - May 2
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Now available in an expanded format featuring 16 pages of full-color Sunday strips--an all-new collection of Mike Peters' award-winning Mother Goose and Grimm comic strips never before published in book form. The Mother Goose and Grimm 30-minute cartoon series will debut on CBS-TV on Saturday morning, September 14*.
My Tags: fiction, series, mother goose and grimm, humor, comics
My Notes: LT's prediction: "You probably won't like it." While it's not the funniest animal strip I've read (Mutts, Pearls Before Swine, Get Fuzzy, Pooch Cafe, and about a handful of others are among my favorites), I still thought it deserved a 4 or 5. Pet owners can certainly relate.

(*If you're expecting it this fall, you're more than a decade late. ;)

You read the neatest books, Sara: blood, gore, body parts, and humor—it's all the same to you, and I'm jellus.

No one will ever accuse you of being a book snob, and I think that's a good thing. I also hope you never have to grow up . . .

You make me sound like a weirdo. No, wait, I am a weirdo. :D And naw, there's no way I'm growing up. Getting older maybe, but never more mature. ;)

I'll have to take a peek at your reads asap. I'm such a delinquent online buddy. :/

30) Fanny by Stephen Cosgrove
Read: April or May ? - April or May ?
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Fanny, a kitten with only three legs, and her friend Ruby, a puppy, help the other farm animals learn that being handicapped is only a state of mind.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, animals, cats, picture book, farm life, physically handicapped
My Notes: (I wrote something very clever here--ha ha--but lost it when my browser pooped out. I can't remember the date I read it either; some time at the end of April/beginning of May.)

31) Roswell High #1: The Outsider by Melinda Metz
Read: May 2 - June 10
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: He's not like other guys. Liz has seen him around. It's hard to miss Max -- the tall, blond, blue-eyed senior stands out in her high-school crowd. So why is he such a loner? Max is in love with Liz. He loves the way her eyes light up when she laughs. And the way her long, black hair moves when she turns her head. Most of all, he loves to imagine what it would be like to kiss her. But Max knows he can't get too close. He can't let her discover the truth about who he is. Or really, what he is.... Because the truth could kill her.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, roswell high, aliens, romance, sci fi, new mexico, tv tie-in
My Notes: I was relieved the book and TV series are relatively alike, except for a few little things like physical differences in characters (eg, in the book, Max is blonde and Alex is a redhead), point of view (Liz usually narrates from her journal @ the beginning/end of each episode), etc. I'm not going to nitpick, because overall I really enjoyed this book. Love the TV series a little more (who wouldn't with a hot cast like that? ;), but we'll see if the second book can change my mind . . . .

#68: Looking forward to your review on that one, Sara (provided you have no further browser problems!)

Aww I have all 3 seasons of DVDs for Roswell... such a good show (until the end). It was cheesy and cliche at times but still entertaining... hope you like the book! I think the books sparked the tv series... though someone can correct me if I'm wrong...

#69: Thanks, Stasia. That'll teach me to save my work first. :) (It might be awhile before I review The Outsider, because I'm simultaneously watching the first season of Roswell as I go. Kinda slows me down.)

#70: Ooh, lucky. I've had to check out the series from work. And you're right--the books came first. It's been a looong time since I've seen the entire series, so I don't remember how it ends. Right now, I'm watching the show as I read the books, and I'm actually liking the TV series a little better. Maybe because I saw it first? I don't know. Anyway, I just hope I don't get Roswelled out by Season 3. :)

32) Fingerprints #3: Trust Me by Melinda Metz
Read: May 24 - 28
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: It was Anthony who helped me understand what I can do--who showed me that I wasn't crazy. I was only trying to thank him, to help him find what he's been searching for his entire life. But he thinks I've betrayed him. He doesn't understand that the answers I found aren't what either one of us expected--and the truth could hurt me as much as it hurts him.
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, fingerprints, suspense, psychic
My Notes: It's been awhile since I started reading this series (back in 2002, I think), but I remember it being pretty fast-paced. Not that this one isn't (in fact, I put Ms. Metz's other series--Roswell High (see above)--on hold just so I could read this book). But Trust Me felt a little more like a breather from the previous two books. It's more about Rae uncovering info on her and Anthony's estranged--and separate, I might add; this isn't a V. C. Andrews novel ;)--parents than being chased by bomb-wielding kidnappers. Still, very good, and I'm on to #4.

33) Cold Kiss by Roxanne Longstreet
Read: May 28 - June 8
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: While searching for a missing friend, respected surgeon-turned-vampire Michael Bowman is drawn into the seductively evil world of The Society, an exclusive circle of the undead who are bound together by a hellish pact.
My Tags: fiction, horror, series, the undead, vampires, dallas, texas
My Notes: I wasn't aware this was the second book in the series, so I was a little clueless at times (yes, moreso than usual). I may give the first one a whirl, but no hurry.

34) Pretty Face: Volume 1 by Yasuhiro Kano
Read: June 3 - 4
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: He wanted to be her boyfriend... He'll settle for being her twin sister! When his school bus crashes, teenage karate star Rando is sent into a coma. A year later he wakes up to find that his disfigured face has been reconstructed in the image of his secret crush, Rina! Not knowing what Rando originally looked like, the mad plastic surgeon Dr. Manabe used a photo in Rando's pocket as the model for his reconstructive surgery. Abandoned by his friends and parents, the all-new Rando is mistaken for his would-be girlfriend's long-lost twin sister and adopted into her family. Can he put aside his feelings and be a good "big sister" to Rina...when he's still a teenage boy from the waist down?
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, humor, series, pretty face, manga, japan
My Notes: Just as perverse and funny as I expected it to be by the back cover. Great characters (love Dr. Manabe, who's a little too keen on finishing Rando/Yuna's transformation); so-so on the illustrations, though (still getting used to it).

35) Strange Kid Chronicles #5: Fateful Friday by Doug Tennapel, et al. (aka Doug & Mike)
Read: June 6 - 6
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: It seems like all week long crazy stuff has been happening in Mrs. Frightenright's kooky class. Mrs. Frightenright and her strange kids have gone through so much trouble and today is no exception. Let's just hope they all make it to the weekend!
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, fantasy, aliens, series, strange kid chronicles
My Notes: Strange is right. It's downright nonsensical at times, but it's a nice break from reality. Great for reluctant (male) readers.

36) Cats in Love by Hans Silvester
Read: June 10 - 11
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Cats' camaraderie, motherly love and carnality speak for themselves in a large format picture book free of captions or explanations save for a brief introduction by photographer Silvester (Cats in the Sun). Shot against blinding whitewashed buildings and blocks of brightly colored doors and shutters, the photographs explore the affections of the freewheeling cats of the Greek Isles. Silvester catches them lounging in the Mediterranean sun (in one picture, reclining cats-a whole staircase of them, one on each step-stare questioningly at the camera), worn out from the playful romping and frolicking featured on other pages. While most of the pictures show these distinctly individual personalities in cozy poses, or in feigned aloofness toward their fellow felines, others are devoted to the cats' animal passions. Several photographs present the less decorous side of feline love (did someone say kitty porn?), with groups of two, three and four males ganging up on a female in heat. Even cat lovers who find these shots a little vulgar will still be delighted with this irresistible collection.
My Tags: nonfiction, animals, cats, photography, greece
My Notes: The title's a little misleading. Most of the photos--very beautiful ones, I might add--are of cats lounging, sleeping, play-fighting, and even "getting it on", which makes me kind of wonder if cats are capable of love? (j/k) There are a few photos of mothers cleaning and nursing babies, and younger cats rubbing faces that'll make you go "Aawww!" But unless you want to explain the birds and bees, keep this one away from the little folks.

37) Sabella, or The Blood Stone by Tanith Lee
Read: June 14 - 21
My Rating: 4/5
Synopsis: Dracula? A mere figment of superstition, a thing that could not exist. Sabella? A very real person, an enticing girl of flesh and warmth--who detested the sunlight, who required the blood of young men to feed upon, who was all that Dracula was said to be except never one of the "undead". Sabella was alive, sensual and dangerous. She lived on Nova Mars, a colony of Earth and very much like the world we know. She knew what she was and her very existence was a peril to the all-to-human population of that world. Never since C. L. Moore's Shambleau has there been another like Sabella.
My Tags: fiction, sci fi, vampires, series, blood stone
My Notes: I forgot this was part of a series (Kill the Dead comes first; none come after Sabella, as far as I know), so I'm not sure if I'm missing something concerning characters/places/etc. All I have to say is the ending is certainly bizarre and more sci fi-heavy than the rest of the book (hence my 4 stars instead of 5; I'm not a big sci-fi fan), though I guess the plot twist is conceivable in a psychedelic sort of way that only Tanith Lee can pull off. (Spoiler: I almost wanted to cross-link this one with my UFO/Aliens category for my Paranormal 999 Challenge, but I figure the Martian vampire aspect doesn't come into play until the end.)

38) You Know You're a Writer When... by Adair Lara
Read: June 21 - 21
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: You know you're a writer when . . . You'll never forgive your parents for your happy childhood. . . . The doctor tells you that you have terminal cancer and you think, "I can use this." . . . You accidentally sign a check with your pen name. . . . You know more than ten synonyms for "blue." . . . You write your Christmas letter as if it were War and Peace. Many readers will recognize themselves in this collection of observations about the eccentric, quirky, word-obsessed condition that is being a writer.
My Tags: nonfiction, humor, writing
My Notes: I laughed @ LT's prediction that I would hate this book--and laughed some more when I actually read it. Very cute (the material, as well as how small the book is). Even semi-writers (moi) can relate to most of these quotes, eg (my favorite): You know you're a writer when . . . you buy a book called You Know You're a Writer When....

I never thought I'd say this, but here's a book of yours I might actually read! *Sara sticks tongue out at Charlie and makes a big raspberry sound*

*Sara sticks tongue out at Charlie and makes a big raspberry sound*

Precisely what I was thinking! :P But really, I think you'll like it. You could probably read the entire thing in the store/library/wherever you find it. Good luck. :)

Just stopping by to say hi.

39) Abadazad #2: The Dream Thief by J. M. DeMatteis
Read: June 21 - 25
My Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Kate needs all the help she can get when she encounters the Lanky Man. He's mean and heartless and he wants to steal children's dreams. Everyone seems to be against her--which only makes her more determined to find her brother. And Matt is getting closer--isn't he?
My Tags: fiction, juvenile, series, fantasy, abadazad, diaries, graphic novel, new york
My Notes: I loved this book as much as the first one, except the cover's a bit misleading. There are very few scenes involving the Lanky Man, and none where Kate confronts him. So why is he on the cover and not, say, Master Wix (the boy-candle who plays Kate's sidekick in this book)? Another thing I just noticed was the absence of chapters. Maybe that's part of the reason why this series reads so fast--it's all journal entries and illustrations. One recommendation: Abadazad should probably be read in order or the reader might get a little confused.

#81: Hi Diane! Thanks for stopping by. :) I took a peak at your library and noticed you had read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. That's in my TBR pile for this year, but I haven't gotten around to it. I even checked out the movie, but I think I'll watch that after I read the book. Thanks for inadvertently reminding me about it. :) I'll have to bump it up on my list.

Since it's almost the end of June and I should technically be halfway done with this challenge--which (major shocker!) I am--I'm starting a second thread so it won't take forever to load this page. Here's #2. (snickers)

Note: Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer is the only book remaining on here I haven't finished, and that was back in March(!!). Still, 38 or 39 isn't bad for me at the halfway mark.

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ETA: Part 3 is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/75356

>#67:
Sara, I love that cover art!~!

I know, isn't it beautiful? Robin James does the illustrations for the Serendipty series. You should check it out sometime. :) (The newer books are little better, imo.)