Hi everyone! I am excited to try this challenge and see if I can do it. I know I could read at least 50 if my life were not so busy, but we'll see if I can with my limited time. I am a wife and mother of 3 pre-teen to teen daughters in the Sacramento, CA area. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else is reading also.

Right now I am reading Dracula by Bram Stoker. This will be #5.

Before this, and so far for 2009, I have read:
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Twightlight series)
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Twighlight series)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Spandau Phoenix by Greg Iles

Message edited by its author, Feb 15, 2009, 3:33pm.

Good luck with your reading challenge, TracieG! I am hoping to read Dracula this year. Are you enjoying it?
--BJ

Hi - yes I am enjoying Dracula. I am just a chapter away from finishing it. I would recommend it!

Done with #5 and trying to decide what to read next. I think I may start Angels and Demons, which I have been encouraged to read by friends recently.

So far:
1. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (Twightlight series) - Gave it 4 stars
2. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (Twighlight series) - Gave it 4 1/2
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - 4 stars
4. Spandau Phoenix by Greg Iles - 2 stars
5. Dracula by Bram Stoker - 5 stars

Message edited by its author, Feb 23, 2009, 2:42am.

I just finished my next book, and it was great!!!

6. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

I couldn't put it down, and I can't believe it took this long to read it, since I've had it for at least a year.

Now I am moving on to DaVinci Code.

Message edited by its author, Mar 1, 2009, 2:42am.

Hi TracieG! Thanks for stopping by my challenge! You're making good progress with your goal and I love your ticker :) I get such a sense of accomplishment when I get to update mine.

I'm glad to hear that you loved Anna Karenina - I'm looking forward to it. War and Peace is good so far, but is slow going. Knowing that people on LT are expecting me to finish and share my thoughts helps me keep going.

I read the Twilight series a few months ago and got hooked - they were really fun, sweet books. What did you think of them?

I really enjoyed the Twighlight series, and one of the best parts was that my daughter and I read them at the same time. Good easy reads, but they really kept you hooked! How far into War & Peace are you now?

I have recently finished books 7 & 8. Also realized I forgot to rate Angels and Demons.

6. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - 5 stars
7. DaVinchi Code by Dan Brown - 4 1/2 stars
8. Chesapeake Blue by Nora Roberts - 3 stars

I was ready for a nice Nora Roberts read after the recent string of books, plus I'd read the first 3 in this series and just found out there was a book 4. It was good, but not as good as the first 3. This whole series was a bit lighter than some of her other books where she delves into the characters more and really builds a story. It was still enjoyable though, and a quick read which took me just 2 days.

I am now starting Third Degree by Greg Iles. I am a big fan of his.

To Waterlily: I loved the Twighlight series! It is so different than anything else I've read, but it got me hooked like everyone else! I do recommend it!

Message edited by its author, May 23, 2009, 2:22am.

Thanks for stopping by my thread with your kind words TracieG. I just posted my thoughts on War and Peace there.

I'm glad you liked the Twilight books too. I think it's great that you read them at the same time as your daughter. It says a lot about these books that teenagers and adults alike enjoy them so much. Even some of my guy friends are reading them now. I just started reading The Host, also by Stephenie Meyer. I'm trying to keep my expectations low, but so far it's a very interesting storyline.

I'll keep watching to see how you like The Host - I have that, but have not read it yet. I was trying to decide how close to the top of my pile I wanted it to be.

I just finished #9 Third Degree by Greg Iles. 3 stars.

I have really loved Greg Iles in previous books, and while this one did keep me reading to see what would happen, it just didn't seem to be up to his standard.

#10. High Noon by Nora Roberts 4 stars

I was happy to read another Nora Roberts, since I used to read her so frequently, and have moved other directions lately. I was good to get into one of her stories again, and as always, she delivered. This was a book that combined some mystery and suspense with a romance, and was a great read.

#11. Saving Faith by David Baldacci 4 stars

Baldacci delivers well in this book that kept the suspense till the very end. It was not so much that I did not know what would happen, because it was actually somewhat predictable, but still managed to keep me on the edge all the same. Maybe the secret of it being soo good was that the outcome was not the big secret, but all the steps in between. A fun read.

Message edited by its author, May 23, 2009, 2:38am.

#12. Dead Watch by John Sandford 2.5 stars

This author came to me highly recommended, so I was excited about diving in. I was disappointed though and found the writing a bit slow, and the story not very believeable. I may give this author one more try, but that would be it if the next one is like this.

#13. Paradise by Judith McNaught 4 1/2 stars

Another wonderful book by Judith McNaught. Good characters and a good story about two very different people who find happiness together after a long road. Highly recommend.

#14. False Memorie by Dean Koontz 2 1/2 stars

Believe it or not, my first Koontz book. This one came highly recommended but I was disappointed. It's about brainwashing and those affected being used for murders. By the end I was interested and the story moved much quicker and became more suspenseful, but it took me at least 1/2 the book to really get interested. Too slow to start. I'll give Koontz another try based on his reputation, but this one was just OK.

#15. A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer 2 1/2 stars

Story of revenge. Innocent man is sent to prison and then has the chance to get out by impersonating someone else. Interested read, but doesn't grab you.

Message edited by its author, May 23, 2009, 2:35am.

#16. Gone for Good by Harlan Coben 2 1/2 stars

Good mystery with some good twists and outcomes that I never guessed, so for that reason it keeps you reading. However, I am drawn to characters in a book or a style of writing and I just could not get into or believe these characters.

#17. False Pretenses by Catherine Coulter - 4 stars

#18. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintanence by Robert Pirsig - 2 stars

#19. Charade by Sandra Brown - 3 stars

#20. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
#21. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

#22. Thinner by Stephen King 3 stars
#23. Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry 4 stars

#24. Atonement by Ian McEwan

#24. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 4.5 stars
This was an excellent book and what I consider a must read! Sad, but some great learnings. I played the audio version for my whole family on a long drive and they all enjoyed it.

#25. Commanche Moon by Larry McMurtry 4 stars
Book 2 of the Lonesome Dove series, and another excellent book. I am now starting Lonesome Dove itself.

#26. Warren Buffet Speaks by Jane Lowe 3 stars
This was not quite what I expected it to be, but it was still very interesting.

#27. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry - 5 stars

# 28. Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry = 3.5 stars

I finished this entire series and was very impressed overall. A wonderful set of books. I do think that it fell off a bit in the last book, and it did not live up to the same quality as the 1st 3 books did.



Now reading: 1984

Message edited by its author, Aug 11, 2009, 1:26am.

#29. 1984 by George Orwell - 3 stars. Finally read it. Good, but weird!

#30. Three Weeks to EBay Profits by Skip McGrath - 5 stars. I am using this and starting my own Ebay business, and this book was the perfect guide!

Currently reading: Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

#31. Titanium Ebay by Skip McGrath - 5 stars - great book for anyone serious about building a real Ebay business.

#32. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - 3.5 stars

# 33. Eat, Pray, Love By, Elizabeth Gilbert 5 stars
# 34. The Tender Bar By, J.R. Moehringer 4 stars
# 35. Stranger in a Strange Land By, Robert Heinlein 3 1/2 stars
# 36. Prey By, Michael Chrichton 4 stars