Reading Goal for Karogers

This will be so much fun!! 50 books sounds easy, but we'll see.

My first book of the year - The Things We Do for Love by Kristin Hannah. It was a nice surprise because it's not like the stuff I usually read and I've snagged an early reviewers copy of her next book. She did a nice job with the relationships between the characters.

#2. The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. Readable with characters that were well developed and relationships that were interesting. I thought the ending was unexpected, and considering the genre, did not add any appeal to the book.

#3. To Love and Be Wise by Josephine Tey. Inspector Grant is called in to investigate the disappearance of an American photographer who turns out to be a very mysterious person. I really enjoyed the twists; Josephine Tey's mysteries are not run-of-the-mill.

#4. The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah. Surprisingly good.

#5. On Mystic Lake by Kristin Hannah.

#6. Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber. Pretty light; not a bad read.

#7. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. Review posted; not one of my favorites. Back to mysteries for a while, I think.

#8. What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman. Outstanding. I think I'll start reading her Tess Monaghan series to see if I like them.

#9. Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson. A gentle read; I really liked it and will get the sequel.

Just so you know, I am NOT finishing Water for Elephants. It was good, it was well written. There is too much "stuff" happening to animals. I tried.

#10. Away by Amy Bloom. I did so hope for a different ending.

#11. Christine Falls by John Banville/Benjamin Black.

This is not a run-of-the-mill mystery, as I would expect in a book written by John Banville. In fact, I'm not sure that there is really a "crime" to solve so much as their is an uncovering of evil. I enjoyed the way the story unfolds in layers, giving the reader hints about the true nature of the characters involved.

#12. Flowers for His Funeral by Ann Granger. New author for me and I will probably read more.

#13. In the Woods by Tana French. Outstanding.

#14. The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. Thoroughly enjoyable. His observations helped me clarify much of my own thinking about religion and the Bible.

#15. Careless In Red by Elizabeth George. As others have said, it's good to have Lynley and Havers back.

#16. Water Like A Stone by Deborah Crombie. Great story and the relationship between Gemma and Duncan is just as interesting as ever. A satisfying read.

#17. Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber. Fun.

#18. If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern.

#19. The Sister by Poppy Adams

I found it very hard to finish this book. It was well written and the increasing sense of foreboding made me very uncomfortable; hence the three stars. I did not finish the book with much understanding of what family dynamics were driving the characters, but that may have been that I was too anxious to get to the end. I would recommend giving it a try.

#20. Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian by Scott Douglas.

#21. Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs. Fluffy, but ok.

#23. Irish Journal by Heinrich Boll
#24. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

#25. The Medium by Noelle Sickels.
Gripping - the story of a young woman coming to grips with her gift as a medium during the period before and during the Second World War. The first half of the book seemed more like a novel for young adults, probably because of the age and of the main character. But as she matures the story and issues became even more complex. A really good read with a great historical setting.

#26. Too Many Ghosts by Paul Gallico. Read this many years ago and it was a lot scarier then! A cross between SciFi Channel's "Ghost Hunters" and an Agatha Christie novel. Fun.

#27. Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman. Nice and spooky, a fair amount of complexity; I did pretty much figure out some of the mystery about half-way through. That didn't detract from my enjoyment at all.

#28. The Shack by William P. Young. This was a borrowed book but I'll be sure to buy one because it will be read again and again.

#29. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

#30. Not In the Flesh by Ruth Rendell.

#31. Baptism in Blood by Jane Haddam.

#32. The Merchant's House by Kate Ellis. Loved the historical murder mirroring the modern one.