Crazy4reading **New** to 75 book Challenge

Well this is my first year attempting 75 books. I have done the 50 book challenge the past 2 years. And this year (2010) I actually made 50 books and have decided that I need to challenge myself this year.

I really have no reading style or certain way of reading. I just read books. I try just about any genre of book. I know my wishlist keeps growing along with my TBR mountains.

I am also doing the 11 in 11 challenge and continuing to work on my ABC challenge. I plan to start this in the new year. So any books that I start now and do not finish until after January 1 will be included in this challenge.

Now I will go and look at some other threads and the useful threads.

Here is my ticker:




List of books 2011:
January
1. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (finished 1/18/11)TIOLI Challenge January #1
2. Damaged by Alex Kava (finished 1/19/11) TIOLI Challenge January #7
3. Blind Man's Alley by Justin Peacock (finished 1/24/11
4. Dead Center by Joanna Higgins (finished 1/27/11)

February
5. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (finished 2/5/11)
6. To Hold the Crown by Jean Plaidy (finished 2/22/11)
7. Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay (finished 2/13/11)
8. Aftermath:A Snapped Novel by Tracy Brown (finished 2/26/11) TIOLI Challenge February

March
9. Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez (finished 3/5/11)
10. For One More Day by Mitch Albom (finished 3/6/11)
11. gone with a handsomer man by Michael Lee West (finished 3/14/11)
12. So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson (finished 3/16/11)
13. The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro (finished 3/19/11)
14. Forever Amber Brown by Paula Danziger (finished 3/20/11)
15. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner (finished 3/31/11)

April
16. Good Cop, Bad Cop by Barabara D'Amato (finished 4/7/11)
17. Original Sin by Beth McMullen (finished 4/21/11)
18. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (finished 4/23/11)

May
19. The Privilege of Youth by Dave Pelzer (finished 5/1/11)
20. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus (finished 5/12/11)
21. Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey (finished 5/15/11)
22. Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross (finished 5/21/11)
23. The Guide to Owning a Beagle by Andrew Vallilla (finished 5/22/11)
24. Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey (finished 5/23/11)
25. reaching Dustin by Vicki Grove (finished 5/24/11)
26. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (finished 5/30/11)
27. Motherhood the second Oldest profession (finished 5/30/11)

June
28. At Wit's End (finished 6/5/11) TIOLI Challenge June #1
29. Attack on Pearl Harbor (finished 6/5/11) TIOLI Challenge June #1
30. Fourth Grade Rats (finished 6/6/11)
31. Maniac Magee (finished 6/7/11)
32. Nightlight: A Parody by The Harvard Lampoon (finished 6/10/11)
33. Very Bad Men by Harry Dolan (finished 6/12/11)
34. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (finished 6/24/11)
35. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts by Lilian Jackson Braun (finished 6/25/11)
36. Cat's Cradle: A Book of String Figures by Anne Akers Johnson (finished 6/26/11)
37. A House is Built at Pooh Corner for Eeyore by A.A. Milnes (finished 6/26/11)

July
38. Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith (finished 7/2/11)
39. Abby Cooper Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie (finished 7/4/11)
40. Ricky Martin Backstage pass by Kimberly Walsh (finished 7/8/11)
41. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (finished 7/9/11)
42. The Quiet Little Woman: Tilly's Christmas, Rosa's Tale: Three Enchanting Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott (finished 7/14/11)
43. Silent Enemy by Thomas W. Young (finished 7/22/11)
44. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (finished 7/23/11)
45. Paper Towns by John Green (finished 7/24/11)

August
46. That Day in September by Artie Van Why (finished 8/2/11) TIOLI Challenge #7
47. Hansel and Gretel by Brothers Grimm (finished 8/5/11)
48. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton (finished 8/6/11) TIOLI Challenge #11
49. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by J.K. Rowling (finished 8/7/11) TIOLI Challenge #2
50. Arthur and the Lost Diary by Marc Brown (finished 8/11/11)
51. Arthur and the Poetry Contest by Marc Brown (finished 8/11/11)
52. Cam Jansen and the Ghostly Mystery by David Adler (finished 8/12/11)
53. Genies Don't Ride Bicycles by Debbie Dadey (finished 8/12/11)
54. Follow the Dream by Peter Sis (finished 8/12/11)
55. Book Lust by Nancy Pearl (finished 8/18/11 TIOLI August 2011 Challenge #16)
56. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (finished 8/25/11 TIOLI August 2011 Challenge # 2)
57. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban (finished 8/30/11 TIOLI August 2011 Challenge # 2)

September
58. All Cry Chaos by Leonard Rosen (finished 9/4/11 TIOLI September Challenge #5)
59. Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett (finished 9/8/11 TIOLI September Challenge #3)
60. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (finished 9/14/11)
61. Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine (finished 9/24/11 TIOLI September Challenge #1)
62. The Undertaker by William Brown (finished 9/28/11 TIOLI September Challenge #5)
63. A Spy at Home by Joseph M. Rinaldo (finished 9/30/11 TIOLI September Challenge #5)

October
64. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls (finished 10/4/11 TIOLI October Challenge #18)
65. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry (finished 10/6/11 TIOLI October Challenge #10)
66. The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff (finished 10/11/11 TIOLI October Challenge #18)

welcome Monica

Good to have a new face around here, Monica! Welcome, and good luck making the full 75 this year.

Good luck!

Hi Monica, I see we share ecclectic reading habits I'll be curious to see what books we share this year!Welcome this will be my second year with this group and they are great!

It's nice to welcome a new member to the 75 books challenge...and a fellow Bookcrosser at that! I'm sure you'll have great fun here. Good to have you on board.

Welcome!

Welcome to the group, Monica!

Hi Monica! I was happy to see that you are joining the 75er's. This is a great group and you will surely enjoy the intelligent and amusing conversations to be had here.

Thank you for all the warm welcomes. I am glad to be joining this year. I see a lot of familiar names around here.

Hi Monica, we can be 75-er newbies together. I just spent a few minutes figuring out how to star threads so I can follow yours. Three years on LT and I didn't know one could do such a thing! I think now I'll go find out how to add a ticker to my thread.

Hi Monica, nice to see some new faces here!

I'm not going to get anywhere close to 75 in 2011, but everyone is so friendly I decided to stick around.

Cushla, That is one reason I decided to join the 75 challenge this year. I followed so many of these member last year and they just kept saying how nice this group was.

Mary Lynne, it is great to see you here. To get the ticker just click on one of them and it will take you to the site and you can create your own. At the end they give you the code for the HTML and you just copy and paste it into your post. I love using the ticker and every year I am afraid that I forget how to do it. It is great when you learn something new on here. I have so many starred threads that I actually have to go through them every so often to clear them out.

Happy Reading all!!!

Hi Monica, another newbie to this group checking in. Looking forward to following your reading next year.

Hi Monica.. Found you... :) Monica...

Great to see your new thread, Monica!
--BJ

Newbie here too, good luck next year!

Hi Kel_Light!! Great to see you here. Good luck to you too.

Hi Judy!! Thanks for the Welcome!! I will be trying to follow a lot of these threads next year.

Hi Monica!! Hi BJ!! I finally took the plunge into the 75 challenge.

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Happy New Year to you too, Monica!

Happy New Year Monica and welcome!

Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best in 2011, Monica!
--BJ

Thanks BJ. My current read is Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I am still reading Their Eyes were watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I will be restarting that book because it has been about 3 months or more since I started reading it. I hope to finish Wolf Hall in a few weeks. I just need to take the time to read the book.

I have heard lots of good things about both of those books, Monica. I look forward to your reviews.
--BJ

Two very different books, but both excellent !!

The former is languishing on my shelves and I loved Their Eyes were watching God - an extremely memorable read.

Monica, several people IRL have recommended Wolf Hall to me and I really look forward to your review of that one.

I loved both of those books. I listened to Their Eyes Were Watching God with the fantastic Ruby Dee as narrator. Wonderful!

My son had to read Their Eyes Were Watching God for school. I asked him what he thought about it and all I got was nothing. He is so verbose. :)

Now I will definitely read some tonight of Wolf Hall and try to start Their Eyes were Watching God again. Thanks for all the great recommendations on these books.

Too funny!
--BJ

I am participating in the read-a-thon this weekend so look for some updates here or over at this thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/106718#2427202

Read from 4:20 pm till about 5:45 est. Then read again at 6:33 till 7:00

Of to post longer info at other thread. Oh I am reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

I hope Wolf Hall is going well for you, Monica!

It is improving. My son and I just discussed a little about the Tudor period and that helped me with understanding the book a little more. Plus he just put on the Tudors to watch. I don't think I will finish the book in this 24 hours but I will come close.

Cool!

I'm hoarding Wolf Hall but I think I need to stop that!

Lol. I hoard a lot of books too. I am starting to enjoy Wolf Hall and understanding the story too. Scary to think that I am so oblivious to other time periods in other countries. I realize now I have to expand my reading and also start doing some research.

Hi Monica, I'm following your new thread and enjoying your journey with Wolf Hall. It is definitely not a book to be rushed!

I'm also a big fan of Their Eyes Were Watching God. Berly (Kimberly) and I read it together about this time last year. I think I liked it better than she did. The vernacular does take some getting used to. I'd like to hear the Ruby Dee audio that Stasia listened to on a car trip but I know my husband would hate it.

#36: Ditch the hubby and listen to the audio without him! :)

Hi, Monica!
Are you all rested up from your readathon? One of these days, I am going to have to do one. I think that I am definitely going to have to get a copy of Wolf Hall. Everyone loves it!
--BJ

Hi Donna, I am glad I am taking my time with Wolf Hall. The beginning really captured me but then I just started to get confused with all the characters. I too would love to listen to the audio of Their Eyes were Watching God. I don't have to worry about a husband not letting me listen, just my son getting annoyed.

Stasia, I agree ditch the hubby for the book.

Hi BJ!! Yes I am rested up and I am joining in the next one but only for a couple of hours because I have to work Monday and Tuesday. Yes definitely read Wolf Hall. I know I would not have found this book on my own.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!!

Hello! Checking in to catch up, and, of course, to get you on the read-a-thon radar... Hope you're enjoying Wolf Hall - it's sitting on my shelves but thus far I've been too daunted by its sheer bulk to pick it up! Soon, soon...

I love yr. remark on at 35, makes me so happy! -- so many folk, esp. adults, are afraid to admit they don't know something -- say what you don't know and that immediately clears a space for knowing! I've read so many novels that made me rush out and look for history books, maps or whatever the subject was!

Thanks sibyx. I have learned admitting that I don't know or am not fluent in certain things is better trying to flub my way through. I have noticed that I am now interested in learning about England and their government then I was before.

Ellie, I wouldn't be reading Wolf Hall if it wasn't for my library's book club. I have discovered some new books that I have enjoyed and some that weren't quite what I expected through the book club.

I hope to finish Wolf Hall this weekend. If I take at least an hour or more tonight to read.

Best Sellers for my birthday week BibliOZ

Fiction 1 AIRPORT Arthur Hailey
Fiction 2 VANISHED Fletcher Knebel
Fiction 3 MYRA BRECKINRIDGE Gore Vidal
Fiction 4 THE CONFESSIONS OF NAT TURNER William Styron
Fiction 5 TOPAZ Leon Uris
Fiction 6 THE TOWER OF BABEL Morris West
Fiction 7 CHRISTY Catherine Marshall
Fiction 8 THE EXHIBITIONIST Henry Sutton
Fiction 9 THE PRESIDENT'S PLANE IS MISSING Robert J. Serling
Non-Fiction 1 THE NAKED APE Desmond Morris
Non-Fiction 2 BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD Haim G. Ginott
Non-Fiction 3 NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA Robert K. Massie
Non-Fiction 4 "OUR CROWD": THE GREAT JEWISH FAMILIES OF NEW YORK 4 "OUR CROWD": THE GREAT JEWISH FAMILIES OF NEW YORK, Stephen Birmingham
Non-Fiction 5 GIPSY MOTH CIRCLES THE WORLD Francis Chichester
Non-Fiction 6 RICKENBACKER Edward V. Rickenbacker
Non-Fiction 8 TOLSTOY Henri Troyat
Non-Fiction 9 THE ECONOMICS OF CRISIS Eliot Janeway
Non-Fiction 10 THE DOUBLE HELIX James Watson

Hey, Monica! Finally made it to your thread. I hope you have a wonderful day!:)

Hi Bente! Nice to see you here. Now I am off to go read some more of Wolf Hall. I would like to finish it but my son keeps putting on Spartacus and I keep watching it.

Happy Reading!!

Hey Monica, cool list.. I actually may have to grab a book or two off your list from your birthweek.. It looks interesting.. Hope you had fun with it. ;)

As I was looking at my list I was thinking the same thing. I wonder if I will be able to find any of them.

Monica,
I am sure you will be able to find some of them, maybe even really cheap or if you have an e reader maybe find them there...

Yes I finished my first book today. I am thrilled to have finally finished a book. I finished Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Look for my review later.

Hooray!! Way to go... :)

Yes I did the happy dance!! Here is my review:

#1. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

This book is a book that I usually wouldn't choose to read myself. I enjoyed learning about something new. Wolf Hall is a story based on Henry VIII from about 1500 till 1535. As I was reading the book I started to get confused about who was who because there were so many men named Thomas. My son and I started talking about the show the Tudors and that helped with my understanding more of the Tudor period.

Wolf Hall deals with Henry VIII deciding to get out of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon, later known as Dowager Princess of Wales and marrying Anne Boleyn. Henry wants to marry Anne because Katherine has not bore him an heir to the thrown and Anne 'will'.

Some of the things I read about in Wolf Hall were the trials of some of Henry VIII's underlings. Some of the trials were very brief on what really happened or why this was happening. (Or maybe I just started skimming some of the information) It was interesting to see how one man Thomas Cromwell manipulated people, things and events to advance him.

I cannot say I loved the book nor can I say I hated the book. I enjoyed the book and was thrilled to discover more information about England's history and now I am interested in possibly trying to learn more.

3 stars

Now I will be starting Damaged by Alex Kava.

Wow, as an introduction to Tudor novels, that's a heavy undertaking to embark on! There are plenty of much lighter reads that I can recommend - some that aren't always historically accurate and some that are - if you're interested in more.

First of all Monica, Welcome to the 75ers.Then I would like to sayenjoy reading and don't feel compelled to get any amount read as much as just enjoying those you have managed to finish. Last year I started to read "Wolf Hall" and I must say I just could not get through it. Right now I am reading "Fall of Giants" and enjoying that a great deal. Of course the end is dragging a bit but that is to be expected sometimes when one is eager to start a new one. See you soon! Mary Beth

Hi Lunacat. I will admit that I read Wolf Hall for the Library book club that I am in. I have been introduced to so many different authors and genres since joining the book club. I would love some recommendations for books on the Tudor's.

Hi MaryBeth!! Thanks for the Welcome. I did have difficulty getting into the book too. I don't know why I feel compelled to complete any book I start. I too have noticed that when I am near the end of a book that it seems to drag on at times.

The Autobiography of Henry VIII is a fabulous Tudor read, and really well written, but it is long. A much easier read than Wolf Hall though.

There are various Philippa Gregory novels set in the Tudor times and dealing with different wives etc - they aren't always the most literary or accurate, but if you don't mind that and just want some light drama with the characters then they're okay. A lot of people like them anyway.

An older - but better - option are novels by Jean Plaidy, including The Sixth Wife, Rose Without a Thorn and others (those are the only two I've read and so can absolutely recommend.

Alison Weir is another author who writes good Tudor fiction - Innocent Traitor and Lady Elizabeth are the two that I've read and enjoyed.

I have others set in the Tudor era but not necessarily specific to Royalty, so if you get a feel for the time then I'd be happy to recommend some more.

Thanks for those recommendations. I have library club tomorrow night so I will look to see if they have any of those books there to possibly check out. Then if I do enjoy them I may look into purchasing some.

Lunacat I found two of the books you recommended at the Library tonight. I picked up The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory and To Hold the Crown by Jean Plaidy. I wasn't able to find the exact books you listed. I don't know if they are checked out or if they just don't have them there at the library. I decided to look for just the authors and to go from there.

At our Library book club meeting there were only 2 of us that actually finished the book. Mostly everyone disliked Wolf Hall I am just glad that I did read it. I really hate to give up on a book once I start it.

Now I just finished another book tonight. Here is my review:

#2. Damaged by Alex Kava

This was my ER win from July and I have to say the wait was worth it. I don't know if it was because I just read a very long and difficult book on the Tudor period or if I just needed a nice light read.

Damaged is a novel about Maggie O'Dell, a criminal profiler for the FBI. I have watched the show Criminal Minds and know that I really enjoy the intricacies of the thought processes of criminals and how the profiler is able to conclude those thoughts.

Maggie is recruited by a friend from the Department of Homeland Security, Charlie Wurth to help with profiling due to the discovery of a cooler with body parts in it. The cooler is found in the Gulf near Pensacola Beach Florida by the Coast Guard. The catch is that Maggie is going down to Pensacola when a hurricane is predicted to land in Pensacola.

I found myself not wanting to put the book down. The chapters moved quickly and always wanting to know what would happen next. I read this book in less then one day.

5 stars

A much lighter read then my last book. Now I hope to start on Blind Man's Alley by Justin Peacock.

Happy Reading All!!

Monica

Hello Monica, welcome to the 75 group. And well done on finishing Wolf Hall - it is quite a dense and heavy read especially if you start off not being familiar with the period. I'm glad you've had some good suggestions for other reads in the period - including an old favourite The sixth wife by Jean Plaidy - I read that one in my teens, it must have been one of my first introductions to the period (and it's a much easier read, but well done).

That good to know that Damaged is so good. I enjoy Kava's books and I wasn't very thrilled with Black Friday. Damaged is patiently waiting for me to read it. I may bump it up a few spaces.

I am doing the read-a-thon for today and I just finished my current book Blind Man's Alley by Justin Peacock. Look for a review soon. Maybe tonight.

Hi gennyt. I wasn't able to find the book The Sixth Wife at the library but I hope to take a look once I finish the books I picked up last Wed after my book club meeting. I hope to be able to start those two books this week.

Hi cal8769. I haven't picked up another of Alex Kava's books but I have been looking at them.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Happy reading!!

#3. Blind Man's Alley by Justin Peacock

Awesome!! Blind Man's Alley is a book that kept me riveted to my seat and my eyes glued to the pages. Blind Man's Alley is a book with so many twists, turns, story lines, character plots and interaction to ultimately come to the final conclusion of this book.

Blind Man's Alley is a novel about corruption, murder, back stabbing and just all around total human nature. While reading this book I could see this being true and plausible. I am not current on all laws for New York or even laws in general. I have an understanding of the most basic and layman ideas of the laws.

The main character is a lawyer, Duncan of a huge corporate law firm in NY. Also there is a reporter for the Journal, Candace who plays an integral role in this plot. Duncan works for Blake and Wycott who represent Roth Properties. Blake and Wycott take on a pro bono case to help with their image. Duncan is the lawyer assigned to this case. This case is just an eviction case and is the beginning of the end for so many people.

People are being evicted from low income housing for their children supposedly possession of drugs. These are properties that the Roth family own and are changing over to better income housing. Are the kids being set up by the security guards that Roth Properties use? This is where the trouble begins for Rafael.

Then there is murder, conspiracy, racketeering and so much more that just keeps you riveted to the book. I found the ending to be more then I expected. I was pleasantly surprised as to how Justin Peacock was able to summarize the story and not make you feel like everything always works out.

5 stars

Now I will be starting on Dead Center by Joanna Higgins. My Dec. ER book. I also hope to start on one of my Library books too.

Congrats on finishing a read-a-thon book! I'm impressed that you manage to review as well - I usually end up just dumping my finished books on the living room floor and reviewing them over the next few days! Sounds like an exciting read, I'll have to keep an eye out for it...

I was afraid if I had just put the book down I would forget what I wanted to write. Plus with it being an ER book I really wanted to get the review done since it was from August. I am just glad to finish a book during a read a thon. It feels like a great achievement.

*looks guiltily at handful of ER books on shelf* Oh yes, I hear ya. For some reason, when it comes to reviews, I always seem to put together wording and consider what I want to say best when I'm, say, washing up, or in the shower. Those moments when you're doing one thing but completely free to be thinking about something else. Then when I come to write the review properly later that day, or even the next day, it's already half-formed. Weird... :-)

Hi Monica! Drive-by hug

Hi, Monica!
I added the Peacock book to my wishlist. It looks like just the kind of book that I like.
--BJ

Hi Ellie, This is the first time where I actually had more then one ER book to review. Since July and August arrived so late and pretty much at the same time I was shocked. I am now all caught up on my ER books because I finished my December book last night. I will be posting my review sometime today.

Hi Richard!! Thanks for stopping by! Return hug.

Hi BJ! I hope you are able to find a copy of the Peacock book. I have been pleasantly surprised by the books I have been reading lately.

Will post my review for Dead Center by Joanna Higgins later today. Maybe even before I go to work.

Blind Man's Alley looks like a dandy! Thanks for the recommendation, Monica!

Blind Man's Alley really does look like a winner, I'm adding it to my wishlist too! Monica, thanks for the review. I gave it a thumbs up. :)

Hi Stasia! Thanks for stopping by. Blind Man's Alley is an awesome book. You will enjoy it.

Hi Mary Lynne!! Thanks for stopping by. Thanks for the thumbs up.

Here is my next review.

#4. Dead Center by Joanna Higgins

I enjoyed this book. This is the story about a murder that happened 20 years ago and Dr. Weber is now on trial for this murder. The interesting thing about this plot is that the man that he murdered was a friend of his and Dr. Weber was having an affair with Pete's wife. Ultimately Dr. Weber (Ben) and Karen got married.

Karen's daughter's Lin and Laura are confused between fact and fiction. Their emotions are torn between wanting to believe their 'dad' is innocent to feeling that his story just doesn't add up. I did find myself getting a little confused during the trial because the writing was of the words that were being spoken and sometimes thoughts of the person hearing them.

All in all I enjoyed the book even with the little undertones of religion. I felt that the religion part was well placed and brought up. People that have a strong faith prior to something traumatic happening begin to question their faith in God. The ending was okay but not what I was really expecting.

4 1/2 stars

Now I am reading, The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory, To Hold the Crown by Jean Plaidy and Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay. I will be reading in the read-a-thon that starts today at 4 pm EST. Maybe I will be able to finish another book this month.

Happy Reading all!!

#69: Adding Dead Center to the BlackHole. Boy, you are really out to get me today, aren't you? :)

I will be hosting a read-a-thon this weekend check out this thread for more information:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/109120&newpost=1#lastmsg

Well I finished a book during the read a thon. Here is my review:

#5. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

This is my second book on Henry VIII. I enjoyed this book a lot more then Wolf Hall. The Other Boleyn Girl is a wonderfully written story about the girl in the shadow of Queen Anne. Mary I found very interesting because she was not knowledgeable about the workings of the English court. She grew in this book.

Mary was the narrator of this story. So you saw things through the eyes of a young child, young women and then a mature women. Mary was very innocent and listened to what she was told to do by her family, which consisted of her mother, father, uncle, brother (George) and her older sister (Anne).

I learned a lot about how the English court worked/works. Not sure if it is the same now as it was back then. I do feel that some of what happened still goes on in this time period now. Women are still viewed as items that can be bought and sold for the pleasures of men. At least some women can be or men just feel that way. I also feel that all men think about is themselves when it comes to marriage. They want to be pleased, waited on and to have the women pregnant and be able to have sex with other women while the wife is pregnant. And once the woman is unable to bear any more children she is just tossed aside for a younger one. Men never seem to learn that the younger ones are only after them for the money and nothing else. Then I think that the men don't look at it that way. They are only concerned with having a boy or many boys.

Okay I guess I should stop with the soap box about men. I really enjoyed the book and did see similarities in the world of today. Just seeing how the King was able to toss aside his wives when he is done with them. What a pity. If only all men thought like William Stafford and married for love and not stature or riches. I loved how Mary triumphed in the end.

5 stars

Nice review!
--BJ

Hi Monica! Stopping by to check out your thread! :)

HI Tamara thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great night!!

I hope to finish a book tonight and maybe get a review up too. Almost finished Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay and I am enjoying it a lot.

Yes I finished my book. Here is my review:

#6. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Sarah's Key brought to light things that I did not know about the deportation of the Jews during the Holocaust from France. I have read books on this subject but mainly from the Poland and Germany. I never knew the French were involved in the 'round-up' of Jewish men, women and children.

Sarah's Key is the story of a Jewish girl named Sarah, whom is awakened on July 16, 1942 by the French Police. Sarah does something for her brother, thinking she is protecting him. She has her brother, Michel, go into their secret hiding place and promises to come back and get him.

You follow Sarah, her mother and father to a stadium where they are kept in awful conditions. They are given no food, or water for days. People die and some actually commit suicide. During this time Sarah thinks about her brother and let's her parents know what she did. You also meet a journalist, Julia Jarmond, from present day France. She is doing a story about the Vel' d'Hiv for the newspaper she works for in France.

Julia learns about this roundup and she is surprised by the treatment of the Jewish people and also the children. I felt myself yearning to know more about the incidents and actions on that fateful day in 1942. Julia learns how her in-laws have a connection to a family from the past. Julia is driven to learn so much and when she does discover the truth she is both saddened and intrigued. She becomes closer to her father-in-law.

Tatiana does a fantastic job of drawing you into the story and yearning to learn what happened and what will happen. I even find myself thinking about how the story continues even after the end.

5 stars

#76: I have that one at home to read. Thanks for the review, Monica. I will see if I can locate my copy of the book!

That does sound like a book I would like to read. Hope you are having a nice weekend, Monica!
--BJ

>76 crazy4reading: I won that one in Early Reviewers and loved it.

Hope you are able to locate the book Stasia.

Hi BJ!! I had an interesting weekend. Hope your week goes well.

Hi Lori!! Glad to see you here. I didn't even know it had been an ER book.

Now I am also doing the read-a-thon and here is my opening meme. I haven't started reading yet so I will just post my opening meme and then hopefully get started reading.

The Opening Meme

1) Where are you going to be reading today? I will be reading at home in my chair in the TV room.

2) What book have you chosen to kick off the read-a-thon? I will be reading To hold the Crown by Jean Plaidy

3) Do you have any book ideas already lined up for the next 24 hours? Or do you prefer to just browse your shelves when the time comes? Since I will be reading off and on for the next couple of hours I don't have any other books planned.

4) Do you have any particular goals for the day? A book you really want to finish, perhaps? I just want to read for about 3 hours total tonight and maybe an hour tomorrow.

5) Have you made any particular arrangements ready for participating in the read-a-thon? Warned your family in advance, or bought in your favourite food, for example? No arrangements. Since it is just my son and I here we just let each other do what we want. No favorite foods just water.

I haven't started reading yet. I just got back from seeing my lawyer and need to get some dinner together, get changed and settle in my chair. Hopefully I will be able to start reading my 8 pm at the latest.

Happy reading! :-)

HI Ellie!! Thanks for stopping by!! Great job on the read-a-thon again. I love the new questions.

Well for those that aren't participating in the read-a-thon here is my first 2 hours of reading.

HOUR ?? I really don't know what hour I am on. I will say that I am on hour 1 & 2

I've been reading: To Hold the Crown by Jean Plaidy
Books finished: 0
Pages read: 30
Posting time: 10 minutes
Reading time: 2 hours

Total books read: 1
Total pages read: 30
Total time read: 2
Total time posting: 10 min

The Menu: Romaine Lettuce, Radishes, peanuts and water.
Comments: I read during the commercials of some tv shows or just through the tv shows. I hope to read a little before falling asleep tonight.

I won't be posting again tonight. Happy Reading all!!

Goodnight! :-)

HI Ellie!! Now it is morning here and night where you are. I hope you are doing well on your reading and I hope your heater decides to work.

I just found your thread as I was looking around today. I also loved The Other Boylen Girl and Sarah's Key. I will be starring your thread. Thanks.

#7. To Hold the Crown by Jean Plaidy

To Hold the Crown was an enlightening view of King Henry VII and his wife Elizabeth. This is the first book I have read solely based on King Henry VII. It was interesting to learn new things about the Tudor's.

This book lets you see how Henry VII reacted when people tried to usurp his power, when he didn't have the children that he really wanted. Seeing Henry worried almost all the time. He was always thinking of every possible outcome and scenario.

4 1/2 stars

#86: I read a ton of Plaidy's books when I was a teenager. I really need to revisit them. Thanks for the reminder, Monica!

I will be adding To Hold the Crown to my wishlish. I a haven't read anything only about Henry VII either.
Thanks for the recommendation.

Sounds like another good read, Monica!
--BJ

Hi everyone!! I feel that I have actually stepped out of my comfort zone with these past couple of books so far this year. I maybe hosting a read-a-thon this weekend. I am thinking of starting it tonight at around 8 pm. If interested go to the read-a-thon thread to see more...

Happy reading all!!

I'M HOSTING A READ-A-THON If interested in joining find us over here! Hope to see you there.

#8. Aftermath: A Snapped Novel by Tracy Brown

This is my first time reading Tracy Brown and I have to say she did not disappoint me. I really didn't know if this book was going to be a mystery, thriller, suspense or a Christian book. There was thrills and suspense and sex. Aftermath also has some Christian content but not an overwhelming amount. Just some comments like some one saying a prayer and forgiving someone for their past. I felt it was portrayed in a pleasing way and not over bearing.

Aftermath is the story of Misa, Camille, Toya, and Dominique. Misa and Camille are sisters and Toya and Dominique are their friends. The story opens with Camille coming home to her house and knowing something isn't right. Her sister's car is there and yet all the lights are off. When she walks into the kitchen she sees her brother-in-law on the floor in a pool of blood. Camille goes looking for her sister thinking and worrying that the person who did this could still be in the house. When she finds her sister she is surprised to see her covered in blood and realizes that her sister shot her brother-in-law (BIL).

The story mainly focuses around Misa's crime and how it has affected everyone from her family to her friends. Her sister's marriage is in shambles and the death of Steven (BIL), does not help. Toya and Dominique have their own demons and problems they are dealing with. All find strength from each other and grow during this novel.

As I was reading Aftermath I was able to bring some of the story into my own life. My marriage is going through a similar one as Camille's. I related well to her as being hurt by a cheating husband. I was also able to relate to Misa and wanting to kill Steven from a mothers point of view. Toya and Dominique were two that I related to as some of my friends in real life. Being there to help me when I feel sad or hurt.

Aftermath shows you how having family and friends and god in your life can help you through the rough spots of your life. Family and friends are there to support you and comfort you. The language is at times vulgar, yet I know how sometimes people will talk when they are angry, frustrated, hurt etc. I was able to picture the women talking and the gestures they would use or even their facial features.

5 stars

Wow, I got this book as an ER book and it is sitting on my dresser still waiting to be read. Maybe I should get cracking. I have to finish the other ER book I just started to read yesterday though. I have been in a reading funk as of late. But I am going to have to get through this one quick to get to Aftermath. Great reaview. Sounds like I will relate to it as well from your review.

Monica,

I hope you are able to get to that book. I hate when I fall behind on ER books. Sometimes I feel rushed in getting them done and other times I feel like I have all the time in the world, which I really don't.

I just wanted to let others know in case you don't know already. I am co-hosting a Mega Read-A-Thon this weekend. You can find more info here

Hope to see you there!!!

>76 crazy4reading:: Great review of Sarah's Key, Monica. I have that (along with about 100 other books) on my TBR stacks. Right now I'm reading The Invisible Bridge which is about the Jews in Hungary during WWII. It sounds like they would be good companion books.

>93 crazy4reading:: I'm excited about the MEGA readathon! I've been busy for the past few weekends but have absolutely nothing (well, nothing important) on my radar for the next few days. My reading time has been limited this week so I owemyself some quality book time. See you on the Thon!

#93. I know what you mean about feeling like you have all the time in the world to get to them but you don't. I also at times feel like I should put down what I am reading when an ER book comes in the mail and start reading it right away. I always try to finish what I am reading and then read the ER book that arrived first and get through those then go back to my other books.

Hi Donna!! Thanks, I will have to look for The Invisible Bridge at the library and possibly try to read it.

Great I look forward to seeing you over at the read-a-thon. I know I won't be free the next couple of weekends so hopefully this will help me to boost my reading. I feel like I am only reading one book at a time and not really taking the time to choose what to read.

#9. Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez

This is my first book about Afghanistan. This book is about a woman who decides to help the women of Afghanistan to better their lives. Deborah Rodriguez goes to Afghanistan with a mission group and feels that she cannot offer much since she is just a hairdresser from the states. She slowly realizes that the women are ones that do love to style hair for special occasions.

Deborah decides to open a Beauty School to help teach the women the correct way to do things for beauty and to also help them with learning new things. Kabul Beauty School goes through Debbie's trials and tribulations while in Afghanistan and when she first goes back to her home town.

5 stars

#10. For One More Day by Mitch Albom

This book made me think about my mother. If you have lost some one close to you this book will make you think about things you wish you had known or asked your loved one before they died. If you haven't lost a close one to you then it will make you think of what to ask your loved ones now before it is too late.

After my second time reading this book I still feel the same way. The only new thing I learned in reading this book is how you can feel closer to your lost loved ones when you need them the most. Whether you are dying or just in need of their guidance.

5 stars

Nice reviews again, Monica! You are having a wonderful reading year!
--BJ

Hi Monica, just stopped by to say hi and to catch up on your reviews, they are great! I have the Mitch Albom book on my shelf - I think I'll need to pull it down soon and read it!

Thanks for the comments. I finished another book last night. Here is my review:

11. Gone with a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West

Another great ER book!! Gone with a handsomer man kept me interested until the very end. This is a mystery, thriller and a little romance mixed in.

Teeny is the main character in this story. Her life is turned upside down when she finds her fiancé playing naked badminton with a couple of girls. Teeny doesn't go running she throws peaches at all of them. She gets arrested and a restraining order is put in place.

While she is not allowed to be near Bing, Teeny receives a text message from him asking her to come back because he loves her. Teeny being Teeny goes to Bing's house and finds her puppy covered in red stuff which turns out to be blood. Teeny finds Bing's body and while she is getting out her cell phone to call 911 she is either tazed or knocked unconscious.

Teeny is a little bit too innocent in this story. She seems a little to childish in her thoughts. Yet sometimes that was when she was remembering back to her childhood.

When I got to the last 10 to 15 chapters I didn't want to put the book down. I needed to find out who committed the murders. Who set up Teeny and if Teeny and her childhood sweetheart, Cooper O'Mally would be together.

All I can say is I hope Michael Lee West plans to write a sequel to gone with a handsomer man.

5 stars

Hi, Monica!

How are you? Just catching up on your thread. Have a wonderful day:)

>97 crazy4reading:: I have Kabul Beauty School on the TBR list... I've heard lots of good things about it!

12. So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson

I feel like the title of the book; So Many books, So Little Time. I have so many books I would like to read and sometimes wonder if I will ever finish a quarter of them.

Sara Nelson decides to read a book a week for a whole year. Reading 52 books doesn't seem so hard but she runs into a problem of trying to find books each week.

Sara's friends would ask her " How do you choose your books?" She learned in the very beginning that she didn't always choose the books; sometimes the books choose her. I do agree with that statement. I sometimes start out wanting to read a book and then get side tracked by another book that just calls to me.

Sara talks about how when a book gets overhyped that a lot of readers get mad and that we are a funny, cliquish group, we book people. I know I have felt that way about some books when they are first released and I may hold out on waiting to read them. I did that with the Harry Potter books when the first few books were published. I just didn't see how a children's book could be so interesting. The movie is what made me read the first book. Once I heard that movie was being released I went out and read the book and then continued with the series until it was finished.

Mrs. Nelson also talks about how recommending books to your friends and how that can possibly cause a strain on the relationship. You may love a book that some one else hated. I can see that happening but I also feel that everyone interprets books differently. There are some books that I enjoy but would never call it a literary icon.

I found it interesting to learn about books that I have wanted to read but have put off reading for sometime. Even seeing some of the books listed that she started and didn't finish.

She includes at the end of the book three appendixes. One for what she had planned to read, two for what she actually did read and the third for what is on the must read pile of the following year.

3 1/2 stars

Hi Monica! First time visiting your thread and I must say the title of your last book could not be more fitting. :) That could probably be the mantra for so many people on LT!

Another one for the wishlist!

Hi Jolerie! I think so too. Thanks for stopping by.

Hi cal8769 thanks for stopping by. Glad to see I am adding to your wishlist.

Lucky number 13 finished tonight.

#13. The Idiot Girls" Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro

This book was given to me by one of my son's friends. She figured I would enjoy it because the woman is close to my age and some of the things she talks about I would understand. I did enjoy the book. Yet I wasn't as bad as her with some of her behaviors.

Laurie is writing about her own personal experiences. Some are funny and some are just unbelievable. She talks about her drinking binges and her escapades that follow. The one time she gets pulled over because a woman is in her window yelling at her friend. She gets pulled over because she held up traffic and then is given a sobriety test. She fails yet she is sober. That is something I am always afraid of happening to me.

I found the one story about the revenge of the bra girl very funny. I could just picture her yelling at the manager for yelling at the girls for talking while working. Sometimes management doesn't realize that people can multi-task.

The book was entertaining and a nice book to read in between the longer books I have been reading.

4 stars

#14. Forever Amber Brown by Paula Danziger

This is a very cute story. Amber Brown is a girl who is 9 years old and talks her life. Her parents are divorced and mom is thinking of getting engaged to Max. She doesn't want things to change or does she.

I found it interesting because it deals with an interesting situation that many children have to deal with. Some not always at a young age.

5 stars

#15. Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner

Fly Away Home is a book I didn't think I would enjoy reading at first. When I started reading I realized that this book is hitting close to home and I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish the book. Fly Away Home is about a woman Sylvie, her husband, Richard and their 2 daughters Diana and Lizzie.

Sylvie is the wife of a politician. She has lost herself in her marriage even though she didn't realize it. Richard is the husband and person that I felt anger towards the most. Sylvie learns through her friend Ceil about Richard's affair. She learns more when she is at a rest stop and sees the CNN news report about the incident. I know exactly the feelings that Sylvie was having at that moment. She hated her husband, hated the people talking about it and wondering what she did wrong for this to happen.

Sylvie worries about her daughters, especially Lizzie since she is a recovering drug addict. She worries about Diana but not as much because she is like the rock of Gibraltar. Lizzie still loves her father and she wants to know why. Diana is confused about what her dad did because she is doing the same thing. She is married and is having an affair with a younger man.

Fly Away Home follows the three women and how they deal with the reactions of everyone around them and also what they have done. I found myself loving and hating the book all at once. I mainly disliked the book because of the affairs going on. I loved the book because it didn't solve everything like a fairy tale ending. It was long and over months after the incident was made public and I felt that made it more true to life then ending it any other way.

4 stars

Another great review! Hope you are enjoying some nice Spring weather. It is still kind of cold here, but everything is blooming.
--BJ

Happy Birthday, Monica!!! Hope you had a great day!

Happy Birthday to you!
--BJ

A belated 'Happy Birthday' from me too, Monica!

Hi Monica! I think I remember seeing that we shared a birthday -- hope you have a wonderful birthday and a great year!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

Monica
I've returned from vacation and I'm late in posting birthday wishes.

I hope the 4th was a special day for you!

Thanks Whisper!!! I consider April my whole birthday month :) Love the mouse and cake!!

#16. Good Cop, Bad Cop by Barbara D'Amato

Good Cop, Bad Cop is about the Chicago PD. The story is based on a true event that happened in 1969, The Panther Raid. The story start out in 1969 during the raid. Then goes 28 years later. Barbara D'Amato does a fantastic job of keeping your attention.

Your main characters are Nick and Aldo Bertolucci. They are brothers who have a very interesting past between the two of them. Nick is the youngest brother and is Superintendent of the Chicago PD. Aldo is the oldest and a police officer. Aldo was a detective at one point but blew it by doing something wrong. He has a gambling problem and has gotten in over his head. His brother has helped him and still does care about him.

Their father was Superintendent during the raid of the Black Panthers. His name was Nico. You learn throughout the book how mean their father was and that he was a very controlling man and would do things to protect you and then use it later to hurt you if he could. Nico dies and Aldo is asked by his mother to clean out his father's things. Aldo finds incriminating stuff on his brother and decides to use it to his advantage.

This is when the story really got interesting. You have blackmail, burglary, thievery and much more. I found myself torn between who I wanted to win in the end.

5 stars

#118: I will have to see if the local library has that one. It looks very good. Thanks for the recommendation, Monica!

#17. Original Sin A Sally Sin Adventure by Beth McMullen

Original Sin is the introduction of a spy Sally Sin turned mom. Sally Sin is her spy name. Lucy is her name once she left her job at the USAWMD. USAWMD stands for United States Agency for Weapons of Mass Destruction. She left the USAWMD for love. She met her husband Will while still a spy and decided to leave to try and live a normal life.

When Lucy was a spy she met Ian Blackford who once worked for USAWMD and turned bad. During her time as Sally Sin she was abducted or kidnapped by Ian. He always threatens to kill her and yet he doesn't. Sally's boss Simon Still has been after Ian forever. He is never happy when she is kidnapped and Ian escapes.

During the book you get glimpses of her past. This helps with understanding her character and also the background between Sally, Ian and Simon. Lucy's friends and husband do not know her true past life. Would anyone really believe her if she told them she was a spy before? Lucy has a son named Theo who is just adorable. I felt that there is more to him and that he could possibly follow in his mom's footsteps.

Lucy's new life is upturned when Simon Still comes back into it to let her know that Ian is still alive. Simon wants to use Lucy/Sally to bring Ian out into the open. Lucy is not willing at first but realizes she has no other choice. Lucy does what she is told up to a certain point and decides to look out for herself and her family.

The ending of the story is one that has me wanting to read the next book in the series. Who is Sally Sin, really? What does Simon and Simon's boss Director Gray have to do with Sally's past? What is Sally's true name? Ian seems to know the answers to these questions.

4 stars

That's good to see. I have my Sally Sin ER book on the pile waiting to be read.

I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did cal8769.

#18. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

I don't know where to begin in writing a review for A Clockwork Orange. I have heard of this book before and of the movie. I have not seen the movie and didn't read anything about the book prior to deciding to read the book.

The language in the book makes it very difficult to read A Clockwork Orange at first. The language is made up teenage slang. The story takes place in a world of poverty, violence and in the near future. Once I got past the language and started to understand the usage the book started to make sense.

Alex is the main character of A Clockwork Orange. He is the somewhat leader of a group of teenage thugs and yet he is the youngest. The story is written in 3 parts. The first part is where you really get to know Alex and what he does that gets him into trouble. Part two continues with him being in prisoned for his crimes. Part three wraps up the whole story.

I would consider A Clockwork Orange a book of a coming of age type. All teenagers go through a period of rebellion and some grow and change and others don't change as much or as fast. This book is the one written in America but with 3 parts and 7 chapters in each part. The original work written in America was missing the last chapter and the movie is based on that same book. I was given this information right up front in this book. While reading the book I had decided to really think about having the book end on 20 chapters instead of 21 chapters and I have to say I am glad to have read the one with 21 chapters.

4 stars

Nice review of A Clockwork Orange. That is one of the more unusual books that I have read. Now I wonder if I read the version with 20 or 21 chapters? I can't remember the ending. Maybe I should reread it.
--BJ

I only knew about the chapters being different from the book that I borrowed. The beginning stated this which made me really wonder about how it would feel difference. Now I want to really see the movie to see if I feel cheated.

I finished my first book for May. Not that big of a feat considering I only had about 10 pages to go. I was hoping to finish it in April but never found the time to read on Saturday.

#19. The Privilege of Youth by Dave Pelzer

The Privilege of Youth is the fourth book that I have read by Dave Pelzer. This book focuses on one street that Dave lived on in a foster home. The name of the street is Duinsmoore Way. This is the time just before he reached adulthood.

You get to hear what Dave thoughts are during this time. He is living in a foster home in a nice community in California. Duinsmoore is the place where he really feels he belongs and actually gets to live his first time as a child. The one thing that Dave never really got to do or feel before he finds it all on Duinsmoore Way.

4 stars

I am currently reading:

Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey
Their Eyes were watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith (e-book)

Hopefully I will be able to finish some of these books up over the next couple of days. And I will probably start reading some other ones too.

Happy Mother's Day!! Going to go and relax and read for my mother's day.

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day, Monica!

Thanks Stasia!! Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day too.

I finished another book tonight. Here is my 20th book review:

#20. One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus

I enjoyed reading a fiction book mixed with facts about the Native Americans and the White men. This is one subject I am very interested in since my children are part Native American on their father's side.

One Thousand White Women is a work of fiction about if white women were given to the Native Americans mainly the Cheyenne's. The belief of the Native Americans is that all babies belong to the woman's tribe. The American Government decides that this is a great way to assimilate the Indians to the white man's world.

As I read this book I found myself getting very interested in the characters. You meet many different white women. I found them very interesting. You have some that are very independent, some shy, some different and some just crazy. The characters are well dimensioned. As the story progresses you learn a lot about the women and how strong they really are. Some of the women really start to discover themselves.

It was interesting to learn some customs of the Native Americans. Some were a little scary. I also found the similarities between the white man's thinking and the Indian's thinking very interesting. The Indian's feel that the man is superior to women and are left out of a few things. Their is one women who realizes this and dose some things to enlighten the Indians. The women is May Dodd and these are her journal entries.

5 stars

I read One Thousand White Women a couple of years ago and remember loving it as well. I also read another book by this author, The Wild Girl about the last surviving wild apaches in Texas and Mexico, and it was also a very good read.

#127: Well, rats. My local library does not have that one. I will have to look further afield. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Monica!

I hope you are able to find a copy Stasia!.
#128: I will have to look for his other book. Thanks for the recommendation.

I finished another book today. My first true Romance book this year.

#21. Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey

Love Only Once is the story of Regina Ashton and Nicholas Eden. This is also the first book in the Malory series. The first book I read by Johanna Lindsey was a Malory Novel. I cannot remember exactly which one it was. I just know that I didn't read the series in order. I have decided to read these books from the beginning instead of mixed up.

I knew the story of Regina (Regan or Reggie) and Nicholas Eden from the previous book that I read. Even though I was familiar with the story it was nice to read the actually book that started this wonderful introduction to the Malory family. Johanna Lindsey is a fantastic writer and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Regina Ashton has been looking for a husband for about a year in London and in Europe. She is tired of looking and having her uncle's decide that the ones she decide on are not the ones they want her to marry. She finds her husband under very unlikely circumstances. She is abducted by Nicholas Eden when he thinks she is some one else. Nicholas is known as a confirmed bachelor and wastrel.

I loved this story for many different personalities of Regina's uncles. They are very protective of their sister's daughter, their niece, Regina. They have raised Regina since her parents died in a fire. They treat her as if they were all her father and not just an uncle. That is one thing I love about the Malory family. The may tease each other but they truly do love everyone of their family members.

5 stars

I added One Thousand White Women to my wishlist. You are reading a wonderful mix of books this year, Monica!

Thanks Billiejean. I have noticed that this year. And I am really enjoying most of them. Hoping to finish another book today.

I received One Thousand White Women today from PBS, so I hope to be reading it in the near future :)

Awesome. Our book club loved the book and some were really touched by. I know I was. I hope you enjoy the book too.

Thanks, Monica. I am sure I will.

#22. Eyes Wide Open by Andrew Gross

I loved this book. Once I started reading Eyes Wide Open I couldn't put it down. Eyes Wide Open captures your attention in the first few pages.

Eyes Wide Open is a thriller, mystery and so much more in a very quick moving novel. The main characters are Jay Erlich, his brother Charles, his wife Gabby and their son Evan. Jay receives a call from his brother's wife Gabby informing him about their son's death. Is their son's death a suicide or was he murdered? is the question that Jay comes to when he goes to California to be with his brother and his wife.

Has Charlie's past caught up with him? Does this have anything to do with what Charlie did when he was strung out on drugs? are some of the other questions that Jay starts asking himself. The ending of the story did not surprise me as much as I thought it would. I kind of had a feeling that the story wasn't over.

5 stars

I love read a thons cause I feel like I always accomplish something.

Congratulations to you on starting your readathon with such a good book, Monica! I hope the rest of the readathon goes as well for you.

Thanks Stasia.

Another book down today. Here is my review:

#23. The Guide to Owning a Beagle by Andrew Vallilla

I picked this book up at a yard sale because my daughter has a beagle and I was interested in learning more about the breed. I learned about the history and possibly how long the breed has been around. I also learned about how to tell if you have a winning dog for a dog show. I am not interested in this aspect of owning a dog yet I still found it interesting as to what makes a dog better then another dog.

My daughter's dog is not a typical beagle. She is actually a mix of a beagle and basset hound. She is adorable. I did learn about training the dog and when you should start and some ways to go about doing it. This is a nice easy fast read.

5 stars

Now back to my other book Tender Rebel.

Wow 3 books read in one weekend. Who would have thought I could do it. Here is my review:

#24. Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey

I love Johanna Lindsey!! Her books always make me smile, cry, laugh and just really enjoy my time reading. This is book number 2 in the Malory novels and once again Johanna does a great job in making you love the Malory men and hate them at the same time.

This is the story of Anthony Malory and Lady Roslyn Chadwick. Roslyn needs to marry in a rush so that her cousin doesn't marry her and steal the Chadwick fortune. Roslyn does not have Anthony Malory on her list of possible candidates but when he first sees her across the garden at one of the parties he is smitten and decided that she will be his next conquest.

The story is entertaining because Roslyn is Scottish and when her temper is up she breaks into her Scottish Brogue and that turns Anthony Malory on even more. You are once again seeing Regina and Nicholas Eden, James, Jason, Edward, Jeremy Malory and the whole Malory clan.

The Malory brothers are surprised when Anthony Malory decides to ask Roslyn to marry him. Their marriage is one that Roslyn doesn't want because Anthony is a rake and she knows that her heart will only be broken because you can never change a rake. I loved how Roslyn would make rules for their marriage expecting Anthony to be thrilled with them. Such as letting him still have mistresses.

5 stars

#139: Wow 3 books read in one weekend.

Sounds like the Readathon worked out well for you!

Yes the read - a - thon worked out well for me. I will also have alot of time to read the next couple of weekends because my son is taking a class and I have to drive him to it. The class is an hour away and he is there all day and instead of wasting gas. I am just going to find somewhere quiet to just sit a read the day away, most of the time.

I finished another book this morning. This makes me a quarter of the way finished.

#25. reaching Dustin by Vicki Grove

This is a story about 6th graders Dustin Groat and Carly. Their class is to do interviews of each other. They chose their partners and Carly is supposed to interview Dustin and Dustin is interviewing Carly.

Dustin is the one student that no one really likes at the school. He seems lazy, annoying, dirty and just plain childish. Carly has complained about Dustin to her parents and her father said to walk in his shoes and maybe you will feel different.

I enjoyed the story because Carly grew up in the book and realized that some things she did when she was younger to Dustin were wrong and apologized to him. This is a nice easy weekend read.

4 1/2 stars

Congratulations on having the day to read! Sounds like you will be able to get a lot read even just having the one day a week :)

Woot for making it 1/3 of the way through the challenge, Monica!

Another read-a-thon this weekend and I finished another book. Here is my review on my latest book:

#26. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Loving Frank is a work of both fact and fiction. This is a story of Frank Lloyd Wright a well know Chicago Architect and his love affair with Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Mamah was one of Frank's clients wives. She was married to Edwin Cheney. This is the first book I have read about Frank Lloyd Wright. So I went into this book knowing nothing about him or his personal life.

When I first started reading the book I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish the book. This story deals with a very touch personal experience going on in my life. I didn't care for Frank or Mamah in this book because they are both married and decide to leave their respective spouses for their own fulfillment. I found them both to be very self absorbed. This story takes place from 1907 - 1914, and I felt that people were not accepting of Frank and Mamah's relationship.

As I read the story I started to feel for Frank and Mamah and everything that they went through. I just don't know how a mother is able to leave her children for self gratification. Being a mother I felt for both children in the marriages. The children were young, impressionable and not able to understand everything that was happening.

Loving Frank also brings forth the way a woman was viewed during this time period. She was considered her husbands property. I sometimes feel that men in this day and age still believe that once you marry them you are their property and they can do what they want to with you and that you have no voice of your own. That is one thing I felt Mamah was feeling in her marriage to Edwin. I don't think Edwin thought of her as his property but that is just how she felt. She wasn't in love with him any more. She felt bored with her life. Frank was the man that brought forth her yearning and some hidden desires she didn't know she had.

Franks wife Catherine stood by her man and would not give him a divorce. It is some what revealed later as to possibly why she would not give him the divorce. Catherine is the one character I could relate to the most. I am currently in the same situation she was in during this story. I don't necessarily feel that I am like her and would stand by my husband. I feel that since her husband left her and the children for another woman he does not deserve Catherine's support and love. Even if you still love your spouse I don't see how you can ever trust them again.

Those are my thoughts on Loving Frank. The ending was surprising to me and not what I expected. I am now interested in finding out more about Frank Lloyd Wright, his career, life and just general information.

4 stars

Now I will go chose another book to read. I don't know what it will be.

Thanks Stasia, I am glad to have made it this far.

#143: I am rather on the fence about reading Loving Frank, mainly for the reason you mentioned: "I didn't care for Frank or Mamah in this book because they are both married and decide to leave their respective spouses for their own fulfillment."

I don't think I would have read this book if it wasn't for the book club choosing it. If I was interested in Frank Lloyd Wright when we first acquired the book I don't think I would have had that feeling about Mamah and Frank. I just really feel that when you get married you are married for life and you try to work things out. We have become a society that just throws things away when we are unhappy or we don't feel we are getting anything out of it. Marriage takes work and everyone in that relationship needs to work equally to keep the marriage successful. Okay I am done with my speech.

I finished another book last night. It was a quick read.

#27. Motherhood The second Oldest Profession by Erma Bombeck

Well this book was entertaining. I got a few good laughs out of it. Plus I could see myself in some of the mothers depicted in this book. My son asked me what is the first oldest profession. I honestly don't know, I told him.

This is the first book I have read by Erma Bombeck. I have heard of her before. I heard some of the things my mother has said to me while growing up. I also realize that I have become a little like my mother. Now I just have to decide if I let my sister borrow the book or give it to my daughter when she gets married and has kids.

4 stars

#145: I want a 'like' button for your speech :)

Me too!

Thanks! :) As you can tell I have strong feelings on that subject.

As do I :)

It's too bad that people aren't willing to work at marriage and parenthood as hard as they work at their careers and playtime.

How true Cal8769.

I finished two books this morning. I will post my reviews later. Finally getting to my reviews:

#28. At Wit's End by Erma Bombeck

I feel At Wit's End very often. Erma Bombeck and her thoughts on the housewife job. Now my book was published in the late 1960's, before I was born. I enjoyed reading this book and remembering some of the things my mother would say.

Erma writes about what most women think when they are married and have children. I enjoyed the laughs while I read and also remembering my mother.

4 stars

#29. Attack on Pearl Harbor by Shelley Tanaka

I love reading about World War II. This is the first book I have read on Pearl Harbor. This book is a childrens/young adult book. I found the pictures fascinating. Some were actual pictures and others were exceptionally drawn.

Attack on Pearl Harbor has the view point of the Japanese and their planned attack. You also learn about some of the people that were there when the attack happened. I nice enjoyable short book.

4 1/2 stars

Both of these books are also part of TIOLI June Challenge #1

#30. Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli

A cute story about starting 4th grade. There is a school chant about the grades and 4th graders are considered rats. Suds doesn't want to become a rat. He wants to stay a third grade angel. His best friend takes being a rat seriously.

4 stars

I just love Erma Bombeck's humor! Back in the day, she was a regular on one of the morning shows and she had me in stitches. It is helpful to laugh at oneself and she taught me that. I am glad you are enjoying her humor and her books.

I also love reading about World War II, so Attack on Pearl Harbor goes into the BlackHole. Thanks for that recommendation, Monica!

#154. Michelle, this is the first time I have read her and I am quite pleased with the books. I may look for more of her books at the library. It is true to laugh at yourself. You realize that you are only human.

#155. Stasia I Think World War II is one of the most interesting wars to read about.

I finished another book:

#31. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

I remember my children having to read this book in school. They never talked about it. This is the story about a young boy who becomes an orphan and is left with an aunt and uncle who don't love each other any more.

You follow Maniac Magee around as he runs away from his 'family'. He feels that anytime he gets close to having a home that something happens to prevent it from lasting. Maniac meets a family of blacks that he feels like one of them. The child Amanda of the family wonders why he is on the wrong side of the tracks. She keeps telling him to go back to where he belongs.

I enjoyed Maniac and his wild ways and the people that he met along the way. Maniac's real name is Jeffery Magee. He got the name Maniac because of the stuff he did.

5 stars

I am currently reading:

Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Nightlight A parody by The Harvard Lampoon
And I will be starting my ER book Very Bad Men by Harry Dolan.

Another book down today. Here is my review:

#32. Nightlight: A Parody by The Harvard Lampoon

I love the Twilight books and figured this would be a nice humorous read. I was a little surprised that I wasn't laughing constantly. Nightlight is a spoof on Twilight and just over exaggerates Bella and her feelings for Edward. There is a play on the names which were just a little annoying.

I found myself chuckling every so often but nothing overly funny. I was rolling my eyes because this Belle was more annoying then the one in the original book. I know they were trying to show you how annoying she was in Twilight. This Belle is obsessed with non vampire Edwart.

3 stars

#156: I have not gotten to that one yet by Jerry Spinelli. Maybe next month. . .

I keep saying that with some of my books, 'Maybe next month..' I think I should start saying 'maybe next year...'

I finished another book last night. Here is my review:

#33. Very Bad Men by Harry Dolan

This is my first book by Harry Dolan and I have to say I was enthralled from the very beginning. I found the story to move along at a good pace.

Very Bad Men is about a serial killer trying to make amends for something he feels that he didn't do for one of his friends when he was younger. The way the story unravels is what kept me interested from the beginning. The main character is David Loogan, the editor of a mystery magazine. He received a manuscript and it isn't fiction. He realizes this as soon as he reads it.

I found the characters engaging at times. David Loogan is involved with a detective named Elizabeth which adds a little intrigue to the story. Anthony Lark is the man with the list of names to be murdered. There are many different characters that add to the mystery of who is the real criminal here.

I found the ending a little disappointing only because you are not sure exactly what happened and if everyone will find out the truth that they have been searching for. Otherwise it was a great book and I look forward to reading more books by Harry Dolan.

4 1/2 stars

#159: I see that Very Bad Men is the second book in series. *sigh* Now I have to find the first book first!

I didn't read the first book and did fine with reading it. I need to find the first book too.

Well, I can get hold of the first book but not the second. Figures.

Another one down.

#34. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

I decided to read this book because my son had to read it when he was in high school, which was only last year. Their Eyes Ere Watching God was an interesting read. I really don't know what I was expecting when I saw the title. I don't know if I would have read the book if my son didn't have to read it for school.

I found the language to be difficult to understand at first. I found myself reading aloud to really understand some of what the characters were saying. The story is being told by Janie to her friend Phoeby. Janie had been married when she was very young and this is the story of her marriages and life.

Everyone in Janie's original town is talking because she comes back after running off with a younger fellow after she becomes a widow. Her friend Phoeby tells her everyone is talking about her and they want to know where Tea Cake is. The story was interesting to see how Janie grew up during her marriages.

4 1/2 stars

#35. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts by Lilian Jackson Braun

I decided to try another book by Lilian Jackson Braun and I was pleasantly surprised. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts was entertaining. Again you are introduced to Jim Qwilleran. He is just a local guy who writes for the local paper and has two Siamese cats, named Ko Ko and Yum Yum. Ko Ko and Yum Yum seem seem to have an uncanny knack for sensing trouble and solving crimes.

Qwilleran receives a phone call from his old landlady, Mrs. Cobb. She is in a panic about noises she is hearing in the night. When he arrives at her place the house is dark. When he walks into the place he finds Mrs. Cobb's body in the kitchen. It is ruled a natural death due to a heart attack. Jim Qwilleran has mixed feelings about her death.

The story was interesting in the fact that there is no formal investigation just Jim Q doing the solving by asking questions and just being nosy. I think I may try reading The Cat Who ate Danish Modern again.

3 1/2 stars

#36. Cat's Cradle: A Book of String Figures by Anne Akers Johnson

I remember playing these games when I was a youngster. I bought this book so that my children would grow up knowing the games I loved playing. I just decided to read the book to refresh my memory.

5 stars

#37. A House is Built at Pooh Corner for Eeyore by A.A. Milne

A cute story about Pooh and his friends again. Pooh heads out for a walk to see Piglet. Piglet isn't at his house and as Pooh knocks waiting for an answer he things of a song. Pooh heads home and finds Piglet in one of his chairs. Pooh and Piglet head out to find Eyeore in the snow and sing him the song.

5 stars

#38. Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

I really enjoyed the story line for Stuck in the Middle. I have read a few Christian Fiction books and I have enjoyed I believe one of them. The story line for Stuck in the Middle is 3 sisters all with very different beliefs about Christianity.

Allie is the oldest, Jane is the middle one and Tara is the youngest. Allie is married and her husband is not religious and has been known to speak this. I didn't really feel Allie was the same way. I think she has more belief than her husband knows. Tara is one that just goes to church because she feels that she must. Jane is the one who is trying to figure out her beliefs.

A doctor moves in next door to Jane, her mom and grand mom. Jane meets him (Ken) and feels he is very handsome, nice and seems to be a religious freak. This is the part of the story I found the most interesting. Jane is afraid to admit that she has a stronger urge about her religion then her sisters and yet she is drawn to the possibility.

I didn't feel like I was being preached to while reading Stuck in the Middle. I felt this story was very similar to real life as to how every one believes differently.

5 stars

Now I hope to read the rest of the night away.

#39. Abby Cooper Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

I decided to read this book on a recommendation of a fellow Library thing member. I saw part of their review and felt it was a book I could enjoy. Glad to say it held true and I did quite enjoy the book.

I love mysteries and cozy mysteries are ones that I love to read on nice long weekends. This was a perfect choice.

Abby Cooper is a Psychic or an Intuitive as she likes to call herself. I found the beginning of the book slow moving since you were introduced to her, her friends and other acquaintances. Once you meet all the characters the story really starts moving and gets very interesting.

Abby is a nice woman who is afraid of what others think about her Psychic ability. Her sister Cat is very successful and is like a mother to Abby. Abby and Cat are very close. Abby is also single and meets a man in this opening book. His name is Dutch.

I loved this book because you couldn't figure out right away who committed the murders. When you finally do find out it is a surprise.

5 stars

#40. Ricky Martin backstage pass by Kimberly Walsh

I am a huge Ricky Martin fan so any book written about him is one that I will love. Reading this book brought back memories of when Ricky was in Menudo and when I saw him in concert. This is an unauthorized biography.

This book chronicles his time in Menudo and when he finally broke out in the USA.

5 stars

#163: I loved Their Eyes Were Watching God. I listened to the book on audio, with the incomparable Ruby Dee narrating. If you ever get a chance, give that book a listen. Wonderful!

I still haven't had a chance to check the library for an audio version of the book.

Another book done. Here is my review:

#41. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

The sixth installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I enjoyed the book and the stories. Sookie again is mixed up with trouble and she tries to figure out who has made her a target again. I did get tired of being reminded of what happened in the previous book.

There wasn't as much romance in this book as in the previous books. There was one scene where Sookie and her newest supe interest were fully clothed and both were sexually satisfied. I found that scene interesting because it made me think of two teenagers having sex for the first time and not being able to get undressed before having an orgasm. Sookie's newest interest is a weretiger by the name of Quinn.

Sookie also learns why she has so many supes interested in her. She finds out that she has very special blood and vampires are very in tuned to it. She also learns the truth about Bill and begins to question their whole relationship.

Sookie meets a new witch named Amelia. Sookie and Amelia become friends by the end of the book. Amelia asks Sookie if she could join her in Bon Temps for awhile. Now I just wonder what the seventh book has in store for Sookie and possibly Amelia.

4 stars

#42. The Quiet Little Woman: Tilly's Christmas, Rosa's Tale: Three Enchanting Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott

I have not read any works by Louisa May Alcott before and found these three stories quite enchanting. This book is short stories that once appeared in a newspaper. The Quiet Little Woman is Patty's Christmas story. She is an orphan who is eager to be adopted. When she is adopted she is treated as a servant. She bonds with the aunt of the family and reveals things to her that she doesn't reveal to her adoptive family.

Tilly's Christmas is the story of a poor girl Tilly and how she keeps a happy disposition by believing that you should treat others the way you would want to be treated.

Rosa's Christmas is the story of a horses life told by the horse herself. When the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve all animals are endowed with speech for one hour.

The stories are heartwarming and have morals that you don't see to often any more.

5 stars

#172: I still enjoy reading LMA's books even at my advanced age. I tore through them all in childhood and have very fond memories of them. I did not discover the one you just read until last year however.

I cannot believe that I have never read LMA's Books before. I believe I have Little Women I just need to find it.

I finished another book today. I hope to finish another one today after I visit Borders. I figure since they are going out of business I may as well find some deals. Here is my review for my 43rd book.

#43. Silent Enemy by Thomas W. Young

Silent Enemy is the story of Major Parson and Sergeant Gold. We were first introduced to these two characters in Young's previous book The Mullah's Storm. I am not familiar with that book yet I still found Silent Enemy easy to follow.

Major Parson is pilot in the Air-force and Sergeant Gold is from the Army working as a teacher in Afghanistan to help train those who want to become police and make Afghanistan a better place. Her school/police office is bombed and students and staff are injured. Gold and her friends and colleagues become patients of Major Parson's aircraft.

Parson's aircraft is now considered an Air Evac mission. The story doesn't get interesting until the Air Evac is in flight and they learn of a bomb threat to all aircraft that left Bagram Air Base. Parson's is left with trying to figure out what to do to protect his crew and the patients. The most logical thing is to find the bomb and to try and diffuse it.

Parson's crew search the aircraft and don't find a bomb. During the search Parson learns of 2 planes that had left Bagram have gone down. Now the threat of a bomb is more prominent then first thought. One place on the plane they didn't look is a place you usually don't go into during a flight. Parson decides that section needs to be checked and he has to depressurize the plane to search it.

The intricacies of the story are sometimes long and drawn out as you are reading. Parson's character sometime remembers his last time with Sergeant Gold and how they handled that crisis. Some of their pasts are brought up and how they are reacting to the current situation.

So will Air Evac survive or go down like the other planes that have left Bagram Air Base? You will need to pick up your copy of Silent Enemy to discover what happens.

4 stars

I did enjoy the book but did find it slow moving at times. Now off to finish reading Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and to Borders.

Good luck with the Borders shopping. I cannot wait to see what you get, Monica!

Thanks Stasia. I did buy a few books and spent over $42. I bought 1 hardback and 4 paperbacks. The one paperback was a reference book for my daughter. She comes up to me and says "I really want to do a nerdy thing and fill in the book with the answers." as she shows me this E-Z Spanish book for learning Spanish. My daughter is studying to be a Spanish teacher and will be going to Spain next year and to hear her say that just made me laugh. I had a book like that but never filled it in and she always teased me that I hadn't done it. I just never got around to it. I will have to log the books I bought later. I will be posting 2 reviews today. I finished 2 books during this Saturday to Sunday morning read-a-thon. Here is my first review:

#44. The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett

Now many may be surprised to learn that I never read this book as a child. I have heard of it but wan never one to read books just because everyone said they were good or that I should read them. I could be very defiant when it came to reading.

I am glad that I did finally read this book. I have seen parts of the movie but never from the beginning. This is a very nice story of a girl, two boys and a secret garden. The names of the children are Mary, Dickon and Colon.

Mary is quite contrary is what children from India called her when she lived there with her parents. When her parents and everyone she knew had died she was sent to live with her uncle. At first she was not happy to be in England. She is very thin and looks ill but once she starts venturing outside and getting exercise and fresh air everyone notices how she grows and changes.

She meets Dickon and those two start taking care of the Secret Garden. One night Mary hears some one crying and is determined to find out who it is. She finds a boy in his room crying. This is her cousin Colon that she did not know existed. The bonds that are formed between all three children is quite remarkable and believable.

4 stars

I read this for the TIOLI challenge to borrow a book from the person below you. I actually had the book on my phone under the Amazon app and so I decided to read it for that challenge.

I'm glad that you liked Silent Enemy. I just started it this weekend and so far, so good.

I finished another book. Here is my review for book number 45

#45. That Day in September by Artie Van Why

I want to thank Mr. Artie Van Why for giving me a chance to read his story on the events of September 11, 2001. That Day in September is the first book I have ever read about that fateful day. I do have a fascination about actual events and to have the chance to feel what it was like to be there through the words of someone that was there is one that I will never pass up.

That Day In September had me tearing up right from the beginning. I know what I was doing when the attack happened and it touch me then and it touch me again reading this book. Yet to read a first hand experience makes me realize how much different it was for me then for everyone in New York. I cannot even start to say what it was like to be working right next to the World Trade Center and hearing a loud boom.

Mr. Van Why writes from the heart as he recounts his steps during the attack on the World Trade Center and the days and months that follow. Most of us may have suffered for a few days but those who live and work in New York saw the damage for months after the incident. They had a reminder of all the lives lost every day. There are parts of the book when Artie talks about strangers comforting each other and how he felt like New York had become like a family to him.

Everyone of us should reflect and remember September 11, 2001 especially with the 10th anniversary so close upon us now. Take the time to read That Day in September and remember those lives lost.

5 stars

I read this for the TIOLI August #7 challenge. I have never before received an email from an author to read and review a book. So it fit nicely into the challenge. I am also very glad that I had this opportunity to experience such a wonderfully written book.

#178: I just picked up a book at the library today about September 11. It is called The Legacy Letters. I will have to add That Day in September to my September 11 reading as well. Thanks for the review and recommendation, Monica.

The book is short but I found it very touching. I will have to see if I can find The Legacy Letters to read for September 11 as well.

Unfortunately for me, my local library does not have That Day in September yet. I hope you have better luck finding The Legacy Letters.

I believe That Day in September is a self published book. I received mine from the author. He had emailed me (which has never happened before) asking me if I would review it.

Ah, OK. In that case, my local library will probably never have it.

Sorry. I believe Amazon has it for sale.

Not this year. Maybe next.

I know. I haven't bought too many books this year. I don't have the money.

Neither do I. *sigh*

I finished two books this weekend. Which isn't too hard to do since one is only about 20 pages long. Here are my reviews for both books:

#47.Hansel and Gretel

A cute story on a classic fairy tales. This is a very short version of Hansel and Gretel. A brother and sister who are lost in the woods when their stepmother leaves them.

4 stars

#48. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

I read this book again just because I love it so much. Plus I really want to watch the movie. I am just not paying $3.00 to watch it. I cried as soon as I started reading the Outsiders. I think this is one book that everyone should read.

The Outsiders is the story of the Greasers and Socs. Ponyboy is the one who narrates this story. Ponyboy is 14 years old and lives with his two brothers, Darry and Sodapop. Their parents are dead and Ponyboy is always afraid that Sodapop and him will be put into a boys home if they get into trouble.

The other members of the Greasers are: Dally, Johnny, Two-bit, and Steve. The Socs are: Bob and Randy, there are 2 Soc girls named Sherry Valance (aka: Cherry) and Marcia. Johnny, Dally and Ponyboy go to the movies. Dally teases the two Soc girls Sherry and Marcia. Johnny tells Dally to stop picking on them and he leaves. Ponyboy and Johnny sit with the girls and watch the rest of the movie.

After the movie is when the problems start. Johnny, Two-bit and Ponyboy decide to walk the girls to Two-bits house so that they can drive them home. Cherry and Marcia's boyfriends drive by and almost start a fight with them telling them never to pick up their girls. Cherry and Marcia stop the fight from happening.

Johnny and Ponyboy are the two that get jumped later by the Socs and are almost killed. They run to Dally for help. This is when Johnny and Ponyboy really do start to grow up and learn things about themselves and life. I am not going to reveal to much more because I feel this is a book everyone should read.

5 stars

I am still reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Book Lust. I hope to finish one of them today since I am doing nothing but read today.

It has been a very long time since I read The Outsiders. I need to re-visit the book some time.

I hope you have a great Readathon, Monica!

Thanks Stasia. I didn't read to much after posting because I had started a project on Monday and I wanted to finish it. I thought I would have finished it on Friday but didn't get too much done.

I have brick porch out back and it was start to bug me with all the weeds and the way it was sinking. I decided to take all the bricks out and place some weed blocker down and then replace the bricks. Yesterday was perfect weather for it. Not too hot and no rain. It looks better then before but still needs some fixing up. For some reason the bricks didn't fit back in the exact same size, do to the fact that there was cement on some of them and we chipped that off to make them all the same size. Now we just need to fill in some gaps.

So much to do around the house before I can put it up for sale. Now I am going to read for some hours while I do some wash and before going food shopping.

I finished another book today. Here is my review:

#49. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the beginning of the life of an ordinary boy until he receives some mysterious letters. His aunt and uncle are determined not to let Harry receive these letters.

The story is slow at first just so that you can be introduced to the many characters. You meet Dumbledore, Harry, Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, Dudley, Hermione, Ron, Hagrid and many more. I love all the interesting descriptions of these characters this helps with being able to connect with them on a very personal level.

Harry is surprised to learn that he is a wizard and that his parents were great ones. I loved the part when Harry learns that he is a wizard. Hagrid is a huge lovable character. He is like a big teddy bear.

Harry learns a lot about his new world before he even starts at Hogwarts. Harry doesn't know anything about the Wizarding World and he is afraid of making a total fool of himself. While Harry is shopping for his supplies he meets his young nemesis Draco Malfoy. Harry is very alert as to not trusting him from the start.

I could go on and on about this book even though it isn't my favorite. It is great for being the first book in the series but not the best.

4 1/2 stars

I am still reading Book Lust and will be picking up The Chamber of Secrets. Not sure of what else I will be picking up this week.

I think the first book in the series is the weakest myself. I am glad to see you enjoyed it so much, Monica. I need to get back to my re-read of the series too.

My review for
#50. Arthur and the Lost Diary by Marc Brown

I just needed to read an easy book today. Cute story about a girl that looses her diary while at the library and she is afraid that someone will read it and all her secrets will be revealed.

When Arthur and her friends discover the diary is missing they all daydream about what she has written about them. They were interesting stories and you can see how when we are young we have wild imaginations. Some adults can still do that and I think I am one of them.

5 stars

Congratulations on reaching 50 books for the year, Monica!

Thanks Stasia. It really helps when you read children's books. I have 3 reviews to post next.

#51. Cam Jansen and the Ghostly Mystery by David A. Adler

Cam is a girl who is known for having a photographic memory. When ever she looks at something she closes her eyes and says 'click'.

This is the ghostly mystery that she solves by remembering things while waiting for tickets to a concert. She helps the police by telling them what she remembers.

#52. Genies Don't Ride Bicycles by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

Do Genies exist? I'm sure we all wish they did at sometime. This is the story about four kids that find a bottle and open it. The smell is awful and they throw the bottle in this empty yard.

They are walking away and one of the girls wishes the place was as clean as all the other houses and had lights for Christmas. The wishes the kids ask for are some that every kid would love but then realize how difficult it is to still do things when they are up all night, eating nothing but junk etc.

#53. Arthur and the Poetry Contest by Marc Brown

Another children's book just for fun. I am trying to clear out all the books my children read while in school. Arthur's friend Fern loves poetry and decides to enter the poetry contest at school. Mr. Ratburn is not happy that only one student has entered.

Fern bets all the children in her class that they cannot write a poem. If they don't write one than they have to join the poetry club. Mr. Prelutsky who is a poet will be doing a reading and then judging the contest.

I enjoyed reading the poems the children were trying to write. Some of the poems were a little gross but the person who wrote them enjoys that kind of stuff.

all 3 books received 4 stars

Now I am still reading Book Lust and would like to finish it soon. Maybe I just need to take some time off from work and do nothing but read.

Another book I forgot about.

#54. Follow the Dream by Peter Sis

A nice easy read about Christopher Columbus and his dream for his voyage to the new world.

Peter Sis chronicles the steps that Christopher did to finally be able to make his voyage. Christopher was denied for years to be able to make the voyage.

4 stars

#195: It really helps when you read children's books.

If it is between covers, it counts!

#196: If you have not looked at Sis' The Wall, his autobiographical graphic, I recommend it.

I will look for The Wall at the library. Thanks for the recommendation Stasia.

I finished another book. The review is below:

#55. Book Lust by Nancy Pearl

So do you need some more books to read? Then check out Book Lust. Or you may find some books that you read that you didn't think anyone else read. While reading this book I did learn about some new authors.

Nancy Pearl covers many different genres, some I had never heard of. I learned about so many different ways that genres are broken down. I always thought there were just your typical genres like, fiction, nonfiction, romance, mystery, horror, etc. Now they main genres are being broken down even farther. To me that can be a little daunting especially when you don't consider your self a connoisseur of Literature.

I enjoyed the book and finding new authors to check out. Some of the authors I learned about are: Mary McCarthy, Helen Fielding, Ian Mcewan and too many to mention.

4 stars

I am still reading Chamber of Secrets and hope to finish that before August is over. Then I need to start my ER book.

Hi Monica...I see you are getting to some children's books you missed as a child like The Secret Garden and Hansel and Gretel. I am trying to do the same, fitting them in around my other reading. I am currently on The Wind in the Willows.

Thanks for the reviews, I enjoyed reading them.

#199- Hi Michelle Thanks for stopping by. Yes I have many books I haven't read yet that I wish I had when I was a child. I think because my sister read a lot I didn't feel like doing the same thing. Now I wish I had read more as a child.

I will be posting a review of my latest read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets I just finished it for the August TIOLI challenge number 2.

I am really excited right now. I have a blog that I post my reviews for both books and movies and I just received an email from an author to read one of his newest books. I am thrilled because he also so that he will participate in an interview and giveaways. I have never had an author interview before so now I am thinking of what to do and how to set it up. I have also never done a giveaway before. I will be emailing him back and also finding out about doing an interview with him in the coming months. So any ideas on questions and such would be most appreciated. My blog info is on my profile page so check it out and also please follow me if interested.

Thanks for letting me share that bit of information with you all!!

I am finally adding my review for Chamber of Secrets and also Prisoner of Askaban.

#56. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

I love the Harry Potter books and decided to re-read them all since the very last movie was released. I hope to finish them all by the end of this year (2011).

I still enjoy this book after reading it for the 5th time or more. The Chamber of Secrets is where we meet many more characters such as Ginny, Colin, Gilderoy Lockhart and more. You learn about phoenixes and their wonderful loyalty and abilities.

You also learn more about Lord Voldemort and exactly who he is. This is who Harry meets in the Chamber of Secrets, when he goes to rescue Ginny Weasley.

I still find myself comparing the book to the movie even now. Somethings I enjoyed being added to the movie and somethings I missed not being in the movie. I know I will be reading these books for years to come.

4 stars

#57. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Askaban by J.K. Rowling

This is the first audio book that I have ever listened to. I was leery of audio books. My fear was that I would have to really pay attention and not comprehend much of the book. I didn't think I could do it while driving. I was pleasantly surprised as to how enjoyable it was to listen to a book.

I loved Jim Dale's narration of this book. I have read this book and enjoyed it. Hearing Jim Dale read the Prisoner of Askaban just turns the book into a wonderful story. His inflection for all the different characters is astounding. I was shocked as to how versatile his voice is.

The Audio version has made the Prisoner of Askaban one of my favorites in the Harry Potter series. Parts of the book made me tear up even though it wasn't that sad. The tone of voice just made those parts more emotional then just the words in print.

I highly recommend listening to the Prisoner of Askaban if you ever get the chance. I will be looking for more copies of the Harry Potter books on audio just to experience them in a different way.

5 stars

Now I am reading All Cry Chaos by Leonard Rosen and I hope to finish the book this weekend if possible.

#58. All Cry Chaos by Leonard Rosen

I am not familiar with Leonard Rosen nor his main character in this book. The main character is Henri Poincare. He is an Interpol agent. All Cry Chaos is centered around Henri, his family and his cases.

Poincare is given a case after a mathematician, James Fenster, is murdered on the eve that he is supposed to give a speech at the World Trade Organization meeting. I am no math wiz and found this story interesting and confusing at the same time. When math was being discussed I sometimes found myself reading it again just to make sense of it and other times remembering my times in school and just wanting to get the answer quickly.

Poincare has a long list of suspects. You follow Poincare through all the interviews. Sometimes you were left hanging and felt there was something missing after the interview. There are a few sub-plots in this book. Poincare had caught a high profile murderer and he has threatened his family. Interpol is there to protect him but that is not enough. This is one plot that I found very interesting because of how it affected Henri and his ability to perform his job.

Another sub-plot was the story of 3 orphans. The 3 children became orphans when their parents were killed in a car accident many years before. As the story progressed I found myself trying to figure out who the orphans were. When the end of the book is reached all my questions were answered and some I had figured out before.

If you want a book with intricate story/plot lines, interesting characters with depth then I suggested trying All Cry Chaos.

5 stars

I am reading The Goblet of Fire and a few e-books. I can't remember the titles right now. I am going to see if any of them will fit into a TIOLI challenge and also see if I can find any more books to read.

Happy Reading all!!

Hi, Monica, I have been trying to catch up with all the 75ers now that I can be on the computer more often and I am impressed that you have been reading the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling is my hero as I am a writer praying to be discovered one day and her story is uplifting to say the least. Oh, to create a Harry! Keep up the good reading!

Hi Mary Beth, thanks for stopping by. I know how hard it is to keep up with all the 7ers. I love Harry Potter and adore J.K. Rowling. I see her and her accomplishments and wish I had the creativity that she has. I wish you luck on your writing. I would love to write myself but I am my own worse critic.

I finished another book. I think I will start a new thread after this review. I won't start the new thread until tomorrow when I have some more time to create it. Here is my review:

#59. Searching for David's Heart by Cherie Bennett

Even though this book always makes me cry when I read it, I still love it. My daughter had to read this book when she was in 5th or 6th grade.

Searching for David's Heart is the story of a twelve year old girl who decides to go searching for her brother's heart after he dies and the heart is transplanted. Dee Dee is also hiding something about the night her brother died. During the whole book it is eating at her.

Dee Dee's best friend Sam goes along with her to search for David's heart. Sam is a true friend to Dee Dee during this whole book. Sam also helps Dee Dee realize a lot about herself and her family.

5 stars

I am still reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire along with two e-books. The Undertaker by William Brown and The Spy at Home.

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are planning another read-a-thing for November. Please visit this link to cast your vote as to when this read-a-thing should be.

We are looking to do 100 hours or something along those lines. Check it out and vote and then mark your calendars!!

Well I finished another book a few days ago. I am finally getting around to posting my review. I was trying to get this book to fit into one of the TIOLI Challenges. I just couldn't get it to fit.

#60. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

This was a very interesting book to listen to. The narrator was interesting but didn't always keep my attention.

The Paris Wife is a fiction book about Ernest Hemingway and his first marriage to Hadley. I did not know much about Ernest Hemingway when I started this book. Listening to this book did make me interested in doing some research and learning more about him.

I didn't enjoy parts of the book. Especially when Ernest was having the affairs. I felt sorry for Hadley and how he was treating her. I also felt that this book made it seem that us as women need to have a man in our lives to feel whole.

Over all I liked getting a glimpse as to what life was possibly like in Paris during Hemingway's lifetime. I don't think I would have chosen this book on my own to read.

4 stars

I am still reading The Goblet of Fire, The Undertaker and A spy at Home. I would like to finish all three of them so I am thinking of doing a mini read-a-thon on Tuesday night into Wednesday night. Not sure yet.

Another book finished.

#61. Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine

I don't even know where to begin with this review. My emotions were thrown for a loop while reading this book. I found myself wanting to learn more again about history.

So this is a work of fiction which includes a bit of history from the 1200's. I am not too familiar with history that far back. I never found it interesting or something I wanted to learn. I have realized that as I read these types of books I want to do research and learn more about the history.

Joanna is the main character of this book. Some of the other important characters are Nick, Judy, Tim, Sam, Dr. Bennett and many more from their pasts or not. Joanna is doing an article on hypnosis and reincarnation. She doesn't believe in reincarnation. She also doesn't believe that being hypnotized can make someone go back to a previous life, especially her.

She soon discovers that her first thoughts are not exactly correct. Jo also learns about the first time she was hypnotized and what happened. Did she really live a life in the past? Or is it just something that someone suggested and put in her mind? Those are the questions that she needs to figure out.

I found the characters so diverse and interesting. Jo is a strong woman that can be intimidated or scared at times. Judy I felt was very self absorbed at first but then her character seemed to grow and mature. Nick was just a lost soul, confused about who he really was. Sam was the one character that I found very manipulative, self absorbed, jealous and so much more.

By middle of my book I found myself wondering about hypnosis and reincarnation. Wondering if it was possible to hypnotize yourself.

5 stars

I am still reading 3 other books. I hope to finish them soon but not sure if I will be able to include them in any of the categories still open. I may have to do some shifting of books if I can't. These are the books I am still reading:

The Undertaker
A Spy at Home
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Happy reading all!!

I finished another book. I will post my review late this week.

I will be trying to post all my past reviews in the next couple of days. I am just a little behind.

Well I finished writing my reviews now I just need to take the time to post them. Maybe this weekend I will find some time to post them.

Still reading Defending Jacob and still loving it.

Okay I am going to post my last couple of reviews. The first one is The Undertaker by William Brown. I will also be publishing this on my blog and will have an interview with it. So be sure to check out my blog to learn more about William Brown.

#62. The Undertaker by William Brown

I want to thank Mr. William Brown for giving me the opportunity to read his newest suspense novel The Undertaker. I will be looking at more works written by William Brown.

The Undertaker is a suspenseful on the edge of your seat novel. I found myself reading whenever I had a free moment. When I was at a red light I had my phone out and was reading The Undertaker while I waited for the green light. I think you can say I was hooked from the beginning.

Peter Talbott is a man who was married to Terri. Peter became a widower when his wife Terri became ill and died. Terri's death hit Peter hard and he hit rock bottom. His friends thought he died in a car crash in Mexico.

Peter is brought into trouble when a guy named Gino shows Peter his obituary and his wife's from an Ohio newspaper. Peter is very much alive and wants to know why someone is impersonating him and his dead wife.

Mr. Brown does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing as to who is really the good guy until the very end. He keeps your eyes glued to the pages and your heart racing till the climatic end.

4 stars

This is another book that I had a request from the author to read and review. I am finally getting around to posting my review.
#63. A Spy at Home by Joseph Rinaldo

I received this book from the author requesting a review. I enjoy reading and will try any book and post a review.
A Spy at Home is the story about a retired CIA agent, his wife Louisa and their son Noah. You learn how Garrison and Louisa met and how they finally have a son. Their son Noah is not biologically theirs but a child that is rescued from a neighbors house after a fire. Noah has Downs Syndrome and most likely would not be adopted. Louisa has fallen in love with the baby and they decide to adopt him.

This story is about their life and raising a child with Downs Syndrome. You have a husband who has pretty much been out of the picture most of the time because of his job. The story does jump around a lot and that can be confusing.

I didn't care for how the book ended. I didn't feel satisfied when I finished the book. It left me hanging and wanting to hear more about Noah and how his life continued with Alzheimer's disease.

Otherwise I enjoyed the book and did tear up a little while reading the book. I don't believe I have ever read a book that focused on Downs Syndrome before. I had a neighbor growing up who had Downs Syndrome and am familiar with some of the characteristics with them. I enjoyed reading a book that did cover them in a good way and how endearing people with a disability really are.

3 stars

This one I read for my book club. I am also going to start reading the book The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls. The Glass Castle is the book about another of Jeannette's relatives. I am currently drawing a blank on her name.

#64. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

I love horses and learning about horses and learning about how things were in the past. I found it interesting to read about ranch life for a young girl.

This is the story of Jeannette Walls' grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. Lily was a very resourceful growing up. She took care of her younger siblings and helped her father on the ranch. She was an excellent student when she wanted to learn something new. She was also an excellent teacher.

Jeannette does a great job of writing about her grandmother and her mother. I found myself laughing and crying at times.

5 stars

#65. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

The Willoughbys is a delightfully written book. I found myself laughing at the characters. I love all the Willoughbys, Tim, A&B, and Jane. They are the children of Mr. & Mrs. Willoughby.

Tim is the oldest and does all the bossing. A&B are twins and they are known as Barnaby A and Barnaby B. Jane is the only girl and the youngest of the family.

I loved the story because the kids didn't care for their parents about as much as the parents didn't care for their children. The children had a bond with each other that the parents never knew about. The children and the parents both try to get away from each other and that made the story entertaining.

I also loved all the little mentions of old fashioned books. When The Bobsy Twins were mention I chuckled to myself because my sister had all those books growing up and I always wanted to read them. She was very protective of her books and was afraid I would destroy them.

If you just want a quick, fun read then I suggest you read The Willoughbys!!

5 stars

My last review for this thread. I will be starting a new thread soon. Will post a link once I create it.

#66. The Diplomat's Wife by Pam Jenoff

This is my first book by Pam Jenoff and it won't be my last. I decided to read the Diplomat's Wife because I had seen a notice at my local library that she was going to be there for a signing or question and answering. I didn't make it to the engagement but I am very glad that I decided to pick up her book.

The Diplomat's Wife is a novel with everything. Mystery, suspense, thrills and chills, and romance. The story is set in the year 1945. Marta has survived a Nazi prison camp and is rescued by an American Soldier named Paul.

You follow Marta through her life of recovery, loss of true love and so much more. I am afraid I might give away too much of the plot if I say any more.

Pam Jenoff does a superb job of keeping the reader enthralled in the story. I give Pan Jenoff five stars for keeping me entranced and going to bed late just so that I could finish the book.

If you need a new author than check out Pam Jenoff!!

5 stars

Now off to create my new thread... Stay tuned.

Here is the LINK to my new thread.

Hope to see you there. :)