Kassilem's (Melis) 2013 Challenge - Part 2

Hello!
Welcome to the second thread of my 2013 reading challenge. Here’s Part 1

Below will be the list of the books I read this year, with their reviews in the posts down below. Below that I will continue my three detailed challenges for this year. As always, please feel free to snoop or take/leave recommendations.

2011 Challenge Part 1, Part 2
2012 Challenge Part 1

Reading Statistics

Looking forward to more.

Below will be a condensed list of what I read, while in the posts below I'll put my reviews. Happy reading!!

June:
65. The Iron King - Maurice Druon (Post 10)
66. How I Became a Teenage Survivalist - Julie L. Casey (Post 11)
67. A Memory of Light - Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson (Post 12)
68. The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky (Post 14)
69. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - Sheryl Sandbeg (Post 17)
70. Academ's Fury - Jim Butcher (Post 20)
71. The Blue Sword - Robin McKinley (Post 23)

July:
72. Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K. Hamilton (Post 32)
73. Coming of the Storm - Micheal & Kathleen Gear (Post 33)
74. The Giver - Lois Lowry (Post 35)
75. The Laughing Corpse - Laurell K. Hamilton (Post 37)
76. The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg (Post 38)
77. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee (Post 41)
78. Circus of the Damned - Laurell K. Hamilton (Post 46)
79. The Borgias: The Hidden History - G. J. Meyer (Post 47)
80. Forensic Pathology: Principles & Practice - David Dolinak (Post 54)
81. Biology - Peter H. Raven (Post 55)
82. Wild Girls, Wild Nights - Sacchi Green (Post 56)
83. Cursor's Fury - Jim Butcher (Post 57)
84. If I Stay - Gayle Forman (Post 63)
85. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (Post 64)

August:
86. The Willpower Instinct - Kelly McGonigal (Post 66)
87. Bones of Contention - Roger Lewin (Post 67)
88. Baygirl - Heather Smith (Post 70)
89. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak (Post 71)
90. The Complete World of Human Evolution - Chris Stringer (Post 77)
91. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas (Post 78)
92. Captain's Fury - Jim Butcher (Post 82)
93. Sing the Four Quarters - Tanya Huff (Post 96)

September:
94. Written in Red - Anne Bishop (Post 122)
95. Why Evolution is True - Jerry A. Coyne (Post 129)
96. The Third Kingdom - Terry Goodkind (Post 130)
97. Last Ape Standing - Chip Walter (Post 133)
98. Conservation and Globalization - Jim Igoe (Post 134)

October:
99. Princep's Fury - Jim Butcher (Post 136)
100. Two Boys Kissing - David Levithan (Post 137)
101. Where You Are - J. H. Trumble (Post 140)
102. Evolutionary Medicine and Health: New Perspectives - Wenda Trevathan (Post 143)
103. Fire the Sky - Michael & Kathleen O'Neal Gear (Post 144)
104. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - David Levithan & Rachel Cohn (Post 145)
105. Questioning Collapse - Patricia McAnany & Norman Yoffee (Post 149)

November:
106. First Lord's Fury - Jim Butcher (Post 154)
107. Meaning, Medicine and the 'Placebo Effect' - Daniel Moerman (Post 158)
108. Reconstructing Human Origins - Glenn C. Conroy (Post 159)
109. The Perception of the Environment - Tim Ingold (Post 160)
110. Lone Survivors - Chris Stringer (Post 162)
111. Ancient North America - Brian M. Fagan (Post 163)
112. Changes - Mercedes Lackey (Post 164)
113. The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps - Dillon Banerjee (Post 165)
114. The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince - Robin Hobb (Post 166)
115. Possession: A Novel of the Fallen Angels - J. R. Ward (Post 172)
116. Little Red Lies – Julie Johnston (Post 173)

December:
117. Postmortem - Patricia Cornwell (Post 179)
118. Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs (Post 180)
119. Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil - Paul Bloom (Post 183)
120. Better Body Workouts for Women - Dean Hodgkin & Caroline Pearce (Post 186)

TBR Challenge
The books that have stuck on my TBR list for a long time are series, so instead of making myself a challenge to read so many books off the list, I’m going to challenge myself to read so many series, or at least start them. And so I have pulled the series that have sat on my list the longest.

ANNE BISHOP - The Black Jewel
1: The Invisible Ring
2: Daughter of the Blood
3: Heir to the Shadows
4: Queen of Darkness
5: Tangled Webs
6: The Shadow Queen
7: Shalador’s Lady

JACQUELINE CAREY – The Sundering
1. Banewreaker
2. Godslayer

STEVEN ERICKSON - Malazan Book of the Fallen
1: Gardens of the Moon
2: Deadhouse Gates
3: Memories of Ice
4: House of Chains
5: Midnight Tides
6: The Bonehunters
7: Reaper’s Gale
8: Toll the Hounds
9: Dust of Dreams
10: The Crippled God

MICAHAEL & KATHLEEN O”NEAL GEAR - The Black Falcon
1: It Sleeps in Me
2: It Wakes in Me
3: It Dreams in Me

TANYA HUFF - Quarters
1: ✔ Sing the Four Quarters
2: Fifth Quarter
3: No Quarter
4: The Quartered Sea

JULIET MARILLIER - The Sevenwaters
1: Daughter of the Forest
2: Son of the Shadows
3: Child of the Prophecy
4: Heir to Sevenwaters
5: Seer of Sevenwaters

*If I can finish these, I’ll add more.

Off-the-Shelf Challenge
I made a vow to finish all the books I owned but hadn’t read last year. I made it through about half of them, but I didn’t finish that list. And so this year will be my attempt to finish the list and make sure all books I own have been read. Below I will cross-out each book as I read them:

1. Black Sun Rising - C. S. Friedman
2. The Gold Falcon - Katharine Kerr
3. Rules of Ascension - David B Coe
4. Banewreaker - Jacqueline Carey
5. Sacajewea - Anna Lee Waldo
6. Maia - Richard Adams
7. Wyrms - Orsen Scott Card
8. The Magician's Apprentice - Trudi Canavan
9. Wraeththu - Storm Constantine
10. The Summoner - Gail Z Martin
11. The Blood King - Gail Z Martin
12. People of the Wolf - Kathleen O'Neal Gear
13. Daughter of the Blood - Anne Bishop
14. Path of Revenge - Russell Kirkpatrick
15. Adam's Navel - Michael Sims
16. ✔ Final Fantasy and Philosophy – William Irwin
17. ✔ A Hero of Ages – Brandon Sanderson
18. A Dance With Dragons - 1:Dreams and Dust - George R. R. Martin
19. Ender's Game - Orsen Scott Card
20. Pulling Your Own Strings - Dr. Wayne Dyer

Ethnography Challenge
I will be graduating soon and looking into graduate schools. In my field it is essential to first find a person you would like to study under and then go to that school, instead of looking at schools first. My field is Anthropology and unfortunately I don’t yet know who all is in the field. That will come in the next year or two, but I would also like to challenge myself this year to read some anthropological ethnographies. I’m a physical Anthropologist primarily and there are not tons of “ethnographies” in the subfield. However, reading just a few to get to know who is in the field now will be extremely beneficial. And so I will challenge myself to read at least 6 Physical Anthropological ethnographies in 2013.
Below I will make a list of those I read:

1. The Immense Journey - Loren C. Eiseley
2. Bones of Contention - Roger Lewin
3. Last Ape Standing - Chip Walter
4. Lone Survivors - Chris Stringer
5.
6.

Group Reads
✔ Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (Janurary)
✔ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain (March)
✔ The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (March)
✔ To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (June)
Ivanhoe - Sir Walter Scott (September)
Lionheart - Sharon Kay Penman (October)

Big Series Goals
A Song of Fire and Ice (Year Long)
✔ Lord of the Rings (Year Long)

Nice new thread here!

Hi Melissa, just checking into your new thread and waving hello!

Welcome!!

65. The Iron King - Maurice Druon
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 340
Rating: 2 Stars
(Early-Reviewer)

Summary:
The Iron King – Philip the Fair – is as cold and silent, as handsome and unblinking as a statue. He governs his realm with an iron hand, but he cannot rule his own family: his sons are weak and their wives adulterous; while his red-blooded daughter Isabella is unhappily married to an English king who prefers the company of men. A web of scandal, murder and intrigue is weaving itself around the Iron King; but his downfall will come from an unexpected quarter. Bent on the persecution of the rich and powerful Knights Templar, Philip sentences Grand Master Jacques Molay to be burned at the stake, thus drawing down upon himself a curse that will destroy his entire dynasty

Thoughts:
This book took me a very very long time to get through, which is partly why I rated the book so low. I believe most of this problem stemmed from the writing. I looks as if the original was written in French and then translated by someone unnamed. Unfortunately the translation is not very good. The language is very awkward and inconsistent. I unfortunately could not get passed it, and it mostly ruined the book for me. It was too distracting. The characters also seemed to lack character development with is usually a high like on my list. And lastly, the blurb about the book being the “original Game of Thrones” really mislead me. They are not as alike as it makes you believe. I loved the Game of Thrones series. This one fell flat for me. Perhaps I would be able to pick this book up at another time and have the language not bother me as much as it did this time around. As it stands however, I did not enjoy plowing through this one.

66. How I Became a Teenage Survivalist - Julie L. Casey
Genre: Boy Lit
Pages: 249
Rating: 3 Stars
(Early Reviewer)

Summary:
Bracken is a typical teenage boy, more interested in the angles of the girl’s exposed back teasing him from the seat ahead of him than in anything the geometry teacher could present. His life is filled with school, video games, and thoughts of girls, not necessarily in that order. Life just flows along uneventfully and unacknowledged, like the electricity that courses through the power lines — until PF (Power Failure) Day. On PF Day, the sun strikes Bracken’s world with an unseen surge of electromagnetic fury, which cripples power stations and burns transformers to crispy nuggets of regret.
No one in Bracken’s world had ever thought about how much they depended on electrical power, but now, without it, they are plunged into survival mode. Without electricity there is no communication, no modern conveniences, and soon, no modern means of transportation, as the reserves of refined gasoline run dry. Worse still is the failure of the water and sewer systems, the impossibility of getting food and supplies to people living in cities, and the deaths of millions of people from starvation, disease, and lack of medical care. Bracken soon realizes how lucky he is to live on a farm in the Midwest. What seemed like a dull and backwards life before is now the greatest chance for survival in what seems like a powerless world. Food, water, and heat are readily available, although hard work is required to make use of them. Bracken and his family must learn to survive like their ancestors, who settled their land. Told in the first person, Bracken tells the story of how they not only survive, but how PF Day actually makes their lives better and more satisfying.

Thoughts:
This was an interesting book. I've heard people talk about what would happen if we didn't have computers or phones anymore. My family and I joke about it sometimes when I have to ask questions like "How do you use a pay phone". On the bigger scale in my anthropology classes we talked about who would survive if all power failed. Let me tell you, not very many. We've become too dependent on technology and energy use. Most people wouldn't know the first thing about surviving without power. That's the big issue this book is centered around - what do you do without power. How do you live? Overall I thought it was a fairly simple book. The family lived in the country so the problems you would see in big cities were only hinted at. There was an optimistic view to the whole book which I wasn't particularly expecting. There was plenty of juvenile teenage romance, but there was also some interesting ideas about things you can make to get by. There is the idea here that a family does not have to be entirely helpless in a situation like this. There are other ways to do this; you just have to find them. You also have to have the right kind of materials as well. This family seemed to find everything they needed, which could most definitely be possible in the country. The book certainly intrigued me, and gave me a slight interest towards expanding my knowledge on survival mechanisms. The chances of this happening for real are low, but it is a fact that our sun is approaching/in a period of high turbulence. Scientists say that there may be a peaking in activity around 2013. Well the year is already half over but I know our world is changing dramatically. Something will happen sooner or later, whether this or something else. Anyways, the book helped peak my interest higher. I’m more into epic stories, but this one was small; a quick read. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in reading about survival without power.

67. A Memory of Light - Robert Jordan / Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 912
Rating: 5 Stars
(New)

Summary:
It's the end. The last battle has come.

Thoughts:
The series is complete and it was a great ending to the fourteen book long series. There are always flaws, every book has them. I was only really bothered by the ending; it answered plenty of questions but then presented another huge one. What the heck, Rand? I’m not sure if I love the very end scene. I’m still thinking on it. It’s said that Robert Jordan wrote the epilogue. Truthfully, I’m not sure where Jordan begins and Sanderson ends, but apparently the use of language gives hints. I didn’t wonder too much about it, too focused on the story itself. The book was one huge ending. It’s the last battle so action took a primary role in this book. A lot of people died but I think I expected that. Most everything else surprised me. I could never have guessed the direction this book was going to go. I sort of like how this book switched its philosophy. The series has mostly been about Good vs. Evil, but here that is out to question. This is another fact that I’m still trying to wrap my head around. I mean, we’ve just read fourteen books and it’s only now coming into question? Speaking of, there were a lot of references to objects/people/etc. from earlier books which I particularly liked. Little things that you wouldn’t have thought would matter enough to be present in the last battle. When they did appear I got a few laughs, remembering when I first read the first few books in the series. The side characters were handled well. We’ve spent a lot of time, whether we wanted it or not, with some of those side characters, so seeing them hear makes tons of sense. I didn’t think they distracted, although I’ve heard that some readers didn’t appreciate it. It’s a little surreal to have the series done. These books have been such a rollercoaster but when I look back on all of them together and look at the intricate plots that eventually do connect and the character growth, I see an epic storyline. I can see why it is called a masterpiece. It IS huge, which distracted me sometimes, but the story is not something I will ever forget. Anyways, again I concede that the book has a few flaws, but overall I think it’s “epicness” rules them all out. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book even if it took me what felt like forever. :) Series is recommended if you like epic fantasy and have the patience to get through this many books.

Favorite Line:
“What did you do to your hand, by the way?"
"What did you do to your eye?"
"A little accident with a corkscrew and thirteen angry innkeepers. The hand?"
"Lost it capturing one of the Forsaken."
"Capturing?" Mat said. "You're growing soft."
Rand snorted. "Tell me you've done better."
"I killed a gholam," Mat said.
"I freed Illian from Sammael."
"I married the Empress of the Seanchan."
"Mat," Rand said, "are you really trying to get into a bragging contest with the Dragon Reborn?" He paused for a moment. "Besides, I cleansed saidin. I win.”

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

68. The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky
Genre: Gothic Fiction
Pages: 224
Rating: 3 Stars
(Walk By-Pick Up)

Summary:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a story about what it’s like to travel that strange course through the uncharted territory of high school. The world of first dates, family dramas, and new friends. Of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Of those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Thoughts:
I've heard wonderful things about this book. Lots of people have raved about it. I found I liked it well enough but it wasn't anything phenomenal. I thought there was a little too much in the book for one year of high school; it had every teenage issue present: drugs, sex, pregnancy, homosexuality, depression, suicide, bullying, abusive relationships, etc. I ended up being halfway invested in the characters; never made it fully to totally invested. I am excited to find the movie and watch it after reading this, just to see how it differed from a different perspective. This format was letters; maybe it could have come off more powerful if it had been written as a first person or third person perspective? Who knows. It was an 'ehh' book for me.

Favorite Line:
“We all deserve the love we think we deserve.”

Hi Melissa, How I Became A Teenage Survivalist sounds interesting, I will have to keep an eye out for it. I am a sucker for anything dealing with survival, from historical fiction about pioneers right up to futuristic dystopians.

Judy - :) I have a soft spot for survival stories as well. If you get to this one, enjoy!

69. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead - Sheryl Sandberg
Genre: Non-Fiction, Psychology
Pages: 170
Rating: 4 Stars
(Book Club)

Summary:
Thirty years after women became 50 percent of the college graduates in the United States, men still hold the vast majority of leadership positions in government and industry. This means that women’s voices are still not heard equally in the decisions that most affect our lives. In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg examines why women’s progress in achieving leadership roles has stalled, explains the root causes, and offers compelling, commonsense solutions that can empower women to achieve their full potential.

Thoughts:
This was an interesting book to read. In my field of Anthropology, there has been a flip-flop of genders. It used to be dominated by men but now there are many more women than men getting Anthropology degrees. Because of this when I first started the book I was a little hesitant that I wouldn't relate since I know nothing of the business world and don't plan on ever getting into the business world. I was wrong about not relating. You don't have to be in business to relate to this book. Really the focus is not women in business, it is women in the world and how we ourselves undermine our equality by believing in stereotypes ourselves. We fall into the stereotype that women are suppose to be more nurturing and will thus always have to make sacrifices for their kids and won’t be as effective in a high corporate job because of it. Men are not expected to behave nurturing towards their children and thus don't run into this problem. Also, women and men don't like it when a women is aggressive, but no one minds when men are. So how can women compete with men? They can do the same job the same way but they are treated differently even so. There is definitely a lot men can do to help solve the problem of equality but there is more that women themselves can do. The one issue I particularly liked was the idea that a lot of women think of themselves as frauds after putting themselves out into leadership positions. I can relate wholly because just a few months ago I nominated myself as President of the Anth Club at the University I attend. I knew I was qualified and I knew I could make a difference being in the position. However after I had nominated myself I felt extremely guilty about not waiting for someone else to nominate me first. Sandberg brings up the question: If a man felt he was qualified for the job would he fell guilty for nominating himself? Generally speaking, no. I got a lot out of the book. It brought of things I had never noticed as a women, and while I'm not married or even dating anyone, it made me think of what I sacrificed in past relationships because of the stereotype that I'm a women and women just do certain things. I will using the ideas I learned from this book for years to come if not my whole life. I highly recommend this book to every women; men are also welcome. It might just change how you view the world and yourself.

Favorite Line:
‘During the same years that our careers demanded maximum time investment, our biology demanded that we have children. Our partners did not share the housework and child rearing, so we found ourselves with two full-time jobs. The workplace did not evolve to give us the flexibility we needed to fulfill our responsibilities at home…If my generation was too naïve, the generations that have followed may be too practical. We knew too little, and now girls know too much. Girls growing up today are not the first generation to have equal opportunity, but they are the first to know that all that opportunity does not necessarily translate into professional achievement. Many of these girls watched their mother’s try to “do it all” and then decide that something had to give. That something was usually their careers. There’s no doubt that woman have the skills to lead in the workplace. Girls are increasingly outperforming boys in the classroom, earning about 57 percent of the undergraduate and 60 percent of the master’s degrees in the United States…career progression often depends upon taking risks and advocating for oneself – traits that girls are discouraged from exhibiting.’
(Pg. 15)

I'm glad you enjoyed Lean In!

Thanks! It was a very interesting read

70. Academ's Fury - Jim Butcher
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 720
Rating: 3 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Two years after the events of Furies of Calderon the First Lord of Alera, Gaius Sextus, struggles to control a realm facing growing border troubles and civil strife as High Lords scheme to advance their own causes. Fortunately, Gaius has loyal supporters such as Tavi, now a 17-year-old Academ who also serves as Gaius's page and is secretly training to become a Cursor, one of the First Lord's elite spies. When Gaius falls ill he leaves Tavi desperate to keep his weakness a secret. With Cursors being murdered, an ancient menace known as the "vord" heading for the capital and civil war on the horizon, Tavi has his work cut out for him.

Thoughts:
I still had a hard time getting through he first half of this book. I'm still leaning towards the fact that I didn't get invested in the characters. And perhaps there's too much politics for me? I can't say for sure since there are a lot of fantasy books out there heavy with political subplots that I adore (Game of Thrones and Assassin's Apprentice to name a few). I also thought that maybe the problem was that I was listening to the book on audio and just can't get into it that way, but the narrator - Kate Reading - is someone I have listened to for many many books and never had a problem with. So somehow, there's something to the story that's not grabbing my attention. For at least the first half of the book. Once all the battles started I got more interested. :) (What's that say about me?). The writing is pretty good, the plot is solid. So it must be the characters right? Or it’s just my mood. *Shrug* If you liked the first book, I’m positive you’ll like this one. I am still interested in continuing the series.

Favorite Line:
“If the beginning of wisdom is in realizing that one knows nothing, then the beginning of understanding is in realizing that all things exist in accord with a single truth: Large things are made of smaller things. Drops of ink are shaped into letters, letters form words, words form sentences, and sentences combine to express thought. So it is with the growth of plants that spring from seeds, as well as with walls built from many stones. So it is with mankind, as the customs and traditions of our progenitors blend together to form the foundation for our own cities, history, and way of life. Be they dead stone, living flesh, or rolling sea; be they idle times or events of world-shattering proportion, market days or desperate battles, to this law, all things hold: Large things are made from small things. Significance is cumulative--but not always obvious.”

Ha! I'm just reading that now.

I hope you like it!

71. The Blue Sword - Robin McKinley
Genre: High Fantasy
Pages: 320
Rating: 3 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
This is the story of Harry Crewe, the Homelander orphan girl who became Harimad- sol, King's Rider, and heir to the Blue Sword, Gonturan, that no woman had wielded since the Lady Aerin herself bore it into battle.

Thoughts:
I remember really liking The Hero and the Crown but I read that book years ago when I was still a teenager so I wasn’t sure how much I’d like this book. However, since most of the books I manage to read these days are audio and this is the only Robin McKinley book I could find on audio I decided to try it out to see if I still liked McKinley’s books. I can say that I like her writing, and her stories are interesting, but I didn’t fall for this book. It turned into a book I finished for the sake of finishing it. The pace was sort of slow and it didn’t affect me emotionally at all. I guess that’s the biggest drawback for me there; I like when a book makes me emotional – invested in what happens and who it happens to. I didn’t connect to this book at all. However if you like McKinley’s other books, I do recommend this book. I know I will be reading more from her, but this one will not my favorite of hers.

Favorite Line:
‘What was she to say? "The prodigal has returned? The mutineer wishes to be reinstated? The subordinate, having gone to a great deal of trouble to prove her commander wrong, has come back and promises to be a good little subordinate hereafter, or at least until next time?”’

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

Hi Melissa, I have The Blue Sword on my wishlist but I have been avoiding it as I was afraid that it would be a book that I should have read many years ago when I was young. I know it's a great favorite of many people, but in most cases they read it when they were teens.

I read The Blue Sword 8 out of 10 stars just a few years ago and I'm decades away from being a teen! :D

Good to know, Morphy. :)

:) I'm beginning to think that a lot of my books will be three stars from here on out. I've got to the point where I've read so many books that the book really has to stand out for me to be a four star and it has to be really really good, the I-need-to-buy-this kind of book to be a five star. Or perhaps it's just one of those years? *Shrug*. But I do know that everyone likes different things in their stories so I'd say definitely give The Blue Sword a try. Her writing style is fantastic.

I agree. I used to give out a lot more 9 and 10 star books. Now it's more 6 and 7 stars with the rarer 8 stars.

This was end of the month stats: stats have been changed due to the removal of graphic novels. To see stats for this thread's year please refer HERE

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

72. Guilty Pleasures – Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 311
Rating: 3 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Anita Blake may be small and young, but vampires call her the Executioner. Anita is a necromancer and vampire hunter in a time when vampires are protected by law--as long as they don't get too nasty. Now someone's killing innocent vampires and Anita agrees--with a bit of vampiric arm-twisting--to help figure out who and why.

Thoughts:
Hmmm…. Well I liked it and I didn’t like it. It kept me interested and flipping pages, but I didn’t like the writing much and Anita is not my favorite character by a long shot. She’s a little too over the top for me. The writing wasn’t very creative, just straight forward with some odd grammatical structures tucked in there. I think the idea was for it to sound like Anita is talking to the reader; since in real life we talk in fragments all the time. Reading it that way however didn’t fit quite right for me. But like I said, the plot was interesting enough and the book short enough that I could get through the book without too much of a fuss. I know I will be reading the next book. I’ll give it a few books and see if it gets better.

Favorite Line:
Never criticize, unless you can do a better job.

73. The Coming of the Storm – W. Michael & Kathleen O’Neal Gear
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 576
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
the first book in a landmark new series that paints a vivid portrait of the devastating clash of cultures during the blood-drenched years that followed Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto’s landing in “La Florida” in 1539. Black Shell, an exiled Chickasaw trader, is fascinated by the pale, bearded newcomers who call themselves “Kristianos,” and not even the counsel of Pearl Hand, the beautiful, extraordinary woman who has consented to be his mate, can dissuade him. Only after a firsthand lesson in Kristiano brutality does Black Shell fully comprehend the dangers these invaders pose to his people’s way of life. And while his first instinct is to run far from the Kristianos, Black Shell has been called to a greater destiny—by the Spirit Being known as Horned Serpent. With Pearl Hand by his side, Black Shell must find a way to unite the disparate tribes and settlements of his native land and overcome the merciless armies of de Soto.

Thoughts:
I’ve been meaning to get into the Gear’s books for a while, me being a student in anthropologist and all. Since this series is on audio I decided to start with this one. The two authors didn’t fail my expectations. I only know the basics of which conquers came to America and less of the different tribes in America at the time, especially around Florida. I bet if I knew more I could get more out of this book, but my limited knowledge didn’t harm my reading. The Gears did well with introducing new tribes and customs. The writing style was engaging but not too complicated with jargon most readers wouldn’t understand. It’s easy to follow. The subject matter may affect different people in different ways because some of the plot does focus on humanity and how some people (Europeans) do not treat others (Native Americas) with anything close to consideration. Sometimes it sickens me to read about it. But it is history. And sometimes it’s better to be aware so you don’t make mistake like that as well. If you like Native American or North American history I recommend this book.

I don't know if anyone remembers when I reviewed A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court earlier this year but I learned something interesting about it today. I didn't like the book much when I read it because I didn't like how the main character was so arrogant and full of himself; that he thought just because he was from the future he was automatically so much smarter than anyone else. It really bugged me. My sister informed me last night however that the whole book is a satire, that it's basically just a book full of sarcasm. It's Mark Twain's way of showing what he thinks is wrong in society. Hearing that made me feel so much better about the book. That means Twain had the same opinion I did, that we shouldn't treat others, however different they are or where they are from, like they are stupid. I actually really grateful I know this now, because I sort of lost a little respect I had for Twain after reading the book the first time. Now it's been restored. It's funny how you can interpret a book when you don't have all the information. :) Anyways, I thought I'd share! Anyone else not know this, or was it just me?

74. The Giver - Lois Lowry
Genre: Dystopia
Pages: 208
Rating: 5 Stars
(Re-Read)

Summary:
Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

Thoughts:
I if ever had to pick a favorite Dystopia book on the spot it would probably be this book. I remember reading this book years and years ago for elementary or middle school. I knew I liked it and recommended it to my niece off of a school list, but I couldn’t remember exactly why I loved it so much since it had been so long. So I decided to reread it. I’m glad I did. I still really like this book, no matter the time span it’s been since I last read it. The book isn’t very long, but Lowry manages to fit in a lot about controversial issues such as infanticide and euthanasia, which is the act of killing someone painlessly. She brings up the idea of making sacrifices to have a more controlled and peaceful world. How much are people willing to give to never know what poverty or hunger or war feels and looks like? I talk to students all the time about what humanity will have to do to sustain ourselves in the next hundred years. In thirty years our 7 billion population rate will have doubled and as things stand now, it will not be possible to feed that many people. Things have to change. This story is a possibility. Probably a very very slim probability, but one none the less. It makes it interesting to read because you can picture how it came to be and yet still be horrified. It makes me uneasy about our own future. Just how far will we go to create a more stable society? Anyways, the book is fairly straightforward and as I said, not very long, but it gives a powerful message about what freedom is and what it is worth. I highly recommend this book to anyone of all ages who has yet to read it. This is a book everyone should read once in their lifetime. Firstly because the book was banned for a while and I’m a firm believer that any book once banned has a right to be read and the readers a right to see what was being kept from them; and secondly because the book will strike a cord within anyone, I’m positive.

Favorite Line:
What if they were allowed to choose their own mate? And chose wrong?

I didn't read The Blue Sword until I was 33, because it wasn't published until I was that age, and I love it dearly, with all sorts of emotional connection. It must just be that thing we all know, that books affect different people in different ways.

75. The Laughing Corpse - Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery
Pages: 320
Rating: 3 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Harold Gaynor offers Anita Blake a million dollars to raise a 300-year-old zombie. Knowing it means a human sacrifice will be necessary, Anita turns him down. But when dead bodies start turning up, she realizes that someone else has raised Harold's zombie--and that the zombie is a killer. Anita pits her power against the zombie and the voodoo priestess who controls it.

Thoughts:
Initial impression: the book is a little better than the first one. Maybe it’s the different plot? Maybe it’s just the ending that made it all better. There were to big things I really didn’t like about the book. First Hamilton uses the same exact sentences to describe the bystanders and tertiary characters as she used to introduce them in her first book. I don’t mind reminders, but to use the same words in the same order over and over got on my nerves. And secondly, Anita says ‘shit’ way too much. Now I did listen to this book on audio so maybe if I’d read it with my eyes, it wouldn’t have bothered me as much but the way the narrator said it, dragging the sounds out in a drawl got tiring. Yes, things aren’t looking great but there are dozens of other words she could use. It makes the book seem kind of repetitive. So, really it’s the writing I don’t like. I wasn’t ecstatic about the plot either until the end. For some reason I liked the end. Some reviewers say they thought the gore and violence in this book was a turn off. I’ll admit I don’t have much of a gore-radar anymore with the job I do, so I can’t say for sure how bad it really is for the general public, but I think for stories of this kind you have to expect so of that. I do recommend that no one under 16 should be reading this series. Anyways, like the first book, it was an okay book to listen to while driving; just nothing I’d reread later on. I will probably move on to the next book.

Favorite Line:
‘I didn't want to understand. Bert had been thrilled that the police wanted to put me on retainer. He told me I would gain valuable experience working with the police. All I had gained so far was a wider variety of nightmares.’

76. The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg
Genre: Non-Fiction, Psychology
Pages: 291
Rating: 4 Stars
(Book Club)

Summary:
Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. With penetrating intelligence and an ability to distill vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives, Duhigg brings to life a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation. Along the way we learn why some people and companies struggle to change, despite years of trying, while others seem to remake themselves overnight. We visit laboratories where neuroscientists explore how habits work and where, exactly, they reside in our brains. We discover how the right habits were crucial to the success of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, and civil-rights hero Martin Luther King, Jr. We go inside Procter & Gamble, Target superstores, Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, NFL locker rooms, and the nation’s largest hospitals and see how implementing so-called keystone habits can earn billions and mean the difference between failure and success, life and death. At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, raising exceptional children, becoming more productive, building revolutionary companies and social movements, and achieving success is understanding how habits work.

Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve always been interested in habits themselves and it was recommended after reading Lean In, which I also enjoyed. The book also has hundreds of raving reviews so I found it easy to pick it for my book club. I’m glad I did. Everyone has a habit or two that they know they should get rid up, fix, or do something about it. I know I personally don’t sleep enough. It’s a very bad habit of mine to stay up late reading or watching movies. I’ve known it’s a bad habit for years and have repeatedly told myself that I need to fix it but I never have. I’ve never found the motivation to or the drive. I know I should change it, but I don’t want to. This book may finally have shown me how to change my habit without all the negative emotions of losing the time staying up gives me. You can’t just change something overnight. And you can’t just force yourself to start doing things differently. The book explains that you shouldn’t try to change the triggers or the rewards because you’ll get nowhere if you try. Instead you should change the routine. Experiment around to see what else can give you the same reward. Some habits are small, and can be changed easily. But some, it seems will never be solved. The book disagrees. You just have to know how habits work and how to deal with them. The book read like a story which made it easy and fun to read, but there was also really fascinating scientific facts and studies incorporated. There was also a very broad range of topics: habits of individuals, how habits operate in the brain, how companies use them, and how retailers use habits to manipulate buying habits, how habits helped move historical movements into what they became. Habits have a lot of power. Much more power than I ever really thought they had. Our lives are full of habits. I feel now, understanding how prevalent and important all the habits in my life are, I understand myself a little more. I highly recommend this book to anyone, everyone. I bet it can change lives.

Favorite Line:
‘Perhaps a sleep-walking murderer can plausibly argue that he wasn’t aware of his habit, and so he didn’t bear responsibility for his crime. But almost all the other patterns that exist in most people’s lives – how we eat and sleep and talk to our kids, how we unthinkingly spend our time, attention and money – those are habits that we know exist. And once you understand that habits can change, you have the freedom – and the responsibility – to remake them. One you understand that habits can be rebuilt, the power of habit becomes easier to grasp, and the only option left is to get to work.’

I'd love to change some habits so have added the book to Mount TBR.

It was fantastic! I know the trouble with TBR piles but I hope you like it if and when you get to it :)

77. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Genre: Lit Classic
Pages: 336
Rating: 4 Stars
(LT Group Read)

Summary:
"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." is a lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel—a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with rich humor and unswerving honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence, and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina and quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice—but the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

Thoughts:
I’m a little behind in the group readings this year but even if I wasn’t in time for any discussion I decided I should still read the book since it was such a classic. There are a lot of people who have told me that their favorite classic literature books are The Count of Monte Cristo and this one. I have to put my vote in on this one as well. I’m not usually into drawn out life stories, but this one caught me. There were some good issues presented in the book and because the main characters were children the way it was presented was just right in my mind. Scout is very relatable. She said mean stuff, she said racist things but all with an innocent air that really shows just how impressionable children are. They become what their community and family makes them to be. So Scout is not presented as perfect - just human; and just a child. But children can sometimes see what adults can’t. I liked Scout, mostly I think, because I could appreciate how she would grow up and become a wonderful person. I almost wish for a book about her once she’s grown. All the characters are relatable and the story is very readable. I really enjoyed the book and I can see why it’s such a well known classic. My sister said she had to read the book for high school and didn’t like it, but I still recommend the book to anyone. It a well written story, not too long, and full of life.

Favorite Line:
“Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was-she goin' down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her- she was talking with Miss Stephen Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-”

I'm so glad you enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird as I'm one of the people who said it's one of my favorites!

:) You affrimed for me that I had to read it this year. I'm so glad I did.

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

78. Circus of the Damned - Laurell K. Hamilton
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 320
Rating: 3 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
A rogue master vampire hits town, and Anita gets caught in the middle of an undead turf war. Jean-Claude, the Master Vamp of the city, wants her for his own-but his enemies have other plans. And to make matters worse, Anita takes a hit to the heart when she meets a stunningly handsome junior high science teacher named Richard Zeeman. They're two humans caught in the crossfire-or so Anita thinks.

Thoughts:
Well… I not sure I’ll abandon the series just yet but I’m positive that this series is never going to get above a 3 Star. The writing is mediocre, and I’m liking Anita less than usual in this third book. I like my characters to be open minded or even just able to grow. Anita is not growing. I keep hoping she will. Sometimes I think there are some hints. Which I guess is why I’m still reading/listening. I’m hoping she will grow as a character. But the story itself seems to be growing, which is another reason I’m still reading. This third book trumps the first and second book. So maybe it’s a pattern. We’ll see.

Favorite Line:
He was twenty. I remembered twenty. I'd known everything at twenty. It took me another year to realize I knew nothing. I was still hoping to learn something before I hit thirty, but I wasn't holding my breath.

79. The Borgias: The Hidden History – G. J. Meyer
Genre: History, Non-Fiction
Pages: 521
Rating: 4 Stars
(Early Reviewer)

Summary:
Five centuries after their fall—a fall even more sudden than their rise to the heights of power—they remain immutable symbols of the depths to which humanity can descend: Rodrigo Borgia, who bought the papal crown and prostituted the Roman Church; Cesare Borgia, who became first a teenage cardinal and then the most treacherous cutthroat of a violent time; Lucrezia Borgia, who was as shockingly immoral as she was beautiful. These have long been stock figures in the dark chronicle of European villainy, their name synonymous with unspeakable evil. But did these Borgias of legend actually exist? Grounding his narrative in exhaustive research and drawing from rarely examined key sources, Meyer brings fascinating new insight to the real people within the age-encrusted myth. Equally illuminating is the light he shines on the brilliant circles in which the Borgias moved and the thrilling era they helped to shape, a time of wars and political convulsions that reverberate to the present day, when Western civilization simultaneously wallowed in appalling brutality and soared to extraordinary heights.

Thoughts:
I really really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to start the book though. I’ve always been interested in the Borgia family’s history but when I saw the 500 page book in the mail I was a little bit intimidated. I’ve tried to read other Borgia books, but could never get more than a few chapters in. This book was just what I needed. Once I started the book I saw immediately that I wanted to finish this one. The writing was very readable. I was able to read the book for hours without a break which for a non-fiction book doesn’t happen very often. It is probably the fact that I’m fairly interested in the topic as well as the writing style. There’s also the fact that it’s not just about all the legends and myths about the Borgias. Meyer brings all myths up and then logically shows why most of those myths couldn’t possibly be true. There was also a lot of other history mixed up in the families’ history. They were alive at a time where Italy was going through a lot of reform. There’s a lot of material presented here, but you don’t have to know Italian history to be able to follow it easily enough. I would recommend this book if you are interested in the story of the Borgias. And I am going to go see what other books G. J. Meyer has written, because I love it when I enjoy my history books.

Favorite Line:
A third fact deserving notice is that the black myth of the Borgias is largely a manufactured thing, produced for a purpose, and that the process of manufacturing it was fully under way even before Alexander’s death. It got off to an impressively fast start thanks to the pope’s blithe indifference not only to personal criticism but to gross slander, and his consistent failure to respond. It accelerated further when he was in his grave, with Julius II not only encouraging fresh slanders but actually having onetime Borgia associates tortured in an almost Stalinist campaign of terror aimed at generating damaging material. That nothing of substance was turned up in this way matter hardly at all; the rumors and fabrications were quite colorful and numerous enough to satisfy every need, and the retailing of them was encouraged and rewards by Julius and others. Memories of what a formidable character Cesare had been, and of how potent a combination he and Alexander had formed, encouraged the generation that followed them to believe the worst.
(Pg. 413)

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

Hello Melissa,

I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. Once I waddle over your thread. I just get hit by one book bullet after the other. You have done quite a bit of interesting reading over the past few month and I am especially interested in the historical books. However, I am glad that you enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird one of my all-time fave books.
In regards to Peter V. Brett - I answered already on my thread - despite the fact that we are faced with a cliffhanger at the end of the last book (there will be more) I still think that the series is worth pursuing. I struggled a bit with this third book to start with, but found myself very quickly absorbed into the story. However, that's my opinion *smile*
And I absolutely love the Lightbringer trilogy. I am almost finished listening to the second book.
Wish you a great week ahead!

:) I meant to reply back on your thread but after putting up all the newest books yesterday that I'd got through over the weekend I was exhasuted - :( So you beat me to it.
I'll give the Brett book another try, reading it this time. I really didn't like the narrator's voice on the woman's POV - whether that was because it was the voice or the fact that it was the woman's POV I don't know. I'm not a fan of the women in that series. But I also might wait a little so when I do finish it, it's closer to the time the next book comes out. I'm thrilled you're liking the Lightbringer series. Have you read his other series 'The Night Angel' trilogy? I adored that one as well.
I am both happy and sorry that I hit you will a lot of book bullets :) Happy because I love to see other people reading the same kinds of things I'm reading. But sorry because I know how it feels to keep adding books to the list that never gets shorter. So sort of sorry? haha
My week should be interesting as always - I'm doing an internship at the Coroner's Office this summer. There's always something weird showing up. Anyways I hope yours is great as well! Happy reading.

Well, book bullets are kind of fine and fun *grin*.
Yes, I read his Night Angel Trilogy as well and loved it. I actually, listenend to the unabridged audiobooks first and then I read the books. I am almost finished with the second book and I think I like this series even more. I hope we don't have to wait to long for the third book to come along :)

How long are you going to be at the Coroner's Office? That sounds very interesting, indeed.

If I remember correctly, there wasn't a really big wait for the second book. Just over a year I think? Actually I'm not positive since I can't remember how new the book was when I read it. Hopefully not long :)

I have another three weeks at the Coroner's Office and it is amazingly interesting. I wasn't sure how I would react but nothing has really fazed me. I certainly didn't think I would like it as much as I do. :) I'm hoping for a job there now.

80. Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice - David Dolinak
Genre: Non-Fiction, Reference
Pages: 690
Rating: 4 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
Forensic Pathology: Principles and Practice is an extensively illustrated reference book that contains more than 1800 color photographs accompanied by well-considered text that thoroughly explains representative topics, and also provides abundant, up-to-date references for further reading. This well-written volume uses a case-oriented format to address, explain and guide the reader through the varied topics encountered by forensic pathologists. It will benefit not only the experienced forensic pathologist, but also the hospital pathologist who occasionally performs medicolegal autopsies. Doctors in training and those law enforcement officials investigating the broad spectrum of sudden, unexpected and violent deaths that may fall within the jurisdiction of medicolegal death investigators will also find this an invaluable resource.

Thoughts:
WARNING: do not read this book unless you are pursuing a career in law enforcement, medical pathology, forensics or something of the like. The pictures in this book are very graphic – real life photographs of investigative scenes - to accurately represent what may be seen in a variety of cases. (I do have to wonder however how much this would affect someone who watches TV shows like Dexter, CSI, etc. Media nowadays can get pretty graphic too.) I enjoyed this book because it’s a wealth of information pertaining to my internship at the Coroner’s Office. Being able to read about certain cases and then seeing it in front of my eyes has helped me understand exactly what I am seeing and why it looks or feels or smells the way it does. As a beginner to these topics with no medical school behind me, there were some chapters that went over my head, but for the most part I was able to understand most of this book with only a history of anatomy and osteology classes. It was very informative.

Favorite Line:
Spontaneous combustion does not exist
(Pg. 246)

81. Biology – Peter Raven, George Johnson, Kenneth Mason, Jonathan Losos & Susan Singer
Genre: Non-Fiction, Reference
Pages: 1279
Rating: 4 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
This latest edition of the text maintains the clear, accessible, and engaging writing style of past editions with the solid framework of pedagogy that highlights an emphasis on evolution and scientific inquiry that have made this a leading textbook for students majoring in biology. This emphasis on the organizing power of evolution is combined with an integration of the importance of cellular, molecular biology and genomics to offer our readers a text that is student friendly and current.

Thoughts:
We didn’t use this whole book for my summer class, but I’d say we used at least half of it. I remember taking Biology in high school vaguely, only really remembering that I didn’t like it all that much. Taking it now in college I can say that I do like it, most of it at least. And this book helped play a part in that. The text is full of pictures and diagrams; I learn best visually so these helped me immensely. The text is also full of jargon but the technical names are all explained. There are a few topics in the book that I needed additional supplement readings to understand but for the most part, the authors explained ideas in an easy to get manner. I’m sure I’ll be referring back to this book for years to come.

82. Wild Girls, Wild Nights – Sacchi Green
Genre: Non-Fiction, GLBT
Pages: 207
Rating: 3 Stars
(Early Reviewer)

Summary:
There are the fabled urban myths of lesbians who fill up a U-Haul on the second date and lead sweetly romantic lives of cocoa and comfy slippers. Safe and sound. A lot of cozy and not much crazy. These are NOT those stories- these are wild women with dirty minds, untamed tongues, and even the occasional cuff or clamp. A lotta crazy and no cozy slippers to be seen. Reality doesn’t have to be prosaic. Real sex can be wet, messy, frenzied, sometimes even awkward, but never boring. With these writers are the proof of that.

Thoughts:
This is just a collection of snippets of stories, short little scenes really into the lives of lesbians open enough to write about themselves and their lovers. I enjoyed the idea, and one or two of the short stories were really good. You could feel the story and knew there was life behind it. The majority though were just naughty sex scenes. If you’re a lesbian looking for a few short erotica stories to turn you on this may be the book to read. There’s a good variety here. That wasn’t really what I was looking for. I prefer involved stories. I’m not into anthologies and I’m not into short scene stories. Thus my average rating. But props to these girls who put themselves out there.

83. Cursor's Fury - Jim Butcher
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 704
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Butcher deftly mixes military fantasy and political intrigue in the rollicking third Codex Alera book. Gaius Sextus, the First Lord of Alera, plants Tavi in a new legion, where Tavi can gather information on the rebellious High Lord of Kalare. Tavi, now a full-fledged Cursor infiltrates the legion under the assumed identity of an officer, a station the green young man has not yet actually achieved. Treachery from a supposed ally opens the legion to attack from its bestial enemies, the Canim, incapacitating the captain and catapulting Tavi to the rank of the legion's commanding officer. Cut off from contact with the First Lord and with few seasoned officers to guide him, he must lead the troops in a defense of the Imperium against a horde of frenzied Canim warriors set on annihilating the Aleri people.

Thoughts:
I liked this book a lot more than the first two. I was probably just in a mood with the others, because this has generally the same plot: Tavi growing up and showing how capable he is. However, here, it takes place on a battlefield during war. And perhaps there is more focus on Tavi in this volume than in the previous two. There was also a lot of small hints placed theatrically, causing previous thoughts to have to be rethought. It causes the overall story to be much more deviously planned than I’d guessed. I am, now, very invested in Tavi. I think I’ve always been but this book showed me that I was. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, especially after the epilogue. A lot of new information was hinted at there, some of it I’m not sure how to interpret. Some of the characters are growing on me, other’s, like some of the high noble ladies with their bitchy attitudes, are causing me more annoyance. But most of these characters have a lot a life. Only tertiary characters are flat, and that’s okay. If you like Epic Fantasy series I’d recommend this book. It’s much different than Butcher’s other series The Dresden Files, but if you really like him, you might like this series as well.

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

Let's see, what did I say about Cursor's Fury? "Solid epic fantasy but lacks the humor of the Dresden series. Lots of action and political intrigue. Don't read if you don't like shifting POV though." I gave it 7 out of 10 stars. Maybe didn't like it quite as much as you, but I am enjoying the series.

:) I really got into his Dresden series. But I'm also a sucker for Epic Fantasy series. It was bound to happen that I'd get into this series sooner or later.

I enjoyed The Borgias too, and also found it very readable. I have the first two Codex Alera books in the tbr tower here somewhere...

I was suprised I liked it as much as I did. I hope you like the Codex Alera books if you get to them :)

84. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
Genre: Gothic Fiction
Pages: 320
Rating: 4 Stars
(Walk By-Pick Up)

Summary:
In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen ­year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make.

Thoughts:
At first when I started listening to this book I wasn’t sure I should continue. The premise is a car accident – I have been working at a Coroner’s Office for a few months and we’ve had plenty of cases where people have died from car accidents. Listening to it happen in this book hit me harder than usual. But I’m glad I didn’t stop. The book isn’t very long and the story never does move beyond the first two days after the accident; the focus is instead on Mia’s past as she interacts with her family, friends and boyfriend and what is worth living for. When you’re family is gone, it’s not such a simple question. This book does a good job of bringing emotion from the reader slowly, instead of yanking it out. It’s not a book that will be forgotten lightly. The writing is well done and the story flows pretty well. It looks as if there is a sequel – I will definitely be looking into finding it.

Favorite Line:
Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you.

85. The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
Genre: Lit Classics
Pages: 197
Rating: 5 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist. The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

Thoughts:
I was not expecting this. :) This book is a treasure. It’s a fairly straightforward story and not very long. It’s a little blunt, and a little simplistic. But that’s what I, and it seems other readers, found endearing. In its simplicity it hit’s it’s points easily and without much baggage. It says exactly what it wants to say . I’m not positive agree that omens are “strewn along life’s path”, but the idea is an interesting one. There’s an almost philosophical tone to the book, one that intertwines in the story well. There are a lot of little sayings spread throughout that were very profound for me. What I loved about the book the most was probably its theme of going after a dream. There is a lot that can get in the way, there’s a lot that can distract you - and it’s up to you whether you allow yourself to be distracted or if you continue on to your end dream, even if it takes years. It’s a book I would recommend to everyone. I will definitely be rereading this book in the future.

Favorite Line:
“Everyone believes the world's greatest lie..." says the mysterious old man.
"What is the world's greatest lie?" the little boy asks.
The old man replies, "It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world's greatest lie.”

“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say.”

This was end of the month stats: stats have been changed due to the removal of graphic novels. To see stats for this thread's year please refer HERE

86. The Willpower Instinct – Kelly McGonigal
Genre: Non-Fiction, Psychology
Pages: 240
Rating: 4 Stars
(Book Club)

Summary:
Informed by the latest research and combining cutting-edge insights from psychology, economics, neuroscience, and medicine, The Willpower Instinct explains exactly what willpower is, how it works, and why it matters. For example, readers will learn: Willpower is a mind-body response, not a virtue. It is a biological function that can be improved through mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, and sleep. Willpower is not an unlimited resource. Too much self-control can actually be bad for your health. Temptation and stress hijack the brain's systems of self-control, but the brain can be trained for greater willpower. Guilt and shame over your setbacks lead to giving in again, but self-forgiveness and self-compassion boost self-control. Giving up control is sometimes the only way to gain self-control. Willpower failures are contagious--you can catch the desire to overspend or overeat from your friends­­--but you can also catch self-control from the right role models.

Thoughts:
This book was a nice one to read after the last book my family club read, The Power of Habit. In the other one you learned the benefits, traps and how’s of habits. Here you learn how to keep that new habit going. I found that McGonigal over exaggerated in some areas and under exaggerated in other areas – I got a little offended at her simplistic view of evolution. But I assume it’s all for the sake of just that - simplifying things so that the book is readable for everyone. There was a lot in the book about willpower that I only had an inkling of, and some that I had never even thought of before. It was interesting to read some of what McGonigal had to say. There was a lot of examples of other people changing their habits with willpower, which made it pretty relatable. There were also a lot of experiments that were explained – which is where I thought most of the over and under exaggeration centered. But again, there was a lot of interesting facts here. And not just about changing habits. This book may just help a person feel happier and be able to influence their moods. I don’t regret reading the book. I will definitely be using a lot of the challenges and ideas from this book to be happier and healthier. Recommended.

Favorite Line:
When you tell yourself that exercising, saving money, or giving up smoking is the right thing to do – not something that will help you meet your goals – you’re less likely to do it consistently.

It’s forgiveness, not guilt, that increases accountability. Researchers have found that taking a self-compassionate point of view on a personal failure makes people more likely to take personal responsibility for the failure than when they take a self-critical point of view.

87. Bones of Contention - Roger Lewin
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthropology
Pages: 355
Rating: 5 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Bones of Contention is a behind-the-scenes look at the search for human origins. Analyzing how the biases and preconceptions of paleoanthropologists shaped their work, Roger Lewin's detective stories about the discovery of Neanderthal Man, the Taung Child, Lucy, and other major fossils provide insight into this most subjective of scientific endeavors. The new afterword looks at ways in which paleoanthropology, while becoming more scientific in many ways, remains contentious.

Thoughts:
I’m really glad I stumbled on this book. I made a list of anthropology books to read a couple of months ago and then one day I was browsing the anthropology section in my university campus library and I saw this book. It looked familiar so I grabbed it. Turns out it was on my list of books to read so I decided to give it a try. So glad I did. I may have to buy this book as I start my bookshelf of anthropology books. I can’t say I’ve read much on paleoanthropology specifically so maybe the stars in my eyes won’t last as I read more on the topic, but as of now, I loved the book for its paleo history. Paleoanthropolgy is where I’m hoping to head towards as a career so I’ve been trying to find a way to get a comprehensive read on the history and timeline of the field. This comes close to what I was looking for. I got a little confused on the chronological timeline here because the book jumps around quite a lot, but all the controversies of the field were a treat to read. It definitely helped open my eyes about what the field has been through as a science. It’s an older book so not all of the facts are correct anymore, but that didn’t deter from the book’s message at all, because it still goes on today: our preconceptions shape our research, whether we are aware of it or not. I will definitely be buying this book and referring back to it. Highly recommended if you’re into Paleoanthropolgy.

Favorite Line:
“When people turn indignantly from one sort of speculation to embrace another, there are usually good, nonscientific reasons for it,” Cartmill observes. These reasons might include an attempt to turn away from the pessimistic view that humans are bound by their very nature to annihilate themselves through the agency of nuclear war. Or to reject the idea that through our heritage, we are innately programmed to behave in any particular manner at all, and especially in an undesirable manner. But in the long run it is of little account what these reasons are, because they are reasons of the moment. They are, as John Durant says, “a direct response to contemporary social experience.” These peaceable theories of human origins, like the beast-in-man idea, become “a mirror which reflected back only those aspects of human experience which its authors wanted to see… This is precisely what we would expect of a scientific myth.”
(Pg 318)

Funny how people's tastes differ. I found The Alchemist too frou-frou for me and the Anita Blake series by Hamilton is one of my favorite re-reads. LOL!

:) I'm always cautious about recommending books to family and friends because of that. I know my tastes are varied and sometimes eccentric. I also try not to put too much stock in reviews for the same reason, because I know there may be a book out there that not a people like that I will for some reason.

88. Baygirl - Heather Smith
Genre: Gothic Fiction
Pages: 275
Rating: 3 Stars
(Early Reviewer)

Summary:
Growing up in a picturesque Newfoundland fishing village should be idyllic for sixteen-year-old Kit Ryan, but living with an alcoholic father makes Kit's day-to-day life unpredictable and almost intolerable. When the 1992 cod moratorium forces her father out of a job, the tension between Kit and her father grows. Forced to leave their rural community, the family moves to the city, where they live with Uncle Iggy, a widower with problems of his own. Immediately pegged as a "baygirl," Kit struggles to fit in, but longstanding trust issues threaten to hold her back when a boy named Elliot expresses an interest in her.

Thoughts:
I feel bad when I don’t like early reviewer books but it happens. This was one such occurrence. I picked the book out of the list because of its gothic fiction premise which I seem to have a fascination for. I like to read about characters struggling through life I guess because I enjoy seeing them come out on top, facing their fears, growing up, getting stronger, etc. This book didn’t really go far in that regard. The premise was a little too soft, and there was no real conclusion besides Kit realizing she could still love her father even though he was what he was. Maybe that’s enough for some, but unfortunately for me I would have preferred something meatier. The writing was solid and there was an array of characters. It’s also not a very long book with big font. It only took me a car trip across the border to get through. It was engaging enough and fast paced – I didn’t ever feel the urge to put it down in boredom. It just didn’t make the cut for me. Perhaps someone else will like it.

Favorite Line:
“What’s everyone’s problem? It’s just a skirt.”
Mr. Adams wagged his magic marker at me. “A skirt that might assert that you’re a flirt which might alert some weird per-vert that you’re dessert.”

89. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 576
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Zusak has created a work that deserves the attention of sophisticated teen and adult readers. Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken, at age nine, to live in Molching, Germany, with a foster family in a working-class neighborhood of tough kids, acid-tongued mothers, and loving fathers who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book–although she has not yet learned how to read–and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when shes roused by regular nightmares about her younger brother’s death. Across the ensuing years of the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents.

Thoughts:
This is an interesting book. Firstly because it is Death that is narrating, something I’ve never come across before. Secondly because the literary prose is heavy with metaphors and imaginative expressions. I like historical fiction and don’t like life stories so much. This book had less history than hoped and more life story than expected: however I found I liked the book nonetheless. I saw somewhere that the book is based off of a true story of the authors grandmother. It makes the book even more powerful. Humans can withstand a lot. This story is an example. The descriptive expressions, were a bit much for me personally - I prefer more straight forward writing - but it was interesting to experience. It’s almost like poetry I guess. Liesel definitely grew on me. I enjoyed watching her throughout the book.

Favorite Line:
It kills me sometimes, how people die.

Usually we walk around constantly believing ourselves. "I'm okay" we say. "I'm alright". But sometimes the truth arrives on you and you can't get it off. That's when you realize that sometimes it isn't even an answer--it's a question. Even now, I wonder how much of my life is convinced.

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Hi Melissa, I've really gotten picky about what books I ask for through the ER program, I have had quite a few disappointments, so now I try to only pick one if I am really sure it's one I want to read. Of course it's hard to rein myself in when I see all those new and shiny books just asking for a home!

:) And sometimes it's hard to judge based off of the blurb. I easily get sucked in by covers too.

I have something like four or five ER books sitting on my shelf waiting to be read. I'm hesitant about looking at this month's selections as I really don't need another!

You can always just use the list to pick out books for a later 'to read'. I do that with the books I requested but didn't get. TBRs however I've found have a nasty habit of never shrinking and that certainly woulnd't help. Ack! Too many books to read in the world. :)

90. The Complete World of Human Evolution - Chris Stringer
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthropology
Pages: 229
Rating: 4 Stars
(Walk By-Pick Up)

Summary:
Human domination of the earth is now so complete that it is easy to forget how recently our role in the history of the planet began. The earliest apes evolved around twenty million years ago, yet Homo sapiens has existed for a mere 160,000 years. In the intervening period, dozens of species of early ape and human have lived and died out, leaving behind the fossilized remains that have helped to make the detailed picture of our evolution revealed here.

Thoughts:
This book sort of annoyed me. There are few technical terms applied here, the purpose being so that anyone can read the book and know what Stringer is referring to. Which is sort of nice, except for the actual scientists themselves. Stringer would say “thigh bone” and I would say “are you talking about the femur and if so which part of the femur?” He confused me more than helped me in a few instances. But I’m sure that is mostly just annoying to me. The majority of people probably appreciated it. Besides this, the book is very informative. It’s a must read for anyone interested in human evolution. It’s good basic information. There are plenty of good pictures, both black and white and colored, of maps, reconstructions, bones, sites, etc. I would have loved to see more pictures of the skulls and the variation between male and females in each species. Interesting and worth the read, but I’m definitely going to have to find a more technical overview.

Favorite Line:
The key question to ask in distinguishing the earliest human ancestor from the apes is what are the characters that set them apart from the apes? Various characters have been proposed, such as enlarged brains, reduced sexual dimorphism, upright bipedal walking, enamel thickness and reduced premolar honing. The first two can be discounted immediately, for increased brain size occurred late in human evolution, after 2 million years ago, and sexual dimorphism remained high for about as long. Thick enamel on the teeth is common to most hominines, but as we have seen, it was also widespread in fossil apes. The same is true of reduced honing, which is present in several lineages of fossil apes. The only character we are left with to distinguish human ancestors is bipedalism, but we have to ask, is this enough? Could not some fossil apes with no connection with human ancestry have experimented with bipedal walking?

91. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas
Genre: Lit Classic
Pages: 618
Rating: 3 Stars
(LT Group Read)

Summary:
Dashing young Edmond Dantes has everything. He is engaged to a beautiful woman, is about to become the captain of a ship, and is well liked by almost everyone. But his perfect life is shattered when he is framed by a jealous rival and thrown into a dark prison cell for fourteen years. The greatest tale of betrayal, adventure, and revenge ever written, The Count of Monte Cristo continues to dazzle readers with it’s thrilling and memorable scenes: including Dantes’s miraculous escape from prison, his amazing discovery of a vast hidden treasure, and his transformation into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo – a man whose astonishing thirst for vengeance is as cruel as it is just.

Thoughts:
Well. Let me state that I only just found out, after I finished the book, that I was reading the abridged version of this story. It explains a lot. This is another book that I signed up to read with a LT group read but never got to in the month LT was hosting the discussion. Truth be told I couldn’t find it on audio book and it took me a while to work up the courage to pull Cristo off the shelves and actually take the time to sit and read it. But I knew I wanted this book in my reading history. It took a while to finish because of a few things. First, I thought the story was a little unbelievable. Second there was much more ‘telling’ than ‘showing’. Thirdly, the count sort of started to grate on my nerves with his arrogance towards the end. But the fact that I was reading an abridged version of the novel may explain all of these problems. This version is probably a washed out version of the real deal. Grr. Now I need to go read the real version! But not so soon. Sometime in the future. Man, and I was wondering what all the raving about the book was for. Now I know that I wasn’t getting the same story as those who really like the book. *grumpy face* This version gets a three star. Someday in the future we’ll see how many stars the book really gets.

Favorite Line:
“Who are you then? Who can you be?”
“I am the ghost of an unhappy wretch you buried in the dungeons of the Chateau d’If. At length this ghost left his tomb under the disguise of the Count of Monte Cristo, and loaded himself with gold and diamonds that you might not recognize him until to-day.”
“Ah! I recognize you! I recognize you!” cried the Procureur du Roi. “You are…”
“I am Edmond Dantes!”
(Pg. 592)

Yeah. The unabridged version is about, oh, 400 more pages. :D

On the bright side, when you do get around to reading the unabridged version, parts of the story will be new to you, so you almost get the read The Count not once but twice for the very first time! ;-)

Morphy - That might have intimidated me even more and I might have talked myself into reading it another year so maybe in a backwards way everything worked out for me reading the book at all. :)

Lori - I am looking forward to the unabridged version. I'm sure it will explain everything much better. I expect it to be quite different. Have you read it?

92. Captian's Fury - Jim Butcher
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 656
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Two years into a difficult campaign against the wolflike Canim invaders, Calderon legion captain Tavi is saddled with an unqualified but politically powerful superior whose plans threaten disaster and force Tavi into potential treason. Meanwhile, aging ruler Gaius Sextus plans a final strike against the rebellious lord of Kalare, but to get close enough to act, he must set aside his power to control the elements and make a painful overland slog that neatly challenges genre conventions.

Thoughts:
I remember with Butcher’s Dresden series, I thought the books got better as he wrote more. The same seems to be true with this series as well. I thought the first two books were okay but I really liked the third and this fourth. Perhaps it’s the character development. The action is well written as well as the dialogue (And let me say Kate Reading is an amazing narrator). Things always work out in this series, so there’s no real worries about tight situations, but the suspense is still thrilling. This is definitely a crucial volume to the series. Things will never be the same again. There is great promise for more character growth. I am definitely looking forward to the next book. Recommended if you enjoy Epic Fantasy.

Favorite Line:
Living was a dangerous past-time, and often quite painful—but there was also such joy in living, such beauty, things that one would otherwise never see, never experience, never know. The risk of pain and loss was a part of living.

I'm glad to hear the series continues to get better. I'm only on the second book.

I think you'll like the later books. :) Happy reading!

> 81 - I re-read an unabridged version of The Count earlier this year. The story does have a slow bit in the unabridged version but it doesn't take long for the activity to resume!

:) I'll look forward to reading it at a later date.

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93. Sing The Four Quarters - Tanya Huff
Genre: High Fantasy, GLBT
Pages: 410
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
To call the kigh was the height of bard's magic. Only those born with the gift could learn to Sing these spirits of earth, air, fire and water into doing their bidding, and even someone as gifted as the Princess Annice must spend years studying at the Bardic Hall to truly master the art. And for Annice, one of those rare talents able to Sing the elemental spirits from each of the four quarters, the call of magic was too strong to be denied, even if it meant renouncing her royal blood and privileges. But Annice might have made a different choice if she could have foreseen that ten years after she'd transferred her life and loyalties from the royal palace to the Bardic Hall, she'd find herself fleeing from the King's Guards. For Annice was twice guilty of treason, first for imperiling the order of succession by becoming pregnant and second for aiding the father of her unborn child, the Duc of Ohrid, to escape the palace dungeons and the sentence of death hanging over his head.

Thoughts:
This is a low four star for me because after I finished the book I did not immediately have the urge to find the next book in the series. I would even be okay waiting a year or more to read the next book. I enjoyed the book, but it didn’t pop out at me as a series to finish soon. About the book itself, I thought the characters were a little flat in the beginning but they fleshed out a little more towards the end. I also thought the writing style was a little too bone-y, and less meat-y: simple. It also didn’t flow as well as I thought it could have. In some instances I had to reread a paragraph to get what was going on because I felt I had missed someone moving across the field, or someone grasping an object, etc. But the story kept me entertained. I read most of it in one sitting, which is why I give the story a four star and not a three star. I will read more from Huff to see how she improves, but this will probably be a forgettable story in the long run.

Favorite Line:
“Light this off the lamp and let’s get out of here. I refuse to commit treason in a potato bin.”
(Pg 162)

Hey, Melis, what's going on in your world?

Hey Morphy. :) University classes just started yesterday for me. I think I will have some interesting classes but I went home with a migraine all the same. I'm not working because I'm taking a lot of classes this semester to graduate on time but I'm also a club president and possibly, soon, a representative of our Anthropology Department for the campus's Student Assembly, so those are taking up most of my free time for the moment. But hey, I learned how to do a ton of stuff yesterday because of it all! I'm (mostly) looking forward to it all. :) And I'm taking a Body Flow class at my gym every Sunday to help me relax after the long weeks.

What about you? How's your volunteer projects going?

Thanks for stopping by! :D

What classes are you taking this semester?

Volunteering is going well except for the Telecare business )phone out reach to home bound seniors). I sent an email to the minister in charge of it last week. No response. I left a voice mail for her yesterday. No response. Now the reason I want a meeting with her is because there has been no support from the church so I shouldn't be all that surprised, but it's still frustrating.

:( I hope she gets back to you. I've been trying to get in touch with my Secretary for the Anth. club but she hasn't responded to any of my attempts at all so I definitely know how frustrating it can be to try and try and get ignored.

My classes this semester are Environmental Anthropology, Medical Anthropology, Human Evolution and Paleoanthrpology, Prehistory of North America, General Biology and Molecular Chemistry. :) Environmental and Paleo are my favorite so far.

Medical Anthropology sounds interesting. What is that about?

The class focuses on human health, social behavior and evolution. It's only one night a week so I haven't had the actually class yet, and thus I'm not sure how that syllabus objective will play out in the actual learning. But as long as I'm not learning the evolution of viruses and bacteria I think I will like it. I'm hoping for more of a historical perspective on health, healthcare, etc. We'll see.

Have you ever taken an anthropology class before? Did you like it?

No, never taken one though it sounds like something I'd really like. I'd like to take a free online class sometime in the next year or two. I might look for an anthropology class.

One anthropology class made me change my major. It's not for everyone but I always encourage people to give it a try. :)

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Stopping by to say the Vassalord series looks interesting! I hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Thanks! Once I got through the massive pile of homework it was an okay weekend. Just trying to relax and read before week two starts. :) First weeks are always hard; you have to find a rythmn to the classes and work. The work load this week is less already. I hope your's was lovely.

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Hi Melissa, just catching up after being away. I always get great ideas for graphic novels here! I am taking note of the Cantarella series, the artwork is very eye pleasing.

:) Glad to have you! Artwork is such a important factor for me in graphic novels. If you get to the series, I hope you like it! And happy last of the weekend. I'll try to get over to your thread this week too. :) I'm way behind on everyone's thread due to school. But third weeks the charm!

94. Written in Red - Anne Bishop
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 448
Rating: 4 Stars
(Walk By-Pick Up)

Summary:
As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others. Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

Thoughts:
This was an interesting novel. I’ve heard raves from multiple people and dozens of reviews so I just grabbed it when I saw it on the library shelves. Now that I am finished with it I can say that it probably didn’t wow me as much as it seemed to wow a lot of other people. I liked the book and will definitely be looking for the next novel, Murder of Crows, when it comes out next year, but for me it was just a really good story. The world building was smooth; there was never any time I felt confused about what was going on. The plot itself is pretty interesting, with a unique history. It was a little more happy-ending than I expected, but I may have just read so many depressing book where awful things do happen – cough, George R R Martin, cough – that I am surprised when things actually do work out and the bad guys never get close to winning. I left with a feeling that the bad guys got what they deserved and the good guys (I guess this is a relative term, since the good guys are supernatural creatures that would eat humans if given a chance) came out in the end with minimal damage. Anyways, the story was intriguing, but nothing that made me want to stay up late to finish. It was solid and enjoyable.

Favorite Line:
“You weren't afraid of me when I was Wolf," he said. "Why are you afraid of Nathan?"
"He's got big feet!"
"What?"
An insulted-sounding arrroooo came from the other side of the door, a reminder that Wolves also had big ears.”

I was one that just adored Written in Red but then Bishop is one of my favorite authors so I was inclined to like it from the beginning. I am glad that you enjoyed it though.

Thanks! Your thread is where I first saw it and I knew I needed to give it a try since it was one of your favorites of the year. It's my first Bishop book; now I'm looking forward to reading her Black Jewel series... at least I am once I get through the slew of textbooks I have for classes. :) I've never read so many books as the same time before.

Warning. The Black Jewels books have a very different tone. MUCH darker. Much more sexual.

I've heard that too. Someone's review said though, at least for Daughter of Blood, that the character development and plot were much more intricate and detailed.

That is true. Just thought I'd give you fair warning!

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95. Why Evolution is True - Jerry A. Coyne
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthropology
Pages: 270
Rating: 5 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
With great care, attention to the scientific evidence and a wonderfully accessible style, Coyne, an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Chicago, presents an overwhelming case for evolution. Ranging from biogeography to geology, from anatomy to genetics, and from molecular biology to physiology, he demonstrates that evolutionary theory makes predictions that are consistently borne out by the data—basic requirements for a scientific theory to be valid. Additionally, although fully respectful of those who promote intelligent design and creationism, he uses the data at his disposal to demolish any thought that creationism is supported by the evidence while also explaining why those ideas fall outside the bounds of science. Coyne directly addresses the concept often advanced by religious fundamentalists that an acceptance of evolution must lead to immorality, concluding that evolution tells us where we came from, not where we can go. Readers looking to understand the case for evolution and searching for a response to many of the most common creationist claims should find everything they need in this powerful book, which is clearer and more comprehensive than the many others on the subject.

Thoughts:
I have to start by saying that when I bought this book at my university bookstore for my Human Evolution and Paleoanthropolgy class, the clerk who checked me out mentioned how he hoped I proved the book wrong. I find this incredibly ironic because of what this book is all about. Coyne does not set out to prove creationism wrong, but to prove that evolution is true. And in my opinion, he does very well. When I first started this book I thought Coyne came off a little too aggressively. But by the end of chapter one I was feeling fine again. Maybe his intro was meant to weed out those who would only be angered by the rest of his book; I’m not entirely sure. But the book was very factual and scientific. There was no attacks against creationism, just data that pointed out the flaws in the argument. This is fairly basic information, so I definitely recommend it to anyone who is curious about the debate between evolution and creationism and doesn’t have a huge base of evolutionary knowledge already. For me, it was all mostly a review from past classes and books, but the information was organized in a easy to follow way. And while I had heard all of these concepts before, there were some that I now have a better understanding of. And there were a lot of little factoids about this and that species that I’ve never heard of. I had a lot of fun reading this book. The writing is straightforward and clear. There are perhaps other books out there that are more factual and less pervasive, but I went into this reading with the understanding that this book is more about the debates surrounding the validity of evolution than specifically evolution. I think for readers without a clear understanding of evolution, the book does a great job at informing readers about the topic. I do recommend it.

Favorite Line:
‘How can you derive meaning, purpose, or ethics from evolution? You can’t. Evolution is simply a theory about the process and patterns of life’s diversification, not a grand philosophical scheme about the meaning of life. It can’t tell us what to do, or how we should behave. And this is the big problem for many believers, who want to find in the story of our origins a reason for our existence, and a sense of how to behave.’
(Pg 225)

96. The Third Kingdom - Terry Goodkind
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 528
Rating: 3 Stars
(New)

Summary:
The bloodthirsty Jit is dead, and against all odds Richard and Kahlan have survived. But a new menace has attacked them in the Dark Lands. Infected with the essence of death itself, robbed of his power as a war wizard, Richard must race against time to uncover and stop the infernal conspiracy assembling itself behind the wall far to the north. His friends and allies are already captives of this fell combination, and Kahlan, also touched by death's power, will die completely if Richard fails. Bereft of magic, Richard has only his sword, his wits, his capacity for insight – and a companion, the young Samantha, a healer just coming into her powers.

Thoughts:
This is high three star, but a three star nonetheless. Which makes me a little sad. I absolutely loved Goodkind’s previous eleven books in this series; most of them at least. But in this sequel series, something is definitely off. I remember not liking the first book in this sequel series The Omen Machine as much as I had hoped. I even decided not to buy the book like I’ve bought all the others. I was hoping things would change in this book, but unfortunately I got the same thing, less than expected. The first half of the book really bothered me – the two hundred or so pages could have been said in half that or less. It seemed that a lot of sentences were repeated again and again, just with different words each time throughout the book. I also didn’t quite like the idea that Richard learned all he needed from the rocky caverns in Stroysa. He stood reading the walls and thinking out loud for dozens of chapters. Much longer than needed. Once he left Stroysa, three hundred pages later, things picked up and I felt better about the book. Still… I once said that I would read anything that had Richard and Kahlan in it, but I think I need to eat those words now. I love these characters, but the storytelling has really changed and I’m not liking it much. I didn’t feel all that much happened in the book and I the end it seemed that a lot of pages were wasted. Please, Terry Goodkind, go back and read your previous books and figure out what went wrong. Tight deadlines, loss of interest? I don’t know what happened but this isn’t even related to the early masterpieces that started this series.

Favorite Line:
‘People are often more willing to believe lies than truth. Lies can be made to sound pleasant. The truth, by its very nature, isn't always so attractive.’

I think today is my Thingsagiving! The anniversary of the day I joined LT? Is that what it's called? :)

Thingaversary. And have a happy one!

97. Last Ape Standing - Chip Walter
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthroplogy
Pages: 205
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Drawing on a wide variety of scientific disciplines, Walter reveals how a rare evolutionary phenomenon led to the uniquely long childhoods that make us so resourceful and emotionally complex. He looks at why we developed a new kind of mind and how our highly social nature has shaped our moral (and immoral) behavior. And in exploring the traits that enabled our success, he plumbs the roots of our creativity and investigates why we became self-aware in ways that no other animal is. Along the way, Last Ape Standing profiles other human species who evolved with us and who have also shaped our kind in startling ways - the Neanderthals of Europe, the "Hobbits" of Indonesia, the Denisovans of Siberia, and the recently discovered Red Deer Cave people of China, who died off just as we stood at the brink of civilizations eleven thousand years ago.

Thoughts:
I liked this book. Especially the first half. The second half got a little too far from science and more into guessing but overall the whole two hundred pages had me interested. There are some facts in here that surprised me in a good way. Some of it was review for me but the way the information was presented was new. The book was published this year so the Paleoanthropolgy data was recent. I will most likely be reading more from Chip Walter. His writing style is easy to follow and engaging. If you are curious about the history of hominins I do recommend this book.

Favorite Line:
‘The question now is, can we survive ourselves? Can we even manage to become the next human?’
(Pg. 181)

98. Conservation and Globalization - Jim Igoe
Genre: Non-Fiction, Antropology
Pages: 174
Rating: 3 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
This book opens with a discussion of these two broad issues as they relate to the author's fieldwork with Maasai herding communities on the margins of Tarangire National Park in Tanzania. It explores different theoretical perspectives (Neo-Marxist and Foucauldian) on globalization and why both are relevant to the case studies presented. Students are introduced to the practice of multi-sited ethnography and its centrality to the anthropological study of globalization. While drawing on examples from specific Maasai communities, the book is more broadly concerned with the historical and contemporary links between these communities and a global system of institutions, ideas, and money. The ecological incompatibility of Western national park-style conservation with East African savanna ecosystems and Maasai resource management practices, are highlighted. The concept of national parks is traced temporally and geographically from Maasai communities to the enclosure movement in 18th century England and westward expansion in 19th century North America. The relationships of parks to Judeo-Christian assumptions about "man's place in nature," colonial ideologies like Manifest Destiny and the Civilizing Mission, and capitalist notions of private property and "The Tragedy of the Commons," are explored. The book also looks at the latest conservation paradigm of "Community-Based Conservation," and explores its connections to the Soviet Collapse, economic and political liberalization, and the global proliferation of NGOs.

Thoughts:
What a long summary. And I was thinking the same thing while reading most of this book: what long chapters. Unfortunately I found that I didn’t enjoy this book. It was too dry for me. I don’t think it is meant to be dry but for me the technical jargon got in the way. Perhaps the book cover and the black and white photos in the book cause me hesitance before even getting far in the book. Color makes a book more expensive, but it also brings the book to life sometimes. Black and white photos don’t stand out for me. The book did make me aware of a number of issues and inform me on the scenes tourists don’t see when they visit national parks. I will certainly never look at a national park the same way again. I will always wonder who we have pushed out of those lands and disregarded to make it a national park. I am glad I have a new understanding of the issue, but I feel that this book perhaps just isn’t for beginnings in the topic. It is very in depth and detailed. It could also be so due the sheer fact that it is almost an ethnography, books that almost always end up very detailed. For the right kind of audience, the book is probably fantastic. I however was not the right audience.

Favorite Line:
‘If poverty in East Africa means that rhino can only be protected in small groups with radio collars or inside electric fences, can this activity really be called conservation?’
(Pg. 75)

This was end of the month stats: stats have been changed due to the removal of graphic novels. To see stats for this thread's year please refer HERE

99. Princep's Fury - Jim Butcher
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 640
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Under Tavi of Calderon, heir to the crown, war-torn Alera rebuilds while politicians and nobles vie for power. But from the south comes news: the dreaded Vord have come to Alera. For a thousand years, Alera and her furies have withstood every enemy and survived every foe but this may just be the end.

Thoughts:
This volume does well connecting various plots introduced in previous volumes. It's also action-packed with plenty of political drama. And not very predictable. All are good makings for a good book. I was happy with the book. I almost wished even more had happened but it is already a fairly long book. I guess I felt that each previous book had a central theme that seemed to reach a conclusion at the end of each book, all wrapped in an overreaching plot connecting them all. Here we don't get the conclusion. We're still only in the beginning. Like arcs. Each book had a central arc. This arc however will flow into the next and last book too. Maybe the arc was just to big. Nothing wrong, just a little out of character for the series. I am glad I got into this series. It has been well worth it. I'm not sure I can say that I love the Dresden series over this one anymore. I really like them both. They are totally different and so have different strengths. I am looking forward to the next and last installment.

Favorite Line:
'The First Lord stared at her for a moment, his eyes cold. Then he spoke in a very quiet, precise, measured voice. "I look out my window each day. I look out my window at people who live and breathe. At people who have not been devoured by civil war. At people who have not been ravaged by disease. At people who have not starved to death, who have not been hacked apart by enemies of humanity, at people who are free to lie and steal and plot and complain and accuse and behave in all manner of repugnant ways because the Realm stands. Because law and order stands. Because something other than simple violence shapes the course of their lives. And I look, wife of my son, mother of my heir, at a very few decent people who have had the luxury of living their lives without being called upon to make hideous decisions I would not wish upon my worst enemies, and who consequently find such matters morally appalling when they consider them--because they have not had to be the ones who dealt with them." He took a short, hard swallow of wine. "Feh. Aquitaine thinks me his enemy. The fool. If I truly hated him, I'd give him the Crown.”'

100. Two Boys Kissing - David Levithan
Genre: GLBT
Pages: 208
Rating: 5 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS. While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.

Thoughts:
I love everything I’ve read from David Levithan. This was no exception. Firstly, it’s always something new. Secondly, the prose is very emotional; it just pulls your emotions forth without even trying. I believe this is due to the meaningful language. It’s very honest writing. I really liked that the narrators were a past generation of gay men. I felt it gave the book even more depth. It’s wasn’t just about two boys kissing. There was so much more behind it, around it. Many reviewers have already stated that this book should be required reading and I agree. This is an inspiring book. It is a powerful book. There is so much that this book offers. Personally, it drained me; although in a good way. There are no many books that can pull this much emotion out of me, make me feel the range of emotions I did while listening to this. I loved it. I will be buying this book, no doubt about that. And I will be rereading this book in another few years, no doubt about that. I highly highly recommend!

Favorite Line:
‘Freedom is also about what you will allow yourself to do.’

I'm glad that Butcher's Fury books continue to be good. I've finished the third in the series and am slowly making my way through them.

They continue to be enjoyable reads. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to say about them. :)

101. Where You Are - J. H. Trumble
Genre: GLBT
Pages: 321
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Robert Westfall's life is falling apart--everywhere but in math class. That's the one place where problems always have a solution. But in the world beyond high school, his father is terminally ill, his mother is squabbling with his interfering aunts, his boyfriend is unsupportive, and the career path that's been planned for him feels less appealing by the day. Robert's math teacher, Andrew McNelis, watches his best student floundering, concerned but wary of crossing the line between professional and personal. Gradually, Andrew becomes Robert's friend, then his confidante. As the year progresses, their relationship-in school and out of it-deepens and changes. And as hard as he tries to resist, Andrew knows that he and Robert are edging into territory that holds incalculable risks for both of them.

Thoughts:
This book deals with a pretty controversial issue. But I think Trumble handled it well. I’m not sure where I stand exactly on the issue but nonetheless I was drawn into this book. I remember loving Trumble’s first book Don’t Let Me Go. I like Trumble’s writing style and her sensitivity. This book wasn’t all about sex, the relationship started with feelings for each other first. Whether that is realistic for a twenty five year old high school teacher and a seventeen year old boy is up for question. I like to think so. You can’t always control who you’re attracted to. And well, people make mistakes. But it doesn’t have to be the end of the world either. Things can work out. Sometimes they don’t. Here they did. I finished the book feeling mostly content. I still don’t know where I stand on the issue, but the book was enjoyable.

I would guess that the eight year age difference would mean very little in real life, but the relationship between a student and teacher would be of a little more concern to most people. It is truly a difficult subject but it sounds like the author put a lot of thought into how she dealt with it and was able to produce a insightful, thought-provoking book.

I couldn't read it. I wouldn't be able to get past the student/teacher thing. I'm glad you enjoyed the book though!

:)



102. Evolutionary Medicine and Health: New Perspectives - Wenda R. Trevathan
Genre: Non-Fiction, Science
Pages: 544
Rating: 4 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
This book presents twenty-three original articles that examine how human evolution relates to a broad range of contemporary health problems including infectious, chronic, nutritional, and mental diseases and disorders. Topics covered include disease susceptibility in cultural context, substance abuse and addiction, sleep disorders, preeclampsia, altitude-related hypoxia, the biological context of menstruation, and the role of stress in modern life. An international team of preeminent scholars in biological anthropology, medicine, biology, psychology, and geography contributed the selections. Together they represent a uniquely integrative and multidisciplinary approach that takes into account the dialogue between biology and culture as it relates to understanding, treating, and preventing disease.

Thoughts:
I read this book for my Medical Anthropology class, and at first I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. I’ve never been into learning about diseases. But I do like evolution. And as the title implies, a lot of the essay’s in this book focused on the argument of what we can look at from a evolutionary standpoint. We can’t with some issues, but in others it is argued that it gives us a better understanding of why, how, etc. when we do. I was interested in most of the topics and though there is some technical jargon present, it wasn’t too difficult to get through. It’s nice to enjoy a book when you’re not sure you will. I don’t know if I will reference this book later in my career or not but I am glad I learned what I did reading it now.

103. Fire the Sky - Michael & Kathleen O'Neal Gear
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 608
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
After being fought to a standstill by the courageous Apalachee Nation, de Soto has changed his tactics. He will employ promises of peace to accomplish what cannot be achieved by violence alone. Lured by a young man’s tale of gold and aided by an arrogant princess’s treachery, he makes his way through the beautiful southeastern landscape. One by one, the ancient Nations fall victim to his lies as rulers and commoners alike are tricked into enslavement. In spite of the price de Soto has placed on his head, Black Shell shadows the Kristiano advance and finds that his own legend precedes him. Some will heed Black Shell’s strategies of sacrifice and deception. Others will ignore him—and suffer unspeakable horrors as a result.

Thoughts:
I’ve always been a fan of historical fiction. Especially when I know some of the topic I am reading about. I didn’t realize it when I was reading the first book Coming of the Storm but the series focuses on what we now call the Mississippi culture. I am actually learning about the culture in my Prehistory of North America class this week so when I heard the name Cahokia come up in this book I was immediately surprised and excited. It reminds me why I love to read so much. Because it’s one thing to sit in a lecture hall and take notes on a culture no longer what they once were to sometimes gone completely. It’s quite another to see a rendition of what life would have been like in those cultures. Sure it’s fictional but these authors are archaeologists. Hey might have even worked on sites relevant to the Mississippi culture. And I’m sure they’ve done their homework thoroughly. I love seeing history before my eyes. This book certainly does that. It brings history to life. If you are interested in the history of North America or The Contact specifically, I highly recommend these books. There are some points where it seemed as if the pace had slowed to a crawl but they never lasted very long. And like in the first book, it ends on a high climax with you holding your breath as you try to take it all in. I will definitely be reading more from these authors after I finish the next and last book in this series.

104. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - David Levithan & Rachel Cohn
Genre: Romance
Pages: 272
Rating: 3 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Thoughts:
I really like David Levithan’s writing, which is why this book was on my list to read. Turns out I’m not so hot about Rachel Cohn though. The book was okay but I definitely liked the Dash moments more than the Lily moments. And I guess I was hoping for more to the book. Instead it turned out to be just a nice read that I ended up reading in the wrong season. Oh well. It’s checked off my list.

Favorite Line:
“You want meaning? Well, the meanings are out there. We're just so damn good at reading them wrong.”

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

I had to go look up chibi...

:) You learn something new everyday!

105. Questioning Collapse - Patricia McAnany & Norman Yoffee
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthropology
Pages: 366
Rating: 3 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
In a series of highly accessible and closely argued essays, a team of internationally recognized scholars bring history and context to bear in their radically different analyses of iconic events, such as the deforestation of Easter Island, the cessation of the Norse colony in Greenland, the faltering of nineteenth-century China, the migration of ancestral peoples away from Chaco Canyon in the American southwest, the crisis and resilience of Lowland Maya kingship, and other societies that purportedly "collapsed." Collectively, these essays demonstrate that resilience in the face of societal crises, rather than collapse, is the leitmotif of the human story from the earliest civilizations to the present. Scrutinizing the notion that Euro-American colonial triumphs were an accident of geography, Questioning Collapse also critically examines the complex historical relationship between race and political labels of societal "success" and "failure."

Thoughts:
This book isn’t out to totally bash Jared Diamond’s ‘Collapse’ book to bits. It criticizes Diamond but the meat of this book was looking at some of the cases featured in Diamond’s book in addition to some other cases where people have commonly thought of collapse in relation. The book challenges the readers to not think that these societies collapsed, but instead to look at all the facts and factors. In most cases the societies did not just collapse due to their own political or selfish actions. I liked some cases more than others. Some made me very interested. Others had me dozing as I forced myself to read them for class. And I didn’t quite like the way Diamond was attacked. I haven’t read his ‘Collapse’ book myself, but even if some of his facts are false, the tone against him felt mean. I think it did well in presenting facts and making the reader aware that collapse is not always as catastrophic as it is sometimes set out to seem.

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

This was end of the month stats: stats have been changed due to the removal of graphic novels. To see stats for this thread's year please refer HERE

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

106. First Lord's Fury - Jim Butcher
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 480
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
For Gaius Octavian, life has been one long battle. Now, the end of all he fought for is close at hand. The brutal, dreaded Vord are on the march against Alera. And perhaps for the final time, Gaius Octavian and his legions must stand against the enemies of his people. And it will take all his intelligence, ingenuity, and furycraft to save their world from eternal darkness.

Thoughts:
Ah, I’m sort of sad to see this series ended. At the same time I’m also kind of glad it ended for it did. It was a good place for it to end. I think Butcher got a little hasty at the end of this series, specifically, this book. It book felt a little rushed, and not just because it was a page turner. I felt some material was left out that could have increased the ‘greatness’. Instead I felt as if the whole book was just a rush to get to the conclusion. I didn’t so much get this feeling while reading until I hit the last hundred pages or so. There is something here that is missing that was there in the first couple of books. However, the book was still very enjoyable which is why my rate is still high. I’ve come to like a lot of these characters. Butcher has kept to the end the cheery, ‘things will always work out’ attitude. There were a lot of times where I thought for sure someone had died or there was no way one could not die, and they didn’t or pulled through. I expected this from reading the previous books. I do not think this is a bad thing; maybe a little unrealistic but, sometimes it nice to read a book and know you don’t have to worry too much about someone you really like dying. Tavi (Octavian) is the perfect hero, and that was okay as well. These perhaps cause the book to be rated only to a four for me, but for enjoyment’s sake, the series was a good one. It was very different from Butcher’s Dresden series. I think, now that I have read this one, I like the Dresden series over this one, but I am very glad I got to read this series all the same.

I'm glad there is a solid ending to the series. I've got Princeps' ordered from the library.

I do enjoy solid endings to series as well. Its a refresher against some of the long long series that never end. :)

Hi, what books are you reading?

107. Meaning, Medicine and the 'Placebo Effect' - Daniel Moerman
Genre: Non-Fiction, Science
Pages: 155
Rating: 4 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
Traditionally, the effectiveness of medical treatments is attributed to specific elements, such as drugs or surgical procedures. However, many other factors can significantly effect the outcome. Drugs with nationally advertised names can work better than the same drug without the name. Inert drugs (placebos, dummies) often have dramatic effects on some patients and effects can vary greatly among different European countries where the "same" medical condition is understood differently. Daniel Moerman traverses a complex subject area in this detailed examination of medical variables.

Thoughts:
I actually really enjoyed this book. When I first bought it for class I wasn’t sure but I did end up engaged in the topics. I’ve never really thought much about the Placebo effect or how culture and different meanings can affect how effective we think medicine can be. And how effective we think it will be can actually effect how effective it really is. I know I was aware of this but never have I really thought about it. It’s fascinating science. I will never think about the simple act of taking Advil for a headache the same again. We have these ideas that shots work better than pills and that surgery works better than shots and that red pills stimulate us more than blue pills and that bigger or more pills work better. And, really, it’s mostly just in our head. We are tricking ourselves every day. We are allowing ourselves to be tricked every day. I would recommend this book to EVERYONE. I think having the knowledge of regression to mean, the meaning response, what exactly the placebo effect is or is not, cultural relativism, etc. could help a lot of people make more educated choices about their health and wellbeing.

108. Reconstructing Human Origins - Glenn C. Conroy
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthropology
Pages: 619
Rating: 4 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
Reconstructing Human Origins is the most authoritative, comprehensive, and popular Paleoanthropolgy textbook available. Respected anthropologists Glenn Conroy and new coauthor Herman Pontzer use clear writing and abundant, carefully chosen illustrations to illuminate key concepts and help students get the most out of the course. This definitive Paleoanthropolgy text has been fully revised to keep pace with all of the exciting recent developments in the field.

Thoughts:
I love Paleoanthropolgy, so this was the book for me. The only downside is that I had a limited time to read it and thus couldn't spend much time thinking about what I was reading - although if Paleoanthropolgy was the only course I was taking, that would be a different story. The chapters are long, the book is long (especially when you read it cover to cover for your class), but it has some great information. Lots of lists of skeletal traits so if you're not into osteology and comparative skeletal anatomy, then this is certainly not the book for you. Even I got bogged down a little with all the terms. But it IS very comprehensive. Not a book if you want basics on human evolution, but certainly one if you want the details of why one hominin is more often thought a direct ancestor than another, etc. What the book really explains is that Paleoanthropolgy is very subjective, and we don’t have all the answers. Not by a long shot. But we do know a lot more than we used to.

109. The Perception of the Environment - Tim Ingold
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthropology
Pages: 435
Rating: 2 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
Tim Ingold offers a persuasive approach to understanding how human beings perceive their surroundings. He argues that what we are used to calling cultural variation consists, in the first place, of variations in skill. Neither innate nor acquired, skills are grown, incorporated into the human organism through practice and training in an environment. They are thus as much biological as cultural. The twenty-three essays comprising this book focus in turn on the procurement of livelihood, on what it means to 'dwell', and on the nature of skill, weaving together approaches from social anthropology, ecological psychology, developmental biology and phenomenology in a way that has never been attempted before. The book revolutionises the way we think about what is 'biological' and 'cultural' in humans, about evolution and history, and indeed about what it means for human beings - at once organisms and persons - to inhabit an environment.

Thoughts:
When I first got this book for class I had multiple people tell me they loved the book. I think I can see why. The book definitely introduces some radical and new ideas about perception. However, I felt Ingold could have said the same things in half the words he used and less ‘flowery’. I understood his concepts but I felt that I had to dig for them. I even liked some of his concepts but I had a very hard time getting through this book. The only reason I finished it is because it was required reading for my environmental anthropology class. I don’t think I could have made myself read it otherwise. Too wordy.

>157 LizzieCB:. Hi Lizzie. Sorry. Your post must have come in as I was updating a post and I missed it. Luckily I saw it today! :) What am I reading? Well as you can probably guess, I'm in the end of my semester so I'm finally getting through all my textbooks.

On my bedside table however I have:
Little Red Lies - Julie Johnston (early reviewer)
Just Babies - Paul Bloom (another early reviewer)
The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps - Dillon Banerjee
When the World Calls - Stanley Meisler (bet you can tell what I'm thinking of doing!)
and The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince - Robin Hobb

I'm hoping to have some time alongside all my research papers I need to write during Thanksgiving break to get some of these in. My fingers are crossed.

While those kind of just sit there, I do listen to some audio books when I drive and walk between classes to try and get some lesiure entertainment. I'm listening to Changes - Mercedes Lackey at the moment and the following are waiting on my itunes to be next:

Possession - J. R. Ward (not the right tag)
Postmortem - Patricia Cornwell
and The Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare

Any of those sound familiar? Reading anything interesting yourself? :)

110. Lone Survivors - Chris Stringer
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthropology
Pages: 278
Rating: 4 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
A leading researcher on human evolution proposes a new and controversial theory of how our species came to be. In this groundbreaking and engaging work of science, world-renowned paleoanthropologist Chris Stringer sets out a new theory of humanity's origin, challenging both the multiregionalists (who hold that modern humans developed from ancient ancestors in different parts of the world) and his own "out of Africa" theory, which maintains that humans emerged rapidly in one small part of Africa and then spread to replace all other humans within and outside the continent. Stringer's new theory, based on archeological and genetic evidence, holds that distinct humans coexisted and competed across the African continent—exchanging genes, tools, and behavioral strategies

Thoughts:
I'm not positive Stringer's idea is original. I'm positive I have heard the theory before. However, he presents it in a comprehensive way. And perhaps what I’ve heard did originally come from him and only now has it been written in a book. Either way, I like the theory. I like any theory that challenges long held ideas. I like when we consider other possibility, even if they take us nowhere. I didn’t get as much out of the book as I wanted due to the fast pace I had to read through it for class (itself due to lots of classes). Some of the material was not new to me, but some of it was new. And some of it merged what I knew and didn’t know. I may reread the book in the future. It’s got some great ideas and information.

Favorite Line:
‘I no longer think that there is a single “right” answer to the question of our behavioral origins.’ (Page 140)

111. Ancient North America - Brian M. Fagan
Genre: Non-Fiction, Anthropology
Pages: 540
Rating: 3 Stars
(Textbook)

Summary:
The book offers a balanced summary of every major culture area in North America, and places the continent in its wider context in human prehistory. Lavish illustrations, many new to the fourth edition, draw on North America's rich ethnographic record to illustrate key sites and artifacts. The chapter on first settlement has been heavily revised in light of new discoveries in Siberia and the Americas, and current controversies are surveyed. Chapters on archaeological theory, the Great Basin, the Northeast, the Northwest, and the Archaeology of European Contact reflect major advances, and important new discoveries and scientific methodologies receive full coverage.

Thoughts:
Ugh. I don’t know why but I’ve never liked US history. Some, but mostly not. Thus I was not excited for this textbook in the first place. Reading it did not change my attitude. I did not enjoy this book. It was too dry and full of information I am not particularly interested in. This is my opinion. The book was very comprehensive, so if you would like to learn details on North American prehistoric cultures, this is a good informational book. There was once when I was reading the chapter on the Mississippian cultures and listening to Fire the Sky in the same week and I had a sort of epiphany. The culture I was learning about was similar to the culture I was listening to for the historical fiction book. That made it real for me and I began to enjoy the topic for about five minutes. Then the dryness of the book got to me again. :) It just wasn’t for me. I gave it a three star because it does have a lot of good information.

112. Changes - Mercedes Lackey
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pages: 400
Rating: 3 Stars
(Walk By-Pick Up)

Summary:
In Mercedes Lackey's classic coming-of-age story, the orphan Magpie pursues his quest for his parent's identity with burning urgency-while also discovering another hidden talent and being trained by the King's Own Herald as an undercover agent for Valdemar. Shy Bardic Trainee Lena has to face her famous but uncaring father, one of Valdemar's most renowned Bards. And Healing Trainee Bear must struggle against his disapproving parents, who are pressuring Bear to quit the Healers' Collegium because he lacks the magical Healing Gift. Each of the three friends must face his or her demons and find their true strength as they seek to become the full Heralds, Bards, and Healers of Valdemar.

Thoughts:
When I finished the second book to this series, Intrigues, I told myself I wasn’t going to continue with the series since there were so many other books that would be better, more Lackey books even that would be better, but when I saw this audio book on the library shelves I decided to get it on a spur of the moment decision. Then it sat on my desk for a month or so with me going back and forth trying to decide if I wanted to spend the ten hours listening to it. Obviously I made the choice to listen. I ended up wanting to know what happened. And I'll admit, the cover drew me in. And I suppose I don’t really regret listening to it. It’s not the best series from Lackey that I’ve read and will read, but it wasn’t totally horrible either. It was straight on the 3 star mark: okay. I’m not going to nitpick all that I didn’t like about the book. Suffice to say that I may end up reading the next book (I am assuming there will be another since not much was resolved here), but that I doubt it will go beyond a three star either.

Favorite Line:
“Fanatics can justify practically any atrocity to themselves. The more untenable their position becomes, the harder they hold to it, and the worse the things they are willing to do to support it.”

113. The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps - Dillon Banerjee
Genre: Non-Fiction, Reference
Pages: 178
Rating: 5 Stars
(Walk By-Pick Up)

Summary:
If you are interested in joining the Peace Corps, you probably have questions that run the gamut from "What is the application process like?" to "Is the Peace Corps effective as a development agency?" In this updated second edition, former Peace Corps volunteer Dillon Banerjee shares candid facts and insights about the experience in a practical question-and-answer format. With input from recently returned volunteers who served across the globe, this thorough guide presents valuable information. It will help equip you for the unique challenges and rewards of the volunteer experience, regardless of your program area or country assignment.

Thoughts:
I loved this book. It was very helpful and answered most of my questions and a bunch I hadn’t even thought of yet. It certainly inspired me even more and cemented my commitment. It’s also great information for family members of those that are leaving. I ended up taking some notes while reading because of the amount of great information included. I recommend anyone interested or curious about the Peace Corp to read this book. It’s a quick easy read.

114. The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince - Robin Hobb
Genre: High Fantasy
Pages: 184
Rating: 4 Stars
(Walk By-Pick Up)

Summary:
Robin Hobb takes readers deep into the history behind the Farseer series in this exclusive, new novella. One of the darkest legends in the Realm of the Elderlings recounts the tale of the so-called Piebald Prince, a Witted pretender to the throne unseated by the actions of brave nobles so that the Farseer line could continue untainted. Now the truth behind the story is revealed through the account of Felicity, a low-born companion of the Princess Caution at Buckkeep. With Felicity by her side, Caution grows into a headstrong Queen-in-Waiting. But when Caution gives birth to a bastard son who shares the piebald markings of his father s horse, Felicity is the one who raises him. And as the prince comes to power, political intrigue sparks dangerous whispers about the Wit that will change the kingdom forever.

Thoughts:
I love anything Robin Hobb. I have for a while. So when I saw this I was surprised that I hadn’t gotten to it sooner. I expected going into it that it wasn’t a full-blown story so I didn’t go into it and become disappointed. I bet it would have made a great novel but for its purposes it works well as it is; longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. I enjoyed the story. It was direct and to the point. It’s definitely a ‘tell’ type of story not a ‘show’, but that is expected in a story this short. And it’s sort of what one would expect. I took it as a story in the Farseer series itself, something a character in the series might read, more a history of really happened in the stories past than entertainment for readers, even if we took it that way. I took entertainment out of it picturing characters from the Farseer series finding this and reading it, learning what their myths really come from. If you’re a Robin Hobb fan I’d recommend this book.

Hobb is a great writer but far too bleak for me. I read the Assassin's trilogy then started the next one (Fools?) and couldn't keep going. I'm so depressed after reading one of her books.

Me too. There's actually a lot of series I like that are just as bleak. Makes me wonder why exactly I like them so much.

Happy Thanksgiving, Melissa!

I agree--Robin Hobb is too bleak for me. Which is really strange considering that I love the books she wrote as Megan Lindholm so much, especially the Ki and Vandien quartet.

>169 ronincats: Maybe I should try those. I do think she is a good writer.

Thanks Roni!

115. Possession: A Novel of the Fallen Angels - J. R. Ward
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 544
Rating: 3 Stars
(New)

Summary:
When Cait Douglass resolves to get over her broken heart, throw off her inhibitions, and start really living, she’s unprepared for the two sensual men who cross her path. Torn between them, she doesn’t know which to choose--or what kind of dire consequences could follow. Jim Heron, fallen angel and reluctant savior, is ahead in the war, but he puts everything at risk when he seeks to make a deal with the devil--literally. As yet another soul is unwittingly caught in the battle between him and the demon Devina, his fixation on an innocent trapped in Hell threatens to sidetrack him from his sacred duty.

Thoughts:
I felt this was a transition novel more than anything. Not much happens on the Jim side of things. The romance side with the new characters wasn’t too bad but even there I felt that not much happened for as long as the book was. I really liked the premise of this series and I thought it started out great. The first two were my favorite, then I felt the story itself was beginning to get a little drowned out from the side romance story in the last two. The romance wasn’t too bad here (possibly it really was less than usual, possibly I’m just in a different kind of mood than when I read the last two books), but it was certainly not on par with the first two books. And I just felt confused for a lot of the book. Not enough was explained until later on in the book which had me doing double-takes. I’m definetly still into the series, but this book was my least favorite of the series so far. I really hope Ward gets back to the writing I know she can do.

116. Little Red Lies – Julie Johnston
Genre: Gothic Fiction
Pages: 340
Rating: 3 Stars
(Early Reviewer)

Summary:
The war is over, but for thirteen-year-old Rachel, the battle has just begun. Putting childhood behind her, she knows what she wants - to prove she has acting talent worthy of the school drama club, and what she doesn't want - to romantically fall for someone completely inappropriate. Worries about her veteran brother's failing health and repugnance at her mother's unexpected and unwanted pregnancy drive her to seek solace from a seemingly sympathetic, but self-serving teacher. The lies she tells herself hoping to reach solutions to the problems complicating her life merely function to make matters worse.

Thoughts:
Hmm… well, the book wasn’t what I had imagined from the blurb when I picked the book from the Early Reviewers list or from the dust cover blurb when I got the book. The seeking solace from a teacher is only a very small part to a much different story. It’s more about growing up and family drama and I guess in the end learning that some things are special even if you don’t think so in the moment. I didn’t really like the main character, Rachel. And the ending seemed to sum up the book very quickly. I liked the brother sister interaction and Jamie dealing with the war the most. Nothing else really grabbed me. Overall, it was an interesting story but I did not feel I got anything out of the read. Mostly, I’m sort of glad I finished it so I can move on to another book now.

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Julie Johnston! Wow, I haven't seen that name in ages. When I was very young, one of my teachers selected me to go to a special afternoon conference for hand-picked students who showed interest in English & writing, and I got to hear her speak and had her sign a copy of Adam and Eve and Pinch Me. While I don't remember the specifics of her talk, I do remember that it fanned the flame for storytelling, and certainly had an influence on my pursuing writing as a career.

I didn't realize she was still alive, let alone writing more books! Huh. Guess that's what happens when you get out of grade school in Canada and aren't bombarded with books from Canadian authors anymore.

Wow. I didn't know that. :) That's kind of cool to realize!

117. Postmortem - Patricia Cornwell
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 448
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Under cover of night in Richmond, Virginia, a human monster strikes, leaving a gruesome trail of stranglings that has paralyzed the city. Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta suspects the worst: a deliberate campaign by a brilliant serial killer whose signature offers precious few clues. With an unerring eye, she calls on the latest advances in forensic research to unmask the madman. But this investigation will test Kay like no other, because it’s being sabotaged from within—and someone wants her dead.

Thoughts:
I liked this book. Probably because I can see and listen to all the medical examiner/forensic jargon and know what it all means, picture it. It made this book more real for me. I’m usually not that into mystery but this has enough thriller genre added in that I wasn’t bored with only investigation. I don’t know what I’ll think of the rest of the series (and gosh is it long!). I can see some great things coming if it develops like I’m thinking it might. Then again, it might not. I will most likely be reading the next book though to find out.

118. Hunting Ground - Patricia Briggs
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 304
Rating: 4 Stars
(TBR)

Summary:
Mated to werewolf Charles Cornick, the son -and enforcer -of the leader of the North American werewolves, Anna Latham now knows how dangerous being a werewolf is, especially when a werewolf who opposes Charles and his father is struck down. Charles's reputation makes him the prime suspect, and the penalty for the crime is execution. Now Anna and Charles must combine their talents to hunt down the real killer -or Charles will take the fall.

Thoughts:
This was an entertaining book. I usually like most of Patricia Briggs books. The book is full of action, throughout the whole book which makes it a quick and engaging read. I enjoyed it more than the first book. There was character development even if it was a little rushed in between all that action. The book was not phenomenal, not even really on par with the first three books in the Mercedes series, but it was a good sequel to the first book of this omega and alpha series. I will definitely be reading the next book.

Favorite Line:
“His grandfather had often told him that he tried too hard to move trees when a wiser man would walk around them.”

The Mercy series is her strongest but I enjoy all Briggs' books. I've read everything.

:) I'm working towards that same goal

119. Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil - Paul Bloom
Genre: Non-Fiction, Psychology
Pages: 263
Rating: 4 Stars
(Early Reviewer)

Summary:
From John Locke to Sigmund Freud, philosophers and psychologists have long believed that we begin life as blank moral slates. Many of us take for granted that babies are born selfish and that it is the role of society—and especially parents—to transform them from little sociopaths into civilized beings. In Just Babies, Paul Bloom argues that humans are in fact hardwired with a sense of morality. Drawing on groundbreaking research at Yale, Bloom demonstrates that, even before they can speak or walk, babies judge the goodness and badness of others’ actions; feel empathy and compassion; act to soothe those in distress; and have a rudimentary sense of justice. Still, this innate morality is limited, sometimes tragically. We are naturally hostile to strangers, prone to parochialism and bigotry. Bringing together insights from psychology, behavioral economics, evolutionary biology, and philosophy, Bloom explores how we have come to surpass these limitations. Along the way, he examines the morality of chimpanzees, violent psychopaths, religious extremists, and Ivy League professors, and explores our often puzzling moral feelings about sex, politics, religion, and race

Thoughts:
I’ve really come to like books with a psychology background. At first I had a hard time with this book due to the fact that I just completed a very tough semester in college and my mind was not into reading another textbook-like-book. I’d written enough research papers in the last four months that I didn’t want to read about even more research studies. However, after a few days of relaxation and rejuvenation, after I had recharged my over-used brain, I began to enjoy the book like I thought I would. I have always in interested in morality and philosophy, so I had figured this book would be a high rate. Indeed it was a engaging read. It’s not too long, and not too hard to follow. I thought the first half of the book focused more on the studies about babies and the sense of bad and good. The second half of the book was the most interesting for me; detailing what is really moral or immoral and what is not, and that this changes between cultures; the real question that is brought up is why we think something is immoral. If you like to read non-fiction books that make you think, this is a good read.

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

This was a graphic novel: all graphic novels have been moved here

120. Better Body Workouts for Women - Dean Hodgkin & Caroline Pearce
Genre: Non-Fiction, Body
Pages: 248
Rating: 4 Stars
(Early Reviewer)

Summary:
In Better Body Workouts for Women, fitness experts and elite athletes Dean Hodgkin and Caroline Pearce provide you with your own personal training toolkit. You’ll discover the best methods for assessing your current fitness level, identifying physical strengths and deficiencies, setting and refining training goals and selecting and customizing the programs to make an immediate, lasting impact.

Thoughts:
This is no book for an individual who only exercises sporadically. It’s a very detailed book. This fact alone necessitates a reader is looking to better their workouts, or one who wants to understand how to begin and maintain an effective workout. It’s predominately focused on women as its title suggests, but the majority, if not all, of the exercises in the book can be done by men as well. I’d say it’s aimed at women in the areas that it talks about the prevalent urge to lose weight, and how to do it safely, and in the areas it talks about challenges women have to working out such as menstruation and pregnancy. I enjoyed the book, although it was almost too detailed for me. This book goes into anatomy and physiology, talking about ATP and glycogen levels. I wasn’t interested in going that deep myself, having had enough of that information in my anatomy class. I enjoyed that it explained why different types of exercises were all important and urged readers to incorporate all kinds of exercises into their workouts, and that it made sure to include exercises done in the home without the cost of equipment or memberships. And it didn’t only target those readers that were hard core exercisers. Beginners would get good information out the book as well. It’s a lot of information, but if you’re looking to increase your knowledge of what would benefit your body during workouts this may be a great book to get your hands on.

Just Babies looks interesting. How easy a read is it? I like my nonfiction to clear and straightforward. I just finished Does Anything Eat Wasps? which I thought would be a nice popular science book but instead you nearly needed a science degree to understand some of the answers.

I thought it was pretty easy to follow. Here's an excerpt that may help you decide. It was one passage I thought was very powerful and got me thinking.

'Some philosophers believe the difference between pushing the man and throwing the switch is captured by a principle known as the Doctrine of Double Effect, or DDE. The DDE, which is often attributed to the Catholic philosopher Thomas Aquinas, posits a critical moral difference between killing or harming someone as an unintended consequence of causing a greater good to occur (which can be morally permissible) and intentionally causing a death or harm in order to bring about a greater good (which is note permissible).’

It’s not all that deep. The beginning of the book deals mostly with research studies done on babies and toddlers on which they prefer, the ‘good’ guy or helper versus the ‘bad; guy or inhibitor, and how young they have these preferences. The second half of the book deals with more things like the above excerpt.

Hope this helps!

Nah, not my type of book. I had to read that quote twice to get it! I like my nonfiction a bit breezier.

haha. That's why I put it in there. I have to be careful about recommending non-fiction because I think my idea of smooth and easy is different than other people's. :) Glad I could clear it up though

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Here' the link for my 2014 thread if you'd like to follow me over there. :)
http://www.librarything.com/topic/162937