Doug's 75 Book Challenge

Looking forward to getting to know you all! I've read three books so far this year. They've all been fair. I'll link in my reviews for you. I am going to try to review all the books I read, because I have benefited SO much from others reviews. Thanks to you all.

First book of the year was Total Control by David Baldacci which I had read once before. It was a good book, but apparently pretty forgettable, because I had forgotten I read it until I picked it up and got about 30 pages in! Still, good adventure novel....

Second was What Good Is God by Philip Yancey. Good book with some real insights, but its 'structure' bothered me a lot...

Just finished Labyrinth by Kate Mosse today, and really enjoyed it. Good time travel kind of book.

I am also right now reading Book of Days by James Rubart. This was a LTR book, I've won several in my year here and enjoyed most of them. James is a pretty new author on the book scene, one I have enjoyed a lot. I also read his earlier novel named Rooms. I guess both are too new to add the Touchstone too..so take a look at my review page if you want to get an idea of the books.

Here is my review page: http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=whiteknight50

3 down, only 72 left to go!!

Welcome whitenight50.

What about the structure of What Good Is God bothered you? I have a couple of his books downloaded to my Kindle but haven't read them yet.

Philip is a great author...don't get me wrong! But this particular book was basically a series of sermons, strung together into a book..without the preamble to really let you know it. The marketing treatment of the book was more like it was a single threaded "book".. I generally don't like to read that sort of thing a lot. However, it was still worth reading...and Philip Yancey is a MUST in my mind. His insights into life are incredible, and he deals so well with the deepest questions we all have as humans. Definitely read his books!

Welcome to the group, Doug!

Hi, Doug, welcome to our humble little group! I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, although NOT horror, so have you starred to see what you'll be reading.

Welcome!

Hello Doug! couldn't resist checking out that username :)

Glad to meet you all! Thanks for the welcome! ronincats, I'll stive to be worthy of a star..:0)) !! I can't figure out how to 'star' someone..How do I do that?

See the star at the top of their thread or in front of their number of posts on the group page? Just click it!

Just finished Book of Days by James Rubart this morning. I loved it. Its kind of a cross between a mystery, romance novel, and Christian Fiction. Recommend it!

I am starting Island in the Sea of Time by S.M. Stirling now. I haven't read my fantasy novel yet this month..looks interesting. Nantucket, whisked back to 1250 A.D.

#11: I will be interested in seeing what you think of the Stirling book, Doug. I have owned it for a while now, but still not read it.

Me too...I've had it on my shelves for at least a year, and kept looking at it so I decided to quit looking and read...so far its wonderful! I couldn't put it down last night..we'll see if it stays that way!

So far, very similar to Eric Flint's 1632.

#13: I own 1632 too!

Greetings, Doug, and good fortune on your way to 75! Your read of Island in the Sea of Time made me grin...in USENET days, I belonged to and participated in a group now called soc.hist.what-if, about the alternative tracks history could have taken. One of the acronyms we used a lot was "ISOT", short for "in th sea of time"...a subgenre of future-transported-to-past time travel fiction. 1632 is the best series, IMHO.

Hey there Richard, I did a quick search on your past group...it looks like it was fun! It is true though, these two books could have been written from the same outline! OK.. maybe not quite...but the similarities are deep. I'm still reserving judgement on which is better though..:0) I am enjoying this one...!

SHW-I was a lot of things, and fun was one if you had thick skin. I wonder if it's still the flame-war capital of the internet. I quit caring after the 986,958th iteration of Operation Sealion succeeding, Little Big Horn failing, Manassas being Bull Run because the South won...*snore* Everyone has their hobbyhorses, of course, and rides 'em at will, it's just those are *so* popular and I am just not willing to go there again and again and again.

A far more entertaining alternative history is The Severed Wing...Teddy Roosevelt won the 1912 election and took us into WWI in 1915. The world of 2000 doesn't look much like our world! But the book's more subtle than that. How it ends...chilling. Very, very deeply chilling.

Thanks for the recommendation! I'll add it the "The LIST". That VERY, VERY long list...

I can see why you would tire of the SHW-I thing when you explain it..I've been on other sites that seemed to be one constant rerun...

Hi Doug! Found your thread in the Intros page, though I'd come by and see what you've been reading so far... I have Island in the Sea of TIme and the two following books on my shelves, but they've been there for years and I haven't read them yet. I've heard they're fantastic, so I'll await your verdict!

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be sure to post a "robust" review for you all. I wonder what it is that causes this book to sit on shelves, with each of us thinking "maybe I'll read it soon"! I know I have done that for a year or two. Maybe its something about the cover art? I know the "incongruity" of the early Indian on the huge metal ship sends a subliminal message to me of confusion...ha...maybe thats what it is.

Good to meet you dk!

D

oooh! alternative history.. I like that !

Its been good so far! I am about half way through... and yes, its still like 1632...but good in its own way too. I'll keep you posted as I learn more!

Hello and welcome to the 75 challenge group.

Just finished a LTR copy of Abs Revealed by Jonathan Ross. For the kind of book it was, it was pretty good, something I'll use in my workout routines in the future. Taking credit for another book! Only 70 to go!

#24: Taking credit for another book!

If it is between covers, it counts!

Well, I've been struggling through Island in the Sea of Time by S. M. Stirling, and yes, I mean struggling. I enjoyed the first portion of the book quite a lot, but the further I got into the book the more of a struggle it became. I have about 100 pages left, and am really debating putting it down. However, having read the first 546, that itself is not a very attractive proposition either. :0| I'll wait to review it once I actually do finish it, but I've pretty much decided its not for me...wonder why I couldn't decide that much, much earlier...sigh.

My wife and I went to the University of Washington Book Store today, and I picked up several books, one of which I think will be my next...Angelology by Danielle Trussoni. I've read the first few pages.. couldn't help myself, and it looks like it will be a great novel. The story at least is promising. Now back to finish 'Sea of Time'...

I haven't read Angelology, Doug, but a lot of other 75ers have and have really liked it. Also haven't read the Stirling, but decided early on that Stirling's books just don't do it for me.

Edited to correct typo.

Well, I did finish Island in the Sea of Time... and the last few pages...(30 or so) did get a bit better again. But I really did struggle to finish.

Truth is I think for some folks this would be a great book. If you love battle scenes, and lots of introspection from the characters, it would have been fine. Unfortunately those are not my favorite characteristics in a 'good' novel!

Oh, and Richard 1632 definitely the better of the two novels..:0)

But it counts...69 books to go!

Interesting thoughts on the Stirling novel! I wonder what I'll think of it... when I get to it... eventually... hah! Who knows. Well, at least you made it through in one piece!

I won't worry about you Faith, until I hear the mold growing on the book...then I may have to come after you..:0)

Not good news for me on the Stirling book. I have that one hanging around my house somewhere waiting for me to read it.

I just finished Angelology by Danielle Trussoni today, and really, really enjoyed this wonderful book!

The story line follows young Evangeline, hidden away in a convent, completely unaware of her family history, other than the fact that her mother had died when Evangeline was young, and that her father never recovered. As we follow Evangeline through the story, she discovers who she is.

I appreciated the story very much. It captured me at the heart level, engaging me fully. The authors' treatment of the Nephilim surprised me, her interpretation of the men of old brings an aberrant, despicable quality to their nature, an evil, hate-filled core, in a beautifully wrapped exterior. This sets up an interesting and gripping struggle between mankind and the Nephilim that makes for a wonderful story.

If you are looking for historical accuracy, this is not the book for you. This is a true fantasy, grounded in the concept of the Nephilim of the Bible, but not enslaved to it. Its purpose is not to re-create history, but to create a story that is entertaining and vitally alive.

I have to say that there were constant surprises throughout the story, these twists sometimes welcome, sometimes not. In particular, while the ending was appropriate to the story, and probably the right ending, it left me wanting things to turn out differently.

For those who like researching, this book has a special quality that I particularly enjoyed. It captures the process of researching pretty well, as the Angeloligists are researchers, and the story constantly returns to the theme of discovery, bringing a feeling similar to that of researching family history or a comparable pastime. I found this a particularly welcome and unique quality of this story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. When I had to put it down, I grieved at that..when I was away from it, I looked forward to getting back into it, and when I was done, I wished there were more. That's a good book, in my "book"!

Recommended reading!

#32: I have seen several good reviews of that book. I really need to get to it! Thanks for the reminder, Doug.

#32 That sounds like a good one! Thanks for the recommendation.

I think I am getting behind on my 75 book challenge...er..hmmm...I think I keep picking books that are way too long. I am currently reading Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon, and am about half way through! I figured I needed to read about 7 books per month to make the 75...I now have 7 for 2 months! Guess I need to read shorter books...Dragonfly in Amber is a wonderful book, a beautiful build on Diana's earlier book Outlander. I'm in the Fantasy in February thread too, but I'm guessing I'll miss February finish on this one.

Diana sure writes well, but some of her scenes are pretty racy! Makes me somewhat uncomfortable at times. Also, have taken to keeping the dictionary close. I've learned a few new words as a result! Try 'impecunious'. Feels pretty close to home.

I just finished Dragonfly in Amber this morning. I have to admit it had me in tears (blushing). I enjoyed it thoroughly, and love the series so far. I purposely waited to start this series until I had several of the books ready and at hand. I'm glad, as I want to continue this series. I'll be putting up a review this evening. It'll be a five star rating though, that much I can say now. Highly recommend the first two books of the Outlander series to those who haven't read them yet!

I am going to be working on finishing up Dominion by Randy Alcorn next, I've already started the book, and am really enjoying it. I also need to read Chasm: A Journey to the Edge of Life, also by Randy Alcorn, as I received it from the Early Reviewers program earlier this month. My first few pages of that one didn't impress me, but I need to go back and restart, as I think I was just not in the right mood at the time. It shouldn't take too long anyway, its a very short 128 pages long.

Hey Doug! Who cares if you meet the 75 mark if you are reading GREAT books like Dragonfly in Amber. I absolutely loved the series even though they are all chunksters. They are one of the few books where at the end I was actually sad the book was done because I wanted to get more of the Claire and Jamie action. :) The only downside is waiting for the author to finish the series. It's been a 10 year love affair for me and I'm itching to get it resolved..haha

#37 Yep, I am only marginally worried about keeping up. :0) For the most part, I've loved the books I have discovered through LibraryThing and Bookmooch. My only concern is being a bit boring!

Yeah...there are some parts in the later books that I thought dragged a bit but just wait it out and it gets good again! :) Will be looking forward to seeing your review for Dragonfly in Amber. Makes me want to reread all the books again..but thats a month long commitment and I have too much other books on my shelf!

Well, here it is, such as it is..my review of Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. I really did love the book.

Diana Gabaldon is an excellent story teller. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as much or more than the opening novel in the series, Outlander. I find the writing style in these novels incredibly intriguing, and the author's ability to engage you with the character is unique. Also, I love the genre busting nature of this series.

In this second installment, the love affair between Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall continues to heat up. Marriage doesn't slow them down much! Claire and Jamie find themselves embroiled in trying to prevent Charles Stuart from crippling Scotland in the process of attempting to regain his father, James', throne. This is attempted while they outwardly support Charles. This makes for an interesting story line, which serves well over the course of the novel.

I do have to say that one thing bothered me a bit in this novel. Claire and Jamie's answer for all situations seems to be to dissolve into a sexual escapade. They are happy, they have sex.
They fight, they have sex. They are angry, they have sex. They have to part, they have sex. They find themselves alone......you get the picture. While this does quite a bit to spice up some of the sections of the novel, I felt it was a bit overdone. It just wasn't natural.

Still, the story is good, well paced, eventful, and at times truly beautiful.

I do highly recommend the novel. It is one I would recommend to people across most genres, as it has something for nearly everyone.

32. I really like Angelology too...

40. My favorite of the series was Outlander, but I enjoyed most of the others as well.. one of them, the one where theye spent so much time sailing.. whichever that was.. ( read long ago ) nearly drove me bonkers with boredom! And I agree.. the sex is overdone. ... but the stories make up for it :)

# 41 Yep, I agree. The Outlander stories (at least the first two) do make up for the distractions.

I haven't peeked at the next one Voyager but my guess is that it is the one that you are referring to. I'll remember that when I get back to the series. These books are so long that they take me a month to read! I thought I would get a couple other books under my belt before I tackled Voyager.

Great review! I figured they were jumping the sack so much because they are "newlyweds" so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. :) If I am correct, (and I may not be because how darn long those books are) things do eventually calm down. :)

I just finished reading Invasive Procedures by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. It was a fun and fast read...which was good, because I've read a couple of real lengthy novels recently, so the lighter fare was a good thing.

This book is the traditional medical thriller, and I felt that it was a story with quite a bit of entertainment value. Characterization was not as strong as most books by Orson, one didn't get the feeling of "knowing" the individual that so often characterizes Orson Scott Cards work. However, regardless of that fact, the story moved well, it was engaging, and a very quick and easy read. While some other reviewers have pointed out some flaws, my experience of the novel was that nothing really "felt wrong" in the book, related to sequencing, language, or characters acting like they had several personalities. It was consistent, therefore, did not in any way bother me as I enjoyed the story.

The basic story revolves around the premise that a "prophet" named Galen has gathered a group of Healers together, and with the Healers and a few very smart doctors, has engineered a virus that will heal ailments for any person that the virus was engineered for. However, it will also kill anyone in minutes if they are exposed to it and it was not gene mapped specifically for them. The story doesn't get deep, or philisophical, its just told.

Not recommended for book snobs...but anyone who just wants a fun story should enjoy it. Its a fun story, and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

I was able to knock off The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova a couple of days ago. I loved it. It was a great novel, and I found it both easy to read and kind of educational. I placed my review here if folks are interested. http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=whiteknight50 . Whats kind of funny about that is that I am generally not a Dracula kind of guy, most of the books that touch the subject of Dracula are pretty campy in nature. This one however, was interesting both because the writing was intelligent overall, and because it provided a bit of a historical window into a period of time I didn't know a lot about. I have to admit to being surprised at the subject matter based upon the title! I went to this novel not really knowing what it was about, but knowing that it had fair reviews. I wasn't sure when I started the book if I would like it, but it won me over quite quickly. I was into it only a few pages before I got that feeling we all like to have of not being able to put it down. (Still took me weeks to read though! lol)

Starting The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss now. Been looking forward to this one, as I really loved the first book The Name of the Wind. Another really, really BIG book... I just can't help myself.

I just finished The Wise Man's Fear. I was SO SAD to finish it! What a wonderful novel. So fun, and in spite of its 900 plus pages, I loved every single minute of it. I'm dropping my review of the book in here...since I think it captures my excitement about this author.

(Review follows)

WOW, WOW, WOW! I loved this book even more than the first book by Patrick Rothfuss. I couldn't put it down, literally...(I couldn't hold it up either!! Its a big book). Despite tired arms, I truly, truly enjoyed every minute of this, and was very sorry to see the book end. I cannot wait for the third book in the trilogy!

Again, as in 'The Name of the Wind', the first of the trilogy, Rothfuss has hit it out of the park. His writing is flawless, his sense of timing is excellent, and his characterization is thorough and believable. Patrick's command of the language is among the best I have seen, and the sense of quirkiness he brings to the writing brings a unique and fresh flavor to the story. I join others in my sincere hope that the trilogy itself is not the end of this world and its characters.

In this edition, Kvothe continues to tell the story of his unique and eventful life to Chronicler, the well known story teller. Kvothe tells the story of four unique periods in this life, and each period has its own character and charm.

Patrick Rothfuss, new writer or not, has climbed to the very pinnacle of my mountain of favorite writers. I love his quirky sense of style and his mastery of both story telling and of the English language.

This series is very, very, very high on my list of favorite books of all time!

(end)

If you have not read Patrick Rothfuss, you need to, especially if you like fantasy in general. Its fresh, intelligent, and totally absorbing fiction.

I started Flood by Stephen Baxter on Tuesday, once I'd finished this book.. was needing a change in flavor, I have read a lot of fantasy recently. This is more a sci-fi triller kind of thing...:0) Some departure from the fantasy genre!

Let me know what you think of this book if you get to read it. It was truly one of those mountain top reading experiences for me!

I am very behind on threads, Doug. I am hoping to do better from here on out though!

I am going to have to get to some of Patrick Rothfuss' books soon it looks like!

#47 You really should get his books! They are new and fresh, not just like everything else. I am sure you would enjoy them, since I know you love fantasy!

I started Flood and finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Anyone tell me how that happened? :0) Still reading Flood, and so far so good, but I needed a quick, easy, and engaging read, and picked up The Lost Symbol, and it caught me! I really enjoyed the read. It was an interesting experience though. I really loved nearly the whole book, it was quite well written, and then I got to the end. The last few chapters (most are only 3 to 4 pages long) I struggled to finish. It is like the bottom fell out right at the end. It was a bit disappointing to finish that way when most of the book was really super, but such it was.

Now back to Flood! It does seem promising!

Finished Flood by Stephen Baxter last night, and I really did end up enjoying it. It was hard to start, and I had to work at getting into it, but once I did, I found the story began to move much more swiftly and really did turn into a story worth reading. As noted above, I had to take a bit of a break from it and pick it up again though, as there was so much science in the first quarter of the book that it was quite difficult for me to read through. I'm not a science lover, its the fiction part I like to stress!

I do recommend the book to those with the stamina to get through the first section. It was an interesting read, and quite different for me than most I have read in the past.

I've started City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau today, and it's caught me. I think it will be a pretty quick read, which is good, because I have a couple of outstanding Early Reviewer books I need to get read..feeling guilty..but there's always time for one more book..before...

Hey Doug! I watched the movie version of City of Ember and didn't realize that it was originally a book. I really liked the movie so ended up buying the entire series. Looking forward to seeing what you think of the book and now I'm all curious to see if the movie version is more similar or different than the book. I will get to it one of these days... :)

Valerie, I'll be sure and post my review of City of Ember here in the book challenge! I'm only a few pages in and excited about what I have read. Its such a cool concept. I didn't realize that there was a movie. I'll have to go find it, maybe Netflix will have it...but I want to read first then do the movie thing. Everything must be done in an orderly fashion you know.

I finished City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau last night. What a great little book! I really loved it. It took me back to those wonderful childhood memories, those first books I read on my own that excited me so much. I am so glad I read this one!

The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau is a story that is very endearing, imaginative and engaging. Within a page or two I was hooked. It is an easy, swift read that is perfect for those nights when life has been a bit too hard.

Ember is an underground city that is running out of resources. Lina and Doon, two children of the city, have reached the age of twelve, at which time all children of the City of Ember are assigned work. Lina and Doon become the city's saviors through their detective work, and are able to escape the failing City of Ember.

Recommended reading for a refreshing change.

I look forward to reading The People of Sparks, the sequel next, but I also need to read 'The Gift: A Novel' by Bryan Litfin as well, as it was an Early Reviewers Gift. I expect I will tag team them, as I am pretty excited about getting into The People of Sparks.

So glad you enjoyed the book Doug! Now you can go watch the movie and compare between the book and the movie. :) I will have to go hunting on my shelves to find those books.

Oh, the movie of City of Ember was cute - I'll have to check out the book! It sounds good :).

So much for tag teaming with The Gift. I got to reading The People of Sparks and couldn't put it down.

I enjoyed The People of Sparks even more than I did the first book, The City of Ember. Both of these books are refreshing, wonderful reads. What I most appreciate about them both is their simplicity, yet they maintain a level of interest and uniqueness that makes the stories engaging, and hard to put down.

In this second book, Doon and Lina, and the people who escaped the City of Ember after them, find themselves in the City of Sparks, a post disaster village which reluctantly takes them in for six months. It follows the story of how the People of Sparks and the People of Ember escalate into a conflict over food and livelihood, and finishes with good winning over evil in the town as a heartwarming finish. Throughout this story, Lina and Doon continue to figure prominently in the story, and are part of the final gratifying solution.

This book was so much fun to read. I don't know what it is about these books, but they return me to my childhood experiences with reading, with all the wonder and joy of experiencing new things and ways of seeing. They have a "Happy Holister" quality..(now I am dating myself!), with good overcoming the bad, all coming right in the end, and the evil and the good clearly set apart. I miss those days!

Anyway, on to The Gift now, I really need to read that, as it is aging in my early reviewer pile.

Glad to hear that the second book is just as good as the first one. Looks like you might just finish all the books in the series in one shot!

I did it again. I started one book, and finished another. I am learning a lot about my reading habits as I chronicle my journey through the 75 Book Challenge. One thing I am learning about is that I do not "decide" to read a book. It decides I will read it.

If a book is not engaging to me within the first 1/4 of the book, I have no desire to finish it. I got The Gift by Bryan Litfin from the Early Reviewers and put it in my pile to read, because I had to. I never made it. I got about 1/3 of the way through, and had to put it down. It just is not my cup of tea. The dialogue was forced and unnatural, and frankly, for me, the story line just was unbeliveable from the beginning. I did not read its prequel, so it may be that I missed out on something important. But I don't imagine I'll be finishing it very soon. I will finish it, because I got it from the Early Reviewers Program, but I gave up and decided I wasn't going to force myself through another novel I just didn't really want to read. Later.

For now, I picked up The Andromeda Strain by Michael Chrichton. This is a reread for me, and a novel I absolutely love. I finished it in just few days. Its amazing how that happens...like the book, it goes way too fast. Hmm....

Anyway, for anyone who enjoys (or can stomach) some science with their escape behavior, this is a wonderful read. I've loved it since I was in high school, and for those who haven't figured that out yet, that was some time ago!

On to the next one. I'll tell you what it turns out to be when I figure it out. No more telling then reading for me! Once the book decides to drag me along, I'll let everyone know what I am reading.

One thing I am learning about is that I do not "decide" to read a book. It decides I will read it.

That is a great way of putting it! :)

I just completed Elantris by Brandon Sanderson last night. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was my first Sanderson book, and I think I have found a new author to follow.

I have loved fantasy novels most of my life, but had gotten "tired" of the medieval boy or girl slogging through a thousand similar challenges, usually perpetrated by an evil magician, who eventually overcomes his or her evil opponent by huge personal sacrifice and incredible wit.

This is the same. BUT!!! It put a new twist on everything. I really loved the intricacy of the characters, and the idea of the shining city come upon hard times. The city of Elantris and its troubles were a unique idea, and the whole novel was quite well executed. Especially for a first.

I think this one was worth diving into the "typical fantasy" pool again. There was enough "new" in it, and Brandon Sanderson did a wonderful job of building a world with real interest.

Overall, it was a very good read!

Hey, Doug! Just checking in.

I have Elantris and some other books by Brandon Sanderson sitting on my shelves patiently waiting their turn! :)

Hey Stasia! Thanks for dropping in! Hope you found something worth stopping for!

Valierie, I had some time to kill tonight, we went to see Mary Poppins at the Paramount Theatre today...that was GREAT! But I stopped in Barnes & Noble to kill a few minutes while waiting for admission, and just HAD to buy Mistborn by Sanderson! I read the teaser in the last book and it seemed like something I would enjoy. I guess the other 700+ books in my TBR pile will have to wait a bit longer!!

If you have opportunity to see Mary Poppins folks, you have to take advantage of it! It is wonderful!

>60 whiteknight50: I also really enjoyed Elantris which I recently read as well! I agree that Sanderson really has a fresh take on fantasy. It was one of my favorite reads of the year. I would also recommend Warbreaker, which is another excellent stand alone Sanderson fantasy.

I am about 1/2 way through Mistborn but am not getting through it as quickly. I have gotten distracted by some excellent Louise Penny mysteries that demanded to be read :) so am taking a break from Mistborn to read those.

700+ books in your TBR pile sounds about right. It's wonderful that for people like you and I, we have found a home here at LT where no one bats an eye when you make a statement like that. Rather we all just nod our head and say...I hear ya... :)

I have Warbreaker and Elantris in my TBR piles here--I do plan to get around to him one of these days because Sanderson sounds right up my alley as well.

#64 Actually, it may have been your review that sent me down the Sanderson path. I lurk on your thread occasionally, and I know that I have turned my nose up at Sanderson until I read someone's review recently, and the book sounded magical. My only previous knowledge of Sanderson was that he finished up Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I loved the first two or three books of that series, but that series is also one of the ones that contributed to my turnoff from typical fantasy. It went ON and ON and ON, with a repetitive story line..needless to say, I never finished the series. I also recently sat next to someone on an airplane, and he recommended Sanderson, so between the two, I caved. I am glad I did!! Definitely a great author.

I'm taking a break from reading at all for a day or two....:0) I'm starting to disappear from real life lately! But I'll get back in the saddle in a day or two..not to worry.

#65 Yes, Valerie, I found a new cult. I love it. Here I can be bookishly deviant and have no fear of recrimination! Its heavenly. I've only added 6 books to my collection in the last three days...I am VERY proud of myself. :0)

#66 I ALMOST picked up Warbreaker first, but decided on Mistborn instead. I, of course, must run out soon and add Warbreaker to my TBR pile!

I needed a quick read and a change from my usual fantasy fare for the next book, so I chose The Bourne Identity: A Novel by Robert Ludlum. I loved the movie 'The Bourne Identity" so I was anxious to read this book. I found that the movie and the book are quite different, yet the movie does retain the spirit of the book. The book and the movie stand strong seperately, each retaining integrity on their own merit.

The well-known Jason Bourne is found floating in the ocean by a Russian fishing boat. He has been riddled with bullets, and has a small microfilm roll implanted in his hip. As the Russian men who found him nurse him back to health, it is discovered that he does not know who he is, and that he has no clear memories of what happened to him. In fact, he has no idea what his life may have been like prior to his ocean experience.

He is deposited onshore and is nursed back to health by a doctor. He then begins a journey of self discovery that proves to be very dangerous to his health. Both the U.S. Government and the assassin Carlos, who is quite successful at his macabre business enterprise, are after Bourne and want him dead.

The requisite uncomfortable romance is provided when Bourne, in order to escape a dangerous situation, kidnaps a bank accountant named Marie, who learns to love Bourne as they solve his personal mysteries together.

The largest difference I noticed between movie and book was the treatment of Treadstone 71. In the movie, Treadstone is much more prominent in the story, and Carlos is pretty much not in the story. In the book, Carlos the assassin is the prime antagonist, and Treadstone 71 takes much more of a support role in the story.

An excellent story with a lot of fast action and suspense. A great read.

Doug, have you read Jay Lake's Escapement yet? I am a little in love with the vision of a clockwork universe. Might be entretaining for you.

Nope I haven't Richard. Looks like something that might be interesting! I'll have to check it out.!

Sorry for the delay! I've been haunting other halls lately, and haven't been back to see the post until today.

You arrived at the same time I did, so it didn't seem like a long time to me.

LOL... I must have been feeling guilty that day just as a matter of principle...:0)

Well, been silent for a while! I've been traveling for work, have started a new business venture, and reading, while still going on, hasn't been a top priority...darn it! I manage a few pages a day, but don't get through a book too terribly fast that way!

Just finished Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and was totally blown away! What a riveting read! This one is a must read, in my opinion!

Prior to that I finally finished Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I loved that one too, but it was a slow read for me. Might have been the "overfull' schedule or it may just have been the rivet factor for me.. I really enjoyed it, but I could not read for long before I fell asleep! (OK, I think it was the "overfull" schedule!

Great couple of books! I am now reading Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, and its starting off well too!

Hi Doug

Health issues and the beginning of the academic semester have left me energy compromised. I'm usually very good at keeping track of birthdays, but these last months have been busy.

I do hope your September 5th birthday was a great one!

Happy Belated Birthday Doug!

I have The Hunger Games slotted to be read sometime this month and I'm super excited about since all I hear is how great it is. :)

I really enjoyed the Collins and the Gaiman, and have Mistborn here in the TBR pile. Good reading! Hope the business is going well.

Hi all, Thanks for the belated birthday notice! Here is my belated THANK YOU! :0)

I just finished up both the sequels to the Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. What an incredible series. I loved every minute of it. If you haven't read it, you really need to put it toward the top of that TBR pile! The series is excellent. One of the best I've read recently.

I am on now to The Ring by Daniel Keys Moran, a favorite that I am returning to read. It never did make it into the highly popular reading pile as far as I know, but I really love it.

Business is going well, it is taking up all my time! I am wrting for the web now...and loving every minute of it. Got a little tired of writing today , so came to Library Thing to - guess what! - write a bit more! :0)

Hope you are all well.

Glad to hear you are enjoying both the reading and the working Doug. :)

Take care till we see the next update from you!