CityChelle's 50 Books in 2012 Challenge

Let the challenge begin...

#1 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This book sucks you right in from the first page.This is the first novel in this trilogy for young adults. Although the "young" part is pretty flexible. The hype is certainly justified and I will be very curious to see the movie in March.

#2 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. Third in the series, enjoyable but not as thrilling as the first two.

#3 The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. A sweet children's classic. Probably the only story outside of Disney that contains a loveable rat.

#4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. Faster paced and more exciting than the third. The stories take a darker turn as well. Even at my age that Voldemort gives me the creeps!

#5 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The story of a poor black woman from Baltimore who died of cancer in the 60s and her cells which would be used by scientists to discover numerous life saving medical treatments that we still benefit from today. Skloot blends science and human interest well. This book was thorough and well researched.

#6 Epitaph for a Spy by Eric Ambler. One of the great spy novels of the last century. A hapless tourist finds himself in the middle of a plot to catch a German spy in a French seaside hotel.

Your moving right along. Already readiing 6 books. Good for you.

Thanks callmejacx!

#7 Cinder by Marissa Meyer. A new take on the Cinderella story. This book's heroine is a cyborg (part human, part robot) with a mysterious past. Her life as a mechanic and servant of her cruel stepmother is pretty ho-hum until Prince Kai brings his favorite android in for a tune-up. This novel is targeted at sci-fi and fairy tale loving young adults. I imagine this group will enjoy the book. For myself, I wouldn't call it superb writing, but it was certainly entertaining. We'll put this one in the "guilty pleasure" category.

#8 Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. The second novel in the Hunger Games series pulled me in just as much as the first. The relationships between the main characters are complicated even further and the dangers keep escalating. I find my loyalties switching back and forth between them. Peeta or Gale? Peeta or Gale? Which is Katniss' "soul mate"?!? How will they escape The Capital's vengeance?!? Then, calmly and gently, I remind myself, "They're not real! This is just a story! Get a grip on yourself!" Needless to say, I can't wait to read the finale!

#9 Restless by William Boyd. Excellent writing style, intriguing story and yet it doesn't quite cut the mustard. The story flashes back and forth between the mother's past life as a spy and her daughter's modern day life as a single mom and the mother needs the daughter to help her solve one last case. The peripheral characters are odd and unnecessary. The modern day daughter's story is uninteresting and doesn't seem to fit with the mother. I also found the mother's "love story" to be unromantic and disappointing. While I think this writer is quite talented, I can't recommend this one.

Enjoying your posts.

#11 - Cinder is on my wishlist for a guilty pleasure read too!!

#12 - You have summarized my thoughts precisely on Catching Fire!! I am the same way! I have purchased Mockingjay and am just waiting for a day to start that I don't have any other obligations :)

I love your thread!! :)

#10 Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. And so it ends...I was pleased that the author gave a somewhat satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. The pair that I wanted to end up together did in fact end up together. There was an epilogue and I do love it when there is an epilogue. But...I did feel that the plot was shakier than the previous two. Katniss spends a good portion of the book half out of her mind, which is logical considering all she's been through. On the other hand, her craziness and time spent in and out of sick bays seemed to be used to speed up the book's progress rather than adding to the plot. Also her final mission was a point of frustration for me. I thought the author could have taken a different tack here. It was more action than good story telling at that point. But Collins did use it to put Katniss in position to shall we say...go out with a bang? Her final act of defiance certainly fit with her independent, rebellious spirit and her desire to see a wrong righted. I think we all like and identify with her flawed nobility and yet revenge, like the conclusion of the story is only somewhat satisfying.

Overall the trilogy was an intoxicatingly good read. As a friend of mine said, "it was quite a ride." I think that pretty much sums it up.

Thanks TinaValdes. Hope you enjoy Mockingjay. I read the whole thing in a day. I just couldn't stand the suspense any longer.

I can't wait, Chelle!! Thanks for whetting my appetite!

#11 We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee. Well, I thought this memoir would be really interesting but as it turns out buying a zoo involves a lot of paperwork and trying to get loans from banks. I certainly admire this family's spirit, but as far as reading material goes, I'd say this one was a little dull.

Wonder if the movie is any better??

#12 Death Comes to Pemberley by P. D. James. I tend to avoid "fan fiction" especially when it comes to the great Jane Austen, but the idea of a Pemberley mystery written by a celebrated mystery writer peeked my interest. Many have tried and failed to write a continuing story for the Darcys and I thought that maybe this would be the one to get it right. Sadly, I was wrong about the book and correct in my opinion of "fan fiction." The book was slow and tedious. The mystery wasn't all that mysterious or even interesting. Her portrayal of Austen's characters was mediocre and the dialogue horrendous. Instead of doing things, the characters talked about doing things. Instead of watching the action unfold, the characters explained what happened after the fact. If you think this book looks interesting, stop, turn around and head straight for the originals. When it comes, to Darcy and Elizabeth only Austen gets it right!

#13 The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough. American artists, writers, physicians and inventors converged on Paris in the 19th century to study the best of art and science. McCullough gives a thorough and well researched account of many of the young men and women who fell in love with the city and influenced America and the world with what they learned there. The story is well told and weaves in major points of French and American history with the lives of the great writers and artists of the period. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

#14 David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. Decided to read more Dickens this year in honor of his 200th birthday. Enjoyed the story and the characters quite a bit, but was almost overwhelmed by the size of this book! This is a long one, but worth reading.

#15 What Ho, Automaton! by Chris Dolley. A little funny, a little odd, a little innapropriate...sort of P.G. Wodehouse meets Monty Python. Not really worth reading though.

#16 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling. Probably one of the most intense in the series so far. Harry's character continues to grow and the stakes get higher. Didn't really like the last scene with Dumbledore and Harry. I thought that Harry's grief and and frustration as well as the consequences of his actions could have been treated differently. But I did like the way she highlighted his growing sense of isolation. I guess that's my psychoanalytical perspective anyway.

#17 The Mysterious Benedict Society Great kids book about 4 brave orphans who are recruited to infiltrate "The Institute" where an evil genius is plotting to take over the world using the minds of children. The story has plenty of adventure though not nearly as intense as Harry Potter. I really liked the emphasis on friendship and facing your fears. Excellent writing with a consistent style and a neat, well structured and cohesive plot.

#18 Something's Missing by Matthew Dicks. Martin's life is all about his work...as a thief. He has a long list of "clients" whom he visits regularly in order to pilfer their nearly expired salad dressing, an extra roll or two of toilet paper and perhaps the occasional diamond earring. He is meticulous, thorough, and a little OCD which means that his clients are completely unaware that anything has gone missing or that Martin has ever been inside their homes. Throughout the years he develops a certain affection for his clients and when while hiding in a closet he learns that one of them is in trouble he determines to help. This little intervention leads to more interventions until his acts of kindness begin to catch up with him...

This was a great book. The story is funny, intense, and heart-warming. Martin's career path was probably not his best choice but you can't help admiring his genius and you learn to love this lonely awkward soul. I appreciated the unique plot. It's so rare to come across a story that is really new and different. I'd never read a story quite like this one and I really enjoyed it.

#19 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. This is an odd book. The book's hero, Jacob, grows up hearing his grandpa's stories of growing up in an orphanage for "peculiar" children where there is an invisible boy and a girl who can levitate just to name a few. After his grandfather is killed, and Jacob sees a "monster" near the body, his parents think he is going crazy due to the trauma. In order to get some closure and move past his nightmares, he goes in search of this home for peculiar children on an island in Wales and of course the adventure begins.

Not sure if I liked or disliked this book. It was certainly strange and a little bit exciting but some of it was really cliche and rather cheesy. I also thought that there was an awkward mixture of "adult" topics and humor alongside a somewhat childish story. I suppose being a teenager is kind of like that, but still I thought it was weird. Not quite sure which age group the author was trying to reach.

#20 A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent. Fantastic little book that applies the gospel to the Christian life in daily readings, prose and verse. This is one of the most encouraging and grace filled books that I have ever read. Christians often don't realize that the gospel is more than just the spark that ignites your spiritual life. It is applicable every day for the rest of your life I expect that I will be opening up and rereading this numerous times in future.

#21 Between Love and Honor by Alexandra Lapierre. Historical novel about Jamal Eddin, son of the imam Shamil who fought the Russians in the 19th century. Jamal is given to the Russians as a hostage during peace negotiations, but instead of returning him the Russians kidnap and the czar raises him as a Russian Prince for over 16 years until the day when he is returned to his father in exchange for some captured Georgian princesses. He lives his life between two worlds on the one hand he is a Muslim of the Caucases and on the other hand he is a Russian officer in love with an Orthodox aristocrat. I wouldn't normally have been interested in this type of book. Romances can be a bit tedious and cheesy, but since the story is based on true events I thought that I would give it a try. The book was interesting but it felt very long. The author seems to have done some thorough research, but I was very distracted between the historical facts and the novelization. I felt like I wanted to read a book that was either more historical or more fictitious.

#22 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. A strange tale of two rival magicians who bind their proteges into a battle of skills where only one can survive. Morgenstern has created a very beautiful and yet ominous world. The story was interesting although a little weird. I had a hard time identifying with most of the characters who are very flat, and I didn't care for the story's hero. I also didn't care for the tarot card references throughout the book. However, the visual descriptions are a feast for the imagination.

I'd not heard about the references to tarot before. It's kind of put me off. Would you recommend it still?

@eclecticdodo Hard to say. She uses the tarot cards to move the story along. They definitely serve a purpose in the narrative by describing people's character or forshadowing things that will happen in the story. No one is using oiuja boards or communing with the dead, but all the same I didn't really care for that portion of the story. There were other parts of the book that I did enjoy, however I still haven't decided if I really liked the book overall.

Thanks

I suppose it's a fantasy world so not like using tarot in this world. I'd just prefer if authors didn't mix that kind of thing in. But then that would rule out most of fantasy fiction...

#23 Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery - a childhood favorite that is worth re-reading as an adult.

#24 Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery

#25 The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry. Charles Unwin, humble and highly efficient clerk to the great detective Sivart, is awakened by a strange dream and a mysterious message. Upon making his way to work the next day, he is inexplicably promoted to detective, which he is convinced was a mistake. Unwin and his bicycicle make their way through his suspisciously never-not-raining city in an attempt to get to the bottom of his promotion as well as the mysterious disappearance of Detective Sivart.

I really enjoyed this quirky mystery. I thought that the plot was pretty creative although it did remind me of a couple of recent movies (you'll know what I mean if you read it) so I can't say it was completely original, but it did keep me guessing, which is important. I'm curious to see what this author does next.

I have never read Anne of Green Gables or Anne of Avonlea. I have these books, but I keep forgetting about them.

@callmejacx Well there's no time like the present. Green Gables is a nice break from reality. The books make me long for simpler times.

#26 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling. More surprises await Harry, some pleasant and others most unpleasant. Harry continues to pull through with the help of his friends and sometimes even his enemies.

#27 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The story is narrated by Death, an impartial observer of humanity, who finds himself touched by the story of one girl, Liesel Meminger, an orphan who is sent to live with a foster family outside of Munich. As World War II rages in Europe, Liesel finds comfort as she learns to read for the first time and discovers the power that books have to teach and console. This leads her to take desparate measures at times to acquire more books with the help of her best friend and would be love, Rudy. Other endearing characters come in the form of her feisty and salty but loving foster mother and her kind hearted foster father as well as a Jewish prize fighter that they hide in their home.

Some of the most superb writing that I have ever encountered. Zusak is a masterful writer. His gift of language is inspiring. I would recommend this book based on the writing alone and completely separate from the plot. His word pictures and metaphors are absolutely delicious. The author also uses multiple flashbacks and "spoilers" given by the narrator to move the story along. At first you are surprised and annoyed that you know what will happen and then you realize that he is just giving you another tantalizing clue. It can be a bit confusing at first but if you keep reading then you fall into his rythm. I thoroughly enjoyed this book although I do think that I would put it on the older end of the young adult category.

#28 Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery. Gilbert and Anne....sigh

#29 Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. When wealthy businessman Katsumi Hosokawa agrees to attend a birthday party given by a small Latin American country hoping to persuade him to invest in their economy, he does so for one reason only, Roxanne Coss. The famous soprano has agreed to perform and therefore, he agrees to attend. Little does he know that a group of terrorists also have plans for his party and the group of international guests find themselves kidnapped and held as hostages until the terrorists demands are met. As the standoff between the terrorists and the government drags on, the hostages become accustomed to their situation and begin to form unlikely bonds with one
another as well as their captors.

Instead of the action packed thriller that is typically expected from this type of plot, Patchett has written a quiet and understated but well written book. The story focuses on the lives of captive and captor alike and the relationships that form under the unusual circumstances that they find themselves in. I enjoyed the style of the book and I liked most of the characters. I do think that the plot is somewhat unrealistic as far as hostage situations go, but I also think that the author made her points well and overall it was a good read. The ending was appropriate although I wasn't thrilled with the epilogue. However, given the storyline a tidy little ending was impossible anyway.

#30 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling. Oh Harry...How I will miss you. Your final adventure was the greatest of all! I was so convinced that Rowling would ruin it in the final book. Sometimes authors have a way of doing exactly the thing that you don't want to end a series. But much to my joy and surprise, the ending was perfect! I just loved it. In fact I read the last few chapters twice!

But the best and worst part of finishing a great series is when you put down the final book and feel like you're saying goodbye to an old friend. So goodbye for now Harry! Until next time...

#44 - Chelle I feel the same way about Harry!! I've "read" all of them via audio book and had to re-listen to Deathly Hallows immediately after I finished it. It was a very sad goodbye for me as well!

Thanks for the sympathy @TinaValdes :)

#31 The Greener Grass Conspiracy by Stephen Altrogge. Encouraging little book on contentment.

#32 Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke. This book makes the case that Christians should also be readers. Beginning with the importance of developing a Christian worldview, Reinke gives multiple arguments to encourage Christians to read a wide variety of books and backs up his reasoning with Scripture. He also provides a guide for choosing good books and eliminating others as well as tips for making reading a priority.

#33 The Unlikely Secret Agent by Ronnie Kasrils. Kasrils tells the story of his wife, Eleanor, and her work as an agent for the underground resistance movement in apartheid South Africa. It is a short, simple book which mainly focuses on Eleanor's arrest and captivity. This plucky and courageous young women manages to outwit the government agents who are trying to get her to spill the beans on her fellow agents. While I don't share her communist ideals, I certainly admire her bravery, quick thinking, and passion for human rights. The book also sparked my curiousity to know more about this part of the world and it's history, particularly the fight to end apartheid.

#34 The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler. Great book on the importance of the gospel, what it is and isn't. Chandler carefully spells out God's plan of redemption not only for the individual Christian but also for Creation. His writing is accessible to the average reader and still meaty enough for the serious student of God's Word.

#35 Gospel-Centered Discipleship by Jonathon Dodson. Another great resource for keeping the gospel central to the Christian life as we grow and teach.

#36 Hector and the Search for Happiness by Francois Lelord. Told in fairy tale style, this small book is the story of a psychiatrist named Hector and his trip around the world in search of the key(s) to happiness.

Normally, I would not have picked up a book about a psychiatrist in search of happiness. This little book, however, was generously donated to the public by one of those kind readers who leave books on their front stoop for interested passersby. Being in the neighborhood, I happened to notice the rather adorable little cartoon man on the cover as I passed and figured that I would give it a try.

Hector's story is a quaint and inventive method for packaging a self-help book. The author uses the fictional Hector to make the reader think about happiness as a concept and ultimately to evaluate his own happiness. I couldn't agree with some of Hectors methods for finding happiness, but there is some truth to his conclusions. As Hector says, "Happiness is a certain way of seeing things." Ultimately, the lens through which you look at the world will determine your level of "happiness." My lens tells me that Hector has stumbled on some good and some flawed ideas about happiness.

#37 The Day the World Discovered the Sun by Mark Anderson. The "harrowing" tale of 18th century exploration and the quest to observe the planet Venus's transit across the sun. Sound thrilling? To the average person, the transit of venus does not exactly set the imagination on fire. In the 18th century when this astronomical event which only takes place once in a century occured, it was quite the sensation. Astronomers and navigators across the globe needed to make exact calculations of the Venus transit in order to know the distance between the earth and the sun. Calculating this distance was essential to determining a ship's longitude, which could mean the difference between arriving safely at your destination or splintering into a thousand pieces on the rocks of an unknown coastline. Therefore the transit of Venus was important and also required expeditions to unknown, newly discovered and sometimes treacherous lands in order get the best view and to compare with other scientists around the world. It's in the difficulty that these men went through for the sake of science that makes the book exciting.

So why would a typically fiction-loving girl, pick up a book on astronomy? Honestly, I liked the title and the cover art. The history and the adventure were also part of it. I always like stories of daring do on the high seas. Unfortunately, this author is not the best writer. In a technical sense, the book was fine, but his style was a little dull. And though on the face of it the transit of Venus may not sound exciting, I think another author could have added more punch to the story, which is actually filled with adventure. I don't see myself recommending this book to most people, but as you can see from my summary, I did learn a few things and would risk reading another book on the same subject but hopefully one with more pizzazz.

#38 Divergent by Veronica Roth. This fast paced young-adult novel is an exciting read, but unfortunately too similar to the The Hunger Games to stand on it's own.

The plot centers around Beatrice, a teen girl, who lives in a post-apocalyptic Chicago. The city is divided into 5 factions. Each faction's members represent a different virtue, Candor: honesty, Amity: peace, Erudite: intelligence, Abnegation: selflessness, and Dauntless: bravery. Factions are chosen at age 16 after taking an aptitude test. While the test indicates your inner proclivity, you are free to make your own choice. Some stay in the faction in which they were raised, others choose to make their own way and transfer to a different faction. This is often viewed as a betrayal by one's family, but as they say "faction before blood." The problem with Beatrice is that her aptitude test is "inconclusive." She leans toward Erudite, Abnegation, and Dauntless and is therefore considered Divergent. Although no one will tell her why, she is told to keep it a secret as it could prove dangerous for her. Regardless, she must choose a faction. Should she stay with her family and live in self denial as abnegation or should she follow the wild bravery of the Dauntless which seems to draw her? As you might expect, an overarching conspiracy lurks in the background.

The writing was not bad and I thought the story had some originality. The similarities to the Hunger Games, which I enjoyed, made it difficult for me to fully appreciate it, however. The "romantic tension" between Beatrice or "Tris" and her love interest was on overdrive throughout the entire book. Her awareness that there were only about "six inches between them" on numerous occasions was a bit over the top. The love story seemed to take over the plot on occasion and I thought the author's effort would be better spent elsewhere, such as further developing the conspiracy. The moments of violence were gruesome but clumsy and sometimes unnecessary. In the end, this book is just more geared toward teens than adults, and since it is a young-adult book, I probably should have expected that.

#39 Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm. I'm enjoying NBC's Grimm so much, I thought that I would read the originals.

I love that show!! How are you finding them to compare?

The originals are definitely not the same as NBC or even Disney for that matter! It's interesting to see how much the stories have changed over time.

#40 The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton. This spy thriller is like reading an Edwardian version of Jason Bourne.

#41 Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. One of the greatest preachers of the last century encourages readers, living in troubling times. The series of sermons is drawn from John 14 and targeted to a British audience recovering from World War II only to face the threat of nuclear disaster in the Cold War. Those first listeners were comforted by these messages and since the world continues to face many challenges, these sermons are just as applicable to us today.

#42 The Art of Fiction by John Gardner. This is a great book for the aspiring novelist. If you are not a writer, then this book will give you an immense respect for the craft of writing well and will increase your appreciation as a reader.

#43 Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. This is a must have resource for worriers.

#44 The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness by Tim Keller. This tiny book packs some powerful truth about how we think about ourselves and those around us.

#45 The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung. Great book by an engaging writer on why holiness is important for Christians and why it is often missing from ourselves and our churches. DeYoung encourages Christians not to neglect this work or be overwhelmed by the greatness of the task.

#46 Washington Square by Henry James. Perhaps not a happy story but certainly a classic as well as a great piece of literature. James' short novel tells the story of Catherine Sloper, a kind and wealthy but not particularly smart or beautiful girl, who falls in love with the handsome and sharp witted, Morris Townsend, much to her shrewd father's dismay.

#47 The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. I loved this fantasy series as a kid and a road trip seemed the perfect time to get reacquainted via audiobook.

#48 The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander. Second book in the Chronicles of Prydain. Great adventure story and since I downloaded the audio version from my library, I can knit and "read" at the same time.

#49 An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff. An inspiring story about a successful career woman who passes by a young boy begging on the street until something makes her turn around and invite the boy to lunch. That first lunch would turn into many more weekly meals that would change both for good.

I just love hearing true stories about people who show compassion and do some good in the world. I recommend this one not because of its literary merits, but because it is a true and heart warming story that makes you want to be a little kinder to everyone.

Ooooh... I like the sound of An Invisible Thread! Added to my wish list! :)

#50 The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander. Third in the Chronicles of Prydain (audiobook)

#51 Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander. Fourth in the Chronicles of Prydain (audiobook)

#52 The High King by Lloyd Alexander. Fifth in the Chronicles of Prydain (audiobook)

A fitting conclusion to one of my favorite youth fantasy series. Certainly on par with Narnia. The audiobooks have a great narrator and were lots of fun to listen to while I was stuck at home for Hurricane Sandy!

#53 The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde. Disappointing. I was so looking forward to this latest Thursday Next book. While it was still Thursday, Fforde's usual wit wasn't quite up to par. I thought that parts of the plot were really clever, such as the synthetic Thursdays, but I didn't like Tuesday's love interest at all and I especially disliked Fforde's treatment of God and religion which are the main punching bag throughout the book. I typically love this series but I will not be recommending this one. Hopefully, the next installment will make up for it.

#54 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I wouldn't call this book science fiction. It's more a coming of age story with a science fiction twist. The story is told by Kathy and details her childhood at a special boarding school called Hailsham along with her two friends Tommy and Ruth. As the children get older, the author gives more insights as to why they must attend this special school and what future is in store for them when they graduate. For these kids there will be no marriage or babies or going to work in an office as their futures are already determined and have a specific purpose.

That's not much of a synopsis, but I can't say more without giving away the whole plot. The author writes as if he wants you to figure it out a little at a time. The book is definitely thought provoking, but the characters were pretty flat and the dialogue was bland. In typical coming of age story fashion, the characters have a preoccupation with sex, which this author addresses in a very awkward way.The overarching scientific/ethical dilemma is really what made the book interesting to me. I wouldn't read it again but I can see how it would work well for a book club or discussion group.

#55 Rose: My Life in Service by Rosina Harrison. This memoir was written by the personal maid to Lady Astor. The author chronicles her time with the tempestous, American born Viscountess and first woman in Parliament.

Rose's life was filled with hard work but also travel and adventure. If you want to know what it was really like to work "below stairs" at Downton Abby then this is an extremely interesting read.

#56 The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. So whatever happened to Sherlock Holmes? Perhaps he retired to a country village to keep bees and live out the rest of his days in peace interrupted by the occasional case. That is, until he meets the spunky Jewish feminist and heroine of this mystery series, Mary Russell. After a chance encounter, where both recognize the intelligence and wit of the other, teenage Mary, becomes Holmes protege. She spends long hours learning his methods of deduction, forensics and disguise, all between studying for a degree at Oxford. As Mary's instincts and skills grow she is eventually drawn into one of Holmes cases which will stretch the limits of their relationship but seal their partnership forever. Far from being a mystery solved from the comfort of Holmes living room over a good pipe, Russell finds herself traipsing around Wales disguised as a gypsy, hiding in far away lands and running from a criminal mastermind.

I was pleasantly surprised at this book. King writes Holmes well, although a little more human than he is usually portrayed. She does a great job at preparing us to accept her version of Holmes through the eyes of Mary who would naturally see him differently than Watson. According to Holmes, Watson's anecdotes and Doyle his "biographer" didn't tell their stories as they actually happened. These small facts help prepare the reader to enjoy the originals and this new version if not equally, then each for his own sake. There is plenty of action, verbal sparring between Mary and Holmes, and perhaps even a little romance if you could call it that. My only beef with the story was that I couldn't quite figure out the relationship between Holmes and Russell. Does he see her as pupil, daughter, soul mate or all of the above? They would make a good match and Russell is probably the only woman who could lure Holmes out of his bachelorhood. There is, however, the little matter of the near 40 year age difference, but when it comes to "a marriage of the minds" they would be well suited. Hopefully, the author will clear things up as the series progresses.

#57 The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller. Well written and engaging book on the subject of marriage for singles or couples.

#58 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. The sequel to Cinder is a lot more action packed. Scarlet (aka Little Red Riding Hood) is searching for her grandmother who disappeared from the family farm. Her hunt leads her to develop a friendship with a mysterious street fighter named Wolf who promises to help. Meanwhile Cinder is on the run from Queen Levana. Eventually, Scarlet and Cinders paths cross but I won't give anything else away.

Meyer keeps you guessing but of course the story runs along predictable lines. This sequel is faster paced and a little more violent. I'm not sure if I liked it more than Cinder but it was fun and different. I feel a little silly whenever I try to explain the story to other people, but I can't help liking them anyway.

#59 Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. A sweet story about first love. When Bryce moves into the neighborhood he is not at all interested in the strange little girl who lives across the street and is just dying to be friends with him. Juli, however, is head over heels about Bryce. The story is told in alternating perspectives with each chapter told by Bryce or Juli. As grade school progresses both kids grow and learn what it means to look past appearances to see what is truly important in a friendship.

This is a super book. I really enjoyed both characters and I thought it was a great picture of "growing up." Just wish I had learned some of the great life lessons that the characters discover when I was that age.

#60 Holiness by Grace by Bryan Chapell. Probably the best book that I have read on Christian growth. Chapell does a superb job of showing the role of God's grace in our lives. It is also an incredibly encouraging read for those of us who are constantly frustrated by our many imperfections. The author continuously reminds the reader that we rest in God's work rather than our own, enabling us to move forward in life with confidence in His continued care.

Your Chapell book sounds very good. I'll wish list it next.

Do you recommend the Cinder series?

@TinaV95 Cinder is a lot of fun. It's cheesy and definitely geared toward teens, but likeable none the less.

New Challenge: http://www.librarything.com/topic/148122#