GeorgiaDawn's 2011 Reading Journal

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

The story takes place in a small, rural South Carolina town. A teenage girl, Lena, comes to live with her aging uncle and the town is never the same. Neither is the life of Ethan Wate. Ethan grew up in Gatlin and is waiting for the day he can leave the small town for something more exciting. Lena is just beginning to understand her powers and her family; she wants desperately to be a normal girl. Ethan and Lena know they have a strong connection even though they have never met. They soon realize that very little about their lives or this small town is normal or boring.

This is a very well written young adult novel. The characters have depth and are all integral to the plot. Novels about teenagers with special abilities and powers are nothing new, but the authors put a new spin on the genre with this novel. They seamlessly weave fantasy with reality and superstition. There are twists and turns through the book that all lead the reader to the final few pages.

My 2011 75 Book Challenge thread is here.

I'm starting off slow this year. My classes started back up, I'm back at work, and my oldest son is still visiting. All of those combine are important and really cut into my reading time.

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold is another book that a friend introduced me to. This book is the first in the Vorkosigan Saga. Shards of Honor is a well written classic space opera. Bujold creates the universe in which Cordelia Naismith meets Aral Vorkosigan, two individuals from different worlds and very different cultures. Together they must face war, love, loss, and complicated loyalties. Bujold has created characters who are complete and interesting. The bad guys are very, very bad; the good guys, well, whether they are good or not depends entirely on your perspective and the side you choose in the battle of loyalties. Each one fills a niche and plays a role in life changing events for Cordelia and Aral.

I have requested the next book in the saga from ILL. My little library doesn't have the series.

Time to catch this up! I can now read what I want and no more textbook assignments! Whoo hoo! I do have to attach a few assignments to an online portfolio today, but that's it. My Master's is in Math and Science Education. I have no intention of teaching science, but it's cool to have a little more knowledge in the area.

Here is what I've read, for pleasure, so far this year. I'll add the textbooks later this afternoon.

1. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

2. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

3. Barrayer by Lois McMaster Bujold

4. The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

5. Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (a reread)

6. WWW.Wake by Robert J. Sawyer

7. Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold

8. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

9. True Grit by Charles Portis

10. Awakened by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

11. Echo by Jack McDevitt

12. WWW.Watch by Robert J. Sawyer

I have a little more detail about these in my 75 Book Challenge thread (see the first post here for a link). I'll add that detail here later.

I know, I know, you are all sitting on the edge of your seat to see the textbooks! Calm down, I promise I will post them later today with detailed reviews. There is a preview of what's to come on the 75 Book thread. I can feel the anticipation building!

(touchstones not working for some)

Looks like your Challenge is going strong :-)

I must admit I'm pleased to see some Sir Arthur C Clarke on the list... I once met him, well... via realtime video link, his face projected on a large screen (but I'm claiming it as a 'meet'). A very interesting man, and from my neck of the woods (pretty much).

I think it might be time to read Songs of Distant Earth again.

I love Arthur C. Clarke! I've read several of his books over the years. I think that definitely think your "meet" qualifies! Congratulations!

I particularly enjoyed Clarke's the Rama series. The second and third books are my favorite.

Thanks for stopping by!

13. Human Relations Development: A Manual for Educators by George M. Gazda and a whole bunch of others

I thought I communicated with my students rather well until I read this book for one of my classes. Now I think about not only every word I say, but also the expression I have, the way I tilt my head, which fingers I have crossed, and if I wore appropriate shoes that day. *sigh*

Unless you absolutely have to read this one, I do not recommend it. Period.

14. Understanding Reserach Methods by Mildred L. Patten

Yuck.

15. Writing Literature Reviews by Jose L. Galvan

Double yuck.

16. Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communites by Ruby K. Payne, Philip DeVol, and Terie Dreussi Smith

Meh.

Tell us how you really feel. :D

Just think: Never have to read them again, ever! Horray! Woopee! Wheeeeee...... *slides off to stare at the fiction bookshelves....

I am headed out of town to my son's house. I have 6 books in the car, 4 downloaded on my Droid for the ride, and three or four on my Kindle (also on the Droid). Not a single one of them is educational. I have a little bit of everything!

Oh, by the way, did you know that Droids also can be used as a phone?!?!?!? What with all my Star Trek apps and book apps, I lost the original purpose. :)

ROFL!
But can you read while you're talking? LOL

Have fun, GD!!!
:o)

17. Hunger by Michael Grant

Hunger is the second book in the Gone series. In this installment, the kids in the Fayz are going hungry and are willing to risk just about anything to get food. Through the book they learn more about survival, but they also are forced to make decisions that seem impossible. Hunger is a darker, more desperate book than Gone which follows the emotional state of the children left behind.

18. WWW.Wonder by Robert J. Sawyer

WWW.Wonder is the last book in the Wake/Watch/Wonder Trilogy by Robert J. Sawyer, and he did not disappoint. There were a couple times when I thought maybe Sawyer had taken Webmind too far, but then I had to stop and think just what Webmind was capable of doing. Caitlin and her parents are still of primary importance to Webmind while he begins to branch out on his own in his quest to make humanity happier and the world a safer place despite attempts to kill him. The epilogue is a bit chilling and sad at the same time; it is a fit ending to this trilogy. These books are definitely for young adults, girls in particular, interested in Artificial Intelligence and where it may lead. Sawyer, through his characters, raises questions and offers compromises for a future world where humans are not necessarily the best or brightest.

19. The End of Eternity by Issac Asimov

The End of Eternity by Issac Asimov is set in a future where time travel between centuries is common place for a group of people called Eternals. They travel back and forth through time making adjustments so that humanity will be happier. Other than the Eternals, no one else knows of the alterations that are made in their lives. The main character, Harlan, is an Eternal; his job as a technician allows him to analyze what is the smallest change for the greatest maximum benefit. Harlen then travels back or forward in time to create the change needed. Harlen meets a woman (the only one mentioned in the entire book) and begins to question the Eternals and their purpose.

It was interesting to follow Harlan and his changing attitudes and opinions. He is praised for his logical thought process, and his ability to make the desired changes occur with minimal interference. However, as he begins to question what he does, he loses faith in himself, other Eternals, and much of humanity. Through his own actions, Harlan is faced with having to decide between the current Eternity or the end of Eternity.

20. Time Enough at Last by Lyn Venable

This is a short story, but I decided to add it here. I love this Twilight episode, so I thought I'd read the story. It's just a great!

21. The Vor Game by Lois McMater Bujold

Miles graduates from the Academy and receives his first post. Being Miles, he quickly finds himself at odds with his commanding officer. After the discovery of a possible murder, making everyone at his new post uncomfortable, and a bit of insubordination, Miles must face Imperial Security and detainment. In an effort to save his own hide, Miles makes a deal with Security. As Miles juggles being Lord Vorkosigan, Admiral Naismith, and a new personality, he must stop a war, uncover intelligence for Imperial Security, and keep his Emperor safe. Miles is a master at digging his way out of seemingly impossible situations, and taking a few others along with him for the ride. In this installment of the Vorkosigan Saga, Miles finds that he is not the only Vor with a knack for finding trouble.

Reading these books is exhausting! Not because they are difficult to read or boring, just the opposite. There is so much going on that I find myself reading faster and faster to try to keep up with whatever Miles has managed to get himself involved in. Just when you think everything is coming to an end, something else happens and Miles is off in another direction. After a brief rest to catch my breath, I’ll begin the next one.

Ah, I know what you mean about too many things going on. And with my horrible memory, I'll end up forgetting everything shortly depending on the size. That also happens to books where everything is important. Can't there be 25 pages in a row where something doesn't relate to the plot? That would be a great relief.

That's a terrific series. You're right, there's often a physical sense of chasing after the hyper Miles.

@jnwelch - I love your description! I just started Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold and there was a murder attempt in the first chapter.

@DragonFreak - If there were 25 pages without Miles running around chasing someing, we would all get bored because we're so used to this pace. However, I am reading this along with a couple of other books so that I can rest from Miles from time to time.

Cetaganda's one of my favorites. She does such a good job creating different types of societies.

I'm hooked on this series. I get so frustrated with Miles, but I can't stop myself!

The characters in the books have the same problem. :-)

22. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse is again battling creatures that at one time she thought only existed in fairy tales and horror stories. After meeting Bill the Vampire (11 books ago), Sookie learned that her world was very different than she could have ever imagined. In this installment, Sookie learns that her boyfriend is keeping secrets, a werewolf who wants her dead has escaped from prison, and her fairy kin may be using her for their own benefit. Charlaine Harris allows some plot lines to resolve themselves and creates new adventures for Sookie in Dead Reckoning.

23. Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold

Miles is at it again! In this installment of the Vorkosigan series, Miles is sent with his cousin Ivan to Cetaganda to attend an Imperial funeral. Miles and Ivan are charged with representing the Barrayaran nobility at the somber affair. They definitely represent Barrayar, but not in the expected manner. At least on this trip, the trouble, mayhem, and murder were thrust on Miles against his wishes. Miles finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation, fighting off attacks on him and Ivan, and the theft of a valuable item belonging to the Cetaganda nobility. Miles must find a way to balance everything (and keep it secret, of course) while trying to uphold the honor of his family and adhere to the strict code of conduct expected of everyone on Cetaganda.

This is my favorite in the series to date. Lois McMaster Bujold is a genius at world building and character development. Cetaganda is a place that to first appearances approaches the idea of Utopia, but there are many things below the surface that are evil and dark. Bujold’s descriptions are detailed and thorough; beautiful and, at times, disquieting.

Good review! It's one of my favorites in the series, too. I thumbed this.

Thank you, @jnwelch!

24. Heads You Lose is an experiment between Lisa Lutz and her ex-boyfriend David Hayward. In this murder mystery, each author wrote a chapter building on the previous one. According to “The Editor” the authors did not work together to make revisions on the novel. It was published in its original form complete with notes to each other either praising (rarely) or condemning (often) the other’s work. Lisa and David work their way through several murders as the main characters, brother and sister Paul and Lacey, find themselves in the middle of the mayhem.

The footnotes the authors left for each other and their short notes at the end of each chapter are entertaining and funny. Just like the main characters Paul and Lacey, Lisa and David work against each other as much as they work with each other. The way each author counters the other is as interesting as solving the multiple murders. If you are looking for a thoughtful, deep mystery this is not the book you are looking for. However, if you are looking for a light summer read Heads You Lose delivers.

On a side note, I enjoy Lisa Lutz’s writing very much. Her wit and intelligent sarcasm show through her characters and the plot twists. The Spellman Files series is one of the funniest I have ever read.

That sounds like a very interesting idea, a bit of a gamble on their part it could have ended up a load of self-indulgent twaddle, but as you rate it I might give it a go :)

It is a bit self-indulgent, but in a funny way. I enjoyed it very much.

Lisa and I were actually classmates in high school. She's a lovely person. Was pretty quiet back then, as I remember, though.

Kaw!!! Wow, where have you been?? It's GREAT to see you!

I emailed Lisa when I finished The Spellman Files series and she emailed me back! I was very impressed that she took the time to respond.

25. The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy

I've got to rearrange my top 10 books and add this one in there somewhere.

The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy follows Will McLean and his three roommates through their life at a military college, The Institute, in Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1960s. This is one of those books that I always wanted to read, but just never got around to it. Once I started, I could not put it down. This book draws on every emotion as these very different young men come together to share the joys and tragedies of their four years together. The good times are as good as they get, and the bad times are worse than anything they had ever experienced. They learn that some people will go to any length and do almost anything to preserve their way of life.

The way Pat Conroy, through Will McLean, describes the city of Charleston is beautiful and rich. He talks about The South from the perspective of one born and raised there. I was absolutely blown away when one of cadets mentioned, who plays a pivotal role in the story, was from my hometown. Over and over, I read about “Bobby Bentley from Ocilla, Georgia.” Through his relationship with Bobby Bentley, Will’s decisions affect his three roommates in ways that he could have never imagined.

The lives of the characters and their families are forever changed because of the four years at The Institute. The Lords of Discipline is not a feel good book. It is a story of the refusal to quit when everything seems hopeless; it is a story about honor.

I think I'll read a light, funny book next.

26. Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress

This book had good reviews, so I thought I’d give it a try. Georgia is middle-aged woman in a small Alabama town who makes her way by sleeping with everyone from the preacher to businessmen around town. Each one thinks they are the only one. I kept waiting for the humor and endearing qualities that would pull the main character out of her present lifestyle. The book is about the South, and the author does not hesitate to throw in every negative stereotype that has ever been associated with the area. I struggled with this book, and never did like the main character. I found myself not caring what happened to her or her male acquaintances.

Yeah, she's pretty good people. She and I even started talking a bit when I found her on facebook and added her.

The funny thing is, I totally don't remember her as being a writer back in school, but the classes she and I were in were more analytical in nature rather than creative. Imagine my surprise when I happened across her fb page and found out she's a professional writer. And one that actually sells a good amount of books on top of that! I'm waiting until she comes back down to the LA area to try and get her to sign the books I've nabbed.

27. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal

The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal is a young adult novel about a young lady who was raised as a princess only to find out at the age of sixteen that she was not a princess. Because of a prophecy told to the King and Queen at their daughter’s birth, the King and Queen sent their child away to be raised in hiding until she reached the age of sixteen. When both girls turned sixteen, the real princess was brought to the throne and the false princess was sent to live with an aunt she had never met. Both girls struggle to find their places in their new lives. Sinda, the false princess, makes a discovery that will change the lives of everyone she knows and possibly the entire country.

This is a very well written first novel. Eilis O’Neal keeps the reader interested through plot twists and surprises. The book captured my attention in the first few pages and kept it until the end. I will be looking for more books by O’Neal.

#32 - Have that, but haven't managed to get to it yet. I absolutely adored The Prince of Tides but I couldn't make it past the first chapter of Beach Music. *sigh* I really have to stop diddling around online and READ more.

#37 - I'm almost finished with The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy and enjoying it very much! I've never read anything else by him.

I'm not reading as much as I should be, either. Everytime I sit down to read, I go to sleep! :)

But... but... but... he wrote The Lords of Discipline, from #32. Or, do you mean you've never read anything other than these two. LOL

Oh, sorry. Those two! That was perfectly clear to my sleep deprived brain when I typed it! :)

LOL... Forgive me. Same issue here, actually.

There is nothing to forgive! I don't think I'll try Beach Music anytime soon.

28. The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy

The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy is the true story of his year teaching on Yamacraw Island off the coast of South Carolina. The children Conroy taught were pushed aside and all but forgotten by the state educational system. The children knew little to nothing of the world outside of their poverty stricken island home.

The Water is Wide is an emotional book, hilarious on one page, sad on the next. Pat Conroy describes the island and its inhabitants beautifully; the people come to life on the page. As he describes how he attempts to show the children the world he knows, he shares how the children teach him about their world. Through his experience with the children of Yamacraw Island, Conroy learns hard, but important lessons about life, human nature, and value systems.

The teacher in me shares Conroy’s passion to not only teach the children, but to open the world to them. The mother in me is appalled at the lives some children lead, and the parents who allow it to happen. The southerner in me is embarrassed at the attitudes that were considered acceptable and even normal.

The following quote describes what Mr. Conroy discovered within the first few days of arriving at the two room school house on Yamacraw Island:

“The first thing I learned when I got there was that fourteen of the seventeen kids in grades five through eight read below the first grade level. Five of the kids did not know the alphabet; five of the kids also did not know how to add one and one, two and two, things I thought rather basic in the education of most people. I also discovered that most of the kids have been trained to obey the whip and the belt and the hand. What they feared most was physical punishment. Everyone in my class was interrupted by the sound of leather on flesh from the next room. And these kids evidently had become accustomed to corporal punishment and they would learn only in response to corporal punishment. The thing I thought I had to do first was to not beat the kids but to let them know that education was fun.”

oh, lordie, lordie. I know those kinds of kids, one's who don't think you are serious unless you yell; those who look for a smack to prove that you care. Oh, dearie. Hard lessons to be learned, no doubt.

29. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Dragonfly in Amber is the second novel in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. I struggled with this book at first, but kept at it based on encouragement from friends. I’m glad I did. Jamie and Clair are thrown into the midst of changing loyalties and politics leading up to the Highlands uprising of 1745. Their love for each other is tested as Clair and Jamie have to make choices that are all but impossible. The future of the Highlands and of their family depends on the decisions they make.

30. A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

I don't know what to say about this book that has not already been said. I enjoyed it very much. It did drag in a few places, but not enough to take away from the overall story.

nuff said.

I second it!

31. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

So much has been written about this book and the series. Let's see, what can I say about Voyager? Jamie and Claire - together, apart, together, almost die, live, family issues across centuries. I loved it!

I virtually threw her first of that series across the room. I'm impressed you are staying with it. Ugh.

I loved the first book and then struggled with the second one. I quit reading it for three or four years! A RL friend said the others were great if I could get past the second one.

On your suggestion I'm currently listening to Outlander and really enjoying it so far, GD. :o) I think listening makes things easier because when I hit a dull patch in an audio book my mind flits off elsewhere for a bit. LOL Much harder to do when you're actually reading. :oD

I hope you like it, Clam! The narrator is fantastic. I'm currently looking for very own Jamie. :)

I like listening to audio books when I'm doing things around the house or driving. I focus on the book (most of the time) and the tasks are not so mind numbing.

32. Heartless by Gail Carriger

Heartless, the latest installment in the Parasol Protectorate Series, finds Alexia trying to balance her life between her husband’s Werewolf pack, the Vampires of London, and the “infant inconvenience.” To make matters worse, her sister decides to move in and someone is trying to kill the queen. Alexia can hardly find time for tea!

Gail Carriger has created a fun series with characters that are full of personality and endearing flaws. The characters are set against overwhelming odds to solve one crisis after another while always remaining steadfast, polite, and well dressed, most of the time.

In one of the Miles books, Cryoburn I think, there is a place where Miles is thinking that he's only been there five days and somebody is already trying to kill him. Unfortunately, this is not a record.

I absolutely adore this series!

I have read and listened to all the Outlander books. I read them when they are first published because listening takes too long. Later on, I will listen to the audio versions. I love Davina Porter as a narrator.

33. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

I enjoyed this installment very much. The books are long, and there are parts that tend to drag. Gabaldon always brings it back to one of the plot lines and makes me want to smile, cry, or scream in frustration!

Well, you've got me hooked as well. Just picked up the 33 discs for Dragonfly in Amber from the library. It's simply great audio to walk with, weed with, sort laundry with, ignore the sports talk shows with.... etc. :oD

I agree, Clam! I struggled with Dragonfly in Amber, but stayed with it. I'm glad I did! As soon as it ended, I started the next one.

Don't you love the narrator?

#59 - Yup! Plus it doesn't hurt to be hearing my name spoken with a brogue all the time! :oD

Oh, yes! Why had I not thought of that? :)

It's almost but not quite three syllables. Cuh-lee-ah

34. Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold

This is part of the Miles Vorkosigan series. It was fair, but no where near as good as the other books I have read in the series.

Well, thanks to you GD I am totally hooked on Miles too. I've been listening to as many of the books as I can get from Audible and loving every one of them. So much fun. I just finished Cetaganda and yup, I think it's my favourite (so far) too. I love Bujold's writing. I really enjoyed the Chalion series too.

I like the Outlander series too. I've been enough of a fan to go to the bookstore when Diana Gabaldon was there, to get the latest book and have her sign it. She's a delightful woman to meet and has a great sense of humour.

I'm glad you're enjoying the books! Miles is so frustrating at times, but I'm hooked.

I've met Gabaldon at Dragon*Con, and she will be back this year. She actually responded to me on Twitter about going. :)

Cool!

35. Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold

What could be more fun, frustrating, and irritating than one Miles Vorkosigan? Two! Miles finally makes it to Earth to find that he's already there, or is he? You'd better put your nerve distrupter on stun to keep from hurting Miles in this installment.

36. Mirror Dance y Lois McMaster Bujold

Miles and Mark strike. Double the fun, double the frustration. :)

My reading is at an all time low. I've got to refocus by efforts. It would help if I didn't go to sleep every time I sit down to read.

GD, I know what you mean. Sleep is important, too.

37. Apt Pupil by Stephen King

This was a reread, and I'm not sure what drew me to it again. It's classic King.

38. Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold

Miles, again. This was my favorite (so far) in the Miles Vorkosigan series.

39. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

40. Effective Program Practices for Underserved Students by Cheryll Adams and Cecelia Boswell

I received this through Early Reviewers. This is a quick read that talks about exactly what it says, effective practices. There are some good ideas in the book to use in gifted and talented classrooms, but there is nothing new or earth shattering here. The authors did a good job of summarizing key points about differentiation, enrichment, and acceleration. They offer a list of resources that could be beneficial for teachers of the gifted and talented. I was disappointed to find that most of the activities are geared for elementary school students. It's more difficult to find engaging activities for middle school and high school students that are both relevant to the curriculum and to the students. I would like to see a follow up in this series dedicated to students in higher grades.

41. Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold

This was one of the best in the Miles Vorkosigan saga. It goes something like this: disaster, Miles, beautiful female, disaster, disaster, disaster, beautiful female, Miles.

42. Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Julia Grey is preparing to put her life back together after the death of her husband, Sir Edward Grey. The death was not unexpected; Edward had been sick most of his life. What is unexpected is when a stranger, Nicolas Brisbane, tells Julia that he was employed by her husband to find his potential murderer. Initially, Julia dismisses the possibility of murder. She later discovers something that makes her regret that action. Despite warnings from Brisbane, Julia cannot stay away from the investigation no matter how dangerous it becomes.

I loved this book. Raybourn creates just enough suspense to be interesting, and her characters are well developed. I look forward to the sequel.

43. A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold

Just when I think I've read my favorite Miles book, I read another.

44. Winterfair Gifts by Lois McMaster Bujold

Miles finally decides to grow up. Sort of.

I've had Silent in the Grave sitting in my TBR for ages. I might have to move it further toward the top!

You should! It's a quick read, too.