JechtShot - 75 Books in 2013

Hi All! I didn't quite hit the 75 book mark in 2012, but I am back again for another try in 2013. I am looking forward to another year of discovering and sharing great reads with this group.

Reading Goals:
(1) Continue reading the works of Stephen King in chronological order. I started two years ago and I am currently up to 1982... Next up: The Gunslinger. Goal will be to read at least 5 more this year. 4/5 Complete

(2) Work my way through at least 25 books from my list of 348 (and growing) TBR books. I put together a hacky excel script to randomly select tbr books from an LT export. For fun, I think I will try using that to whittle down the count. 20/25 complete

(3) Read 10 books from the 1001 Books to Read Before you Die list. 5/10 complete

Links to previous challenge threads:
75 Books Challenge for 2012
75 Book Challenge for 2011
50 Book Challenge for 2010

Books Read in Q1 of 2013
1. Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite (3 stars, 240 pages) - Review
2. Deep Sky by Patrick Lee (3.5 stars, 384 pages) - Review
3. The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw (3 stars, 288 pages) - Review
4. The Gunslinger by Stephen King (3.5 stars, 264 pages) - Review
5. Feed by Mira Grant (3 stars, 608 pages) - Review
6. The Girl on the Glider by Brian Keene (5 stars, 102 pages) - Review
7. Do Unto Others by J.F. Gonzlez (3.5 stars, 83 pages) - Review
8. Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry (3 stars, 480 pages) - Review
9. Resolve by J.J. Hensley (3.5 stars, 248 pages) - Review
10. Dead Man's Song by Jonathan Maberry (3 stars, 480 pages) - Review
11. Bad Moon Rising by Jonathan Maberry (3.5 stars, 480 pages) - Details
12. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (4 stars, 320 pages) - Details
13. Horns by Joe Hill (4 stars, 370 pages) - Details

Books Read in Q2 of 2013

14. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (4.5 stars, 300 pages) - Details
15. Zero Sight by B. Justin Shier (4 stars, 236 pages) - Details
16. Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer (4 stars, 320 pages) - Details
17. Zero Sum by B. Justin Shier (4 stars, 431 pages) - Details
18. White Picket Prisons by Kelli Owen (4.5 stars, 169 pages) - Details
19. Funland by Richard Laymon (3 stars, 418 pages) - Details
20. All The Rage by F. Paul Wilson (3.5 stars, 512 pages) - Details
21. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (4 stars, 463 pages) - Details
22. 2666 by Roberto Bolano (3 stars, 912 pages) - Details
23. Six Days by Kelli Owen (3.5 stars, 252 pages) - Details
24. Creepshow by Stephen King (3 stars, 64 pages) - Details
25. Hosts by F. Paul Wilson (3 stars, 512 pages) - Details
26. What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson (3.5 stars, 288 pages) - Details
27. Different Seasons by Stephen King (5 stars, 692 pages) - Details
28. The Haunted Air by F. Paul Wilson (4 stars, 544 pages) - Details
29. Time Bandit by Andy Hilstrand (3.5 stars, 240 pages) - Details
30. Under the Skin by Michel Faber (3.5 stars, 338 pages) - Details

Books Read in Q3 of 2013

31. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (4 stars, 180 pages) - Details
32. Gateways by F. Paul Wilson (3 stars, 448 pages), - Details
33. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (3.5 stars, 272 pages) - Details
34. Getting Things Done by David Allen (4 stars, 267 pages) - Details
35. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill (4 stars, 704 pages) - Details
36. Crisscross by F. Paul Wilson (3.5 stars, 512 pages) - Details
37. Alone by Brian Keene (3.5 stars, 54 pages) - Details
38. Inferno by Dan Brown (3.5 stars, 480 pages) - Details
39. Blood on The Page by Brian Keene (4.5 stars, 266 pages) - Details
40. Christine by Stephen King (3.5 Stars, 528 pages) - Details
41. Infernal by F. Paul Wilson (3.5 stars, 432 pages) - Details
42. Harbingers by F. Paul Wilson (3.5 stars, 448 pages) - Details
43. A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain (3.5 stars, 288 pages) - Details

Books Read in Q4 of 2013

44. The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon (3 stars, 400 pages) - Details
45. Bloodline by F. Paul Wilson (3 stars, 448 pages) - Details
46. Nine Princes In Amber by Roger Zelazny (3.5 stars, 175 pages) - Details
47. Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (4 stars, 320 pages) - Details
48. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (3.5 stars, 416 pages) - Details
49. Candy Girl by Diablo Cody (4 stars, 224 pages) - Details
50. The Ruins by Scott Smith (3 stars, 384 pages) - Details
51. The Passage by Justin Cronin (4 stars, 784 pages) - Details
52. Silent Echo by J.R. Rain (2.5 stars, 198 pages) - Details
53. Sixty-Five Stirrup Iron Road by Brian Keene and others (3.5 stars, 196 pages) - Details
54. By The Sword by F. Paul Wilson (3 stars, 464 pages) - Details
55. The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster (3 stars, 384 pages) - Details

Welcome back!

Happy New Year Nick!!! Happy Reading!!!!

Hi Nick! Good luck for the new year!

Jim, Tammy and Rachel... Happy New Year and thanks for dropping by! I am looking forward to following all of your threads this year.

1. Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 240
Genre: Horror
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

Review on Book's Main Page

Exquisite Corpse may be the most graphic and horrifying novel I have ever read. I can summarize the plot in a few simple words: Homosexual cannibal serial killers with AIDS. Truly. This is not the name of a metal band or a B-Movie from the 80s. That is the point of the story. One may be able to find deeper meaning in this gore-fest if they were to dig deep, but I doubt they will find much. This book was written simply to shock the reader and that it does. Excuse me while I go read something about rainbows, puppies and unicorns to restore balance in the universe.

Well, that is definitely a book I will NOT be adding to my wishlist, Nick! I wish you luck in getting the taste of it out of your mouth.

Yeah, Brite was one of the headliners of the splatterpunk sub-genre, and they weren't kidding around. Some of her stuff was pretty good, but you always bet on graphic violence and high gross-out factor.

I like your goals!

11>Roni - good call, I wouldn't even feel right recommending this book :) Happy to report that the taste has finally left my mouth after drinking a bottle of mouth wash and bathing in bleach.

12>Jim - I've read a bit of splatterpunk horror back in the late 90s, but this one really stepped up the gross-out factor to a place I have never visited before. The writing was actually pretty good and that may have contributed to my discomfort while reading it.

13>Ursula - Thanks! I had similar goals last year, but did not do a very good job of meeting them. I am going to try a bit harder in 2013. Wish me luck.

Happy New Year Nick!
I love your goals! I have read a large portion of the King books but I would love to go back and read them in the order they were written!
I am also working away at the 1001 books list. It's a tough goal!

15> Hi Chelle, thanks for stopping by! I think I stole the idea of a chronological King read from someone on LT a few years back and it has been well worth the journey so far! I am a big fan of his writing and I was probably a bit too young to appreciate some his earlier works when I first read them. As far as the 1001 list, you nailed it, it is a tough goal. I have no intention of actually conquering this beast in my lifetime, but it would be fun to make a dent, even a small one :)

2. Deep Sky by Patrick Lee



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 384
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Review on Book's Main Page

A missile is launched from a suburban military location that obliterates the oval office and leaves the president of the US dead. Several other influential financial and political representatives are all murdered nearly simultaneously. The only clue left behind are two words scribbled on a piece of paper: "See Scalar". Travis Chase and Paige Campbell set out on a mission to decode the meaning of this message and quickly find themselves unraveling a secret that will change the world forever.

Deep Sky, by Patrick Lee, is the last book in the Breach Trilogy and it provides sufficient closure to the series. I would highly recommend starting the series from the beginning with "The Breach" as this particular novel is built upon its successors. Highly recommended for those looking for an exciting and highly imaginative thriller.

3. The Hungry Ocean by Linda Greenlaw



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 288
Genre: Non-Fiction
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

Review on Book's Main Page

The Hungry Ocean is an intimate memoir about the swordfishing industry from the perspective a female boat captain, Linda Greenlaw. This book details one specific trip from dock, to the sea and back again. We learn of the planning, the crew squabbles, the anticipation of pulling in the next set and the passion that those chosen few have who have elected to spend a majority of their lives at sea.

The Hungry Ocean is Greenlaw's first book, which I believe she was inspired to write after her boat (The Hannah Boden) was mentioned multiple times in "The Perfect Storm" by Sebastian Junger. The story was far more engaging than I would have expected from a book about commercial swordfishing. Things started out a bit slow, but once Greenlaw honed in on the love of her life (fishing) the story took off. If you are interested in a peek into the world of commercial swordfishing from the perspective of one of the most successful captain's out there, than look no further.

Glad to see you back with us again, Nick!

Where did you come across The Hungery Ocean?
I realized sometime ago that memoirs and biographies often tell stories as good fictional books.

4. The Gunslinger by Stephen King



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 264
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: Stephen King Challenge

Review on Book's Main Page

The Gunslinger, as a novel, is a tease. Sure she shows a little leg, gives you a wry smile from across the room, hands you a paper napkin with her phone number smudged in stoplight red lipstick, but ultimately you will go home alone with more questions than answers and an insatiable thirst for more. By the time you finish this introduction to the Dark Tower Series, you will most likely be confused. You learn a bit about Roland, The Last Gunslinger, who appears to stop at nothing to accomplish his quest to find The Dark Tower. You will learn that the world of The Dark Tower appears to take place in a version of the Old West, but not quite. There are hints of a world past with cars, computers and even a popular song known as Hey Jude. By the end you will know that Roland's quest is just beginning and that there are many doors left to walk through before his apotheosis is reached. You see, a tease, but go ahead, pull that crumpled up napkin out of your shirt pocket and give her a call. I hear the second date is worth it.

19> Hi Stasia! Thanks, great to be back for another year of reading fun!

20>Tammy - Great question on The Hungry Ocean, sometimes I wonder how books end up on my bookshelf and this is one of them :) I checked with my wife, who is a big fan of adventure non-fiction, and apparently she heard an interview with the author on NPR and went out and bought the book several years back. There ends the not-so-exciting story of how I came to read The Hungry Ocean.

That's a great analogy for The Gunslinger! At least now you can go on that next date in the near future if you so desire. I had long waits between books when I started on the series.

5. Feed by Mira grant



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 608
Genre: Horror
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Review on Book's Main Page

Feed. A tale of blogging in a zombie infested world. In Mira Grant's take on the zombie genre, a cure for the common cold and a cure for cancer were released to the masses and an unexpected side effect developed when the two immunizations comingled. Spontaneous cell regeneration and a hankering for long-pig. Fast forward several decades later. Citizens of the world are trapped in their homes, neighborhoods are rated based on likelihood of zombie infection and print news has been all but replaced by blogs. In Feed, two young bloggers, Georgia and Sean Mason have been selected to follow an up-and-coming Wisconsin Senator on his bid for the presidency. The are given full access and are encouraged to report truthfully on the entire campaign. However, the Mason's soon learn that zombies may be the least of their worries on this campaign trail. The concept of the novel was intriguing, but the story fell flat for me. There were a few exciting moments and some unpredictable twists, but by the end of book one I was done. I think the Newsflesh trilogy ends here for me at book number one.

23>Hi Ursula. Unfortunately, I set myself up to have a long delay between Dark Tower books with my self-imposed Stephen King chrono challenge. However, I did read that he references and/or includes characters and locations from his other novels throughout the series, so in a way it will be nice to have that background before I jump into the next books in the series.

Oh yeah, I forgot you're doing them chronologically.

Once you start reading the Dark Tower books, you find references to it absolutely everywhere. It's like fun Easter eggs in many of the books.

Not a boring story! I often wonder how or why people choose the books they do. And I might give The Hungary Ocean a try.

I've steered away from Stephen King, as I can't abide horror, but have been tempted from time to time by the Gunslinger series.

6. The Girl on the Glider by Brian Keene



Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 102
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Review on Book's Main Page

A personal and insightful first person ghost story told by horror author Brian Keene. The Girl on the Glider is a novella written in journal form detailing the haunting of Keene's Pennsylvania home following a car accident that took place just outside his property. As Keene explains the events that followed the incident, the reader gains insight into the struggles facing a mid-tier author in a declining economy and the thougt processes of a writer facing the very ghost stories that he creates. Personal, engaging and highly recommended.

7. Do Unto Others by J.F. Gonzalez



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 83
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Review on Book's Main Page

What would you do to save the life of your daughter? Would you forsake your religious beliefs and turn to the dark side if you knew the outcome would result in not only saving a life, but saving your marriage and ending any and all financial worries, past, present and future? These are exactly the questions J.F. Gonzalez brings to light in his page-turning dark novella "Do Unto Others" and you will not know the answers until literally the very last page.

I started working my through the first novel in my 1001 Books Challenge this week, Roberto Bolano's 2666. The book is broken in up into 5 separate books that I assume will eventually converge on a theme. Book 1, The Part about the Critics, focuses on a group of German literature critics scattered across Europe in search of a reclusive author, Benno Von Archimboldi. The search eventually leads the team to Mexico where Archimboldi was last spotted. Book 2 (the most challenging for me personally so far) told the story of a Chilean philosopher, whom was introduced in book 1. The philosopher, Amalfitano, is starting to lose his wits and currently resides in St. Teresa, Mexico. Book 3, The Part About Fate, centers around an African American journalist who has been shipped off to Mexico to cover a boxing match. While there, the young journalist learns of the murder of 100's of Mexican Women occurring over the past decade. Now that we have a larger grouping in Mexico, perhaps the actual story line will show its pretty little head.

I am maybe a 1/3 of the way through this massive tome, but it is keeping my interest so far. Parts of this story have gone so far over my head that I can see them coming back towards me, but I just hope that some of these obscure (at least to me) literary references are not central to the plot as I keep my eye on the prize. I am guessing it will take me another 2 weeks to complete 2666. I just though I would check-in quick so you all know that I am still alive.

Now, back to my book... after I finish shoveling.

Kudos for tackling 2666! I read it last year. Bolano does have a way with writing that captivates the reader's interest, IMO. He lost me on a lot of the allusions used in the book but they didn't seem essential to follow the story. I found Part 4 came across as a bit of a repetitious slog but it still had enough unique information, in my personal experience, to keep me reading.

Looking forward to seeing you continued and final take on 2666 after you finish it.

I read 2666 with Peggy (LizzieD) and I think that helped. We bounced ideas off each other as to what we thought the author meant and things like that. I hope you enjoy the book when you are done with it, Nick!

8. Ghost Road Blues by Jonathan Maberry



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 480 (14 hours, 17 minutes)
Genre: Horror
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Review on Book's Main Page

Thirty years ago in the town of Pine Deep, under the light of a Halloween moon, an evil child killer by the name of Griswold ate the pointy end of a guitar when a blues guitarist known as "The Boneman" put an end to his reign of terror. Griswold's body was thrown into a swamp never to be found again. The funny thing about evil is that it has this tendency to linger and fester. It lays in wait. Thirty years later a career criminal and his two cronies stall out in the town of Pine Deep while fleeing from a drug deal gone bad. This little event is the hairpin trigger that sets off events in Pine Deep once again.

Potential reader, be forewarned, Ghost Road Blues is part of a trilogy and will leave you with closure issues. This is the book of questions not answers, so make sure to have at least book two in hand if you find yourself drawn into Maberry's horrific world of Pine Deep.

9. Resolve by J.J. Hensley



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 248
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge, Early Reviewer

Review on Book's Main Page

A professor of criminology at Three Rivers College, Dr. Cyprus Keller, is caught in a web of murder and intrigue when a student, with an apparent crush on the ol' professor, is found murdered shortly after being turned down by Dr. Keller. The next day his teaching assistant assaults him in the parking lot and soon Dr. Keller finds himself as the primary suspect of multiple crimes. The twists and turns of the story are doled out to the reader in a rather unique fashion. The story of Resolve is broken into 26.2 chapters and in each we learn a little about the race course and a lot about what led the professor to run this race. We know from almost the first page that Dr. Keller is running the marathon for much more than cardiac health. He is planning to kill one of his fellow racers.

I am a marathon runner and I have to admit that Hensley absolutely nailed the inner workings of the runners mind while traversing the torturous and often boring quest to complete 26.2 miles (less the killing part...usually). The premise of plotting a murder that will take place at a random point during the race was a unique twist on the murder mystery/thriller genre. A fast paced and highly recommended read.

32> lkernagh, thanks! I have been putting off reading this book for a few years now mostly due to the sheer volume. Bolano's writing certainly does have a captivating quality. Even though I have found myself floundering through some of the challenging parts my interest is still piqued. Granted, I still have half the book to go, but so far so good. I am now about halfway through book 4 and it is growing a bit monotonous. I'll post more of my thoughts once I get through the rest of this section.

33> Stasia, I could definitely see the benefits of a reading partnership for this book. I have a feeling that, for me, this read through will very much be at the surface level with a whole lot of depth left to explore. I will most likely turn to the World Wide Interwebs to gain some additional perspective.

10. Dead Man's Song by Jonathan Maberry



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 480 (15 hours, 48 minutes)
Genre: Horror
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge, Re-Read

Review on Book's Main Page

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

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

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

11. Bad Moon Rising by Jonathan Maberry



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 480 (17 hours, 42 minutes)
Genre: Horror
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

12. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 320 (11 hours, 8 minutes)
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 1001 Books Challenge

13. Horns by Joe Hill



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 370
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

What did you like about Horns? I've been thinking about reading it.

14. The Windup Girlby Paolo Bacigalupi



Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 300
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

15. Zero Sight by B. Justin Shier



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 236
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

Hmmm, that last one looks interesting.

39> Hi Tammy. Sorry for the delayed replies. Work has been a tad on the crazy side lately :) I was hesitant to start this book at first, because the premise of a man waking up with a pair of horns on his head seemed a bit too far fetched. I mean, how can you fill a whole book with that? However, the story of the events leading to the "horns" incident and the powers that they bestowed made this a real page turner. The book is chock-full of violence and disturbing content, but if that doesn't bother you, I recommend giving this one a whirl.

42>Hi Jim. Zero Sight was a pleasant surprise. I picked this one up on a whim for my Kindle during some random Amazon sale last year. The writing is nothing special, but the story is entertaining, the characters are witty and the magic system is loosely based on science (which I liked). I'm about halfway through the second book, Zero Sum, and I'm pleased to report that it is as good as the first so far.

16. Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 320 (10 hours, 26 minutes)
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

17. Zero Sum by B. Justin Shier



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 431
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

18. White Picket Prisons by Kelli Owen



Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 169
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Hey Nick!!! No worries!!! Life is crazy sometimes!!! I think I will take Horns home today and give it a try. I'll let you know if I like it. :-}

19. Funland by Richard Laymon



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 418
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

20. All The Rage by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 512 (13 hours, 17 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

21. The Princess Bride by William Goldman



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 463
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

Hey there,

Man, you have been doing some fantastic reading this year. There are some really good gems in there. Next time you are in the mood for some dark fantasy/horror, I cannot recommend Joe Hill's new novel enough: NOS4A2.

I will visit often for some new reads.

Cheers,

HHF

52> HHF, welcome to the thread! Are you doing the challenge this year? Checked for your thread, but couldn't find anything. You always provided some great additions to my wishlist.

I have lucked out so far in my book selections for 2013. Great authors with quite a few leaning towards the horror/supernatural genres. NOS4A2 will be read in the very near future. After finishing Horns up earlier this year, I can't wait to tackle another Joe Hill gem.

Hi Jechtshot,

Just wanted to complement you on your great reading challenges. I especially like the idea of the Stephen King chronological read through.

Cheers,
Charles

53>I know what you mean about Joe Hill. His craft is maturing rapidly with each novel, not excluding the phenomenal graphic novel series of Locke & Key that is keep a strong rythm of excellent storytelling.

I am keeping track of my reads this year and challenging myself to get to 100, but I did not get around to opening a thread on here this year. There just seems to be too much going on this year with the kids, plus some travelling for work this first half of the year.

In my profile I have a made up Collection group called "Read in 2013" so I can keep track. Maybe in the Fall when things have slowed down, I will come back and open a thread. You will have to sift out the kids reads. I started adding the ones the kids liked to take advantage of the recommendation feature on LT.

54> Hi Charles! Thanks for stopping by. The challenges are a fun thing to track, but sometimes I get distracted by shiny objects and let the challenge goals fall to the wayside (not necessarily a bad thing). Odds are favorable that I will complete the remaining 4 books in this years King challenge: Creepshow, Different Seasons, Christine and Pet Sematary.

55>Locke & Key is fantastic. I think the last installment comes out this year and I cannot wait to get my hands on that! Thanks for letting me know about your "Read in 2013" collection. I will have to peruse and start building my wishlist... and if I accidentally end up with a Captain Underpants title in my wishlist, so be it :)

22. 2666 by Roberto Bolano



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 912
Genre: Fiction
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge, 1001 Books Challenge

Comments:

2666 was a massive undertaking that took me about 4 months to complete. Bolano's writing is extraordinary, but my problem is that much of it went straight over my head, circumnavigated the globe, and went over my head again. Quite frankly, the IQ of this book is higher than mine. To truly understand much of the novel I think you need to be well educated in ALL of the following: Philosophy (all schools), Literature (global), Art, Geography and history. With a solid background in all of these areas of study, this book is likely magnificent. The parts I understood were enjoyable, but unfortunately that was probably only half of the 900+ pages contained within.

Thanks for your review of 2666. I haven't been game to tackle that one yet. Savage Detectives was probably one of my favourite books I read in the last five years, and I also recently read By Night in Chile, a short novel that was c quote good. I think I'm a little intimidated by 2666 - the size put me off at first.

23. Six Days by Kelli Owen



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 252
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

A woman wakes up in a pitch black cavern with no memory of when or how she arrived. She feels her way around her bleak surroundings in search of clues, escape, hope, but instead encounters an ominous omen. Scratched into the wall she finds six hash marks... six days to live. Using senses other than sight, she is forced navigate this physical prison and the prison in her own mind in hopes of finding an escape before the seventh day arrives.

58> It was probably a bit ambitious of me to start with 2666 as my first Bolano read, but what's done is done. I do have The Savage Detectives on the shelf, but it will probably be a bit before I am ready to tackle that one. If the size is putting you off from starting, the book is kindly divided into five regular sized sub books. I tackled them one at a time and read other things throughout. That approach made the 900+ pages a little less intimidating.

Getting caught up here and love your review of 2666... you have pretty much summed up me experience, in particular: "much of it went straight over my head, circumnavigated the globe, and went over my head again. " Yup, it sure did! ;-) I plan to lurk and probably comment during the group read of 2666 that is scheduled for this October in the hopes of gleaning further insight into the book. My first, and only other Bolano read was The Third Reich, unusual but not when compared with 2666. I probably should have started with The Savage Detectives.

Going back up your thread, I really liked The Windup Girl and need to get around to reading more Bacigalupi.

24. Creepshow by Stephen King



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 64 pages
Genre: Horror
Format: Graphic Novel
Challenge/Goal Category: Stephen King Challenge

A collection of five horror short stories in comic form written by the man, the myth, the legend, Stephen King. The stories were okay, but having seen the movie quite a few times back in the day, there really weren't any surprises left to be had. The most challenging aspect of this book was getting my hands on it to continue my chronological read-through. I finally ended up landing a copy by paying more than I care to admit to an online used book seller. Next up in the SK Challenge: Different Seasons.

61>lkernagh, thanks for sharing your thoughts on my review of 2666. I was afraid I was the only in the universe who didn't get the full meaning of the book. Interesting that there will be a group read later in the year. I think I will make a point to lurk as well.

25. Hosts by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 512 (13 hours, 13 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

In this installment of the Repairman Jack series, Jack is unexpectedly reunited with his elder sister, Kate. Kate "hires" Jack on to look into a viral mutation that upon infection of the host causes the carrier to become part of a collective hive-mind. The hive-mind has grand plans to take over the world and only Jack can stop this new evil threatening his city.

26. What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 288 pages
Genre: Fiction
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

What Dreams May Come is the story of a man who dies unexpectedly and the challenges that he endures to be reunited with his wife in the afterlife. The story had the potential to be a 4.5-5 star read, but the author's introduction was cause for an automatic 1 star deduction. Matheson claims that the story is true (based on research) and that only the characters are fictional. I take issue when the basis of your truth is speculative hypothesis.

Was this also filmed as a Robin Williams movie? Sounds vaguely familiar. It's a shame the author had to ruin a good story with that mumb-jumbo.

Yup, was a Robin Williams movie.

66> I wouldn't say it ruined the book exactly... if the truth and accuracy claim had been made in an afterword instead of an introduction I probably wouldn't have even brought it up. Something about setting the stage with that statement turned on my inner-skeptic before even starting the story.

I know I saw the movie several years back and liked it well enough. Unfortunately, I don't remember it well enough to compare the two.

27. Different Seasons by Stephen King



Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 692
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: Stephen King Challenge

This set of novellas serves as a testament to how talented Mr. King is as a writer. This collection is comprised of four stories: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, The Body (Stand By Me) and Breathing Method. I highly recommend each and every one of them.

28. The Haunted Air by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 544 (15 hours, 33 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

In book six of the Repairman Jack series, Jack is once again thrust into the realm of the supernatural where he teams up with a pair of psychics to help them deal with a haunting within their home. Jack learns that the "Otherness" is tied to this paranormal event and what seems to be a routine haunting is in fact tied directly to him and his girl Gia. One of the best in the series is so far.

29. Time Bandit by Andy Hillstrand



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 240
Genre: Non Fiction
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

Only words that come to mind after finishing this memoir is that it is a miracle that these guys are still alive.

30. Under The Skin by Michel Faber



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 338
Genre: Fiction
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 1001 Books Challenge

This is one of those books that I am having trouble writing a spoiler free review or summary. Under the Skin is well written and Faber's pacing provides the reader with bits and pieces of the puzzle straight through until the last page. A thought provoking read.

31. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 180
Genre: Fiction
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 1001 Books Challenge, TBR Challenge

It has been so long since I read this book that I am taking credit for it in my TBR challenge too :)

**SPOILERS LIKELY**

The Great Gatsby is a tale of lust and infidelity in high-society. I liked the writing quite a bit, but the concepts in the book made me a bit nauseous. We have a pompous prick, Tom, who looks down his nose at just about everyone and who keeps himself busy by fooling around with his side dish. Hell, everyone even knows about her, including his wife! Jay Gatsby, stalker extraordinaire, builds himself an empire to impress his ex-love and poor narrator, Nick, is stuck in the middle of this menagerie. One thing I will say, those guys in the 20s knew how to throw a party.

If you haven't read this before, it is a true American classic that should be experienced by all.

Nice Gatsby review!

32. Gateways by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 448 (12 hours, 27 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Repairman Jack receives news that his father was recently in an automobile accident and is currently residing in a coma ward in a Florida Hospital. The typical New York storyline is tossed aside as Jack is thrust into a supernatural adventure that takes place in the Everglades. A group of backwoods Evergladians comes in possessions of a talisman that allows them to control the creatures of the swamp, but things go awry when they use the trinket against the wrong dude. A small-scale war breaks out when Jack brings his own brand of vengeance against the swamp people.

Gateways is an important read in the overall Repairman Jack story arc as some key secrets are revealed, but the tale itself fell a bit short for me. I like NYC Repairman Jack! However, this is a must read for those digging their way through the series.

33. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 272
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

Captain Cordelia Naismith is sent to a remote planet as part of a survey team to study the flora and fauna of this new location when her crew is unexpectedly attacked and all but obliterated. Much to her surprise, she encounters a commander from the warring faction, Aral Vorkosigan, and they develop a "friendship" as they work together to save their collective hides. This is a story of serendipity as Vorkosigan and Naismith are continually drawn together via intergalactic happenstance.

34. Getting Things Doneby David Allen



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 267
Genre: Non Fiction
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Re-read of one of my favorite personal productivity management books.

I really like Getting Things Done as well--best I've read.

You must read Barrayer while Shards of Honor is still fairly fresh in your mind. It's a much better book as it was her 5th written instead of her first, and follows directly upon SoH.

78>Roni, thanks for the advice. I will bump Barrayer up in the queue! As far as GTD, I am still working on developing a system that works for me. My biggest takeaway from the methodology is to get the 2-minute actions done as they come up rather than pushing them off. It never fails to surprise me how many 2-minute actions there are in life...

35. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 704
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Vic McQueen has a knack for finding lost things in a manner that is a bit south of normal. She is able to build a bridge of the mind between two locations in order to acquire whatever it is that had been lost. There is another character in this story that is able to build a bridge of sorts. Only this man, Charles Talent Manx, uses his mind spanning abilities for much more nefarious purposes. He likes to collect children in his Rolls Royce Wraith (NOS4A2) and build a bridge to a place called Christmasland. A place where it is always Christmas and where the children he kidnaps can be kept forever. One can build a bridge to find the lost, the other can build a bridge to hide things forever. What will happen when one seeks what the other has taken?

This is Joe Hill's third novel and they just keep getting better. He has really found his voice with NOS4A2 and what a dark and twisted voice it is. Highly recommended.

36. Crisscross by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 512 (15 hours, 50 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

37. Alone by Brian Keene



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 54
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Short but sweet. Brian Keene's writing shines in short story form, but this one was a bit too predictable.

38. Inferno by Dan Brown



Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 480
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Dante's Inferno serves as the backdrop for this Robert Langdon sight-seeing, puzzle solving, police evading and conspiracy thwarting novel. I have read "this" book a total of four times now, but this one was quite a bit better than Brown's third attempt with The Lost Symbol. If you are in the mood for a quick vacation type read I would recommend giving this one a go.

39. Blood on The Page by Brian Keene



Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 266
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

Blood on the Page (Volume 1) is a collection of short stories from horror author Brian Keene. For those of you familiar with Keene's work, many of these shorts take place in or are tangentially related to worlds previously created by the Author (e.g. LeHorn's Hollow and The Rising). Normally, with a collection of short stories I find myself skimming through or flat out skipping stories that do not retain my interest. However, each and every one of the stories in this collection were highly readable. Keene has a knack for being able to create characters, plot and resolution within a mere a few pages. Highly recommended.

40. Christine by Stephen King



Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 528
Genre: Horror
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: Stephen King

Two words: Haunted car. An unpopular, perpetually picked on boy named Arnie meets the girl of his dreams in the most unlikely of places; along the roadside covered in rust with a broken windshield and a questionable body. Who is this beauty? Why it's Christine, a 1958 Plymouth Fury with a bit of a history. This car has seen it's share of murder and Arnie is about to venture on the ride of his life as he finds out how truly possessive this vehicle can be. Not my favorite of King's works, but a fun read nonetheless.

41. Infernal by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 432 (11 hours, 19 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

42. Harbingers by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 448 (11 hours, 52 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

43. A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain



Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 288
Genre: Non Fiction
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

44. The Traveling Vampire Show by Richard Laymon



Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 400
Genre: Horror
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

45. Bloodline by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 448 (14 hours, 29 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

46. Nine Princes in Amber by Rodger Zelazny



Rating: 3.5 stars
Pages: 175 (5 hours, 31 minutes)
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

47. Medium Rawby Anthony Bourdain



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 320 (9 hours, 00 minutes)
Genre: Non Fiction
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

Anthony Bourdain writes fantasy as well as books about food?!

I wish! Typo corrected.

48. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest



Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 416
Genre: Steampunk
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

49. Candy Girl by Diablo Cody



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 224
Genre: Non Fiction
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

50. The Ruins by Scott Smith



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 384
Genre: Horror
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

51. The Passage by Justin Cronin



Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 784 (36 hours, 52 minutes)
Genre: Fiction
Format: Audiobook, Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge

52. Silent Echo by J.R. Rain



Rating: 2.5 Stars
Pages: 198
Genre: Mystery
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

53. Sixty-five Stirrup Iron Road by Brian Keene, Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee and many others



Rating: 3.5 Stars
Pages: 196
Genre: Horror
Format: Kindle Edition
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

54. By The Sword by F. Paul Wilson



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 464 (12 hours, 07 minutes)
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Challenge/Goal Category: 75 Books Challenge

55. The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster



Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 384
Genre: Fiction
Format: Paperback
Challenge/Goal Category: TBR Challenge, 1001 Books Challenge