JechtShot's 2011 Challenge

Hello all! For the past two years I have been a member of the 50 book challenge group and I have had the pleasure of watching my reading count go from 25 books in 2009, to 47ish in 2010 and I thought what the heck, why not shoot for 75 in 2011.

I spent quite a bit of time lurking in this group last year and was amazed (and a little frightened) by how quickly my wishlist counter went up! This group is clearly very active on LT and I hope to participate in some of the group reads and maybe try out a TIOLI challenge. It sounds like a fun way to diversify my reading.

Here's to another great year of reading in 2011.

January:
1. Shakespeare: All the World as a Stage by Bill Bryson
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. The Lost by Jack Ketchum
4. And Eternity by Piers Anthony
5. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
6. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

February:
9. Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
10. The Breach by Patrick Lee
11. Dead Man's Song by Jonathan Maberry
12. Magician's Gambit by David Eddings
13. Room by Emma Donoghue
14. The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff
15. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings
16. Dexter is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay

March:
17. Runners on Running by Rich Elliot
18. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
19. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
20. Enchanters End Game by David Eddings
21. Return of the Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley
22. Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock
23. Sabine's Notebook by Nick Bantock
24. The Golden Mean by Nick Bantock
25. Salem's Lot by Stephen King
26. The Lazy Project Manager by Peter Taylor
27. Zero Day by Mark Russinovich

April:
28. Confessions of an Amateur Peak Bagger by Kevin Flynn
29. Resurrection Dreams by Richard Laymon
30. Guardians of the West by David Eddings

May:
31. Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs
32. Getting Things Done by David Allen
33. Castaways by Brian Keene
34. King of the Murgos by David Eddings
35. The Empty Chair by Jeffrey Deaver
36. Columbine by Dave Cullen

June:
37. The Shining by Stephen King
38. Demon Lord of Karanda by David Eddings
39. The House With a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs
40. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
41. The Woods are Dark by Richard Laymon
42. Sorceress of Darshiva by David Eddings

July:
43. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
44. The City and the City by China Mieville
45. The Long Last Call by John Skipp
46. Audrey's Door by Sarah Langan
47. An American Haunting by Brent Monahan
48. Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill
49. The Seeress of Kell by David Eddings

August:
50. Freedom (TM) by Daniel Suarez
51. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
52. Locke and Key: Head Games by Joe Hill
53. Locke and Key: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill

September:
54. Night Shift by Stephen King
55. Once a Runner by John L. Parker, Jr.
56. The Tomb by F. Paul Wilson
57. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
58. The Measure of a Mountain by Bruce Barcott
59. The Rising by Brian Keene
60. Florida Roadkill by Tim Dorsey

October:
61. The Magician King by Lev Grossman
62. Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry
63. A Race Like No Other by Liz Robbins
64. Harbour by John Ajvide Lindqvist

November:
65. WIRED by Douglas E. Richards
66. The Price by Alexandra Sokoloff
67. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
68. Eiger Dreams by Jon Krakauer
69. You Suck by Christopher Moore
70. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
71. The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

December:
72. The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander
73. Mistborn: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
74. Bossypants by Tina Fey
75. Metagame by Sam Landstrom
76. Locke and Key: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill

My 2010 thread can be found here.

Welcome to the group, Nick! Good luck with hitting your 75 books goal for 2011!

Hi there, Nick, and very happy to have you in the bizarre mix we've all come to love. My wishlist collection on LT is about 1000 items, and I regularly move things off it to "my library" or "read but unowned" or the others.

It should only happen to you. That's both a blessing and a curse!

Welcome! Another Stephen King fan...excellent!

Stasia, Richard and Jim, thanks for the welcome messages! I am looking forward to following all of your threads throughout 2011.

Jim, I take it you are a King fan as well! I am unofficially challenging myself to read or re-read all of his book in chronological order (with no time limit). I have read many of his novels already, but I missed a lot of his earlier work.

Since you lurked last year, you probably saw our Halloween reading list put together by blackdogbooks. In case you didn't, watch for it this year. King usually shows up on the list!

His early stuff is my favorite, at least until Duma Key and Under the Dome came out. Both seem to be more in the spirit of his early work and I loved 'em both. I'll have to keep an eye on your reading and join in some!

Hi Nick! Glad you moved over here!! Starred you so I can find you again!

1. Shakespeare: The World as a Stage by Bill Bryson



In Shakespeare:The World as a Stage, Bill Bryson takes on the challenge of writing a biography on "The Great Bard", William Shakespeare. I say challenge, because there is very little historical proof of Shakespeare's life, family friends or even his plays. The book almost reads as an anti-biography, that is, a biography that spends a lot of time focusing on what we know is not true or verifiable from Shakespeare's life. An interesting and effective strategy when chronicling someones life where few facts are known.

If you are looking for a quick, enjoyable and educational trip through the late 16th Century to learn a bit about Shakespeare, but mainly the world he lived in, pick up a copy of this book and dig in.

I missed your thread last year (since it was over on the 50) but I like your collection of books. Consider yourself starred for 2011

#8: Dodging that particular book bullet as I have already read it.

Glad to see your reading year is off to a good start, Nick!

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins pp. 384



In a North America torn apart by war in the distant future the new land, Panem, is divided into twelve districts, each providing sustenance to the Capitol City. At some point along the way civil war was waged against the capitol and the remaining districts were to suffer the most. Enter The Hunger Games, a yearly tournament where, by lottery, each district must send a male and female teenage representative to the games. To the victor will come great wealth at the cost of killing off the remaining twenty three contestants in a savage gladiator style battle.

The story has all the elements required that define a page-turner: action, adventure, desperation and love. The Hunger Games pulls you in from page one and once The Games begin the reader must know how it ends.

3. The Lost by Jack Ketchum pp. 400



In the early 60s, Ray Pye, a young sociopathic drug dealer shoots two women in the woods for "something to do" and he gets away with it. Four years later we catch up with Ray, the cops who tried to bring him down, his two friends who were present for the murder and a few additional females brought in to showcase Ray's madness. I was thoroughly unimpressed with this novel.

I think the author was trying to describe the desperation people feel when they experience loss. Some folks take to the bottle, some to sex, some rebound and some just plain go crazy. However, it takes a solid three hundred pages before the story picks up and quite frankly it was a challenge to finish. I think Ketchum is a pretty solid writer in the horror fiction genre, but this book was disappointing.

#11: I love The Hunger Games. Glad you enjoyed it, Nick!

I was looking through my 2010 thread from the 50 Book Challenge Group and I thought I would share some of my favorites and not-so-favorites from last year. So, in no particular order:

Favorites:
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Under the Dome by Stephen King
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
Daemon by Daniel Suarez

Not-So-Favorites:
In The Dark by Richard Laymon
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Wielding a Red Sword by Piers Anthony
Being a Green Mother by Piers Anthony
Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre

I really enjoy The Anubis Gates too!

Nice Favorites list, Nick.

4. And Eternity by Piers Anthony (Audiobook) pp. 384



The earthly incarnations of Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature and Evil have all been explained in the Incarnations of Immortality series and finally Piers Anthony tackles probably the most challenging aspect yet, that of Good. And Eternity focuses on a God that has become ambivalent to the mortal realm and has effectively become a non-existent incarnation. The determinations of what qualifies as sin have become outdated, but with no incarnation of Good available to realign the definitions of good and evil the future of humanity is doomed.

In this setting, we follow an unlikely trio: Orlean (deceased daughter of Nature), Jolie (deceased wife of Satan) and an underage prostitute. The three are set forth on a quest by the incarnation of Night that weaves them through the lives of all the Incarnations and they have no idea that the role they play may just save the world.

The seventh, and arguably, the final book in the series closes out the series well. Piers Anthony does an admirable job of tackling the final incarnation of Good though I am sure he upset a few along the way. It is challenging to write a novel that calls out in no uncertain terms that the current God is ineffective and due for replacement, but the six preceding books in the series prepare the reader for this conclusion. In spite of a few "stinkers" (Wielding a Red Sword and Being a Green Mother) the series is worth a read. Will I read them all again? Probably not, but it was a fun ride while it lasted.

#15> Stasia, yes I thought The Anubis Gates was fantastic. I can thank last years 75 Challenge Group for pointing that one out. I had never heard of the book until Jim started the Steampunk thread. Hope your reading is going well this year. I am trying to keep up with your thread, but there are just so many posts :)

#17: I understand about 'there are just so many posts,' believe me!

5. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp.272



Pawn of Prophecy, what an aptly named book for the first tale of the Belgariad. Garian (The Pawn) a young orphaned farmboy with a past cloaked in secret, lives with his Aunt Pol on a prosperous farm. A storyteller known as "Old Wolf" comes by and shares stories of the Gods. It comes to light that something of great value has been taken and that Old Wolf, Aunt Pol and Garion must set out at once. In typical fantasy style the group expands to include: A village blacksmith, Silk (the thief) and Barak the warrior. Also in typical fantasy style, the party of unlikely heroes are not quite who they all seem to be. The party travels to meet with the Kings of the land and it is here that "The Prophecy" begins to unfold.

Pawn of Prophecy provides very few unique elements to the fantasy genre, but the writing is solid and each of the characters are well thought out and intriguing. If you enjoy stories of prophecy, kings and sorcerers battling against evil forces and ancient Gods, look no further.

drive-by wave

De-lurking to say that I'm a huge fan of Eddings - glad you liked the first book!

6. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Kindle) pp. 266



I finally made it through Sense and Sensibility, but I must say it was quite a struggle. Jane Austen has a wonderful way with words, but I think it is safe to say that I grew to hate just about every character in the novel by the end. Elinor - the sense of the operation, was prim, proper dull and boring. Marianne - aka sensibility, was the extreme opposite of Elinor and I was praying she would be struck by a runaway horse and buggy within moments of being introduced to her, but sadly this was not to occur. The remaining women were primarily gossip junkies stalking the countryside for their next fix. The men of Sense and Sensibility not much better with the exception of Mr. Palmer. Palmer had the good sense to hide in the background and ignore the whole lot. I may give Austen another shot, but this reader needs a little time away.

20> Hi Richard! *Waves Back* thanks for dropping by!

21> Hi Amber, thanks for de-lurking and taking the time to comment. Your words on Eddings are encouraging. I just started the second book of the Belgariad and so far I am loving this one as well. I am surprised I have waited this long to read Eddings... oh well, better late than never.

I think much as you do about Austen, Nick, and I can't recall ever being of any other mind, whichever of her books I was scaling. I mean, reading. It could be a Y-chromosome thing.

#19: I enjoy that series. Glad to see it has found another fan!

7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins pp. 391



Katniss and Peeta emerge from the Hunger Games victorious and now it is time for the traditional victory tour of the 12 districts. However, due to the way in which the last Hunger Games was won the President of The Capitol fears rebellion. It us up to Katniss to prove that all was done for love and not as an act against The Capitol. This is not as simple as it seems as rebellion is catching fire and the fire may not be quelled while Katniss survives.

A majority of this book is focused on Katniss coming to terms with being a victor. Her income and situation have changed greatly and her emotions are confused. On one hand she wants to provoke the rebellion against Snow, but on the other hand she has to focus on keeping her friends and family alive. This novel also introduces us to Hunger Games Champions of the past and it becomes obvious very fast that she is not the only one with mixed feelings. This book grabs you from page one; good luck putting it down.

8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins pp. 400



The Quarter Quell is over and the rebellion against President Snow and The Capitol is in full force. Katniss emerges from the wreckage of the last Hunger Games and has become the spokesperson of the rebels (whether she likes it or not). Katniss is to become the Mockingjay and lead the charge for democracy.

The third book heads in a different direction than the previous two as the Games are no longer a factor. The mythical District 13 is a reality and runs with military precision and Katniss is in a new role as their figurehead. The Hunger Games morphs into something much bigger as the stakes are higher and the future of civilization is at stake. This book has quite a few twists and turns and is quite impossible to put down. A fantastic conclusion to the series.

I am a big fan of the Hunger Games series. I am glad to see you enjoyed the books, Nick!

9. Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp. 336



The second book in The Belgariad finds young Garion and his band of friends continuing on their quest for the famed 'Orb of Aldur'. Along the way a few new members join the party: Mandorallen, the noble-to-a-fault knight and Princess Ce'Nedra, the part dryad and most likely eventual love interest of Garion. The heroes of the novel are traveling throughout the kingdoms rallying support for the impending war against the God Turok. An inkling of manhood is starting to emerge from Garion as we learn of his real name, his talents and a mysterious inner voice that seems to be serving as his magical mentor.

This novel was very good, but dragged in comparison to its predecessor. In short, Queen of Sorcery is akin to Tolkien's 'Two Towers' - translation, a whole lot of walking. This is not necessarily a negative, I am sure that essential back story is being driven through the excessive cardio workout. I look forward to book three as we learn more of Garion and his mysterious inner-voice.

Hi There

I'm compiling a list of birthdays of our group members. If you haven't done so already, would you mind stopping by this thread and posting yours.

Thanks.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105833

10. The Breach by Patrick Lee pp. 384



An ex-cop/ex-con, Travis Chase, discovers a downed 747 in a remote part of Alaska. Upon further examination of the plane, Travis finds The First Lady dead holding a note with very specific instructions. What happens next is a whirlwind ride through the realm of the near-impossible and Travis Chase is caught in the middle of a battle to save humanity. We learn that an accident with a Large Ion Collider opened a one-way portal from an unknown realm and that a secret group known as Tangent has been challenged to be the guardian of 'The Breach'. However, Tangent has enemies and a former employee is dead set on invoking a plan known only to himself and an entity from the Breach known as 'The Whisper'.

This is Patrick Lee's first novel and action packed from start to finish. Is the book far fetched? Yes, but it provides a brilliant framework for future novels. The formula may eventually grow stale, but I look forward to the next entity to arrive from The Breach and how it will act to destroy or perhaps save the world as we know it. A great fast paced thriller.

Ooh, that one sounds great - it's definitely going onto the wishlist!

David Eddings gets panned by a lot of fantasy readers, but I really do love his Belgariad. I think he does a lot of stock fantasy things very well, and actually, although the second quintet (Mallorean is basically a replay of the first, you grow to know and love so many of the characters so well that you don't mind. I even like the Belgarath and Polgara books, which are retells of the series from their points of view. That said, nothing else he ever wrote had the same appeal. The Dreamers series is simply quite bad. It's like he never could write anything different from the first series, and never got the same appealing characters. However, you still have 10 more books to enjoy before you get to that point, so do so!

#31: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks, Nick!

Hi. I haven't read any of your 2011 books except Sense and Sensibility, but I have read and liked all the first 3 on your 2010 fiction favorites, so I'm going to stick around and see what you read next. Congratulations on trading up to the 75-er's, and good luck!

32 and 34> I will be curious to hear your thoughts on The Breach. I read this series out of order because the second book, Ghost Country, arrived on my doorstep via the Early Reviewer program. The second book was great, but would have been even better with the back-story. Enjoy!

33>Thanks for the tip on Eddings! I am loving the The Belgariad so far and have the full series in audiobook format (including The Mallorean). The story is stock fantasy, but the characters are so rich and likable (for the most part) that I can't stop listening!

35> Hi Janet, thanks for stopping by! I am glad I made the switch to the '75-er Club'... the group is great and the endless supply of book suggestions guarantees that my wishlist will remain bottomless.

>36 JechtShot: Yeah, the plot isn't anything to write home about, but I love Edding's characters!

#38 Morphy: Agreed. Character development is what Eddings does best. After finishing his series (years and years ago) I still have moments where I start to think, "Hm, I wonder what ever happened to..." and then realized that they're not real people - ha! But I do still miss them like long-lost friends.

Question for the Eddings readers: Should I read the Belgeroth and Polgara standalone books before or after the Mallorean series?

11. Dead Man's Song by Jonathan Maberry pp. 480



In Pine Deep, a town known for its supernatural composition, evil never dies. Thirty years ago a massacre reared its ugly head and a group of children survived only to find themselves facing a similar terror today. The book starts with a trio of criminals arriving at a local prominent farm. Needless to say, bad things happen. However, it becomes clear quite quickly that there is a supernatural factor at work and that a darker evil is brewing. The survivors from before begin to notice a pattern of blight and murder resurfacing that they thought they buried many years ago.

Jonathan Maberry does a pretty decent job at keeping the pace of the story going, but at times I was tempted to skim ahead a few pages to see if the action would pick up. The story is reminiscent of Stephen King: Large cast of characters, good vs. evil and a great deal of psychological horror blended with the gore. However, where Maberry let me down was with the dialogue. Conversations felt very forced and lines that were intended to be witty fell short with a groan. Another beef I had was a section about 3/4 of the way through that spent just a little too much time describing every element of two characters' romantic rendezvous. The scene felt very out of place and did nothing to enhance the story.

In spite of the books faults, I want to know more about Pine Deep. I have a very strong suspicion that book three in the Pine Deep trilogy will be added to my bookshelf in the near future. A fairly quick read with some unique twists on the vampire/werewolf mythos.

>40 JechtShot: AFTER! They recoup all the action in both series.

42> Glad I asked! Thank you.

For what it is worth, I agree with Roni! AFTER!

12. Magician's Gambit by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp. 320



Garion, or should I say Belgarion, and company are now on the scent of the famed 'Orb of Aldur' and continue on their journey through Eddings' Belgariad universe. The new player of note to enter the band of prophecy is an Ulgo zealot known as Ralg. Ralg has the unique ability of being able to pass through solid stone, which proves incredibly useful in gaining entry into the dark city of Cthol Murgos. The book concludes with an epic magical battle between Belgarath and Ctuchik (discilpe of Torak) that will not disappoint.

The third book in the Belgariad focuses on Garion's growth as a sorcerer. He is reluctant to accept his new found abilities and tries to supress them, hide them, go back to being a regular boy. This is not possible. The world has greater things in store for our young hero and in this book he begins to understand that not only does he need to accept his fate, but embrace and grow in his power. On to book four, Castle of Wizardry.

13. Room by Emma Donoghue (Kindle) pp. 336



Let me start by saying, I have never read a book like this before. The narrator is a 5-year old boy, Jack, and he tells the shocking, haunting, disturbing, inspiring story of his life in Room: an 11 x 11 cell where he has spent his entire life with Ma. You see, Ma was kidnapped when she was 19 years old and has been held captive for the past seven years. Jack, a product of the abduction, becomes her life and she does all she can to educate her son given the situation. She teaches Jack that Room is the world and everything else is imaginary. This becomes the foundation of routine that ultimately keeps the characters on the happier side of sanity.

The author does an excellent job covering this very dark subject matter by some very clever literary choices she made in its writing. For one, the story being told from Jack's perspective lightens the mood considerably. Had the story been told from Ma's perspective the weight of depression on the reader would be unbearable. Another technique I was fond of was how Jack describes all objects in Room as proper nouns: A duvet is Duvet, a rug is Rug and so on. To Jack, these are the only Duvets and Rugs in existence, because his world view consists of 121 square feet. As the book progresses, Jack learns that the world is a much bigger place and then the use of proper nouns cease. Clever.

Please do not let the seemingly dark and depressing aura surrounding this novel cause you to shy away from reading it. This book is outstanding and ranks amongst the best books I have ever read.

#46: I love that one! I am glad you did too, Nick.

14. The Harrowing by Alexandra Sokoloff pp. 256



Stop me when this sounds familiar. Five troubled college students are "mysteriously" brought together by an unseen force and unleash a demon via a Ouija board. Similar stories have been rehashed in countless "teen angst" style horror movies and will be replicated many, many more times. Why? Because it is fun to be scared, even if it is a familiar story.

The author, Alexandra Sokoloff, is a screen writer first and this is very obvious in her writing style. The book reads like a screenplay. Vivid details surround each exterior shot, close up on protagonist A's face as she comes to the realization the ghosts are real, pan left over rain soaked college campus and so on.

The Harrowing is far from original, but was a fun "guilty pleasure" sort of ghost story. Recommended for a late rainy night when you are looking for a quick fix of adrenaline.

#48: Not my cuppa, but glad you enjoyed it, Nick.

I just want to throw my 2 cents in RE: Eddings: The Redemption of Althalus was the first Eddings book I ever read, and I loved it enough to go out and buy everything else he'd ever written. (I agree about avoiding the Dreamers series, it's awful. I barely made it through the first book.)

50> dk, thanks for the recommendation! I have added The Redemption of Althalus to the wishlist.

15. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp. 384



The fourth book in the Belgariad kicks things back into gear and the action takes off once again. Belgarion assumes his role as the Rivan King and begins his quest to do battle with the God Torak. Ce'Nedra, whom I previously found to be an annoying itch on the surface of Arendia, has improved her disposition greatly. Her acceptance of being the Rivan Queen shotguns her into maturity as she leads the armies in support of Garion.

As stated in previous reviews, this story is far from unique, but Eddings' characters make the series quite enjoyable. Up next, Enchanter's End Game.

#46 -- I had to return Room to the library before I could finish it and now I am 19th in the line. I'm tempted to go out and buy the darn book since the few chapters that I did read really had me interested. Glad you enjoyed it--I think I will too.

I forgot to mention that I read The Hunger Games trilogy last year as well and absolutely loved it. I'll have to keep an eye on your books!

16. Dexter is Delicious by Jeff Lindsay pp. 368



Dexter is Delicious marks the end of this series for me. I have forced my way through the last few books, but this one solidly puts the nail in the coffin. Do you remember what made Dexter interesting? A serial killer police officer trying to uphold a "code" of rightful killing. Do you know what the opposite is? An ex-serial killer who is now a father and feeling love and human emotion for the first time. On top of that, Deborah, his cop sister with a pair of brass ones, feels her biological clock ticking and wants a family of her own. Throw in a coven of cannibals and you have got yourself one heck of a stew pot full of crap. Dear Mr. Lindsay, please put poor Dexter out of his misery.

53> Hi thinkcarrot, thanks for stopping by! Room was a very good read and I hope the line at your library depletes quickly. In my opinion, it may be worth it just to go out and "buy the darn book". Also, I stopped by your thread to check out what you are reading this year. I have you starred now so I can keep watch.

17. Runners on Running by Rich Elliot pp. 312



If you are a runner who sometimes needs a little motivation to make the move from the couch to the roads, I highly recommend adding Runners on Running to your library. It may just give you that dash of inspiration you have been lacking.

Rich Elliot has collected several non-fiction short stories on running that are sure to educate, motivate and exhilarate those in love with the sport. The book contains stories that describe the physical science of running, the evolution of running, personal reflections on running, heartfelt stories of loss and victory and the bonds formed between coaches and runners. In my opinion, this book is not to be digested in a single sitting, but should be savored a few stories at a time.

I need this book soooooo bad or at least something that will motivate me as I look forlornly at my stationary bike. It is much to cold where I am to do anything but get the mail and take out the trash in terms of venturing outdoors. :)

Hi JechtShot, I'm 15th in line now for Room. I may still go buy the book. :)

Thanks for mentioning Runners on Running. I did a Learn-to-run Clinic in September. I loved it! We were running 5-k by Christmas. I signed up for a LTR Part II, then I sprained my ankle the second week back after Christmas. Horribly devastating!!! It's been hard to get back at it, not just because my ankle is week and some of my conditioning is gone, but also because I can no longer keep up with my group! I could use a bit of inspiration. Although with spring on the way, the weather may be inspiration enough. Running outdoors in January and February in Ontario has been pretty brutal.

18. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo pp. 336



Kate Burkholder, the chief of police for the town of Painters Mill, Ohio, is put to the test when a gruesome murderer terrorized this small Amish community. The story is a fairly formulaic mystery/thriller with some significant plot holes, but it is an an enjoyable quick read. As others have noted, the descriptions of the crimes are quite graphic, but not overly so. I am not sure if I will read the next book in the series, but I will leave the option open.

58>jolerie, I completely understand! I have been trapped like a rat all winter long and have been anxiously awaiting the snow melt so I can go back to "enjoying" running outside. Perhaps you could start checking the mail multiple times a day to get the motivation engine started :)

59>thinkcarrot, it may be time to buy the book. If you have only gained four places in line since the end of February you may be waiting quite a while longer ;) So sorry to hear about your ankle. I took up running again a few years back to lose some weight... and to my surprise a few years later I ran my first marathon... and then my second! I have hopes to run my third this Fall. I hear you about running outdoors in this weather... running in Wisconsin in February is no treat either.

19. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini pp. 400



The Kite Runner is an exercise in emotions for the reader. In the beginning, this is the story of life in Afghanistan in the 1970s. Amir and Hassan, two boys of different social classes are best friends, until a tragic event occurs that changes their relationship forever. Next, we arrive in America. Amir and his Father have fled their home and struggle to adapt to life in San Francisco. Eventually, Amir's haunted past takes him back to Kabul, where he is given the opportunity to face his demons and seek redemption.

This story is difficult to read. No, the language is not too challenging and the prose is quite fluid, but the subject matter will smack you square in the gut. Just when you think things are looking up for Amir, the author inserts another torturous event that will force you to set the book aside and take a deep breath before continuing on. This book will play on your emotional heartstrings until the final sentence.

20. Enchanters End Game by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp.384



Enchanters End Game finds our heroes taking divergent paths on the road of prophecy. Garion, Silk and Belgarath proceed towards the impending battle with Torak while Ce'Nedra, Polgara and company gather a vast army to defend the West against the Angaraks. The core group is drawn together for a "larger than life" battle when Garion, the Child of Light, finally faces off agaist Torak.

Eddings does an admirable job of closing out this series, but leaves the door cracked open just enough for the curious reader to catch a glimpse of more books to come. The setting Eddings has created is not the most original, but the pacing and characters make this series a new favorite on my fantasy bookshelf.

That is a great idea. :) I can already hear the neighbours snickering to themselves.."Oh look, it's that crazy chick checking the mail again for the 15th time today and it's only 10AM..."...haha

Oooh..I see you just read The Kite Runner. I haven't read it yet, but it's on my shelf and consider it a must read after I read A Thousand Splendid Suns. I agree with you that the subject matter is hard to swallow at times, but the story behind it all, is absolutely beautiful.

21. Return of the Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley pp. 96



Part Duex in Andy Riley's sometimes hilarious Book of Bunny Suicide series. This book has a few gems, but did not strike me as funny as the original. For those who are not familiar with the Mr. Riley's work, each page or two is a comic representation of a bunny committing a creative act of suicide. These books are a funny diversion from a sometimes hectic life. Not recommended for those offended by comics, creative suicides, cartoon bunnies or people who generally scoff at low brow humor.

22. Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock pp. 48



A postcard arrives in the mail from a stranger in the South Pacific. This person appears to be linked to you somehow; a window into your mind. Thus begins, the extraordinary correspondence of Griffin and Sabine.

Griffin and Sabine is both an intriguing read and more importantly a work of art. The postcards and letters found within the pages are both beautiful and thought provoking. This novel also satisfies the inner-voyeur in all of us by allowing us to follow the relationship of Griffin and Sabine through their written words. This book is akin to reading someone else's mail inadvertently, you know it is wrong, but curiosity eventually wins out.

23. Sabine's Notebook by Nick Bantock pp. 48



Griffin has left London in fear that his sanity is bordering on questionable. Sabine arrives in London and waits in hope that Griffin will return. The correspondence continues as Griffin and Sabine try to come to terms with their relationship and apparent psychic link.

24. The Golden Mean by Nick Bantock pp. 48



Griffin and Sabine, lovers through correspondence alone. Something in the universe appears to be keeping them apart, will they ever meet or will they be forced to suffer through a relationship based on letters alone?

The conclusion to the original trilogy was a bit weak for me. First off, a new voice was introduced which unbalanced the pacing and mood of the letters. Secondly, the ending was a bit too sudden and open for my tastes. The book was still enjoyable, the novelty of reading someone else's letters has not grown stale and the artwork is still as intriguing and thought provoking as ever. A beautiful series.

64>Jolerie, I know you have not read The Kite Runner yet, but what were your thoughts on A Thousand Splendid Suns? Hosseini's subject matter is extremely powerful and disturbing, but his writing is superb. I need a bit of a breather from the subject matter after finishing The Kite Runner, but hope to read A Thousand Splendid Suns within the next few months.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is no easy read either. There were several moments where I had to put the book down and just had to walk away from it because the subject matter was so brutal. I would tell myself that oh it's just a story, but then the sobering though hit me, to some women out there, it is not a story, but what they live through everyday...
(I did put an official review of the book on the main page of the book if you are interested to see what I thought of it.)
I will have to pick up The Kite Runner to compare the two books. Let me know what you think of them both if you get a chance to finish his other book. :)

25. Salem's Lot by Stephen King (Kindle) pp. 600



Jerusalem's (Salem's) Lot is a quaint New England town by day, but a dark presence looms in the air at night. Ben Mears, a somewhat successful writer, returns to his hometown to work on his next book and clear his psyche of demon's past. However, as Ben becomes re-acclimated with life in The Lot, people start dying under mysterious circumstances and it quickly comes to light that a Vampire has moved into town and he has his fangs set on taking over. It us up to Ben and a few other brave souls to save the town or at least their own humanity.

I am not the biggest fan of "Vampire" novels, but Salem's Lot is definitely an exception to that rule. King's take on vampires really focuses on the evil within. These demonic creatures have one purpose: to kill. *Slight spoiler alert*: There are very few characters who survive. The vamps are bad ass and most unsuspecting humans do not stand a chance. One bite and you join the fold. You are on Team Edward, no questions asked.

King, as usual, picks a small town in Maine, fills it out with a cast of well thought out characters and adds an element of evil. Each character responds to the evil situation in their own way: some heroic, some not so much. The end result is a well paced, highly suspenseful vampire novel.

26. The Lazy Project Manager by Peter Taylor (Kindle) pp. 152



The Lazy project manager is a guidebook for project managers looking for a way to make the best use of valuable project time. The overarching theme is that a lot of effort should be put in up front, followed by a period of somewhat 'lazy' time in the middle when execution is occurring and then a big push at the end to deliver the final product.

The book is filled with helpful tips for success and the author utilizes humor and wit throughout to keep the reader engaged. Considering the short length of this book, I would recommend it for those project managers looking to make the best use of their time.

27. Zero Day by Mark Russinovich pp. 336 (4/5 stars)



A series of viruses are unleashed on the Western World causing minor chaos. A fully automated nuclear plant goes down, an auto assembly line is brought to its knees, medical delivery systems are malfunctioning and random computers are self destructing. An act of cyber-terrorism is underway and a small group of computer security specialists are tasked with unraveling the plot.

Mark Russinovich is a well known Windows operating system expert and currently is a Technical Fellow at Microsoft. Mr. Russinovich has unveiled countless Microsoft security flaws and has provided computer geeks across the globe with tools to debug and troubleshoot complex problems with the Windows operating system. Why the fanfare and mini-bio? The answer, to point out that he is in a position to understand the current state of computer security and the real threat cyber-terrorism could have on our world.

The technical aspects of Zero Day are well explained and only rarely does Russinovich dish out technical jargon that may go over the head of those less tech-savvy readers. The story flows extremely well and reads almost like a work of non-fiction. The only negative I had with the story was the authors fixation on gorgeous female computer geeks. Every female the protagonist encountered was beautiful, thin and athletic. To top it all off, the uber-security expert in the book is the most dashing man on the planet. It is one thing to shatter stereotypes, but I am an engineer by trade and most of my co-workers do not double as runway models on the weekend.

A great book with a very scary, real message.

t is one thing to shatter stereotypes, but I am an engineer by trade and most of my co-workers do not double as runway models on the weekend.

That's so funny!! It reminds me of TV shows like ER, Grey's Anatomy and such where ALL the doctors are cookie cut cuties...haha! Nowhere in the real world are you going to find the doctors in the hospitals or clinics all looking like THAT. :)

You remind me that I really need to re-read the Eddings Belgariad series, Nick. Maybe soon. . .

28. Confessions of an Amateur Peak Bagger by Kevin Flynn pp. 308 (3.5/5 stars)



Kevin Flynn, an advertising executive, amateur pilot and mountaineer sets his sites on the mother of all mountains, Everest. In this candid memoir, Flynn recounts his two attempts to climb to the top of the world leaving nothing unstated - "warts and all". If you are in the hunt for a book that gives you an up close and personal first person account of an Everest climb, pick up Confessions of an Amateur Peak Bagger, you will not be disappointed.

29. Resurrection Dreams by Richard Laymon pp. 370 (4/5 stars)



Melvin Dobbs is a social outcast with dreams of bringing the dead back to life. Not to bring back lost loved ones, but rather to have servants that will obey him unconditionally. Vicki Chandler, was cordial to Melvin in high school and when she returns to town to pursue being a small town doctor, Melvin has grand plans for her.

Richard Laymon does not hesitate when it comes to writing horror fiction. If a highly disturbing image escapes his pen, it is not edited out. In fact, it may be enhanced to bring the shock factor to the next level. If you do not like gruesome, taboo and gory horror fiction, do not read Laymon. Save him for us, those with a bit of a sick twisted side that enjoy a good scare.

74>Jolerie, that is pretty much what I was thinking when I read the book. I thought I was lost in an alternate TV/book reality where everyone is good looking :) Thanks for reading the review!

75>Alcottacre, do it! Your old friends Garion, Silk, Belgarath and Polgara miss you. This is a great series that I am already looking forward to re-reading.

#76: I read Flynn's 102 Minutes that he wrote along with Jim Dwyer. His book on Everest sounds like one I would really enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation, Nick!

30. Guardians of the West by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp. 448 (3/5 stars)



All of your favorite characters from the Belgariad are back in Eddings follow-on series the Malloreon. Once again, Belgarion is pitted against two prophecies regarding the Child of Light and the Child of Dark and this time he must act to save humanity and his newborn son.

Eddings brings back and expands upon the characters first introduced in the Belgariad. The most interesting transformation of character is that of Errand. The somewhat intriguing boy from the previous series is found to have sorcerer-like powers allowing him to see into the minds of others across great distances. Magic of this nature is unknown to the likes of Polgara and Belgarath and is sure to be an essential element to future books in the series.

For fans of The Belgariad, Guardians of the West is a must read.

79>Stasia, Thank you for the recommendation of 102 minutes. I have added it to the wishlist. I am sure this will not be an "easy" book to read due to the subject matter. However, I enjoyed Flynn's writing style and think he will provide an honest and thought-provoking account of 9/11.

I'm sorry for the belated wishes. I hope your birthday on the 15th was a great day!

#77: I loved Resurrection Dreams by Laymon when I read it years ago. I'd say it is in my top five as far as Laymon novels go. I'm glad you had a good time with it.

83> Hi HHF, thanks for stopping by. I have to ask, if Resurrection Dreams was one of your top 5 Laymon books, what are the other 4? I have The Traveling Vampire Show and Island waiting patiently for me on the bookshelf. I am hoping to get to those in the coming months.

31. Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs pp. 560 (2 stars)



Deja Dead is a run-of-the-mill mystery featuring a forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan, as the main character. I had a hard time getting into this book and found the character of Temperance to be unbelievable and unlikable. The authors depiction of Temperance was somewhat bipolar. Temperance A, the scientist was smart, engaging and downright likable. Temperance B, made very poor decisions and thought she could outsmart a serial killer single-handedly despite many, many warnings from her superior officers. The result, 532 pages and many lost hours hoping that the book would redeem itself in the end. Sadly, I have a hard time recommending this one.

Wow...some of those I read a long time ago, but I have been rereading them whenever I can with the Leisure releases. Lets see, if memory serves me right and I am to exclude Resurrection Dreams:

#1 - Island
#2 - Funland
#3 - The Travelling Vampire Show
#4 - One Rainy Night

32. Getting Things Done by David Allen (Kindle Edition) pp. 267 (4 stars)



As far as personal productivity management books go, this one is a keeper. David Allen's "Getting Things Done" method is extremely intuitive and simple. The central concept is to constantly purge your mind of all your open actions to ensure that you are not only getting things done, but that you are keenly aware of what you are not getting done. I have started using this method at work and find that I am getting better at delivering on my commitments and have a much better grasp on all of my open actions. Another central theme of Mr. Allen's is: if something can be done in 2 minutes or less, do it. Ignore priority thinking and get the action off your list.

If you are looking for a productivity management solution to get your life in order give this book a shot.

33. Castaways by Brian Keene pp. 285 (4 stars)



Castaways or as I like to think of it, "Survivor: Gore Island" is a superbly gruesome book by Brian Keene. The premise of the novel is modeled after the reality series Survivor, only on this island an unknown "beast' race is the indigenous species and they are none to pleased with the island newcomers. The thought of winning the million dollar prize on this show falls to the wayside as these contestants fight for their lives. This was the first book I have read by Brian Keene and I am looking forward to reading many more.

86>HHF, thanks for the Laymon recommendations. I will definitely be adding those to my Wishlist. Also, read my first book by Brian Keene this week and loved it. If you happen to stop by and see this note I would be very interested in your Keene top 5 :)

Haha...here you go. You can very rarily go wrong with Brian Keene, IMO. Out of the ones I read, here are my top five so far:

1. The Rising
2. City Of The Dead
3. The Conqueror Worms
4. Ghoul
5. Kill Whitey

An honorable mention of Terminal is in order too. It is more of a modern fantasy, with a wallop of an emotional punch. Rich and gritty, that aims to please.

#81: I hope you like 102 Minutes when you get to it, Nick.

34. King of the Murgos by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp. 416



In the second book of Edding's the Malloreon series, King of the Murgos, the story continues with the band of heroes searching for Belgarion's son. However, while en route around the world in the hunt for the kidnapper (Zandramas) they are unfolding the secrets of yet another prophecy.

I have mixed feelings on the second book in the series. On one hand, the fantasy epic continues and the characters I have grown to love over the last several books continue to keep my attention. On the other hand, the Malloreon as a whole is so similar in storyline to the Belgariad that I feel a bit cheated. Either way, I am continuing on because I need to know how the story concludes. On to the next.

You could cheat and I could tell you how it all ends :)

Ahhh! My worst nightmare is finding out how a book ends that you are reading or planning to read.

93>Hmmm... would save me the trouble of reading the last three books. Let me guess, the butler did it in the conservatory with the crowbar? Wait, make that, the sorcerer did it in the castle with the Orb of Aldur :)

94>No doubt! I have had that happen a few times and lost all motivation to finish the book. Once you know the end it is pretty hard to find the motivation to finish and/or pick up the book in the first place. What are you reading these days? Haven't seen an update on your thread for a while.

#95: Close but no cigar! lol

#95 - I have been reading these long tomes. I am trying to wrap up The Sword of Truth Series with book #1 of the ending trilogy (it is actually book #9 in the series): Chainfire.

The book that is taking most of my time is the second novel by Rothfuss, the sequel to The Name Of The Wind, called The Wise Man's Fear. It is nearly 1000pgs long, and I am but a mere 400pgs into it.

They are both fantasy novels. I would recommend Terry Goodkind for the first few books. The ninth book is a bit of a chore, but I now must read to the end of the series. I just cannot manage to come this close to the finish line and give up.

Rothfuss, I would highly recommend.

35. The Empty Chair by Jeffery Deaver pp. 512 (3.5 stars)



Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs are at it again in this page-turning mystery thriller. The Empty Chair is Deaver's first Rhyme novel that deviates from the comforts of Manhattan. Sachs and Rhyme find themselves in North Carolina where they are pitted against "The Insect Boy" and a group of rogue moonshiners. However, everything is not as it seems in this small town and the book will keep you guessing until the last few pages.

I was a bit hesitant at first when I discovered the book was centered around a killer known as "The Insect Boy". I assumed the shark had been jumped and that this would be my last adventure with Lincoln Rhyme. Somehow Deaver made it work. His character building is superb and the end result was well worth my time.

97>...and the wishlist grows to infinity + 1. Thanks for the recommendations. Always on the look out for new reads in the fantasy genre as well.

#99: Did you really expect your wishlist to get smaller, Nick? With this group? :)

36. Columbine by Dave Cullen pp. 432 (5 stars)



I am embarrassed to admit that I am one of the sheeple that bought in to the media angle of the Columbine tragedy. I was convinced that Eric and Dylan were two social outcasts waging a Marilyn Manson fueled war on the popular teens of Columbine high. Once the media coverage for the events started to calm down I never reflected on what may have actually happened. Until now.

Dave Cullen paints a very different picture of the Columbine High School incident and the real story is far more painful to read than the version presented by the popular press. Dave Cullen's presentation of the events is factual, balanced, well written and simply strives to tell the truth of what happened on April 20th, 1999. If you too bought into the jock killing Trench Coat Mafia (TCM) depiction of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, do yourself a favor and read this book. Columbine is one of the most thought provoking books I have read in a very long time.

37. The Shining by Stephen King (Kindle) pp. 528 (4 stars)



The beautiful Overlook is closed for the season, but someone needs to tend to the hotel during the brutal Colorado winter. Enter Jack Torrance. Jack recently lost his job as a teacher and has been struggling with his alcoholic demons. A friend and fellow (former) drinker offers him the job as winter caretaker for the hotel, so Jack his wife Wendy and son Danny saddle up and make the trip to the mountains.

His son Danny was born with the gift of second sight and frequently has premonitions of things to come. He senses a great evil on the horizon and isn't sure they will survive the winter. You see, the Overlook hotel is quite haunted and the hotel has an agenda of its own. Jack, Danny and Wendy are literally stranded for several months with no communication to the outside. Will they survive the terror that lurks within the halls of the historic Overlook?

It has been said many times (and I agree) that Stephen King is an amazing character writer. He expertly captures Jack's battle with alcoholism and you can literally taste the inner turmoil as he struggles to retain his grip on reality. Wendy is the caring Mother who will do anything to protect her son, but she to has her weaknesses when it comes to her marriage to Jack. Finally, Danny a five-year old boy who has knowledge far beyond his years and he is truly the protagonist in this story.

The Shining is one of Stephen King's greatest novels. Is it a horror novel? Yes, but it is so much more than that.

38. Demon Lord of Karanda by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp. 416 (3 Stars)



Belgarion and company continue their quest to rescue Geran from Zandramas. However, prophecy is forcing the group to complete very specific tasks before the final encounter between Belgarion and Zandramas can occur.

This book fell kind of flat fore me. A majority of the novel is spent "wandering" the country side to fulfill elements of prophecy, There are some great battles and the characters continue to be interesting, but I am ready to fast forward to the final confrontation.

#101: Columbine was one of my memorable reads a few years ago, Nick. I am glad to see that you enjoyed the book.

39. The House with a Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs pp. 179 (3.5 Stars)



Lewis Barnavelt is a recent orphan who is sent to live with his uncle Jonathan (a wizard) in Michigan. In an attempt to gain popularity, Lewis tries his hand at Necromancy and manages to resurrect the previous tenant of his new home. The witch that has recently rejoined the living knows what secrets dwell within the walls of Jonathan's home. The house has a clock hidden somewhere within the walls and it is ticking towards the worlds end.

I remember reading and enjoying this book as a kid in the mid-80's. Many years later I came across The House with a Clock in its Walls at my local Half Price Books and thought $2.98 seemed like a fair price to re-read a childhood favorite. The book brought back fond memories, but did not quite live up to my youthful memories. It was still a fun and quick read, but definitely geared towards a younger audience.

I've actually driven by the inspiration house for The House with a Clock in its Walls. I want to say it was in Marshall, MI. I was driving around looking at all of the cool old houses, and there is a fairly large sign in front of one that talked about the book. I don't think it was the house the author grew up in, but he did grow up in that area. I don't remember a lot about it - I did read it after that - but I think I liked it.

If you ever find The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs, grab it! I think it may be his only adult fantasy, and it is absolutely fantastic!

By the way, I got a copy of Getting Things Done from the library, and really enjoyed it. I just renewed it to try and implement some of the ideas. It made just way too much sense. Thanks for the recommendation.

106> @pbadeer, Thanks for the interesting bit of trivia. I do not know much about the author, but it is interesting to hear that the house in the story was based on a real place. If I am ever in the Marshall, MI area I may have to take a little Bellairs detour.

107> @ronincats, Thanks for the recommendation. The Face in the Frost has been officially added to the wishlist. I looked for it at Half Price Books this weekend, but no luck. Glad to hear that you too found some enjoyment in Getting Things Done. The whole concept is common sense, but for some reason I never figured it out on my own. I have my own GTD system at work now utilizing Microsoft Outlook and Onenote. It has been very beneficial to have a list of all my "Next Actions" at my fingertips. Let me know how your implementation goes!

I found a program for my Mac, free right now, called Midnight Inbox which is specifically set up for the GTD system. So far I've downloaded it and stared at it while reading LT threads...

40. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak pp. 576 (4.5 stars)



The story of a girl, Leisel, who loves books even before she can read them. Perhaps it is because the first book she takes is found at the fresh grave of her younger brother. Perhaps it is because a Jewish man teaches her that books contain words and words, after all, can have a lot of power. Hitler was very influential with his words.

The tale of The Book Thief is narrated by Death. This is very apropos as this story takes place in Germany during WWII. Death mourns the lives he takes, but he knows his coming can end human suffering. But every once in a while, even death must take pause to observe and share the story of a very special life.

The Book Thief is a brilliantly written story with unforgettable characters and a unique perspective on German life during the War. Even though this book is 'tagged' as young adult, I would highly recommend it to people of all ages.

41. The Woods are Dark by Richard Laymon pp. 215 (3 stars)



The Krull's have been in America for a very long time. They were not fans of rules and societal norms, so they took to the woods where they could inbreed and feed on the flesh of other humans. In order to appease this backwoods group of monsters, residents of the nearby town provide monthly offerings in hopes of sparing their own lives. This gruesome tale could only come from the imagination of Richard Laymon.

The taboo trifecta of incest, rape and cannibalism are painted throughout this book and I would only recommend this story to fans of extreme horror. All others, walk on by and head to a lighter spot in the woods.

42. Sorceress of Darshiva by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp. 384 (3 stars)



Review:

The fourth installment is more of the same. Garion and company continue on in their quest to fulfill an ancient prophecy. The foretold complete group of heroes has finally been established and finally, and I do mean finally, they will march on to the mystical 'place that is no more'.

If you have made it to this book in the series you are either a) loving every footstep and hoof beat of Eddings' universe, b) you are a completest and must follow the heroes in spite of your better judgement or c) The story is just interesting enough to keep you engaged through the final book. Me, well I'm in the 'c' category with a small side of 'b'

43. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer pp. 224 (3.5 stars)



Review:

Chris McCandless, a.k.a Alexander Supertramp, gave it all up. Money, posessions, family and to some degree his own emotional ties to other human beings to venture Into the Wild. McCandless traveled the deserts of the Southwest, ventured along rivers in hopes of making it to the Pacific and finally took a farewell journey in the wilds of Alaska. Why? He was comfortable with himself and found nature and living a nomadic life invigorating. You may wonder if Chris was a poor uneducated hippie bum, but alas no, he was a well educated college graduate with a supportive family and an elevated economic status.

Jon Krakauer, in his brilliant journalistic style, takes us along the route followed by one Alexander Supertramp. The story is pieced together primarily on interviews and journal entries and gives us a fairly cohesive representation of McCandless's journey.

Into the Wild had the potential to be a five star rated book for me, except that Krakauer's views on McCandless bordered on hero worship. It was quite obvious that the author was envious of McCandless's choice to step out of society proper and takes every opportunity given to defend sometimes very poor decisions made by Chris. Additionally, rather than just tell the story, the author found a need to juxtapose his own youthful moments to that of McCandless to supposedly highlight their similarities. In my opinion, the story would have been stronger without the unnecessary interjection. Do not let my personal bias preclude you from giving this book a chance. It is a great, yet tragic, adventure story that I would still recommend.

44. The City and the City by China Mieville (Kindle) pp. 384 (4 stars)



Review:

Imagine two cities sharing the same literal geographic location. Your house is in one city, your neighbor's house is in a different city and the road out front is shared by both, with different names of course. The rules of your city forbid you from noticing anything in the neighboring city including cars, people and shops. Effectively, you must unsee everything that is not from your hometown. If you fail to unsee, you are committing breach and you will be dealt with by those that live in the in between. This is the premise behind China Mieville's brilliant story The City and the City.

A body is found in the city of Beszel, but it becomes apparent by the investigating detective that the crime actually occurred in Ul Qoma. Imagine investigating a crime under the conditions I listed above. This is a unique murder mystery in that the mystery of the location is more fascinating than the crime committed. It takes a while for the "shared city" concept to sink in, but once it does the book really comes to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of Mieville's work.

45. The Long Last Call by John Skipp pp. 305 (3 stars)



A dark stranger pulls into a seedy strip club parking lot dressed to the nines with devilish good looks and a briefcase packed to the gills with cash. He starts spreading the wealth amongst the entertainment and clientele, but a few brave souls see through his facade. This man is an agent of evil and with his mere touch the demon within comes out to play.

This is my first experience with John Skipp and as I read the other reviews here I find that The Long Last Call is sort of a "welcome back to the splatterpunk genre" release. The book was graphic and entertaining enough, but more importantly it has sparked an interest for me to go back and look for some of his earlier work to see how it compares. I would recommend this book to fans of extreme horror.

Hi Nick!! I have The City and The City on my wishlist. I'm glad you liked it and thanks for reminding me about it. Looks like you're on a role, I've only read 40 so far.

Hope you're having a great summer!!

#113: Into the Wild had the potential to be a five star rated book for me, except that Krakauer's views on McCandless bordered on hero worship. It was quite obvious that the author was envious of McCandless's choice to step out of society proper and takes every opportunity given to defend sometimes very poor decisions made by Chris.

Having just read Clint Willis' Epic: Stories of Survival from the World's Highest Peaks which features a true story by and about Krakauer, I can see why Krakauer wrote like that - he thinks that way himself.

I felt the same way about Into the Wild. He was an idiot.

116> Tammy, If and when you do pick up The City and the City I would recommend that you carve out some time to read it straight through. Gaining comprehension of the "shared city" took some doing (at least for me) and I think it would be challenging to put the book down for a while and come back. Congratulations to you on hitting the 40 book mark!

46. Audrey's Door by Sarah Langan (Kindle Edition) pp. 432 (3 stars)



Review:

$999 for a 14th floor apartment in The Breviary, one of the only remaining structures in the world designed following the chaotic naturalism principal, built on the edge of Central Park in Manhattan. What a deal! There is a catch of course, the apartment was constructed by evil and evil needs a doorway to escape and destroy the world.

The main character, Audrey, is a flawed protagonist. She has OCD, potential mental illness and is a perfectionist despite a very troubling childhood. Audrey's mother suffered from a bipolar disorder and the events surrounding Audrey's early years in life are quite disturbing. Her mother's instability naturally left Audrey with many questions regarding her own sanity. The Breviary latched on to Audrey's insecurities like a leech when she moved in, forcing her to act as its conduit.

The story itself was so-so. I had trouble connecting with the main character and I perceived that the mental illness portions of the story took center stage over the far more interesting haunted house aspects. Sarah Langan's writing is solid and the story is a page turner, but it hit a point for me where I just wanted to jump ahead 100 pages to see what is going to happen within the apartment building. I won't spoil that part for you. I would recommend this story for fans of psychological horror fiction.

117>Thanks for the indirect recommendation of Epic: Stories of Survival from the World's Highest Peaks. I will have to let my wife know about that one as she is a huge fan of mountaineering books.

I do not doubt that Jon Krakauer views himself as a bit of a rogue, but my chief complaint from Into the Wild was his lack of objectivity. Granted, there is a somewhat romantic element to stepping out of society proper, but would a tiny admission that McCandless made some poor choices be too much to ask. To be fair, in the Introduction Krakauer did pretty much admit to being on team "Supertramp", but still...

118>"Idiot" may be a bit harsh, but it does sum things up pretty well :) It was a good read, but I really didn't feel any pity whatsoever for McCandless's final fate.

I hadn't realized Sarah Langan has a new book out. I really liked her previous two, so definitely need to pick this one up! Good review, by the way. Got a thumbs-up from me.

#121: The Clint Willis book takes excerpts from the best adventure writing, so overall the book is very good. I hope your wife enjoys it!

122: Hey Doc, it is not a new one as I read at least a year ago. It is much different than the first two, but still a strong read IMO. I guess it is a new one for you though...hehehe.

122>Hi Jim, thanks for stopping by. I enjoyed Sarah Langan's writing quite a bit and I would like to give another one of her stories a whirl. Which would you recommend The Missing or The Keeper?

Both - they're linked stories. Read The Keeper first.

47. An American Haunting by Brent Monahan pp. 208 (2.5 stars)



Review:

Can a ghost kill? According to the "true" events captured in Brent Monahan's, An American Haunting, the answer is yes. An American Haunting takes place in 1800s America and describes the events surrounding the famed "Bell Witch" haunting from a first-person perspective. The narrator supposedly kept a meticulous journal of the paranormal experiences he witnessed in hopes of sharing this ghastly account with his progeny. The manuscript was found some years later and Brent Monahan was selected to investigate and publish the incident.

I did not connect with this book on any level. The storytelling was intentionally dry in an attempt to facilitate the realism. The best I can say is that the book was short. Perhaps the story of "The Bell Witch" is true, but I did not have the energy upon completion to go on a fact finding mission. My recommendation would be to look elsewhere for ghost stories.

48. Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill pp. 152 (4 stars)



Review:

Welcome to Lovecraft is the first graphic novel in Joe Hill's Locke and Key series. In the first episode, a tragic event forces the Locke family to move in with their uncle to his Gothic home where supernatural mystery abounds. The house holds many secrets waiting to be unlocked, but the right key must be found to unleash the power within.

The storyline for this graphic novel is superb and the artwork complemented the story immensely. I have never really given the graphic novel a chance, but Joe Hill's work may have opened my eyes to a whole new genre of storytelling. The next book in the series will be on order shortly.

Just finished Locke and Key: Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill and loved it. I have never really given graphic novels a chance and now I feel that I may have been excluding an entire genre from my reading repertoire. Any graphic novel fans ever stop by this thread? If so, any recommendations?

#129: Some good graphic novels that I have come across: Asterios Polyp, Maus and Maus II, Persepolis, Bone, Blankets (I have not read this one yet, unlike the other recommendation, but have seen very good reviews of it), Stitches, Fables.

We also have a graphic novels thread in the group, if you care to visit. I am sure you will get a ton of recommendations there. Here is the link to the current thread: http://www.librarything.com/topic/115329

I was also pretty impressed with The Walking Dead series. My son got me to try Scott Pilgrim. I liked it but it's very different from Locke & Key. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was a much better graphic novel series than movie. Hellboy is another I like a lot.

Thanks for that review, I love graphic novels and will be definitely checking this one out.

130 & 131> Thank you so much for the recommendations! Once I get through the rest of Locke and Key I will determine which one of these to try first.

132> @KiwiNyx, Glad to be of assistance! Any graphic novels that you would recommend I check out?

Ooh, I would definitely recommend Blankets and Persepolis as two standouts. Also, Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere is excellent and The Arrival is a stunning wordless novel that you can read in 10 minutes or 2 hours depending how you look at the pictures. I would also recommend The Invention of Hugo Cabret, not a true graphic novel but the words and images are so gorgeous and I think this one could fall into either novel or graphic novel category.

49. The Seeress of Kell by David Eddings (Audiobook) pp. 384 (3.5 Stars)



Review:

The Seeress of Kell concludes Eddings' epic fantasy, The Malloreon. In the fifth book, the heroes are drawn to 'The Place that is no More' and Cyradis finally makes her choice that will determine the fate of the world.

The events that take place in the fifth book are quite predictable, but there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing that everything is as it should be. In this readers opinion, the Malloreon was probably about two books two long. The story wandered, there was a whole lot of walking and eventually I found myself screaming "Jesus Eddings will you let them get there already, haven't they suffered enough!!!"

I think this series would have been far more enjoyable had I taken a break after reading the Belgariad. The first series was too fresh in my mind and that only served to highlight the plot similarities between the two stories. My recommendation is to read this series, but take your time and let the story stray from your mind a bit before jumping directly to the next.

#135: The story wandered, there was a whole lot of walking and eventually I found myself screaming "Jesus Eddings will you let them get there already, haven't they suffered enough!!!"

LOL!

I hope book 50 proves to be a good one for you, Nick!

Wow, I am bit behind on my threads...

#135> Happy to provide the laugh!

Now, without further ado... book 50 and beyond.

50. Freedom TM by Daniel Suarez (Audiobook) pp. 416 (3.5 stars)



Review:

Freedom (TM) picks up right where Daemon left off. The Darknet is thriving, Darknet credits are more valuable than the dollar and the line between good and evil continues to blur. The government is attempting to put a stop to the Daemon and restore status quo, whereas the followers of Sobol's Darknet are developing new technologies to improve society through advanced power management and agriculture. More than once you will be asking yourself "Should the Daemon be destroyed or are we better off now?"

The reader's suspension of disbelief is stressed to a whole new level in Freedom (TM). A majority of society is ever-present in a "game-like" state. Members of the Darknet sport spiffy HUD sunglasses that project a layered visualization of the Darknet. All members have a callout with their name, a level and a rating. For Example, "Dr. No, level 15 journalist, 4.0 stars with 1,234 votes". In other words, a well respected journalist whom you can relatively trust based on other users interaction with this individual. This is very common nomenclature in the gaming world and it is clever to see this naming convention applied within a different space.

Freedom (TM) did not pack the same punch as its predecessor, but is an enjoyable read just the same.

51. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin pp. 831 (4 stars)



Review:

After spending many, dare I say years, hearing about Martin's fantasy series I can finally contribute to the conversation, well at least on topics discussed in the first book. I was constantly warned by others that "No one is safe" and that I "Should Not Get Attached To Any Character!", so much so that I found myself peeking at the table of contents from time to time to determine which character's storyline was unexpectedly cutoff (Warning: Don't do that).

A Game of Thrones takes place after a long Summer reaches it's end and Winter is steadily approaching. Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, is called upon by the King of the Seven Kingdoms to join him as his Hand. He leaves much of his family behind in Winterfell and then the political chess game really catches wind. There is treachery afoot as Royal Houses turn on Royal Houses and the characters you thought you could trust reveal their sinister motives. Wars begin in the Seven Kingdoms and former ruling bloodlines begin to make their play at restoring former glory.

A Game of Thrones is not an endeavor to be taken lightly. First off, the book is thick, long and could easily double as a weapon if you happen to have nothing sharp and pointy nearby. Secondly, the characters. Each Royal house has lords, ladies, children, men-at-arms, knights, uncles, goat keepers; you name it and they will have a place in the story. Yet somehow Martin keeps the story well organized and the cast of characters seems far less daunting than it should.

If you are looking for a high-fantasy novel to get lost in for a while, I highly recommend A Game of Thrones.

52. Locke and Key: Head Games by Joe Hill pp.160 (4 stars)



Review:

The addictive Locke and Key graphic novel series continues with, Head Games. In part two, the mysteries of the Locke house continue to unravel and a key so grotesquely absurd and powerful is found that you have to read it to believe it. I am looking forward to cracking open my skull and inserting the third book into the ol' memory banks as soon as possible.

#139: Nope, not starting that series until Martin finishes writing it. I am not, not, not - even if everyone else in the group (seemingly) is. . .

131> @alcottacre, lol... I don't blame you one bit! I am cautiously hopeful that Martin will finish the series. The fifth book is finally released and the goons at HBO will probably hold him at gunpoint in front of his computer until he gives them a conclusion that will maintain good TV ratings.

53. Locke and Key: Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill pp. 152 (4 stars)



Review:

Locke and Key continues it's addictive hold over the reader in the third installment, Crown of Shadows. This novel focuses on the history of the Locke home and of their father's past. In the past two books new magical keys are introduced and this book is no exception. Be prepared, as shadows will literally come to life and evil will stop at nothing until the most sacred of all the keys is located. I cannot wait to get my hands on the fourth story in this series.

#142: the goons at HBO will probably hold him at gunpoint in front of his computer until he gives them a conclusion that will maintain good TV ratings.

Nice to know that the goons at HBO are good for something :)

54. Night Shift by Stephen King (Kindle Edition) pp. 368 (4 stars)



Review:

Night Shift is a collection of short stories by Stephen King first published in 1978. I will be the first to admit that I am a bigger fan of the King tomes and normally do not love his short fiction. Night Shift, however, is the exception. A few standouts that I would recommend: The Ledge, Quitters Inc., Children of the Corn and I Know What You Need. The rest of the stories are pretty good and vary in levels of believability from "very real" to "complete absurdity". If you are going to pass by any of the stops along the Night Shift train I would personally skip The Man Who Loved Flowers. Other than that, this is Stephen King gold.

Night Shift is a great collection to pick up if you are in the mood to be scared, just a bit, one story at a time.

55. Once a Runner by John L. Parker, Jr pp. 304 (4.5 stars)



Review:

Once a Runner is a fictional account of a college track athlete, Quenton Cassisdy, who sacrifices just about everything to be his best at running the mile. The story is classified as fiction, but the characters have so much life it is hard to perceive this as anything but a biography of a runner. The mental and physical mechanics of running are described with such authentic detail that you will find your pulse quickening with every step of your vicarious hitchhiking exepedition with Quenton Cassidy on his 1600 meter journey to greatness.

If you are looking for an inspirational story about running, I highly recommend this book.

56. The Tomb by F. Paul Wilson pp. 448 (Kindle Edition) (3.5 stars)



Review:

Repairman Jack is not your typical repairman. You need your refrigerator fixed? You better call someone else, because Repairman Jack lives off the grid and fixes situations. In, The Tomb, Jack is called upon to provide assistance to an Indian diplomat who has a simple request. Find the thug who beat up his grandmother and stole a family heirloom. This trivial task turns into a tale of revenge incited by the greed of a British officer in the 1800s. Jack is thrown into an unbelievable supernatural thrill-a-coaster as he battles against folklore incarnate.

F. Paul Wilson's writing style is simplistic, but effective. The characters, especially that of protagonist Repairman Jack, capture the reader's attention from page one. I am looking forward to tackling the second book in this series to see where author Wilson takes Jack on his next adventure.

57. The Magicians by Lev Grossman (Audiobook) pp. 416 (4 stars)



Review:

The Magicians, a modern fantasy based on a classic storyline. Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant yet lonely individual learns that magic is real and he has been selected as a candidate to attend Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy. This is the part where we deviate from the classic storyline. College is hard, learning magic is a tedious process and a steady dose of alcohol and sex flows through the school's corridors. The book covers the entire Brakebill's educational process (5 year plan) and upon graduation the students are thrown back into the world they left behind. After a serious post-graduation drinking bender the old classmates come together and embark on a magical quest to Narnia...ermm.... Fillory (sans the wardrobe).

I enjoyed Grossman's take on the wizarding genre. His characters suffer, they feel pain and they learn that magical ability does not come free. These character traits/flaws inject a bit of realism into the otherwise fantastical world of magic. This book probably is not for everyone. If you are looking for happy endings and good triumphing over evil, just walk on by. However, if you want to sample a different take on the world of magic I suggest you pick a copy of The Magicians.

I really like the sound of The Magician, I think fantasy needs a bit of realism to make it appeal more, to me at least.

I found The Magicians to have a touch too much teenage angst, drugs and alcohol to be really enjoyable reading, but the ending made up for much. Still undecided as to whether to read the sequel.

149> @KiwiNyx, the book has received mixed reviews, but I was a fan. To be fair, I did listen to the Audiobook version of the book which may have enhanced my experience. I would personally recommend giving the book a try.

150> @ronincats, the "teenage angst" was a bit on the high side, but it must not have been enough to surpass my angst threshold. I am about 1/4 of the way through The Magician King, so stay tuned for my thoughts on the sequel.

58. The Measure of a Mountain by Bruce Barcott pp. 288 (3.5 stars)



Review:

At 14,411 feet (summit elevation), Mt. Rainier is the highest mountain in Washington State and is considered a starting ground for those wishing to try their luck with Everest. The Measure of a Mountain, is the story of one man's obsession with Mount Rainier. Bruce Barcott shares his findings on the history of the mountain, his personal quest to circumnavigate Rainier via the 92 mile Wonderland Trail and ultimately his journey to the summit.

Barcott's writing style reminded me of a healthy blend of Bill Bryson and Jon Krakauer; the wit of Bryson with the intensity and journalistic flare of Krakauer. The story jumps between Barcott's personal experiences and a history lesson of the mountain. I personally would have liked if the book focused more on his personal accounts, but it was interesting to read about the geology, flora and fauna of this great Pacific Northwest landmark nonetheless. I would highly recommend this book to any mountain/climbing book enthusiasts.

59. The Rising by Brian Keene pp. 336 (3.5 stars)



Review:

An unexpected side effect of a scientific experiment opens up a doorway for non-human entities to reanimate the dead. Not just reanimate deceased humans, but animals as well. These are not your average zombies. They think, coordinate, speak and share the memories of their host bodies. The human race is becoming an endangered species and every time a human goes down the army of zombies gains a new recruit.

It is in this setting that the protagonist, Jim Thurmond, travels from West Virgina to New Jersey to save his son. Along the way, he encounters several other "living" beings who help him along on his journey. However, with zombie birds monitoring the skies, zombie deer lurking in the forest, and zombie humans patrolling with weapons, there is no safe zone. Jim must go against all odds if he hopes to find his son alive. The Rising is probably not for everyone, but if you are a fan of the zombie movement I highly recommend you give this book a chance.

60. Florida Roadkill by Tim Dorsey (Kindle Edition) pp. 288 (3 stars)



Review:

If a book can have attention deficit disorder, than this is it. Florida Roadkill, zips around from character to character in a drug induced (or deprived) whirlwind following several Florida locals across the state on a murdering rampage in search of a suitcase filled with five million dollars. The main character, if there is one, is Serge Storms who travels the state with his partner in crime Coleman, sharing the sites and wonders of Florida and killing anyone who may (or may not) get in their way. Dorsey pokes fun at many Florida stereotypes, which I am sure are much more appreciated by true Floridians. However, the Florida jokes that did not fly over my head were chuckle-worthy and those that I didn't get... well, than I didn't.

Florida Roadkill definitely falls into the black humor category and was unexpectedly entertaining. If you are prone to seizures from strobe lights or if indiscriminate murdering sprees are not your cup of tea you may want to pass this book up and find something a little less adrenaline fueled.

61. The Magician King by Lev Grossman (Audiobook) (4 stars)



Review:

Quentin Coldwater, hero of Fillory, returns in the sequel to The Magicians. Julia and Quentin enter the story as King and Queen of Fillory and like all good tales, a quest is afoot. The Fillory royalty set out an adventure to recover the seven keys, which take them across the magical lands of Fillory, to Earth, the Neitherlands and back. Old friends from The Magicians rejoin the party and although the collective cast do not comprehend the true scale of their quest, they eventually will come to terms with the magnitude of the challenge before them.

Rarely is the sequel better than its predecessor, but The Magician King is just that. This novel re-introduces Julia, Quentin's pre-magic love interest who surfaces as a hedge witch. That is, a person who has learned magic outside of the controlled environs of a magical education. The story alternates between Julia's mental break as she subconsciously recalls her failed admission to Brakebills and how she set out to harness magic on her own, and the quest at hand. The story of Julia's personal struggles for magic are actually far more interesting than Quentin's travels through Brakebills and I found myself wanting to skip ahead to better understand Julia. I didn't, but it is worth the wait.

Lev Grossman captured my attention with The Magicians, but the storyline of The Magician King is far more engrossing. The sex and beer fueled first book, though entertaining, felt a bit disconnected at times. Additionally, the comparisons to Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia were a tad underwhelming. This novel has a more coherent storyline and the characters have matured (both chronologically and as written) . If you had mixed feelings about the first book, I would encourage you to give the second book a whirl.

Does anyone know if there is a third installment planned for this series???

I am starting to get nervous that I am not going to make the 75 mark this year. Work has really become a time monopolizer over the past few months and this has really cut in on my reading/relaxing time...

I am currently reading:
Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry - A zombie novel that details the spread of the parasitic flesh consuming virus that is spreading throughout a small town in Pennsylvania. I received this book as part of the Early Reviewer Program here at LT. An intense read so far. I only have about 50 pages to go, so a full review should be posted in the next day or two.

I am currently listening to:
Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - This is my first encounter with the author and so far so good. Not quite sure where the story is going yet, but I am looking forward to finding out.

I really enjoyed reading through your thread. I'm now eagerly looking forward to The Magician King since I enjoyed the first book.

62. Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry pp. 368 (3.5 stars) - LibraryThing Early Reviewer Book



Review:

"This is how the world ends." These words literally are the first chapter of the book. With a kickoff like that, I was literally hooked from the first page.

The novel starts out with two small town cops investigating a breaking and entering call at the local funeral home. The door is jimmied, an empty car is in the driveway and there is a sense of wrongness at the scene. Upon entering the preparation room, the two officers, JT and Dez, are confronted with the mutilated corpses of the funeral director, a housekeeper with a missing throat and an empty body bag. Things really take a turn for the worse when Officer Dez is attacked by the "dead" housekeeper. My friends, Stebbins has got itself a zombie problem.

Having just finished reading Brian Keene's "The Rising" I wasn't sure that I was ready for yet another zombie thrill ride. However, Maberry's zombies are a bit different. They are a result of a bio-weapon that is in fact a genetically engineered parasite that consumes the host, but keeps them in a near death state. The frightening element here is that the consciousness is still present, the host knows what is going on, but the hunger for flesh is insatiable and the parasite is in charge of the dinner menu.

For those of you have not had the opportunity to read Jonathan Maberry before you are missing out on a real treat. His writing style flows well, his characters are realistically flawed and his pacing his spot on. If you are in the mood for a seasonal scare, pick up Dead of Night and enjoy.

157> @nancyewhite, thanks for stopping by my thread. I always a appreciate a new visitor! If you enjoyed The Magicians, I am pretty sure you will be a fan of the sequel. It looks like Lev Grossman is planning a third installment to the series, but unfortunately I don't think it will be anytime soon.

I started looking through your thread from the first half of the year and I see the wishlist counter going up a bit, which is never a bad thing.

Hello! Stopping by to say hello for the first time!
You've read some good books this year!

I have The Magicians and The Magician King to get to in November

161> @Gogs81, Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy The Magicians series as much as I did.

In the battle of work vs. reading, work is the clear victor in the month of October. This week I received my Early Reviewer copy of Harbor by John Ajvide Lindqvist. I won this book back in July and had pretty much given up on ever receiving it. Always a nice surprise when a book unexpectedly shows up in your mailbox.

This week I am reading:
(1) A Race Like No Other by Liz Robbins - A work of non-fiction describing the 2007 New York Marathon. The book is following several characters of various skills and backgrounds as the traverse the 26.2 mile course. The author describes several key landmarks in the race and I just passed the half-way point (13.1 miles to go). Very enjoyable and fast paced read so far.

(2) Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - I started listening to this one last week and I am about a third of the way through. This is a work of fantasy describing the plight of a group of slaves working to overthrow an empire. The magic system in this book is very interesting - magic users must ingest various metals and then "burn" the metals within their body to perform a specific ability. There are also physical limits to the magic. For example, if the caster attempts to pull something heavier than the caster towards them the caster will be pushed with equal force in the opposite direction. These limitations are exploited by the caster for expedient travel. The main plot-line is good, but the magic system really has drawn me in.

>163 JechtShot:: I read "A Race Like No Other" earlier this year, and enjoyed it quite a bit. I thought the mile-by-mile structure was clever and perfectly appropriate. Hope you like the rest!

63. A Race Like No Other by Liz Robbins pp. 352 (3.5 stars)



Review:

A Race Like No Other describes in great detail the 2007 New York City Marathon. The author expertly captures the essence of the race and provides the reader with a rare vicarious treat of what is like to run one of the greatest marathons on the planet. The book focuses primarily on a few key players to illustrate the impact of the marathon from multiple perspectives.

The story was not without flaws. Just as the action was heating up and you couldn't wait for the next mile the author interjected a bit of race history. The information was interesting and it certainly belonged in this story, but I do question the placement of some of these factoids. On occasion, the ill-placed historical tid-bits broke up the pacing and gave this reader an excuse to put the book down and come back to it later. A few editorial adjustments and this book would have five star potential.

There is clearly something magical about this race and after reading this book I think I will be adding the New York City Marathon to the bucket list. Recommended reading for runners and non-runners alike.

64. Harbour by John Ajvide Lindqvist pp. 512 (3 stars) - LibraryThing Early Reviewer Book



Review:

A husband and wife take their six-year old child out to the lighthouse across the bay from the island of Domarö, Sweden. Anders, Cecilia and their daughter Maja. A perfect family. A perfect family moment. The proud father takes pictures of his beautiful family, of the lighthouse, of his home and then tragedy strikes. Maja is gone without a trace. There are no footprints. There is no sign of struggle. She is gone. The story follows Anders on a supernatural quest to solve the mystery of his daughter's disappearance. He must unravel the secrets of Domarö's history to understand what truly happened that fateful day two years ago.

John Ajvide Lindqvist has crafted a supernatural page turner that will keep you guessing until the very end. The book felt a bit longer than it needed to be, but fortunately the story and setting will keep your curiosity peaked long enough to reach the climactic conclusion. I am not sure that this book has much re-readability value, but I did enjoy my brief stay in the harbor. The book is tagged as horror, but the horror aspect is more that of a ghost story than a gore fest. Recommended for fans of supernatural thrillers

Thanks to a camping trip this weekend, I finely had a few moments to enjoy some quality reading time! October ends with +4 books, which is not great, but better than it was looking.

This week I am reading:

(1) Wired by Douglas E. Richards - Picked this one up for my Kindle for the low, low, super bargain price of 79 cents. That's right, practically free. Yes, I did check reviews before purchase. For that price, the odds of the book having similar qualities to excrement were quite high. I just started the book this morning, so I don't have much to report yet. A private investigator (former military) has been assigned a mission by the US Government to track down a brilliant bio-terrorist who is genetically engineering a virus that will have a significant impact on all Americans.

(2) Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - I am about half-way through now and this is a phenomenal fantasy story so far. The plot to overthrow the empire continues and I can't wait to see how it goes. The story has moved away a bit from the powerful magic system and is now focusing on infiltrating the high-houses of the empire. Looking forward to some more quality listening time this week.

I have Mistborn and three other Sandersons here in my tbr pile. I really need to get to them some day soon--everyone seems to love him.

168> Hi ronincats. I stumbled upon Mistborn by accident while browsing the audible catalog for something new to listen to. I am really enjoying so far. Not sure what else you have pending in your tbr stack, but you may want to think about promoting this one to the top if you are in a fantasy mood.

I definitely have to move one of his up to the top, probably Elantris as it is a stand-alone. I have Elantris, Warbreaker, Mistborn, The Well of Ascension, and The Way of Kings all physically in my tbr stack, so I certainly HOPE I like him as much as I expect to!

Looks like you've read some great books!! I have The Magicians sitting on my shelves waiting to be read and didn't realize the sequel had come out yet. I also have Martin's books and many of the Sanderson books that Roni listed above waiting to be read. I've heard some great things about him, but have yet to read any of his books. Hopefully it is something I will be able to remedy sooner rather than later!

65. WIRED by Douglas E. Richards (Kindle Edition) (3.5 stars)



Review:

Kira Miller, a brilliant molecular biologist secretly develops a pill that can temporarily enhance the potential of the human brain. During one of these periods of cognitive enlightenment, Kira discovers a means to double the span of human life. However, an unknown foe discovers Miller's secret and Kira and her new recruit, an ex-special forces agent named David Desh, must work together to protect her secret and the world.

The novel is a captivating page turner with well placed cliffhangers leaving the reader wanting to read "just one more chapter". The main characters are a bit cookie cutter. Kira is the beautiful scientist and Desh is the handsome military man... can you predict where this one is going? One gripe I did have with the story was that whenever the duo found themselves in a bind they would pop a wonder pill, enhance their intelligence to the next level and come out the victors.

This was a fun techno-thriller that was well worth the read. The author poses some interesting philosophical questions on human intellect, the existence of God and the nature of humanity. Recommended if you are in the mood for an action packed sci-fi/techno-thriller with a pinch of philosophy mixed in.

66. The Price by Alexandra Sokoloff pp. 320 (3.5 stars)



Review:

What price would you pay to save a loved one? Is death sometimes better than the alternative? These are the questions posed by Alexandra Sokoloff in her novel, The Price. An affluent politician, Will Sullivan, and his wife Joanna have their lives flipped upside-down when their young daughter is suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer. The family drops everything and moves to the cancer ward at the Briarwood Medical Center. Sullivan hasn't slept in days and frequently roams the lonely hospital halls to escape the pain only to discover that Briarwood has secrets. A gentleman is frequently found speaking to those on the verge of losing a loved one only to find that within days their loved one is miraculously cured. However, when Will questions others about the mysterious man in black he is greeted with a quizzical expression. Is the well dressed gentleman a counselor, a con or simply a product of Will's sleep deprived imagination?

I applaud Angela Sokoloff for tackling this somewhat controversial subject matter. It is interesting to consider the price someone would pay to save a loved one and then to frame that question around the children's cancer ward really puts the reader on the edge of discomfort. At times heart-breaking, The Price is a psychological horror story that is guaranteed to keep your interest until the end.

171> Hi Jolerie! It has been a great year of reading so far (thanks mostly to this group). Every time I look at my ever-growing TBR stack I think how lucky I am that I have so many unknown worlds left to explore.

Ah, November already... before you know it I'll be buried in snow with nothing to do but read a book. How horrible :)

This weeks reading agenda includes:

(1) Eiger Dreams by Jon Krakauer - A collection of mountaineering stories by one of my favorite adventure non-fiction authors. I just peeled the cover back on this one, but it looks to be a quick read.

(2) Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson - Hitting the home stretch now. Only 2 hours of audio remain and the story continues to fascinate me. At 24 hours of audio, this is a pretty massive auditory undertaking. The expert storytelling and brilliant narration make this one of my top 10 favorite audio books to date.

67. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson pp. 672 (Audiobook) (4.5 stars)



Review:

Sanderson wastes no time welcoming you the world of the Mistborn. The setting is bleak; ash falls continuously from the soot singed sky, plant life is non-existent, and there is a disparate caste system between the poor (Skaa) and the nobility . The Lord Ruler, the God of The Final Empire, enslaves the people and performs routine executions to keep the commoners (and royalty to some degree) in check. It is in this dismal state of existence that a hero arises to lead the people to rebel against the Lord Ruler.

The Mistborn are those born with the ability of Allomancy. That is, a form of magic that can only be utilized when the caster ingests specific metals. Mistborn are a very rare breed and supposedly are only born to those of a noble blood line. Kelsier, a Skaa Mistborn, is the hero of this novel and the story focuses on his mission of putting together a crew capable of overthrowing The Final Empire. While in the process of putting the team together, Kelsier encounters another Skaa Mistborn, Vin. However, Vin is unaware of her Allomantic talents and Kelsier takes her under his wing. Kelsier plays the role of father figure to Vin and Sanderson uses this as a vehicle to explain to the reader in great detail the complex magic system of this universe.

As stated previously, the magic system in this book is very unique - magic users must ingest various metals and then "burn" the metals within their bodies to perform a specific ability. There are also physical limits to the magic. For example, if the caster attempts to pull something heavier than the caster towards them the caster will be pushed with equal force in the opposite direction. These limitations can be exploited by the caster for purposes of expedient travel and combat.

This is my first run-in with Brandon Sanderson as a writer. I have heard of him, but not much about his talent as a fantasy writer. Boy, have I been missing out. His characters are brilliant, his ability to write action sequences is superb and his attention to the details of his universe is exceptional. I highly recommend this novel to all of you fantasy fans out there.

68. Eiger Dreams by Jon Krakauer pp. 186 (2.5 stars)



Review:

Eiger Dreams is a collection of 12 non-fiction mountaineering shorts by Jon Krakauer. The stories range in topics from the art of "bouldering" to deadly climbing escapades on K2.

I read and enjoyed Into Thin Air and Into The Wild, but this book did not spark my interest in the same manner. I found myself yawning through the name-droppingly dull story of Chamonix. Krakauer spent a great deal of paper real estate describing every climber that set foot in town and penned what felt like only a few paragraphs on the actual mountain. Unfortunately, a few stories in the collection shared this characteristic.

This collection is not all bad. A few standouts include: "Eiger Dreams" - describes attempts to conquer the North Face of the Eiger, "Gill" - A tale of bouldering and "The Devils Thumb" - A personal account where Krakauer sets out to climb in Alaska alone (Should be a familiar tale if you have read Into The Wild).

Unfortunately, this book did not rate very high for me, but if you are a Krakauer fan it may be worth reading just for a few of the standout stories mentioned above.

The end of the year is quickly approaching and I am currently sitting at 68 books for the year. I am cautiously optimistic that I can get through another 7 books before 2011 is just a memory.

This week I am reading:

(1) You Suck by Christopher Moore - I was in the mood for a little light-hearted laugh out loud sophomoric vampire humor, so I turned to Christopher Moore. You Suck is the second installment in Moore's Vampire Love Story series.

(2) Bossypants by Tina Fey - I am currently listening to this one on Audiobook. I have always been a big fan of Tina Fey. Bossypants is a humorous memoir of her life thus far; it is quite personal and very, very funny. I'm talking pull over to the side of the road to get over your fit of laughter funny. Tina Fey narrates her own story and I cannot imagine a better way to enjoy this book.

(3) The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson - Currently listening to the second book in the Mistborn series on Audiobook as well. This book picks up where Mistborn left off and once again I am completely immersed in the Mistborn Universe. When I grow up, I think I want to be an Allomancy.

(4) Aesop's Fables by Aesop - I pick this one up from time to time on my Kindle, enjoying a few fables at a time. These timeless fables are enjoyable, but numerous in quantity. Every once in a while I pick something off the 1001 Books list and good ol' Aesop won the draw.

That's a good list of books that you have on the go! I read Aesop's Fables recently and thought they were pretty good!

69. You Suck by Christopher Moore pp. 352 (2.5 stars)



Review:

Jody and Tommy, Christopher Moore's lovably awkward duo, are back in You Suck, the sequel to Bloodsucking Fiends. In book two, Jody brings Tommy into the world of the immortals and starts teaching him the ropes. Along the way they pick up some new minions and struggle to survive as vamps in sunny San Francisco.

This book was a bit of a let down for me. There were a few laugh out loud moments early on, but what started out as funny quickly digressed into redundant toilet humor. Unless you are a huge fan of Christopher Moore, I would steer clear of this one.

Happy Thanksgiving Nick!!!

70. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander pp. 190 (3.5 stars)



A re-read before I start The Black Cauldron. Original Review can be found: Here.

71. The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander (Kindle Edition) pp. 229 (3.5 stars)



Before jumping into my review, I thought I would share a personal anecdote related to this reading. I started my read of the Black Cauldron with a copy that has been sitting on my shelf for about a year. I was in my reading "spot", prepped, ready for a fine evening of reading enjoyment. I start the novel, devouring the first chapter, ready for the next. I hit page 22 and the story becomes completely incoherent. New characters are vocalizing their opinions on a topic I have not learned of yet, the scene has completely changed and I am lost! I go back a few pages to determine if I had a brief narcoleptic lapse while reading the last few pages... nope, confirmed that I was in fact awake. Then I noticed that my copy of the book jumped from page 22 to 168. Well, this is new. I start paging through the book some more and about 50 pages later the book jumps to page 50-something. Try as I might, I could not find page 23. On a positive note - I did discover that there were several duplicate pages as well. After my 20 minute diversion, I bought the book for my Kindle. Happy to report, all pages were present an accounted for. Now, on with the review!

Review:

Everyone's favorite assistant pig-keeper, Taran, is back and tasked by Prince Gwydion to join him in a quest to recover the enigmatic Black Cauldron from Annuvin. In the Prince's effort to destroy the Cauldron, an unexpected twist occurs (as often happens in these novels) and Taran is forced to once again lead his band of friends on a journey to find and destroy this instrument of evil.

The themes of loyalty and friendship ring throughout this novel and Taran's experiences are guiding him on the path of righteousness. Our young Taran is turning into much more than just an assistant pig-keeper. A fun predictable young adult fantasy read.

72. The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander (Kindle Edition) pp. 208 (3 stars)



Review:

In third novel of the The Chronicles of Prydain, The Castle of Llyr, Princess Eilonwy is escorted to the Isle of Mona to begin training as a 'lady'. However, upon reaching Mona, the Princess is kidnapped by one of Achren's minions and Taran (assistant pig-keeper to the stars) is dispatched to assist with the rescue.

The Castle of Llyr was an enjoyable read, but the storyline was not quite as engaging as the previous two. Taran continues to mature and realizes that he has "more than friends" feeling for Eilonwyn. Could an assistant pig-keeper manage to court a princess? Time will tell.

73. Mistborn: Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (Audiobook) pp. 796 (4 stars)



Review:

One year after the fall of the Lord Ruler and the world is a very different place. The mists, once constrained to the night begin to emerge during the day. There is suspicion that the mists have the ability to kill and figures seem to exist in its swirling patterns. Elend Venture is now king of Luthadel, attempting to lead his kingdom via democracy. Enemy armies gather outside Luthadel's gates in search of the coveted allomantic metal Atium. Vin, Mistborn and destroyer of the Lord Ruler, hones her skills as an allomancer s and is being called by something beyond the mists.

Brandon Sanderson's world of The Mistborn is flawlessly continued in the second installment of the series. The story shifts to focus more on the politics of the empire, as Elend learns that democracy, though is philosophically ideal, may not be the correct route to take when under siege. The action sequences continue to be the highlight of the series. As Vin grows in power, so follows the carnage. A brilliant continuation of the series.

Happy Holidays!!

Merry Christmas!

Thank you all for the holiday wishes! I hope your Christmas' were Merry and Your Holidays full of Happy!

Thought I would take a minute and list this years Christmas book haul:

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill
The Stand by Stephen King
Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander
Legacies by F. Paul Wilson
Survivor by J.F. Gonzalez

Looking forward to crossing the 75 book threshold this week for the first time in my life!

74. Bossypants by Tina Fey (Audiobook) pp. 288 (4 stars)



Review:

Bossypants is Tina Fey's comedic memoir describing her life from childhood theater nerd to her current status as producer/star of 30 Rock nerd. If you have the opportunity to listen to this on Audiobook, I would highly recommend going that route. Who better to tell Tina Fey's humorous escapades than Tina Fey! I think this book may be appreciated more by women, as many of her stories revolve around experiences that a only a woman could understand. Not saying the male species will not laugh out loud quite a bit, but lets face it, there are some things men will never quite get. Highly recommended for fans of Tina Fey.

75. Metagame by Sam Landstrom (Kindle Edition) pp. 400 (2.5 stars)



Review:

Sam Landstrom creates an interesting future where the entire concept of humanity as we know it is morphed into a multibillion person computer game. Normal day-to-day functions such as child raising and law enforcement are transformed into "grinder games" where players are jacked into the network and earn points based on their performance. Players belong to great houses (read Guilds) where status is determined by your point totals. It is in this world where a group is called to play a Meta-Game. A true honor where the stakes are high, but if a team is victorious they will be handsomely rewarded by the Game.

The premise was great, but the delivery was so-so. The biggest issue I had with the novel is that every character name is actually their online handle. Unfortunately, the main character is named D_Light and his name is referenced several thousand times throughout the story. Is a poor choice of character name enough to impact a books rating? In my case, yes. Between the naming issue and other inconsistencies in the story I have a hard time recommending this one.

76. Locke & Key: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill pp. 160 (4 stars)



Review:

Keys to the Kingdom ups the ante once again in this highly addictive graphic novel series. Unlike the preceding three stories this one turns the violence meter up to 11 and the ending will have you salivating for the next book in the series to be released.

Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez have created something special with this series. Between the brilliant storytelling and amazing artwork, this is a series not to be missed.