Seasonsoflove's 75 Books Challenge 2011

Back for another round!

1. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larson
2. The Restless Sleep by Stacy Horn
3. Wicked by Sara Shephard
4. How to Become a Scandal by Laura Kipnis
5. After by Francine Prose
6. The Fall of the House of Walworth by Geoffrey O'Brien
7. Danger's Dance by Kyla Prell
8. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
9. Museum of Hoaxes by Alex Boese
10. Killer by Sara Shephard
11. Heartless by Sara Shephard
12. The Ghost Writer by Robert Harris
13. I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali
14. Hippo Eats Dwarf by Alex Boese
15. Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh
16. Elephants on Acid by Alex Boese
17. Wanted by Sara Shepard
18. Blue Bloods by Melissa de La Cruz
19. The Complete History of Jack the Ripper by Philip Sugden
20. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
21 Secret Society by Tom Dolby
22. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
23. Stiff by Mary Roach
24. I am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
25. The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards
26. The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld
27. 100 Strangest Mysteries by Matt Lamy
28. Hollywood Kryptonite by Sam Kashner
29. Masquerade by Melissa de La Cruz
30. Deadly Illusions by Samuel Marx
31. The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
32. The Art of Making Money by Jason Kersten
33. Seductive Poison by Deborah Layton
34. The Devil's Tickets by Gary Pomeranz
35. The Devil's Rooming House by M. William Phelps
36. The Ghost Writer by John Harwood
37. The Murder Room by P.D. James
38. The Keep by Jennifer Egan
39. The Tattooed Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
40. Ghosts Among Us by Leslie Rule
41. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
42. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
43. Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein
44. Urban Legends: 666 Absolutely True Stories That Happened to a Friend...of a Friend of a Friend by Thomas J. Craughwell
45. The Seance by John Harwood
46. Divergent by Veronica Roth
47. The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Whitechapel Horrors by Edward B. Hanna
48. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
49. Bossypants by Tina Fey
50. The Girl With the Crooked Nose by Ted Botha
51. Above Suspicion by Lynda La Plante
52. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
53. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
54. Soulless by Gail Carriger
55. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale
56. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
57. Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie
58. Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott
59. Popular Crime by Bill James
60. Dominance by Will Lavender
61. Changeless by Gail Carriger
62. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Steig Larrson
63. Obedience by Will Lavender
64. Blameless by Gail Carriger
65. The Shining by Stephen King
66. Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh
67. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
68. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
69. Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber
70. What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller
71. The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson
72. Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz
73. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
74. Toys by James Patterson
75. Closet by R.D. Zimmerman
76. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
77. The Truth Can Get You Killed by Mark Richard Zubro
78. America the Book by Jon Stewart
79. American Rose by Karen Abbott
80. The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
81. Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz
82. The Crazy School by Cornelia Read
83. Murder of a Sleeping Beauty by Denise Swanson
84. Frostbite by Richelle Mead
85. The Book of Illusions by Paul Aster
86. Sybil Exposed by Debbie Nathan
87. Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz
88. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
89. The Case of the Lonely Heiress by Erle Stanley Gardner
90. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
91. The Night Strangers by Christopher A. Bohjalian
92. Urban Legends by Thomas J. Craughwell
93. The Best American Crime Reporting 2009 edited by Jeffrey Toobin
94. Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
95. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
96. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
97. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
98. Pirate King by Laurie R. King
99. The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman
100. A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Faith, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres
101. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
102. The Best American Crime Reportin 2002 edited by Otto Penzler
103. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
104. Invictus: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin
105. More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman
106. Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler
107. Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making: More Stories and Secrets from Her Notebooks by John Curran

1. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larson

I've been spreading these books out since there are only three, and finally let myself start this one-and then couldn't put it down. Amazing twists and turns, incredible characters, and a cliffhanger ending that has me wanting the next book right away.

Welcome back!

Glad to see you back with us again, Becca!

Thanks guys! I'm really glad to be back :)

2. The Restless Sleep by Stacy Horn
A really interesting, sometimes very difficult, read. It takes a look at the New York Cold Case Squad, through the lens of four cold cases.

3. Wicked by Sara Shepard
Another great installment in the Pretty Little Liars series.

4. How to Become a Scandal by Laura Kipnis
This was a really great non-fiction book looking at our fascination with scandal, and how seemingly competent, put-together people, get involved in really crazy scandals.

5. After by Francine Prose
This was a really chilling young adult book that I couldn't put down.

6. The Fall of the House of Walworth by Geoffrey O'Brien
A really incredible gothic true crime book, really well-written and well-researched.

Nice group of books, seasonsoflove! Nothing better than cold cases and chilling tales in the middle of winter. Personally I'm looking forward to the hot crimes of summer. :-)

I'm particularly intrigued by the House of Walworth one, once I get clear of the holiday pile.

Wow! You are off and running, aren't you? Great start to your reading year. Congrats!

Hello, this is my first message and I am new to the group. I am inspired by the books I am hearing about.

I have recently read.

1. Stockett, Kathryn, "Help"
A Great Book, a must read in fact I will read it again soon because it is that good! If you like southern type fiction and even if you don't. It is the story of a young woman who wants to be a writer and works for a local paper, it the story of her relationships with a black maid which changes her and many others. Beautiful writing.

2. Calvino, Italo, "Six Memos for the Next Millennium"
Calvino challenges me but I enjoyed this book very much, Calvino writes about writers and the longing for "exactitude," I appreciate his observations, reflections and theories, about how we/writers weave our tales, of relationships and objects layered with meaning that illuminates something in nature and those universal questions we think about. R.O

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

#6 Well seeing as you picked it out you have to read it!

#7 thanks! I do a lot of taking public transportation for work and such, so I get some great time to read. Plus, the cold weather (and the snowstorms) make my reading nook look even more inviting than usual.

#8 Welcome! You'll love it here. You should definitely start your own thread, I'd love to see what you read the rest of the year.

#9-Just posted mine-great idea!

7. Danger's Dance by Kyla Prell
This is a book written by one of my best friends, that just came out, and though I am biased, its also really good. There's a great sister relationship, a wonderful romance, action, intrigue, and a great fantasy world.

8. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
A re-read of one of my favorite books of all-time. I cannot recommend this book enough to everyone. I read it in a day because once again, I couldn't put it down.

9. Museum of Hoaxes by Alex Boese
Such an interesting book-it details some of the more prominent hoaxes from centuries ago through the early 2000s. A really fun read.

10. Killer by Sara Shephard
My guilty pleasure books continue to be addicting and fantastic. Once I start one, I cannot put it down.

11. Heartless by Sara Shephard
The second-to-last in the series, and I am literally on pins and needles waiting for the last one to come in from the library!

#10: I have Thirteen Reasons Why sitting at home waiting for me to get to it. I am going to have to push it up the stack!

Thirteen Reasons Why is really good. Thanks for convincing me to read it!

I'll be interested to hear what you think of Before I Fall, which has some loose similarities.

#11-It is one of my top books of all-time. Everytime I read it I'm completely drawn in.

#12 You are very welcome! And I'm excited to read Before I Fall!

12. The Ghost Writer by Robert Harris
This book was amazing-I'm not one who finds reading about politics interesting usually, but this book managed to be a wonderfully written piece of fiction, a social commentary, and so suspenseful I couldn't put it down.

13. I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali
This is such an incredible story, with an incredibly brave heroine you can't help but root for so deeply.

#13: I already have I Am Nujood in the BlackHole, but I am adding The Ghost Writer. Thanks for the recommendation, Becca!

#14-It is amazing! I'm passing it on to my parents now, and have the movie coming from the library.

14. Hippo Eats Dwarf: A Field Guide to Hoaxes and Other B.S. by Alex Boese
I love Boese's books-they're a well-researched and really entertaining look at various hoaxes, urban legends, etc. I especially enjoyed this one, as it looked at more modern, pop culture hoaxes, which I find really interesting.

15. Death at the Bar by Ngaio Marsh
I really enjoyed this one of hers particularly, as it moved at a faster pace than many of her other books, which can sometimes start out slow. The mystery was great, and the characters were really interesting.

That Ngaio Marsh is intriguing. I've found a couple of hers a little slow, but this sounds good.

#15: I do not think I have read that one by Marsh before. Thanks for the recommendation, Becca.

Hi
I'm stopping by to say I'm reading After, a book you read earlier this year. I'm about 100 pages into it and you are right, it is creepy and a page turner.

I'm reading one recommended by girlfromshangrila that I think you might like: Enthusiasm. It's a YA book that's a bit of a Jane Austen tribute, and very enjoyable so far.

#16 and #17-you're both welcome! It's one that had been sitting on my shelf for a while, and I'm really glad I picked it up.

#18-I'm really glad you're enjoying it-it isn't one I'd heard a lot about, so I'm glad I could pass on the recommendation to you.

#19-That does sound good! Is that the one you put in the bag?

16. Elephants On Acid by Alex Boese
Another great book by a great author, all about the craziest, most out-there science experiments ever. I've never been someone who's been particularly interested in science, but I still found this book so interesting.

17. Wanted by Sara Shepard
The last book in my guilty pleasure series (luckily she has another series already started!). It got a little outlandish at the end, but still really good.

Elephants on Acid sounds like a really interesting book! Just the title of the book is intriguing in itself. :)

Yes, what (Elephants on Acid) a title!

Is Wanted the wrap-up of the Pretty Little Liars series? Did it wrap it up? Is there an opening for her to do more?

#21 The title is definitely eye-catching! And they do talk about that actual experiment in the book as well.

#22-It was the wrap-up...there is room for her to do more, but I suspect she's done, though it will be interesting to see if she reserructs it.

18. Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
I finally found another young adult vampire series I enjoy. I really like the twist with this one, setting it among the young Manhattan elite, and the characters and mythology are really interesting. Easy quick read, that was really enjoyable.

Hello seasonsoflove. I've starred your post since we seem to share a love of YA vampire novels, among other books. :)

I too enjoyed Blue Bloods. Also I've been dying to read the Stieg Larsson books.

Here's a link to my post: http://www.librarything.com/topic/110420

You may find some other books you would enjoy in my highlights of 2010. What other YA vampire books have you enjoyed?

#25 Hi thinkcarrot, welcome to my thread. I starred yours as well.
I just ordered the second Blue Bloods book from the library. I love the Larsson books, and have been holding off on reading the third because I don't want the series to be over.

I've been searching for YA vampire books to read after Twilight, and Blue Bloods are the first YA ones I've found I really enjoy. Do you have any suggestions? I also really enjoy Tanya Huff, though I haven't read all of hers yet, I own them all.

19. The Complete History of Jack the Ripper by Philip Sugden
A detailed factual account of the Jack the Ripper murders, including background history, and a look at some of the suspects. A little dense at times, but still interesting, and very complete.

You're going to be a world expert on Jack at the rate you're going, seasonsoflove! This sounds like a comprehensive one.

I've got to get back to From Hell at some point, which you recommended to me.

#28 I just finished a reread of From Hell-still so good!

20. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
This book is the definition of delightful. The perfect book to read when I was stuck at home sick-it made me feel cozy and warm.

21. Secret Society by Tom Dolby
This was a really quick, addicting read. When I finished, I so hoped it was a series I looked all through the back pages and covers to find out more information. Luckily, there's a sequel, but sadly my library system doesn't seem to have it. I'm hoping to track it down.

Yay! Glad you liked Major Pettigrew's Last Stand! As you know, one of my favorites. Aren't the Major and Mrs. Ali great?

#30 They are!

22. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
One of my new favorite young adult books, I got so caught up in it I almost missed my train stop. I just got completely lost in the book. The main character is a fabulously complex, intelligent, strong young girl. Definitely worth reading.

Woo, that one sounds good, seasonsoflove. I hadn't heard of it before - I'll put it into my tbr group. I know "almost missed my train stop" is a high compliment - I've had it happen, too!

23. Stiff by Mary Roach
Though this got a little hard to read at times, it was really interesting and well-written. It's a hard topic to make readable, but she's an amazing author and did a great job.

24. I am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
A really unique and gripping book, you get lost in these characters and what is going to happen to them.

25. The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards
While this book could occasionally move a little slowly for my tastes, it was beautifully written, with a really interesting story. I especially liked how the author did not go for the cliched ending I anticipated, and went down a very different, great path.

Interesting books you're reading, seasonsoflove. I'm married to someone who loved Stiff, but then she seems as fascinated by corpses as you are by Jack the Ripper. I'm thinking about reading Mary Roach's Packing for Mars; I know she's considered a superb author.

#35 I want to read Packing for Mars soon for sure!

26. The Death Instinct by Jed Rubenfeld
I love his books because he combines historical fiction, mystery, suspense, and some Freud into incredibly readable and gripping reads.

27. 100 Strangest Mysteries by Matt Lamy
This wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, perhaps because the writing style wasn't super strong. But it was still really interesting, and introduced me to a bunch of topics I hadn't heard of before.

Well, I am very behind on threads, Becca, but I will try and keep up with you for the rest of the year.

I really need to get to Rubenfeld's books!

#37 It's so good to hear from you! I hope you're doing well.
And his books are really great.

28. Hollywood Kryptonite: The Bulldog, The Lady, and the Death of Superman by Sam Kashner
This is a really fascinating look at an unsolved mystery, covering all aspects of the case, and offering up a really interesting solution. I really enjoyed reading it.

This is the first TV Superman's death, right? George Reeves? (Did I get that name right?) I had heard the "suicide" conclusion was suspect.

#38: Thanks!

Hollywood Kryptonite looks like a book I would enjoy. Thanks for that recommendation.

#39-It is the first TV Superman, George Reeves. It's a really interesting read.

#40-I definitely recommend it. It's gotten me hooked on Hollywood true crime right now.

29. Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz
While not as good as the first book in the series, it was still enjoyable, even when the writing got a little corny and cliched. I really enjoy the characters and the complex world that has been created, and the cliffhanger ending was great.

30. Deadly Illusions by Samuel Marx
An account of a mysterious Hollywood death, written by someone who actually knew the victim. The history and mystery are both fascinating, and this book is really well-done.

31. Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
This was not typically the kind of mystery I would like, as I tend not to be a noir/hardboiled fan, but this book was really good-I got completely lost in it, and couldn't put it down. I love the way it blended true crime and fiction.

32. The Art of Making Money by Jason Kersten
A really interesting look at a master counterfeiter, how he does what he does, and his personal history, especially his complicated family relationships.

33. Seductive Poison:A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple by Deborah Layton
This was an incredible book, but also incredibly difficult to read, because of knowing how it ends-with people drinking poison at the People's Temple. Hearing about it from someone who actually experienced life in the People's Temple was truly chilling.

34. The Devil's Tickets: A Night of Bridge, a Fatal Hand, and a New American Age by Gary M. Pomerantz
While a little slow at times (perhaps because I'm not particularly knowledgeable about bridge), still a really interesting look at a very different time in history.

Whoa! You've been busy, seasonsoflove!

The Jonestown mess still creeps me out. I'm impressed you could make it through reading about it. Reminds me of Haruki Murakami's Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack, about a cult's attack on the Japanese transit system. Have you read that one yet? I saw you have it in your library.

#44-It's so creepy, but also just so unbelievable that it's true, and reading about it from the perspective of someone who was there is just more chilling and unbelievable and gripping. I have read that one, and its the same effect for me.

35. The Devil's Rooming House: The True Story of America's Deadliest Female Serial Killer by M. William Phelps

This is the true story of the woman who inspired "Arsenic and Old Lace". As my friend (who is a librarian) who recommended it to me described it, "it's creepy". It's chilling, and gripping, and also gives a great look at not only an incredibly deadly and terrifying murder spree, but one of the worst heat waves America ever experienced.

Hmmm, going to have to find that one...

#46-It's definitely one of the best true crime books I've read recently.

36. The Ghost Writer by John Harwood
This book is one of those I could not put down, and I'm still thinking about it(and trying to figure it out). It's really reminiscent of The Turn of the Screw (which it references), really chilling, a gothic ghost story psychological thriller mystery.

Sounds like a good one, seasonsoflove. I hadn't heard of it before. "Still thinking about it" to me is a sign of an exceptional read.

#45: I need to see if my local library has that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Becca!

#48-That's exactly how I feel too-when a book stays with me like that, it was an exceptional read.
#49-No problem! My librarian friend has some really great recommendations I never would have heard of otherwise.

37. The Murder Room by P.D. James
A re-read for me, and still a great one. This is one of my favorite of her books. I love the combination of the "true crimes" and the murders occurring in the book, and the setting is a great one.

#50: Not sure I have gotten to that one in the series yet - a series I really need to get back to. Thanks for the reminder!

That's a good P.D. James, seasonsoflove. I remember enjoying that one, too.

#51-It's such a great series, and this book is one of her best I think.

#52-It's definitely one of my favorites.

38. The Keep by Jennifer Egan
The style of book was not one I would typically pick up, but I'm really glad the description on the back got me too. It was really interesting, and really forced me to think about what was going on, and try to figure it out.

#53: I may have to give The Keep another go. I tried the first 50 pages and it just was not doing anything for me. Perhaps next time it will!

An LT reviewer called it, "deliciously Gothic and creepy." I can see why you liked it! Did you ever read Northanger Abbey? It's a very funny send-up of gothic novels.

#54-It was definitely not something I would have normally liked, but I found myself really drawn into it.

#55-Northanger Abbey is on my list to read very soon!

39. The Tattooed Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
This book told a disturbing story, but somehow told it beautifully, as Oates always does.

40. Ghosts Among Us by Leslie Rule
I took a chance on this one-I've become interested in reading about the paranormal, and this was at a big book sale for very cheap, so I grabbed it. It was unfortunately not that great. The material was interesting, but the writing was not great, and very little time was spent on each story. It felt like the book was spread too thin.

I find Joyce Carol Oates too much of a downer in general, although she does write well.

I have never read anything by JCO. I am not sure that I want to if I am perfectly honest about it.

#57 and #58-She's definitely one of those authors you either love or hate. I can't blame anyone for not liking her.

41. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
A re-read for me, with this particular Christie, remembering the ending came pretty quickly for me, but it was still quite enjoyable.

Ah, our man with the incomparable mustache! I remember this one as a good page-turner, with rubies at the center of it all.

I really have got to get my Christies catalogued and start re-reading them all!

#60-They did a good job with the movie version too, even though they changed a few things.

#61-There seriously is nothing like an Agatha Christie-I'm constantly re-reading them.

42. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
I loved this book so much! I couldn't put it down. It combined so many things I love-beauty pageants (my total guilty pleasure), Lost-type islands/mysteries, awesome characters, romance, friendships, strong female characters, satire...it was so clever and so well-done. One of my favorite reads of the year.

#62: The one and only Bray book I tried to read (Going Bovine) I gave up on. Maybe I would like Beauty Queens more. I will have to see if my local library has that one. Thanks for the recommendation, Becca!

That's funny. The only Libby Bray I've read is the same one, Going Bovine, and, while I made it through (probably with the hope it would get better), I thought it was lousy. I couldn't figure out why she's popular. This one sounds much better though, so maybe I'll give her another try.

#64: If you thought it was lousy, Joe, then I am glad I gave up on it! I hit 50 pages and decided enough was enough.

#63 and #64 I'd read the first two books of her trilogy and thought they were pretty good, but Beauty Queens was amazing. I would definitely say at least give it a try.

43. Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein
As a former preschool teacher and current nanny, this was so fascinating to me. I've seen a lot of this in action, but a lot I had never thought of. I loved all the different examples she used, from Disney to beauty pageants to the original versions of fairy tales to the internet, and her writing style makes this read like a novel. I have already picked up another of her books.

44. Urban Legends: 666 Absolutely True Stories That Happened to a Friend...of a Friendof a Friend by Thomas J. Craughwell
I love urban legends, and this was the perfect book for me! It has so many urban legends, some of the famous ones, some I had never heard of before, all a great read.

Gotcha re Beauty Queens; will do. Cinderella Ate My Daughter sounds fascinating, and the urban legends book had to have been great fun.

45. The Seance by John Harwood
Harwood has quickly become one of my favorite authors. He effortlessly weaves gothic, suspense, mystery, psychology, and suspense into his books, and makes it so you cannot put them down.

Glad that was a good read, seasonsoflove. Hope you're feeling better!

#68: I have not read anything by Harwood. I will have to remedy that oversight!

46. Divergent by Veronica Roth
This is an incredible start to what I can only hope will be an incredible trilogy. I was so drawn into the characters and storyline, and I can't wait to see where this goes next.

47. The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Whitechapel Horrors by Edward B. Hanna
This was unfortunately a real disappoint. I had high hopes for it, but the ending was a complete cop-out.

48. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
So suspenseful and creepy and amazing. I couldn't put this down. Great great gothic psychological suspense horror.

49. Bossypants by Tina Fey
Such a funny, wonderful, well-written, clever book, that only made me love Tina Fey more.

50. The Girl With the Crooked Nose by Ted Botha
A fascinating look at a man who helps give faces to victims, literally, and assists in solving horrible crimes that seem unsolvable.

51. Above Suspicion by Lynda La Plante
This was a really interesting mystery, that was as much about character development as about solving the actual murders. The ending packed a real punch, and was really well-done.

Whoa! You've been busy! These all look good. I also liked Divergent a lot, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the ones that follow it.

#72-When the kids I babysit for nap, I get to read ;) Plus all the public trans time adds up to lots of good reading time :)

52. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
This felt very different from his usual books, but it was still very good. A hard read, but an important and good one, to see what happened under Hitler from such a unique perspective I had previously known nothing about.

#71: I cannot wait to get my hands on Divergent one of these days! I have heard nothing but good things about it.

#73: I am a big fan of Larson's books. Have you read any of his others, Becca?

#74 Divergent is amazing!
I have read Devil in the White City and Thunderstruck, and love them both!

53. Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
Such a funny, wonderful, entertaining book! I was laughing out loud almost the whole time I was reading it.

54. Soulless by Gail Carriger
This was such a creative, great take on the vampire/werewolf/supernatural theme that has been so popular lately. The characters and writing style are really great.

55. The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale
A re-read for me, and a great one. One of my favorite true-crime books by far.

56. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
I am really enjoying her new series-a great concept, and really well-executed so far. I can't wait to see where this goes next.

57. Postern of Fate by Agatha Christie
An Agatha Christie I actually hadn't already read at least once! As I was reading it, I couldn't help thinking only Agatha Christie could make a whole bunch of nothing happening really interesting. While this is not her best, it is still really good.

58. Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott
This was a really well-written, fascinating look at a part of my city's past. The characters, places, and events really came alive.

:That's a whole lot of great reading, seasonsoflove!

You know I agree with you on Divergent. Postern of Fate is a new one for me, too - I'll have to look for that. The fourth book in the Soulless series just got on -the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Oh - and Thirteen Reasons Why was #1 in its category in the NY Times Book Review. You were raving about that one before anyone else had even heard of it. It's really taking off.

Wow! You have been busy, Becca. Glad to see that you enjoyed Soulless. I hope you get a chance to read the rest of the series as well.

Bossypants was a hoot, wasn't it? I listened to the audio.

I keep hearing good things about the new Larson book - I really need to bump it up!

#77-I'm so exited that Thirteen Reasons Why is doing so well now! I just picked up the second book in the Soulless series from the library!

#78-It's what happens when I go on a long car ride and have lots of relaxing down time to read-it was so great! I just got the second book in the Soulless series from the library.

#79-Bossypants was so funny!! The new Larson book is really good, though not as good as Devil in the White City, but still good.

59. Popular Crime by Bill James
An incredible, unique, fascinating look at true crime in America, and what they say about American history and society. I can't recommend this one enough to people who love to read true crime.

60. Dominance by Will Lavender
One of the best books I've read this year, by far. It's a literary mystery, a suspense novel, a psychological thriller, a murder mystery, and more. The last page will stay with you for a long time.

#80: Adding both of those to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendations, Becca!

Those sound good, Becca. And congrats on the new job!

#80 you're welcome! I got Will Lavender's other book from the library, so will report on that one as well.

#82 Thanks!!!

61. Changeless by Gail Carriger
I love this series so much, I honestly can't get enough. The two main characters and their relationship is so wonderful and loving and funny, and the books are incredibly clever and well-written. The ending of this one really upset me, but in a good way, in that it shows how much I already care about these characters and their relationships. I'm sincerely hoping the author can fix what was severely broken in the last few pages, and she is such a good writer I am sure she can. I immediately went straight to the library to put the next two books on hold.

#83: Roni sent me a copy of Heartless which I hope to get to in the near future. I enjoy the series too.

That sounds like a fun series. Glad you're enjoying it so much. I wonder whether curmudgeonly old guys would like it?

Heartless is so good! I think really anyone would like it.

62. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
I had put off reading this because I knew it was the end of the series. This started out slow for me, and I had some trouble getting into it, but by the end I couldn't put it down The twists were great.

63. Obedience by Will Lavendar
This book was incredible-the twists were amazing, and, as with his other book, the last page packs quite a punch. I can't recommend his books enough.

How did you find out about these (the Will Lavender books), seasonsoflove? They're new to me.

#87: I have seen good reviews of the Will Lavender books. I wish my local library would get some of his. I would like a chance to read them.

#88-I saw Dominance in a bookstore in Michigan actually, on the New Releases table.
#89-To me honestly, they are worth buying. They are the kind of books you could re-read and find something new in.

64. Blameless by Gail Carriger
I literally cannot get enough of these books. I am so caught up in the characters, their relationships, the historical alternate universe...everything about these books is amazing.

#90: I need to get to Heartless soon!

#91 I'm saving it because I know the next one doesn't come out until March 2012, and I love the series so much I don't want to not have a new one to read!

65. The Shining by Stephen King
I had never read Stephen King before, but I had such good things about this one, so I had to give it a try. I really liked this book! It was so creepy, and well-done, the suspense was almost unbearable at times.

66. Hand in Glove by Ngaio Marsh
The characters in this one were really interesting, which made the mystery even more intriguing. A nice, cozy, mystery.

You know I can't manage to read Stephen King, although The Shining does sound good. I like Ngaio Marsh and haven't read that one.

67. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
This was one of those books I got completely caught up in, even though it wasn't at all what I had expected. It felt like I had to wake myself up out of the book whenever I had to get off the bus. This book manages to be so many genres-historical fiction, romance, suspense, psychological thriller, eroticism...but yet turn all these genres on their heads at the same time.

68. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I wasn't sure how I would feel about this book, but it was absolutely incredible. I couldn't put it down-I read it in less than two days-and the stories it contains are ones I can't stop thinking about.

69. Death by Bikini by Linda Gerber
I needed a book where I would not have to think, and this definitely fit the bill. It was fun, good but not great, and a nice fluffy light read. I may read the rest of the series at some point.

You've been reading some great books lately! I think I've been hit by a book bullet or two... o_O ...glad to hear you're enjoying the Carriger series! I can't really get into the latest one... it starts so slow... but I'll get back to it eventually.

Hooray. Another fan of A Reliable Wife. There are plenty of folks who didn't like it, but I definitely did.

#96 I haven't read the new one yet, I'm saving it, but thanks for the heads up about it starting slow! I'll know I just need to push through.
I've been reading even more than usual lately, and have really lucked out with what is in on my shelves and what has been coming in from the library!

#97 I'm so glad to hear you liked it too! I thought it was brilliant.

70. What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller
This book was disturbing and haunting, but so brilliantly written. I don't think I would ever read it again, but I'm really glad I read it once.

71. The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson
One of the best books I have read this year. Definitely a must for fans of books like Rebecca. It's brilliantly written, and constantly keeps you guessing. I could not stop reading it. I essentially had to wake myself up from it when I had to stop reading to get off the bus.

My goodness, that does sound good! I hadn't heard anything about it. Onto the tbr it goes.

#100 it's so amazing!

72. Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz
I really like this series. It's a creative take on the vampire mythology, and the characters and storylines are always really interesting.

73. A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Another incredible addition to an incredible series. This book was actually painful to read at times, because of what was happening to some of my favorite characters and relationships, but that was actually a good thing, because Louise Penny is such an amazing author she has made me care that deeply. I need the next book now, because I have to find out if my favorite relationship gets fixed, and what continues to happen in the lives of these amazing characters.

Yes! I loved this one. It may be my favorite of the series.

We're probably going to have to wait a while for the next one . . .

74. Toys by James Patterson
A fun, interesting read that was definitely not a challenge, which sometimes is exactly what I need. The concept was very different from his usual books, but I still enjoyed it, though not as much as his Alex Cross series.

75. Closet by R.D. Zimmerman
This was a good mystery, with a great twist at the end I never saw coming. I really like the characters (and really dislike the ones I'm supposed to dislike), and really like the burgeoning romance as well.

Congrats on reaching 75!!

Congrats!

Way to go, seasonsoflove!

Well done!

Thanks everyone!! I'm really hoping to beat my number from last year!

76. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
This series was recommended to me by two friends, and I'm so glad I listened. It's a great fun series with a creative twist on vampires, great romance, and some really clever twists.

77. The Truth Can Get You Killed by Mark Richard Zubro
I really enjoy this series-the mysteries are good, the characters and romances are great, and I love that they are set in Chicago-its really fun for me to be able to picture all the places they are going to.

78. America The Book by Jon Stewart
This is such a funny, clever, excellent book!! I can't recommend it enough.

I'll have to check out the Mark Zubro book; I enjoy Chicago mysteries.

I agree with you about Jon Stewart's book. It's one of the few books I've heard on audio, and it was very funny and insightful.

#112-I need to get Jon Stewart's other book now!

79. American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee by Karen Abbott
This book was absolutely fascinating and extremely well-written, a great look at a person and an era I knew very little about.

80. The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz
Another very fun book in a very fun series. Love the character development and the twists and turns.

81. Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz
I really enjoyed this-I love the idea of an author listening to her readers, and giving them the background information on characters and plots that they really wanted to know.

82. The Crazy School by Cornelia Read
This was definitely not the book I thought it was going to be, but I still enjoyed it. The mystery ended up being quite secondary to the characters and the social commentary, but that actually worked for this particular book.

Lots of reading, Becca! Cornelia Read had another one, Field of Darkness, that got good reviews.

#114 I will definitely have to look for that one!

83. Murder of a Sleeping Beauty by Denise Swanson
This was a fun, easy read. The characters were fun and interesting, though the solution to the mystery was a bit of a letdown. While I did enjoy this book, I don't think I'd read the rest of the series-I just have too much else I want to read.

84. Frostbite by Richelle Mead
Another great entry to a great series-the twists were amazing, and I have officially become completely attached to these characters and their fates, and am really cheering for the main romance.

85. The Book of Illusions by Paul Aster
This was a really interesting book-the writing style was so unique, and worked so well. There were so many great twists, and everything seemed believable and full of impact within the world the author had created.

86. Sybil: Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case by Debbie Nathan
This book was incredible. I read it in less than three days because I could not put it down. It is so fascinating and so gripping, and the reveals are just incredible. I can't recommend this book enough.

87. Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz
Another good entry in a good series. It actually lagged in parts surrounding what are typically my two favorite characters, but really picked up with a character I typically dislike, and actually made me really like her.

I'm so glad you enjoyed the Sybil Exposed book. I read the original Sybil, and read a review that this analysis of the fraud (is that the right word?) was really well done.

#119 The analysis was really well done-a really excellent book.

88. The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
The prose style of this book was so beautiful and lyrical, and the two intertwining stories were masterfully done. I particularly enjoyed learning about a part of the world and a part of history I know very little about through the eyes of a great writer and amazing characters.

I love that part of the world. This one got on the short list for the Booker Prize.

#121-I saw that! It was definitely deserved.

89. The Case of the Lonely Heiress by Erle Stanley Gardner
What I love about the Perry Mason books is they are like the comfort food of literature. You always know there will be a great mystery, that will always be solved, and that the good guys will always win the day. I kept this by my reading nook to read before bed, and it was the perfect choice.

90. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
I should preface this review by stating that I never read the end of the book first. Nor do I ever go online and look up spoilers for how a series ends-not even for Harry Potter.

But with this series, after the heartbreaking event that occurs at the end of Shadow Kiss, I not only had to e-mail my friend who got me into the series and ask her to assure me the series ended happily somehow, but I actually went online and looked up spoilers for the last book.

That is how invested this series has me. While the writing occasionally verges into corny and/or cliched (though I may have been hypersensitive to this due to my conversation yesterday afternoon with a few of the kids I teach in afterschool, about the writing in the Twilight series), the way Ms. Mead writes her characters and the events that occur to them has made me care so deeply I had trouble finishing this book out, seeing what was happening to them. The first person POV, and the choice of who to give this position to, is highly effective.

While my friend's recommendation, and the creative take on the vampire mythology, is what originally hooked me in, it is these characters that keep me reading. I have already ordered the final three books in the series from the library.

91. The Night Strangers by Christopher A. Bohjalian
I originally picked this book up because of a People Magazine review (People Magazine has, quite surprisingly, steered me in the direction of quite a few excellent books). It sounded exactly like my kind of book-gothic, possibly haunted house, full of secrets, containing a mysterious locked door.

But where it went was completely unexpected, and I was completely along for the ride. This was another of those books where I would almost miss my stop on the train because I was so involved in the story I was reading. Reading this book was sometimes emotionally painful, because the descriptions were so vivid, and you really felt like you were inside the characters' heads.

And those last few pages...let's just say they haven't left me yet, and I finished the book hours ago.

Looks awesome! Added it to my wish list...

Yikes! I don't think I enjoy being terrified as much as you do, but this does look like a good one!

I have wanted to try a Chris Bohjalian for some time and Night Strangers sounds like an excellent place to start. I love a good, scary story!

#125, 126, 127-it is definitely worth it! It's a really great book.

92 Urban Legends by Thomas J. Craughwell
This was a re-read for me. It had been a really busy week at work, and I needed something fun. This book, as before, did not disappoint. The urban legends are so interesting, and the writing style is so fun.

93. The Best Crime Reporting 2009 edited by Jeffrey Toobin
This book certainly lived up to its name. There was a great variety of crime stories, ranging from ones with a more comical edge to deeply tragic ones. The stories also looked at a variety of social issues within the crimes, from race to economic status to society's views on crime itself.
I'm now planning to collect the rest of this series, as this one was so excellent.

94. Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
As stated before, I am absolutely addicted to this series. It is one of the better vampire series I have read, due to the unique take on vampires, the action-packed storylines, and the incredible characters. This was the best entry in the series yet-I finished it in less than 2 days-and am already 100 pages into the next one.

>122 seasonsoflove: I haven't read Erle Stanley Gardiner in 50 years. Together with Agatha Christie and P.G.Wodehouse they were the three authors whose books I devoured when I was a teenager. I still read Jeeves and Bertie, though.

#129-Agatha Christie is my favorite author-I started reading her when I was a teenager too! I read her the most, and am picking up Erle Stanley Gardner again.

95. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
This series is both easy and hard to read-easy because its such a great read that is completely addicting, hard because I care so much about the characters that when bad things happen to them, it's painful for me to read. This book was especially difficult in that sense, and so I couldn't put it down, because I had to know what was going to happen.

Sounds a little Buffy-esque, which would be in my "like" zone.

#131-It definitely has some similarities with Buffy, and is a great read.

96. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
This final book in the series was reminiscent of when I finished The Hunger Game series, in that while not every loose end was tied up, it wouldn't have been realistic for them to be, and the things and characters I deeply cared about were where I would want them to be in the end, with whom I would want them to be with.

I definitely recommend this series, but be prepared to become really emotionally involved, and have every book on hold from the library so you can read them one after the other-you'll definitely want to!

97. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
I love this series, and was really pleased to discover there were two newer entries I hadn't yet read. While it is sometimes unbelievable that the protagonist could really be eleven years old, it is so easy to get lost in the story, and in her wonderful character, that I still buy right in.

The resolution to the mystery in this one was one of the weaker resolutions in the series, but the characters and clever use of the history of the area made this book still a wonderful one.

98. Pirate King by Laurie R. King
What I had read about this book was unfortunately true-it is the weakest of the series. As the reviewers stated, and I fully agree, there is too little Sherlock Holmes, and too little Holmes/Russell interaction. The mystery is also by far the weakest of all eleven books, and is seemingly forgotten until the last few pages, when the revelation finally occurs (and it's a good one, just too little).

I did still enjoy this book, though not even close to as much as I enjoyed the earlier entries in the series. Mary Russell is a wonderful character, and Sherlock Holmes is one of my top five fictional characters ever (probably in the top two), so any book with them in it I am guaranteed to enjoy. I also really enjoyed most of the secondary characters, though some of them (namely the translator, who ironically was actually a real person) got irritating as time went on.

I would not recommend this book to someone who had not read the previous Russell/Holmes books, not because they would be confused, but because I fear it would turn them off the series. Anyone who has read the other books should definitely give this a try, if for no other reason then getting to spend some time with Holmes and Russell.

99. The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman

This is a very funny, very clever book. The satirical writing style works really well, and the topics "covered" are clever and unusual. I'm already reading his second book.

Good review of Pirate King, seasonsoflove. Having read the rest of the series, I'm sure I'll pick this one up at some point. I saw The Areas of My Expertise in the bookstore and wondered about it. You've piqued my interest.

#136-Thanks! Anyone who is a fan of the series should read it, if just for the characters. And The Areas of My Expertise is definitely worth a read-its really fun.

100. A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Faith, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres
This book was written because of, and using, the new documents and tapes that were released surrounding Jonestown. This means that a new insight is given into Jim Jones and the community, particularly what was promised and what actually occurred, and the final days, along with personal portraits of the people involved.

The author has a very interesting and personal point of view, given that she attended a very strict and controlled boarding school that shared many principles with what Jim Jones preached. This, coupled with her excellent writing style and her access to the new documentation, results in a fascinating, insightful, and heartbreaking look into a famous historical tragedy.

101. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
The idea of bringing a film crew into the family home, and adding a snowstorm that strands the entire town in the manor, was a brilliant addition to a great story.

While every entry in this series is wonderful, this was a particularly good one. Secret passages, a dramatic death, secrets in the past, all set at Christmastime, with an excellent supporting cast of characters, all lent itself to a great mystery and a great read.

102. The Best American Crime Reporting 2002 edited by Otto Penzler

What I particularly love about this series is that not only are the stories chosen ones I would most likely never have heard of or gotten to read on my own, but they cover such a wide variety of subjects that fall within the true crime genre.

There are stories of murders, some famous, some not, and these are all very well-written. But there are also stories of what its like to be the foreman of a jury during deliberations, the fallacy of eyewitness testimony, the continued existence (or not) of a Chicago mafia, the strange tale of a mysterious plane crash that led to an immense culture clash between Egypt and America...

I would recommend this to both true crime lovers and those who have never read true crime before-it will make you want to read more, trust me. I'm already collecting all the books that are out so far in this series.

Just dropping by to wish you all the best for the holidays!

Sounds like an excellent series, seasonsoflove, with a lot of interesting true crime topics.

Hope you and your family have a great holiday! :-)

Happy Holidays!!

Thanks so much everyone!

So this is what happens when I go on vacation, where there is a long car ride both ways, and lots of down time :)

103. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich
Evanovich is back! Her last few haven't been her best, but this one was fantastic-romance, comedy, a good mystery, great characters...I couldn't stop laughing aloud, and I couldn't put it down-I read it in just a few hours.

104. Invictus: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carlin
This took me a while to get through, I think mainly because, as a sports fan, I went into this expecting more about the games. However, as a history fan as well, the history was fascinating. The time of apartheid in South Africa, and the time immediately following, is a period in history I know little about, and this book delved into both time periods, their historical importance, and the people and events involved, in great detail.

105. More Information Than You Require by John Hodgman
While I far prefer the hobo names and culture of the previous book to the molemen sections of this book, this entry in the hilarious trilogy was at times even funnier than its predecessor. The section on US Presidents, especially the "chapter" essentially turning Roosevelt into Chuck Norris, had me laughing out loud. The "on this date" entries were particularly clever as well.

106. Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler
This book, while a fun and very quick read (less than a day) was not as good as I had hoped. I think this is because, as is the case with many mystery anthologies, I am very particular about what genres of mysteries I enjoy, and there were many in here that were outside those genres. The ones I did enjoy I enjoyed very much, and there was only one story I actually disliked.

This book did make me really want to visit The Mysterious Bookshop!

Those all sound good, seasonsoflove. I also loved the new Evanovich. What genres of mystery do you not like? And where is The Mysterious Bookshop?

#144-I'm not really into the hard-boiled, noir mysteries. And the Mysterious Bookshop is in New York :)

107. Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making: More Stories and Secrets from Her Notebooks by John Curran

As with the first book surrounding her notebooks, this is an amazing insight into the mind of my absolute favorite writer. We get to see how she came up with her ideas, alternate plots and characters she had considered for her novels and short stories, and even previously unread short stories and ideas.