So, I suppose it's time to start a new thread... the other one was loading slowly for me on a high-speed connection, which is never good!

Here's the first half of my thread: Dk_phoenix's 75-Book Adventure Through Words

My list of completed books so far can be found there (Jan-June), so I'll simply pick up list for the second half of the year in this first message, starting with the June books for a point of reference (and because I haven't posted reviews for a few yet!).

June

56) The 39 Clues - Book 3: The Sword Thief - Peter Lerangis
57) Of Bees and Mist - Erick Setiawan
58) Making a Literary Life - Carolyn See
59) What Your Childhood Memories Say about You... and What You Can Do about It - Dr. Kevin Leman
60) Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe - Jane Goodall
61) The Crying Tree - Naseem Rakha
62) House of Atherton - Book 2: Rivers of Fire - Patrick Carman

July

63) Over Sea, Under Stone - Susan Cooper
64) The Land of Elyon - Book 2: Beyond the Valley of Thorns - Patrick Carman
65) The Land of Elyon - Book 3: The Tenth City - Patrick Carman
66) The Land of Elyon - Into the Mist - Patrick Carman
67) The Only Cat Book You'll Ever Need - Steve Duno
68) The Cat Owner's Problem Solver - Margaret H. Bonham
69) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
70) Alcatraz and the Scrivener's Bones - Brandon Sanderson
71) The Total Cat - Carol Wilbourn
72) My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
73) Castle in the Air - Diana Wynne Jones
74) How to Write a Children's Book and Get It Published - Barbara Seuling
75) Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Book 4: Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan
76) Gifts of War: A Novel - Mackenzie Ford
77) Rick & Bubba's Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage - Rick Burgess & Bill Bussey
78) Homer's Odyssey - Gwen Cooper

August

79) The Rapture: A Novel - Liz Jensen
80) The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper
81) Trophy Wives Club - Kristin Billerbeck
82) Back to Life: A Trophy Wives Book - Kristin Billerbeck
83) Women, Work, and the Art of Savoir Faire - Marielle Gulliano
84) Fearless - Max Lucado

September

85) Greenwitch - Susan Cooper
86) Hush Hush - Becca Fitzgerald
87) Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
88) The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba
89) Clockwork - Philip Pullman
90) The Deadline Murders - Ron Morgans

October

91) The Potpourrific Great Big Grab Bag of Get Fuzzy - Darby Conley
92) The 39 Clues - Book 4: Beyond the Grave - Jude Watson
93) The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
94) The Grey King - Susan Cooper
95) Pretties - Scott Westerfeld
96) A Right to Die - Rex Stout
97) Fox Trot Beyond a Doubt - Bill Amend
98) Fallen - Lauren Kate
99) The Friends We Keep - Sarah Zacharias Davis

November

100) Vampirates: Demons of the Sea - Justin Somper
101) The 39 Clues - Book 5: The Black Circle - Patrick Carman
102> The Goddess and the Bull - Catalhoyuk: An Archaeological Journey to the Dawn of Civilization - Michael Balter

December

103) Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships - Susan Shapiro Barash
104) Spellbinder - Helen Stringer

Message edited by its author, Dec 3, 2009, 4:17pm.

Got you starred again, Faith!

61) The Crying Tree - Naseem Rakha (Literary Fiction)

To be honest, I think this is the book that's stalled my reviews lately... I haven't posted what I thought about it because, well, I wasn't entirely sure what I thought about it> It's definitely not the kind of thing I would usually pick up on my own (it was an ARC), and the description of the book when I ordered it wasn't quite as depressing as the back cover copy, if I remember correctly. I wondered what I was getting myself into...

A family's son is murdered after they move to a new city, and of course the mother feels terribly guilty for moving the family... and so she spends the next fifteen years (or whatever it was) fighting for revenge on her son's killer, who is in jail waiting for the execution order. This is all on the back cover, so I'm not spoiling anything for you - even when I tell you that in time, the mother begins to correspond with her son's killer in secret. Of course, it turns out that everyone in the story has secret of their own, and I can honestly say that I didn't see the 'big twist' coming.

That said, I didn't find it all that believable either. But maybe that's just me. I admit that the book kept me reading - I read it all on a lazy Sunday afternoon - but it wasn't really my kind of book, all told. If you like dramas that deal with messy family relationships, women sinking into depression, and how secrets can tear people apart, you'll probably enjoy it. As for me, I was off and running back to my YA fantasies... :)

62) House of Atherton - Book 2: Rivers of Fire - Patrick Carman (Children's Fiction/YA)

Book two, which keeps the story going only moments after the end of book one, follows the same fast-paced and intense format as the first book. Carman always surprises me with his world-building, and I wonder if he'd ever consider writing an adult fantasy novel...

On occasion, I felt that the book was writing down to children (slightly juvenile sentence structure, a bit too much telling & not enough showing), but it didn't distract too much from the overall story. There were a few surprisingly violent episodes, but I suppose I shouldn't be all that shocked, considering that 9-12s tend to eat this kind of thing up. Plus, it kept the story realistic... it wouldn't have worked, otherwise.

I don't want to say much about the plot - especially if you haven't read book one - but the ending of book one will make you want to run out and grab this one. I look forward to book 3, but not with the urgency I felt for this book. Not entirely certain where he'll go with the next installment, but... I have no doubt it'll be entertaining anyway.

Message edited by its author, Jul 6, 2009, 9:12am.

Got ya starred :)

Yay! Glad you both found me :)

63) Over Sea, Under Stone - Susan Cooper (Children's Fiction)

I read this for the group read, as it was a great excuse to finally get around to picking it up. It sat on my shelf for years, forlorn and neglected... along with the rest of the books that come afterward. Without giving too much away (since I assume we'll be doing some discussion about it in the group read thread), I have to say that if this is the weakest book in the series, as others here have suggested, I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of them.

I am intrigued, of course, by the author's writing gap between this book and the next, but I assume it all works together somehow in the end.

On the whole, I thought the book moved slowly at first - we didn't really get into the meat of the story until a little beyond halfway through - but it was still interesting enough to keep me reading. Enough questions are raised that you simply can't stop... mind you, at the end of the book, there are still enough questions left open that you may sigh in frustration, but the good news is that Cooper came back to the series and wrote 4 (5?) more books.

Pick this one up! It's quick, entertaining, and there are even better installments when you've finished this one.

>6 I love that series! I don' what oit is about them but I read them again and again.
>3 i read the first book of the house of Atherton but i haven't gotten around to the second. I liked the first though. I did find it a bit childish but not so much that i didn't enjoy it. it.

found ya, gotcha starred.

I've got you starred too!

Just posting to not lose you.

64) The Land of Elyon Book 2: Beyond the Valley of Thorns - Patrick Carman
65) The Land of Elyon Book 3: The Tenth City - Patrick Carman
66) The Land of Elyon Prequel/Book 4: Into the Mist - Patrick Carman (all Children's Fiction)

Several years have passed since I read the first book in this series, and for whatever reason at the time, I never got around to reading the rest of the books... which made absolutely no sense, since I loved the first book. Last week, I made up my mind to just go for it and "git 'er done". Well, I still have one book to go, but in the meantime, what were these three like?

I have to say, I truly believe Patrick Carman is one of the new masters of worldbuilding. After recently reading the first two books in his House of Atherton series for older readers, and then coming back to this series, it's clear to see that Carman has a gift for creating unique worlds that make sense. He weaves geography, cultural differences, politics, and economics into his worlds, which is quite the feat, considering the age level these books are targeted toward and the shorter length of his books (compared to, say, other children's fantasies).

The main character of this series is a young girl - twelve or thirteen, I believe - and I was surprised how well this male author portrayed a girl of this age! Then I learned that he has two daughters of his own, and it made sense. He writes strong female leads who are true to their age.

And as for the story itself? The first three books in the series continue along the same path, though books two and three are more directly linked (ie. don't finish book two without book 3 in hand!) and keep the action continually moving. The fourth book, or the prequel, can be read separately from the rest of the series... however, reading it fourth sets the stage for the fifth book (technically book 4 in the series, but I count the prequel as book 4 because it comes between 3 and 4 (er, 5) chronologically but not really... confused yet?). The prequel features the main characters from the previous books as they listen to the main thread of the book, which is told in the form of a story being related from memory by one of the characters. The final page in the prequel/not-a-prequel ends the storytelling and the main characters have arrived at their destination to begin the next book. Make sense?

Final verdict: read the books in the order they were written. 1,2,3,Prequel/4, Real book 4. They're short, exciting, fun, and very well done. Highly recommended!

Yet another series to add to my list. I love them! Good thing my birthday is coming up and I forwarded my TBR to all my relatives.

Okay, found you again! What did you think of the second Alcatraz book?

I'm going to have to check out Patrick Carman's books, they sound really good.

They are. At least his Atherton ones are. I don't know anything about the others.

My library only has book one of his latest series: Skeleton Creek, just my luck.

Roni! You caught me... I posted my books read but haven't reviewed them yet *blush* ...oooops. Long story short (long story to come), I thought it was great... I laughed a *lot*, maybe even more than the first book. I love how Sanderson breaks the 4th wall in a few places. I had a few issues with a few characters and how they were developed, but overall, I thought it was great!

avatiakh - They only have one of his books?! That's too bad :( And a bit odd. I haven't read Skeleton Creek yet (though it's on my shelf), but the other ones are definitely worth hunting down... the Land of Elyon books are a fairly quick read, so you might be able to find one in a bookstore, sit down for a bit and read half of it to find out whether you like his writing or not before you commit. It wouldn't take long!

So, I'm 8 books behind in posting reviews... they'll come ASAP, promise!!! I guess I've been too busy consuming books and haven't spent any time digesting them. That'll be my goal for this week. :)

67) The Only Cat Book You'll Ever Need - Steve Duno (Animal Care)

I read a number of cat care books this month because I'm currently putting together an ebook on dealing with psychotic cats (so to speak). Along with my own experience (my cat is insane), I wanted to get some 'expert views' and incorporate them into my work. I started with Duno's somewhat haughtily titled volume, and I admit, it was fairly comprehensive. There were the obligatory 'basic care' chapters, sections on litterbox habits, aggressive cats, shy cats, and veterinary care, and several long chapters dealing with the various illnesses your cat could get if he/she spends time outside.

But was it the only cat book I'll ever need? No, not really. It could have benefited from some updating and a more detailed look at things like pet foods and interactive play, but as a basic primer, it did its duty.

68) The Cat Owner's Problem Solver: How to Manage Common Behavior Problems by Thinking Like Your Cat - Margaret H. Bonham (Animal Care)

This was more like it! Colorful pictures, excellent formatting, sidebars with additional information, and even a basic outline of how to clicker train your cat. Perfect! Bonham takes a look at indoor vs. outdoor cats & the various options available for letting your cat go outside without roaming; games to play with your indoor cat; helping a timid or aggressive kitty; emotional problems that may spur poor behavior; and so forth. I finished this book and said "I definitely need a copy of this", because I suspect I'll want to refer to it again, even after I finish writing my ebook.

Excellent, and recommended.

69) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling (Children's Fiction)

I re-read this the day before I went to see the new film (which I enjoyed immensely... very funny!). Do I really need to review this book? I don't think so. I caught a lot more things this time around (and, truth be told, sometimes it annoys me that the majority of this book is spent staring into the Pensieve), but excellent as usual.

I think all cats are a little insane in their own way. I had one that had separation anxiety so bad that if we didn't take her with us, we had to put her on valium when I was out of town or she would start pulling her hair out. She was also one of the lovingest cats I ever had. I had another that though he couldn't jump and would cry until you picked him up and put him on the couch.

I've had quite a few cats over my lifetime and they all had their own little quirks we had to figure out.

Oh I agree, aren't they such funny little creatures? I can't believe that one of your cats thought he couldn't jump!!! That's bizarre, and sad. Poor kitty.

Ours hates to be pet unless she's eating. Eating!!! But oddly enough, even though I'd never heard of a cat like that before, the Bonham book suggested that behavior like that might be indicative of a too-early separation from her mother. We'll never know for sure (she was from the SPCA), but I found that fascinating.

My hope with the ebook is to help people who have cats with things like aggression issues, litterbox mishaps, and so forth, to seek active ways to correct the behavior instead of just tossing them back to the SPCA. So sad. :(

You'll have to keep us posted on the e-book. If it's a thorough as you seem to be making it, I'd have to go read it myself. We currently have a kitten with litter box issues...he likes to go tinkle on my boyfriend's jackets. I'm sure it has to do with the whole male thing, but I can't seem to get him to stop.

eta: All but one of my cats have been "rescue cats" of some sort. They seem to be the most loving but have other "issues" that need to be handled.

Message edited by its author, Jul 22, 2009, 11:49am.

Cats, cats, cats. My daughter's cat cannot meow--at all. He sounds like a squeak toy. Of my three current co-residents, Syd had to have his tail amputated (18 YO); 3D and Spicy, who are sisters, are generally healthy with gum problems; and all of them are BIG. Syd purrs and white fur fluffs into the air; 3D talks about anything and everything (and also eats everything in sight); and Spicy is so smart that it's really scary. She opens doors, including sliding shower doors to let compatriots escape temporary custody. My mother had two cats until her last move: a purebred blue Siamese who was called "Psychocat" by all my sibs and me, and a lovely tempered DSH named Misty who loves walking roofs.

>24 My cat cannot meow either. He squeaks and chirps and wails. It's ADORABLE.

One of my cats is a bit neurotic. She compulsively licks plastic stuff and she has some sort of allergy to grass pollen that makes her fur fall out. Thankfully a steroid shot every few months keeps her from being a bald kitty :)

>26 Poor kitty :(
Wow. This discussion is totally unrelated to books. How did we get on this topic anyway?

It all started with a book at least.

My kitten recently started sitting on my head while I was reading. Still a bit annoying, but better than sitting in the middle of the book.

Ooooh I love these cat anecdotes. I blame the discussion on all the cat books I was reading, but please, feel free to continue to share! Jasmyn, are you lying down when you read? Or are you sitting up and she just climbs up on your head? *funny mental picture*

Kittybee - That's so sad! But at least there's a cure for it... I've been reading up about cats with strange non-food object compulsions, it's so bizarre...

Laurie - It sounds like you have quite the handful! But, I'm guessing their antics provide quite the amusement... Spicy sounds like the kind of cat you read about in books, that are too smart for their own good!

Miranda - We thought our cat could only chirp too, but one day we woke up late and didn't feed her on time... yeah, we found out that day that she really could meow. LOL! I love cat chirping though, it's so cute.

Oh, I'm sitting on the couch when I read, and yes I imagine it is rather a rather humorous scene. Too bad I can't take a picture of myself without having to move him first. Billy is growing so fast I doubt he'll be able to fit up there much longer.

>30 That is adorable. Whenever I'm about to fall asleep my cat will come and sit right on my chest but with his rear end in my face. Not very pleasant.

#29--yeah, well, every time I have to isolate a cat, I have the greatest Rube Goldberg tie-offs to chairs, tables, and weights. Otherwise, she frees the captive. And I know she was directly responsible for getting that cone off Syd twenty minutes after I fell asleep!

>32 That's impressive!

70) Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones - Brandon Sanderson (YA)

Alcatraz is back, and he's on the search for his father! They head to the Library of Alexandria (which isn't exactly the same as you may have learned about it in school) and naturally, chaos ensues.

This sequel was entertaining, funny (I actually laughed out loud on several occasions), and well-written. Sanderson breaks the fourth wall with skill, and I think some of the self-deprecating moments (and playful jabs at other writers) were my favorite parts of the book. Even better was the description of fantasy writers and their "epic" tomes. There was one new character whose development I would have liked to see more of (because I thought the story could have done without her, there was so little to go on), but I suspect she'll become a bigger player in the next book.

Lots of fun... if you haven't tried the Alcatraz series yet, what are you waiting for? :)

71) The Total Cat - Carol Wilbourn (Animal Care)

Compared to the previous two books on cat care (above), this one was disappointing. I felt that much of her information was dated or even false (ie. suggesting I feed various carb-laced foods to my cat... um, hello? Cats don't need carbs!), and could have seriously benefited from an update... which is too bad, since it was only published in 2000.

I also found quite a bit of her advice to have that 'hokey' feel, such as: "Tell your cat where you're going and when you'll be back. He may not understand you, but he'll appreciate it nonetheless." Er, excuse me? May not understand me??? Last I checked, my cat didn't speak English. Sure, she understands a few words and phrases, but I seriously doubt she'll care if I tell her where I'm going and when I'll be back. All she's going to worry about is who will give her supper.

I understand it's important to be calm and treat your cat with respect, but Wilbourn takes it too far. Her advice feels like it wants to be 'New Age' without actually going down that road... though, she does admit to playing New Age music for troubled cats, and apparently that helps to calm them down. Who knew? No cat I've ever had has shown any interest in music. But that's just been my experience. All in all, I'd say - skip this book, try one of the others.

I have the first Alcatraz book. I just need to find where I put it!

#35

I know the feeling.........

72) My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult (Fiction)

I swore up and down that I would never, ever, ever read something by Jodi Picoult. I refused to touch her books, and in my mind I placed her on a shelf with Lurlene McDaniel - authors who capitalize on tragedy in their writing. Ugh. Not my kind of thing (though my sister loves it).

But, when my sister, Mom, and sister-in-law all read this book and were talking about it, it was only a matter of time before they turned to me and asked if I had read it. They wanted my opinion, so I relented. I would read the book, and we could talk about it together. They warned me that they loved it, except for the ending.

I suspect nearly everyone knows the basic plot of this novel: Parents have a genetically tailored second daughter to help their firstborn daughter's leukemia. Daughter #2 decides she doesn't like being a science project anymore and sues her parents for medical emancipation. Turmoil ensues.

Problem #1: Picoult writes from multiple POVs... which would be very interesting, if done well. For an excellent example of multiple POV, read The Poisonwood Bible. Unfortunately, Picoult falls drastically short - everyone sounds the same, with the exception of a few choice catchphrases (ie. swearing) to distinguish one from the other. Take the names off the top of each chapter, and you'd have to work to figure out one from the other.

Problem #2: Obsessive imagery about the stars. Not entirely sure how that fit into the story. Metaphor? Doesn't work.

Problem #3: The ending. I don't want to give it away, but I will say this (so stop reading if you're planning on reading it yourself) *POSSIBLE SPOILER*The ending absolves everyone from making their own choices, which was what the entire book was about in the first place. Why did we waste our time talking about decisions and morality (which was barely touched on) and personal independence when in the end, no one gets to make their choice anyway??? *END*

The ending was a cop-out on Picoult's part, like she was afraid to write what she needed to and found the easy way out for her characters. There's another aspect to the ending that wasn't consistent with the rest of the book, but again, I'll let you read it for yourself and rage about it with others (or me) later. I've heard they change the ending in the film, but I have no desire to revisit this book, even on-screen. Nor will I pick up another Picoult book again, especially if this is how she treats her readers.

Frustrating, and a waste of time for me. Definitely not my thing.

I love how everyone who's opinion I think will be similar to mine has the same reaction as me. What a pointless thing to do, go through the whole book debating morals and decisions when she is then going to NOT make the biggest decision of all!!!!

She throws scorn on those who can't make those choices and yet she does the same thing. And EVERY single one of her books is EXACTLY the same, and in all bar one does she come to even some kind of resolution. The only one of hers that I have liked is Nineteen Minutes, about a school shooting.

And there is always a death in the end as the 'epilogue'. How depressing is that??????????????

I'm reading my first Jodi Picoult now Handle With Care. I picked it up while on vacation and I found it hard to put down. A lot of moral questions. Makes you go mmmmmmm. Also found Nineteen Minutes but I'll put it on hold for awhile. I couldn't take these books back to back.

Luna - Ugh, if that's how she writes all her books, then I'm definitely done with her!!! Thanks for the heads up... *sighs, shakes head* Isn't it amazing how some of the worst authors with the least respect for their readers go on to be outrageously popular??? *cough*DanBrown*cough* That's not to say their work isn't often entertaining in some respect... I just can't believe how they skyrocket to stardom when it's clear that they write without caring about anything other than fulfilling the next manuscript for their contract. Grrrr.

Carmenere - She does seem to try and address the tough issues - tough moral issues - but the problem is that she doesn't come to a resolution. I know what you mean, reading these books back to back would be too much.

73) Castle in the Air - Diana Wynne Jones (Children's Fiction)

This is the sequel to Howl's Moving Castle... but you wouldn't know it from reading the first three quarters of the book! Instead, we meet a young man who runs a carpet stall somewhere reminiscent of Agrabah (think Disney's Aladdin), who dreams up grand adventures for himself. When a mysterious gentleman visits his stall and sells him a magic carpet, strange things begin to happen...

And you know what? I enjoyed this more than Howl's Moving Castle! I can't put my finger on what exactly it was that made this book more entertaining for me, but I read it cover to cover and wanted more. Jones skillfully slips the familiar characters from the first book into the story, but not until we've almost come to the end... but it works, and I was pleased that the familiar characters didn't overtake and outshine the new ones I'd grow to love in this sequel.

If you were expecting more of Wizard Howl, Hattie, and Lettie, I can see how you might be disappointed... but I encourage you to read this with a clean slate - don't expect anything of it - and be delightfully surprised when you encounter new and familiar faces along the way.

Castle in the Air IS a really fun book, isn't it? I don't think you will be disappointed by the third, either! (House of Many Ways)

#41 That's funny, for me Castle in the Air was the one I enjoyed least of the three. That said, I still enjoyed it very much - but I am a bit of a DWJ fanatic...

...and you and lunacat between you verify my decision to give Jodi Picoult a miss I think!

There's a THIRD one?!?! I had no idea!!! *scampers off to library*

flissp - Oh, good! Lol. There are so many other worthier books to read... no point in wasting time on an author like that. :)

I have only read one Jodi Picoult book, Plain Truth, and it did come to a resolution, so I do not think all of her books are open-ended.

That's good to know!!! I like hearing 'the other side' :) I think that was one my sister read too, and really enjoyed. I really must get her to join this group...

Message edited by its author, Jul 30, 2009, 4:38pm.

74) How to Write a Children's Book and Get it Published - Barbara Seuling (Writing)

This was a quick, informative read that did exactly what the title promised. It told me how to write a children's book, and what the next steps are to getting the darn thing published. Much of the information was a repeat for me, since I recently spent 6 hours at a conference seminar learning about writing & publishing for children, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to reinforce what I learned by reading this book. I wasn't disappointed, and I took some notes & pointers from what Seuling had to say. On the whole however, I don't think it's one that I'll go out of my way to purchase & refer to in the future. There are several other, newer books on the market that deal with children's writing, and I'd like to read those to see how they compare.

75) Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Book 4: Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan (Children's Fiction/YA)

What can I say...? Riordan continues the Percy Jackson with another strong installment, keeping the action moving while developing the characters in a fashion true to their respective ages. Like every Percy Jackson book, there are moments where you wonder whether it was just a bit too convenient that 'character A' was able to escape 'situation C' in the way he/she did, but on the whole, the storyline was believable (as much as that's possible when you're toying with ancient Greek mythology) and entertaining. In fact, I'm tempted to run out and buy book 5 in hardcover, instead of waiting for it to be released in paperback... *must... stay... strong...!*

> 37 Picoult is one of my favorite authors because I work with families who are in crisis or have a child with some sort of problem. The characters seem very realistic to me. (Not all mothers have the best interests of all their children at heart.) That said, I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed your analysis. I found it thoughtful and fair. I agree about the multiple POV quick-change: I find it irritating at best in any author and Picoult doesn't handle it well at all. IMO, her earlier works are better. I also agree that the ending is a cop-out. Unfortunately, My Sister's Keeper isn't the only one of her books to end with a cop-out. I am still drawn to her books, though, because the characters are the embodiment of people I work with every day, their issues are very familiar. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it more. Thank you for the review.

#48: I have thoroughly enjoyed the series too, Faith. Book 5 is very good! I hope it comes out in paperback soon for your sake.

I'm was behind but am with you again. (I enjoyed your last thread (first born discussion and Penman/writing authors discussion)

ETA a missing word and change the tense -- I'm no longer behind on your threads! Enjoyed the cat stories too.

Message edited by its author, Aug 11, 2009, 6:25pm.

>49: Thank you so much for your kind words! I can certainly see how being in a career where you work with crisis families would make a big difference in how you read & relate to Picoult's work. What a different perspective you must have, and I'm glad to hear that she writes truly relatable characters when it comes to having that perspective.

>50: Stasia, I'm hoping that the Scholastic book orders offer it in paperback this fall... I like to game the system that way and pick up pb editions before the publisher officially releases one to the general public. So... here's hoping!!!

>51: Susan - Yay! I've been pretty awful at posting my reviews lately, so... I'm rather behind on my own thread and other people's threads too at the moment. Ah well. I love cat anecdotes... I wish the discussion went on longer... haha.

76) Gifts of War: A Novel - Mackenzie Ford (Historical Fiction)

When my Gifts of War ARC arrived in the mail, I wasn’t quite sure what to think… after reading the back cover copy, I thought “why the heck did I request THIS?”. Clearly the promo material for the book made it sound more exciting than what was written on the back cover. World War I? A man’s lost love? Another man & his quest to make a life with a certain woman during the war? *snooooooze* So, guess what I did? I put the book away & avoided it as long as I could. And I do mean as long as I could.

Finally, guilt got the better of me, and I picked it up. “Why are you reading that?” my husband asked, “Read something you’ll like, don’t waste your time.” But I had an obligation to fulfill, so I read it. And you know what? Even though it wasn’t my favorite kind of book, it kept me reading, and that has to say something.

On the whole, I didn’t really like the ending, but it made sense when I read the last page... the very last page, which changed everything for me. I don’t want to give it away, but that final page – as a writer and as a reader – made me gasp and say “Oh! How fascinating!” and left me with a good, warm feeling toward the book.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I think you’ll love Gifts of War. I really do. It has suspense, romance, and plenty of history from a war we often learn very little about (at least in the Canadian school system, we tend to focus on WWII). I liked learning more about WWI, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to someone whose reading habits lean toward historical fiction.

Great review. Looks like LT readers either love or hate this book. I'm adding it to the list.

#53: I do like historical fiction, so I am definitely getting that one. Thank for the recommendation, Faith.

Okay Faith, here's another anecdote. Buckaroux is our Maine Coon. He is big! Gentle as anything but his face doesn't always give that away.

So while we're away Liliana was housesitting and had some friends over. They slept in our room and shut the door.

Buckaroux opens doors. Actually he believes all door should be open at all times, so we actually have to lock most of them!

Well these guests didn't do that. The husband tells Liliana the next morning that he rolled over in bed to find himself face-to-face with Buck who was sitting on the floor looking at him. He was scared to death! LOL

ETA the guy, not Buckaroux, was scared :)

Message edited by its author, Aug 15, 2009, 5:06pm.

Haha... I wish I could meet that cat of yours... he seems like such a wonderful creature, not to mention beautiful... and evidently talented! Our cat just stares at the door handle and whines - she's not big enough to be able to open them!

I've been absolutely terrible at posting reviews lately... there are books from back in July that I haven't posted for, and this month I've been so consumed by an upcoming performance (my first solo) that I've barely had a moment to sit down at read... and when I do, I feel so stressed that I can't concentrate. Arrrgh. I'll be very happy when it's over - I have a weekend trip to Seattle coming up, which is much needed.

Here's a review I wrote a few weeks back (but never got around to posting) for an ARC from Thomas Nelson:

77) Rick and Bubba’s Guide to the Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage - Rick Burgess & Bill “Bubba” Bussey (Marriage)

Put away those mushy-gushy marriage guides… the real stuff’s right here! Alright, maybe not all of it, but Rick & Bubba have a few things to say about getting married, being married, and staying married. And it won’t put you to sleep! Rick & Bubba approach the subject with honesty, humor, and personal anecdotes that will make you either laugh or groan (depending on how much you identify with said anecdote…!)

What I appreciated most about this book was the different approach to the subject, which I realize is something that a number of other reviewers found frustrating. Let me put it this way: the authors don’t shy away from taking shots at their wives. Not in a cruel or mean way, but in the sense that the anecdotes don’t always make their wives into the “good guy” of the situation.

They show their faults, their bad habits, all those things that… well… that husbands are always pinned for in other marriage books! That’s not to say Rick & Bubba make themselves out to be perfect, model husbands – not in the least! But the tongue-in-cheek, BALANCED approach to showing both good/bad sides of husbands and wives, in a humorous way, was incredibly refreshing. It’s about time we wives had some stories told about us!

***As an addendum to this review, my husband has since picked up the book and is almost finished reading it... and has been laughing his way through and sharing parts he likes with me. With other 'marriage-related' books, he's read them because I asked him to, but it's been a bit like pulling teeth for him, I think. This one he's reading and enjoying, which says something! It's great when the husband AND wife can read and enjoy a book like this.

The marriage book sounds very interesting! Might have to look it up :) Thx Faith.

Wow, I have posted... zero reviews from the books I actually read in August. Sigh. Hopefully life gets back to normal now... vacation is over (sad) but it was wonderful (yay), and somewhat refreshing. Well, except for the hubby who now has the flu, but I'm fine (for now...!).

78) Homer's Odyssey - Gwen Cooper (Memoir/Animals)

Yes, it's another animal memoir book. Yes, you'll laugh, cry, groan, smile, and sniffle all the way through. But before you sigh and say "I can't handle it, I know what happens at the end of animal memoirs", let me forewarn you - and I really don't consider this a spoiler - that the cat doesn't die at the end. That's right, she wrote the memoir while the animal was/is still alive, and thus ends the tale without a final death scene. Happy? I was.

So now that we've eliminated that fear, how about the book? Wow. Yes, wow. A young woman adopts a blind (actually, eyeless) kitten that no one else wants... and it turns out to be the most intelligent, active, curious, life-loving cat I've ever heard of. This cat took daring leaps from the tops of furniture, loved to roughhouse with other cats and humans, hunted flies by sound (and *always* caught them), and in general, was an incredible testament to how an animal can overcome what we might see as a disability and thrive through it.

Throughout the course of the memoir, I was struck by how vibrant and full of life this little blind cat was. He never knew what it meant to see, and yet that didn't slow him down even a tiny bit... his world was what it was, and he loved it.

It comes down to this: If a little creature like a blind kitten can take what he's given in life and make the most of it - love, live, and thrive - what can't we, as humans do with what life doles out to us?

Because I'm not sure whether my description does the book justice, here's the product description from the Amazon.ca webpage:

Product Description
Once in nine lives,
something extraordinary happens...

The last thing Gwen Cooper wanted was another cat. She already had two, not to mention a phenomenally underpaying job and a recently broken heart. Then Gwen’s veterinarian called with a story about a three-week-old eyeless kitten who’d been abandoned. It was love at first sight.

Everyone warned that Homer would always be an “underachiever,” never as playful or independent as other cats. But the kitten nobody believed in quickly grew into a three-pound dynamo, a tiny daredevil with a giant heart who eagerly made friends with every human who crossed his path. Homer scaled seven-foot bookcases with ease and leapt five feet into the air to catch flies in mid-buzz. He survived being trapped alone for days after 9/11 in an apartment near the World Trade Center, and even saved Gwen’s life when he chased off an intruder who broke into their home in the middle of the night.

But it was Homer’s unswerving loyalty, his infinite capacity for love, and his joy in the face of all obstacles that inspired Gwen daily and transformed her life. And by the time she met the man she would marry, she realized Homer had taught her the most important lesson of all: Love isn’t something you see with your eyes.

Homer’s Odyssey is the once-in-a-lifetime story of an extraordinary cat and his human companion. It celebrates the refusal to accept limits—on love, ability, or hope against overwhelming odds. By turns jubilant and moving, it’s a memoir for anybody who’s ever fallen completely and helplessly in love with a pet."

I think that book is going to be one of the next I pick up. It sounds amazing.

Ditto what Jasmyn said - it does sound amazing.

It is :) I thought at first that it might not live up to how incredible it sounded... turns out I didn't have to worry!

I have to read that book! I love to read books about people's relationships with animals, even if I usually end up bawling at some point :)

I just happened to pick up a copy of Homer's Odyssey last night. I'm a sucker for this kind of book! I'm glad to know that it's a good read. Thanks for the very nice review.

Alright, alright... so I did it too!

As you may have noticed, once again... my reviews have stalled. Now I have all of August's books to catch up on! So, we'll see if I can make a dent in them...

79) The Rapture: A Novel - Liz Jensen (Thriller)

I have avoided reviewing this book for a reason... and not because it's bad. Nope, it's extremely well written. It's compelling, captivating, and will make you lose sleep at night... but at the same time, the subject matter is disturbing, slightly horrifying, and might make you lose sleep at night for an entirely different reason. This book had such a profound effect on me that I simply didn't want to revisit it in any way... even through a review.

First, the plot. We have a disturbed teen in a psych ward who spouts prophetic words, predicting natural disasters before they happen (or does she?). We have a young psychologist who is assigned to the teen's case, and who slowly but surely begins to believe that the teen's crazy ramblings are, indeed, predictions about upcoming events (for a more in-depth plot summary, I suggest you visit the Amazon.com page and read the synopsis there... I don't want to give away too much, in case you're the kind of person who prefers to just jump in without knowing piles of plot details, especially with this kind of book!).

I'll admit it: I have a crippling fear of severe, uncontrollable weather phenomena... which made this a, well, rather poor choice of book to read. Heh. As the predictions begin to come true (not a spoiler, you know this is going to happen), we're treated to detailed, sense-tingling descriptions of how the weather affects the places that it hits. Tornadoes, lightning, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, whatever... I don't even recall which ones are in the book or not... but the author is so skilled that you'll be able to close your eyes and feel like you're truly there in the midst of it all.

Combine this with questions about the apocalypse, the book of Revelation and tribulation, and some incredibly flawed people (the characters are very well drawn), and you have a novel that not only entertains, but makes you think... and shudder... and ask questions... and if you're someone like me, you put the book down, try to walk away, but it won't let go. I was so shaken by the book that for the rest of the evening, I would randomly begin weeping, crying for no apparent reason other than the profound sense of darkness and foreboding that crept across my soul when I closed the last page.

My husband and I went for a walk to try and clear my head, but being outside simply made it worse. I felt like, at any moment, the whole world could collapse in on itself. I tried to describe it using words like "doom" and "pervading negativity", but that doesn't really do justice to what I felt. In the end, in order to chase away the disturbance from the novel, my husband sat me down on the couch and insisted that I play a fun, light-hearted video game, which was chased by chocolate and a comedy film.

I was much better after this. However, the experience of this book and how I felt afterward has been enough to keep me from discussing it further with others (beyond some initial impressions) or reviewing it here.

It was an excellent novel. I believe it's already been optioned for a film, too. However, it was so vivid - and the questions posed, so real - that I want nothing further to do with it. It cut to the deepest root of my fears - uncontrollable weather, and the obscurity of what "End Times" really means - and it makes me wonder... is that a good thing? I'm not sure. Given the choice to go back in time, would I make the same choice and read it again? I really don't know.

But like I said... it truly is an excellent novel. Whether or not it's the kind of experience you want to take with you is another thing entirely.

Already on Planet TBR *sigh*

> 68 The Rapture is already on my wishlist from mckait's thread, but Wow! What a great review!!!! I will read it forewarned.

I've added The Rapture to my wishlist. Great review!

Thanks so much :) I'll have to keep an eye on all your threads for your eventual reactions to it... I think it'll be really interesting to see the different ways people react to a powerful book like this!

Wow!

Added The Rapture to the endlessly-growing wishlist.

Ok, so now The Rapture will be included in my next box from Amazon.

...me too...

Ah, excellent, thank you for stopping by and adding to your TBR piles...! *mua-ha-ha-ha* :)

80) The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper (Children's Fiction)

Here are my initial reactions to the book, which I completed during August for the Group Read of the 'Dark is Rising' sequence:

"I'm in the same boat as a few of you... not enough character development, Will doesn't really do a whole lot. While the book as a whole was entertaining, I'm not sure that I would continue reading the series if we weren't doing it as a group read. At this point, I'm curious to see where the story goes (and have my questions answered!) but I'm not drop-dead in love with the book. I wonder if I would enjoy it more on a second read, after getting through the rest of the series...?"

It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible, but it was just okay. Having said that, now that I've finished the next book in the series (Greenwitch) I suspect that my enjoyment of the series is going to be based on the sequence as a whole. Looking back, I like this book more because I've read the one after it... if that makes any sense. I still wish there'd been more character development, but hopefully that weakness gets resolved elsewhere in the following volumes.

>77 That's how I felt. And, I'm not part of a group read, nor do I have the other books... so I'm stopping there.

Thought of you when I read a synopsis to a Tarr book on the what we're reading sf/fantasy thread. It's one of the latest messages. Book set in the crusades/alt hist kind of thing...

Ooh, that sounds interesting...! I'll pop on over there and have a look, thanks! :)

81) Trophy Wives Club - Kristin Billerbeck (Chick Lit)
82) Back to Life: A Trophy Wives Book - Kristin Billerbeck (Chick Lit)

These two books were exactly what one might expect them to be -- light, funny, and as usual, dealt with tougher topics than you'd thought when you picked up the books. Billerbeck has a gift for looking at the rough parts of life and turning them into something beautiful -- for example, the first Trophy Wives book deals with a young woman, not a Christian, who is divorced by her rich husband because she isn't 'perfect enough'. Through the course of the novel, the MC meets other 'trophy wives' like her and discovers that not everyone's life was as perfect as the front they put up... and discovers a lot about herself in the process.

Book two deals with a different character's situation, wherein her husband has died. Now she's on her own, and hasn't worked a day in fifteen years... how does she adjust, and make a life for herself in this society?

Alright, so neither book is particularly deep or life-changing (unless maybe you're a trophy wife yourself...?), but Billerbeck deals with things most Christians avoid talking about -- divorce, remarriage, and a real society where women are pressured to be the Picture of Perfection while still being good Christians.

The books are good diversions, and the characters are relatively engaging. I can't say I'll rush out to buy book 3 when Billerbeck gets around to writing it (which I'm hoping will happen eventually!), but I can say with certainty that I will read it and am looking forward to it.

hadn't heard of these -- thx Faith.

83) Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire - Marielle Guiliano (Business)

For a woman entering the business world, it can be a tough slog to figure out the balance between being yourself - ie. a female - and maintaining a tough, can-do attitude in the workplace. Guiliano's book looks at woman and their place on the corporate ladder, covering everything from your first interviews to being a good, no-nonsense female boss that is still liked by her employees.

For many years, Guiliano worked as the North American head of Veuve Clicquot, a high-end champagne company, and she draws on her experiences in this book, presenting women with anecdotes, advice, and hints on how to achieve success in the business world without compromising things like friends, family, and the pleasures in life that bring you happiness.

While I'm not a corporate businesswoman, nor do I have any interest in a business career, any woman at any stage of her life (or career!) could benefit at some level from Guiliano's advice - I found it refreshing to read a business book from a woman who refuses to compromise her own happiness at the expense of her career, but who also refuses to give up her career simply because being a female executive is difficult and requires sacrifice.

Guiliano recommends facing challenges head-on, maximizing the opportunities for happiness and pleasure in your life, and getting ahead without losing sight of what's really important to you.

I may not be a businesswoman, but I certainly came away from this book feeling encouraged, challenged, and grateful for the time spent reading it.

84) Fearless - Max Lucado (Christian Living)

Here's the review I posted on my blog, back on the date the book released. It really wasn't my kind of book (honestly, I can't stand most of Lucado's work), but I tried to give it an objective review, as if I was approaching his work without bias... hah. Difficult, but here's what I ended up with:

It’s release day for the new book from Max Lucado, ‘Fearless’. It’s no secret that Lucado is incredibly skilled at catering to people’s emotions, and he does it again in his latest release, which addresses the ‘culture of fear’ that society (specifically North American) has built up around them, regardless of whether they realize it or not. Bad economy, job losses, terrorist attacks, mortality, crime-laden news media reports… there’s more than enough fear to go around. But what if you could live your life without fear? Live fearlessly, relying on God’s strength in the face of things you can’t control?

Lucado weaves anecdotes in and around his statements on fear and living fearless, tugging on the heartstrings and provoking an emotional response. Some might say he manipulates emotions through the anecdotes he shares, but doesn’t every writer manipulate emotion in one way or another? At the very least, the book is timely and will likely be a beacon of hope for those struggling with job loss, uncertain financial futures, and so forth.

The book is a good reminder that we can’t control everything, and we wouldn’t want to. God is the only one who knows what’s going on, and He has promised the best for us… so why not stop being afraid and start trusting more?

Message edited by its author, Nov 5, 2009, 5:58pm.

If I could stomach Lucado at all, I'd give it whirl LOL They both sound intriguging. Congrats again gf!!

Book 83 sounds intriguing - definitely going to be giving book 84 a miss though - looks like it's designed to irritate me!

85) Greenwitch - Susan Cooper (Children's Fiction)

I recall reviewing this in the Group Read thread for the Dark is Rising series, but I don't remember what I said about it... haha... and I'm so behind on writing my reviews that I'm not going to bother recapping. All I can remember is that I liked it better than the first two, though a section in the middle was quite confusing. And I liked the character of Jane. There you have it! If you haven't read any of these, you won't know what I'm talking about anyway, so go back and start the books at the beginning. Lol.

86) Hush Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick (YA)

I read this one with the B&N book club, and here's the required review I posted for them:

Becca Fitzpatrick has done an excellent job of cornering the teen market in her novel, 'Hush Hush'. It provides the romance of Twilight, the urban edge of City of Bones, and a unique kind of characterization that we don't often see these days: an independent female protagonist who questions herself, and doesn't simply give into her emotions. She's stubborn, determined, and cautious -- and our male MC, Patch, is mysterious enough to keep you turning the pages long after everyone else in the house has gone to bed. I was fortunate enough to be able to read this as an ARC through the First Look program here at B&N, and I hear there's an alternate ending which we didn't get in our version. And you know what? I enjoyed the book enough to go out and buy a copy, to support this new author's work. I can't wait to read more from her... if you have someone in your life who enjoys YA -- or if you do, yourself -- do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

Hush Hush sounds interesting. I have a YA category in my 1010 challenge, and I think might like to read this one.

I'm adding Hush, Hush to the tbr pile.

I'll have to add it to my tbr too!

I am adding it to the BlackHole as well.

ooh sounds good.

ooooh also adding Hush Hush to the wishlist. I wonder if I can find it somewhere before Christmas. (and I mean not online because I am NOT NOT NOT ordering anything else for umm..three months. Yeah, three months sounds good.)

87) Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy)

I stand firm in my opinion that Sanderson is one of the new fantasy authors who’ll be around for a long, long time… he’s extremely skilled at worldbuilding, creating diverse and well-rounded characters that we actually care about, considers even small details that other writers might forget about (and is then able to make them important to the plot), and smatters his work with fitting humor. I read Mistborn without being entirely sure whether I’d love it (or if it would just be alright), but the unique magic system and the well-developed characters didn’t disappoint for a moment.

The magic system in this novel is conducted through the ingestion of metals, and different metals have different properties, thus giving the user different abilities according to what metals are in his/her system. Great stuff. It’s a limited system of magic with real consequences, many of which are explored in this first volume of a trilogy.

I have the second book sitting next to me, waiting to be read. I’ll be honest, after the ending of this book, I’m not sure where he’s taking the story, or if it’ll live up to how engaging this one was… but it’s Sanderson! I’m sure it’ll be entertaining, and doubtless have me reaching for the third book without hesitation.

88) The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba (Memoir)

The one thing I have to say about this book is: Everyone should read it.

Adults, children, teenagers, male or female. This book should be required reading in schools, universities, community groups, you name it…

The book itself is about William’s life as a young boy in Malawi, about his family’s life during a very bad famine year, and how William taught himself about physics and electricity and built a windmill to power his family’s radio. William’s efforts grew until he was noticed by a figure on the international stage, and who eventually introduced him to the right people until he received a scholarship to attend University.

The first amazing thing about this is that William, an unschooled, poverty-stricken boy from Africa, was able to rise against the odds and use his brilliant mind to make something of himself. It’s clear that William is an extremely skilled and talented man, and I’m so thankful that his story was brought to the world, for another reason…

The second amazing thing about this book is that William discusses famine and living through it as though it’s simply a part of life. He never sensationalizes, never gives off a ‘poor me’ or ‘woe was our family’ or ‘Africa is horrid’ vibe, nothing of the sort.

Instead, he tells his story in a matter of fact way, simply telling us what happened and what it was like, and honestly? It’s more vivid than those World Vision ads on TV. It’s more real than hearing from the media that ‘people are starving in Africa’. Want to understand what that really means? See through William’s eyes what happens to a person’s body when there’s no food… how it bloats until the skin is like putty, how people simply dropped dead on the roads as they walked half a mile to try and get some rations, how the President of Malawi denied that anything was wrong and refused to let food and aid supplies into the country, how a family of six can live on only a fistful’s worth – total – of food per day, and sometimes less…

After I read William’s story, I was compelled to pass the book on to the rest of my family.
We who live in first-world countries can never truly understand what it means to starve until we’ve either experienced it first hand, or seen it with clear vision through the eyes of someone who actually lived it and survived.

William’s story will change the way you look at the world. It’ll pull at your heart and you may find yourself crying out for change, for some way to help these people, and you may ache to do something – anything – to help. There are so many children all over the globe who have so much to offer the world, just like William, but if conditions remain the same… frankly, they’ll all die (and already are) and the world will continue to lose brilliant minds to a thing as stupid and senseless as hunger.

Again, I implore you, read this book. There’s also a website in conjunction with the book where William talks about how he came up with the idea to build the windmill and other sorts of things, and I encourage you to view those as well.

This is Willliam’s story, and it’s worth hearing.

I thought all three of the Mistborn books were excellent, and I really like where he took the story. Have fun with the second and third!

Oh, fantastic! Thanks :) I'll look forward to them even more, in that case!

The boy who harnessed the wind sounds marvelous -- and it's available at our county library!

89) Clockwork - Phillip Pullman (Children's Fiction)

This short little volume is a quick read in the style of an old fairy tale. It has magic, robots, storytellers, and children who are more clever than adults... it wasn't superb, but it kept me decently engaged over a cup of coffee.

90) The Deadline Murders - Ron Morgans (Mystery)

I’ve really got to stop doing this. “Doing what?” you ask. Well, I admit: I tend to judge books by their covers. And their weight. And publisher. And back cover copy. Arrrgh. But, but, but… who doesn’t? Is there anyone who literally doesn’t judge books on first glance/touch?

I received a copy of The Deadline Murders through LT’s Member Giveaway program. It came with a letter from the publisher, a couple of promo pages for additional books by the author, and a personalized autograph on the front page. This was good marketing, I thought, but what of the book itself? It didn’t have that ‘professional’ feel. It didn’t have that ‘professional’ look (though it looked much, much better than many small pub novels). I liked the image on the cover, but the title font stopped me. I also couldn’t believe the blurb on the front — an endorsement from Piers Morgan? Seriously? What the…?

I set the book aside. For months. Finally, I gave in and decided to fulfill my commitment to the author, and review his work. I didn’t expect to like it, and for the first 50 pages or so, I was rather bored.

But that was just for the first 50 pages. Surprisingly, around there, things started to pick up. I didn’t hate the main character quite so much (she seemed really pretentious, too pretentious to be likable at first), and the banter between the female and male leads became entertaining. The story itself picked up, and I spent the rest of an evening devouring the rest of the book.

To boil it down, The Deadline Murders is a mystery novel without the fancy technology, gore, or sex of many mystery novels out there today. This was a mystery for entertainment’s sake — not quite old fashioned, but more adventure-oriented than anything else. Of course the resolution was too simple in the end, but we sure have a lot of fun getting there, and it’s not so disappointing that you’re upset with the author. Let’s be honest — the book is meant to be a fun escape, and it is.

I finished this book with a smile, and have thus resolved to track down the rest of this author’s books. I’m happy to see that they’re available at Amazon.ca (1-3 weeks shipping, since I assume they’re brought in from the UK) and I’m thrilled to have found a new author from a non-traditional publisher.

Here’s the product description from Riverheron’s website listing for the novel:

HENRIETTA FOX is a paparazzo. A wild, flame-haired girl in biker’s boots and leathers, with an Irish temper. She rides the streets of London stalking celebrities for the tabloid gossip pages.
When a Chinese military plane explodes in a fireball before her camera, life for Henrietta Fox gets dangerous! Five reporters across Europe have been murdered, each with their exotic, lop-eared Sumxu cats. Animals considered extinct for 300 years. Only Henrietta Fox knows why - and that knowledge could kill her.
To survive she must pursue a madman across China with partner CASS FARRADAY, an ex-Repton public schoolboy turned tabloid reporter with a devious line in interviews.
Only they can prevent an Armageddon assault on Britain’s Air Traffic Control. Fail and half a million lives will be lost.

Sounds cheesy, yes? Good. Definitely recommended. :)

Some nice reading there, Faith, all of which is either in the BlackHole already or landing there due to your recommendations :)

I really need to get myself caught up before the end of the year, so here are a few shorter reviews... thankfully these are books that don't need long diatribes anyway :)

91) The Potpourrific Great Big Grab Bag of Get Fuzzy - Darby Conley (Comics)

Get Fuzzy has long been one of my favorite newspaper comic strips, and this collection was no less hilarious than Conley's previous work! I always see a lot of Bucky in my own cat... as sad as that is... and I appreciate Conley's rather intelligent humor. If you've never read any Get Fuzzy before, I encourage you to find one of the earlier collections and start there, to get familiar with the characters. You won't regret it!

92) The 39 Clues - Book 4: Beyond the Grave - Jude Watson (Children's Fiction)

After being disappointed by book 3, I was worried the series quality would go downhill... but thankfully it picked up here! The action was great, good dialogue, fun escapades all over the globe... this series just continues to deliver a solid story that I think kids -- and adults -- will love.

93) The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (YA)

What can I say about this that hasn't already been said? I read it on everyone's recommendations here, and wasn't disappointed. In fact, at first I was positively horrified at the premise, but morbidly curious... but Collins delivers a solid story that both causes you to cringe and cheer, and then scramble to find the next book! I'm looking forward to the next two books, and I'm wondering if she explores any questions of morality in the following books, considering the nature of this one.

If you've been living under a rock and haven't heard of this one yet, go find it!!! Highly recommended.

94) The Grey King - Susan Cooper (Children's Fiction)

I read this as part of the Group Read here, and enjoyed this one a lot. I believe it was my favorite of the series read up to this point, for both the strong plot and the character development. It's no wonder that Cooper's series has been around for a long time, and continues to be re-packaged for new generations.

95) Pretties - Scott Westerfeld (YA)

This is book 2 of the Uglies Trilogy... and the ending made me very, very angry. Without giving anything important away to those of you who plan to read this, I'm just going to say that we end up right back where we started, and makes me wonder whether the third book is just going to be a rehash of the second book. Not that you don't see it coming from... oh, about midway through this book anyway.

The first book of the trilogy was innovative, interesting, and kept me reading. This one just kept me rolling my eyes, and didn't deliver on the promises it made to the reader at the beginning. I'll read the third one eventually, so I can see how the story ends, but I'm not happy about it. Grrr.

96) A Right to Die - Rex Stout (Mystery)

My first Nero Wolfe novel! And I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've attacked my father's bookshelves and borrowed a stack of these to read during the winter months, the perfect time to curl up with a classic mystery (in my opinion!). I'm looking forward to many more of these rather unconventional mysteries -- Wolfe is a fascinating character, mostly because of his eccentricities, and I find his assistant, our narrator, thoroughly likable and highly intelligent on his own. I suspect I'll stick around Wolfe for the same reason he does -- he finds the man interesting and wants to see what he'll do next.

97) Fox Trot Beyond a Doubt - Bill Amend (Comics)

I've always enjoyed Fox Trot comics, and this past summer I had the joy of attending a seminar given by Bill Amend himself! He was very down-to-earth, funny, and very giving to the people in the audience. When the talk was done, he apologized for not having any of his new book to sell and sign, and instead... offered to draw a picture for anyone who wanted one, they just had to come visit him at his dealer table and tell him what they'd like drawn. Just like that! Talk about amazing... unfortunately, I didn't have time to wait in the VERY LONG LINE that quickly formed, but his offer gave me a new, deep respect for the man. He cares about his fans a lot, and truly appreciates the time they've spent with his work -- and was willing to give back to a room of several hundred people by offering personalized drawings.

Never read any Fox Trot? Grab one of the earlier books, and meet the Fox family!

Just dropping by to say that Get Fuzzy is the BEST!! I sometimes describe it as an edgier Garfield, but it's more complicated than that.

My favorite series of strips is when Bucky gets stuck in the air vent and Satchel thinks God is talking to him!

Upon further thought, I seem to remember that I told you all this before (see message 99 above)!

Pardon me if I repeat myself... :D

LOL Angela -- you make me feel right at home :)

Well, at least I'm good for something around here, haha...