Caspetee 50 books in 2009

Well 2009 has begun and I reached my 50 books earlier then expected. So even though my header is 50 I am going to be aiming for 60 books this year. I feel that is going to be a reasonable and achievable goal.

Also I will be participating in a few challenges this year to help broaden the reading horizons and give me some extra goals.

Challenges:
Orange January (My goal is 2 books)
Public Library Challenge (my goal is 25 books)
Young Adult Book Challenge (12 books)

What's Orange January?

I apologise and will elaborate. Orange January is reading any of the books that were nominated or won the Orange Prize. The goal is to read at least one, but you can read as many as you wish and the challenge runs for the whole month of January. I have linked below some of the book lists you can pick from if interested.

New Writers: Winners & Short Lists

Winners & Short Lists

Fiction Prize: Long Lists

Tapestry...its run by Mrstreme and you can find more details by visiting her profile and heading off to her blog...she should be in my friends list. Its an event that she and Wendy house bi-annually (January and July). I plan on participating for the first time this month. First book up is Fingersmith...only a few chapters in and already i am loving the story.

Ok...so my previous post makes me sound really lazy so here is a link to Jill's post that talks about Orange January

http://mrstreme.livejournal.com/67702.html

(please pardon the ugly URL...still feeling lazy I guess)

Thanks for the info on Orange January!

I think I'm going to have to pass on the January portion of this until I see how my 9-9-9 Challenge goes. I keep looking at my list that I've chosen and want to switch things out, but I'm going to try to stick with it.

Hi Caspe! I found you! Sounds like you have 2009 well planned out and it sounds like a blast. Have you selected your Orange book for January? That sounds so neat. Good luck and have fun.

how did you do that ticker thing, Caspe?

#7 Kirconnell - Yes I have picked Case Histories by Kate Atkinson and Time Travelers Wife by Audry Niffenegger. I also hope to get my hands on Small Island by Andrea Levy but might not get that in time for Orange January.

#8 Kaylinhope welcome! glad yous stopped by. I have written my reply on your profile page. I hope it helps.

>Case Histories and Time Travelers Wife are both great reads!

Thanks bonniebooks I hope so everyone seems to rave about them, and thanks for dropping by!

#1 The Host by Stephanie Meyer



I was hesitant to read a Stephanie Meyer book as the whole vampire romance genre is not my thing. On top of that the vampire/romance mixed with teen angst and I was not ready to rush out and read the Twilight series. I was handed The Host and told it was way better then the Twilight series and that it was more sci-fi. I finished this last night and have been thinking all day as to if I liked this or not. I really dont know, I didnt love it and I didnt hate it. The easiest way for me to review this book was to write down pros and cons.

Cons
•This book is more a romance/drama which is fine however from reading the blurb on the back cover I was expecting something more actiony.
•Most of the second third of the book I felt could have been edited out. It was long winded and a little boring. I found myself skipping paragraphs and I didn’t miss anything.
•I really was not taken with Wanda. She annoyed me for a big chunk of the book. Same with Jared, was not really taken with him till towards the end and then I thought he was ok.
•Was disappointed we did not get to learn more about the “new world” and the resistance.
•This could be a pro or con depending on a lot of factors but it would appear Stephanie Meyer has set this book up for a sequel.

Pros
•The final third of the book was quite good. I enjoyed this section as this was more what I was expecting.
•Jeb was one of the best things about this book I thoroughly enjoyed reading his scenes.
•The back story its self was really interesting.
•Two minds in one body loving two different people has to be one of the most strangest love squares ever.

To many things annoyed me to really enjoy this book. However it had an interesting story. Basically I struggled a little with the book and almost put it down altogether. I am glad I stuck with it as it came good at the end.

I suspect Stephanie Meyer is like Dan Brown in that you either love the books or you hate them. I'm not sure which side of the fence I fall but for now Im happy sitting where I am.

#2 The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger



A beautiful book and a beautiful read. I really enjoyed this book.

I have written a more detailed review on my new blog which you can read here

I really liked this one too. I'm always a little bit shocked when I hear that some people didn't like it :o) !

Really there were people who didn't like it? well I guess I didn't like the Davinci Code and so many people raved over that book.

Another friend of mine just recommended The Time Travelers Wife to me this weekend, so I think I'm going to be heading to the library soon to see if they've got it.

#3 Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

1/2

I really didnt care for this book much at all.

You can read my full review here

#4 Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

1/2

What a great book. I read it in one day and was anxious to pick up the next book but alas it is not in my possession.

Thanks Irish for the recommend it was great.

You can read my full review here

I'm glad that you liked it! There is a 3rd book in the series that is coming out later on this year.

#5 The Night Watch by Sarah Waters



Short Review: I could not get into this book it failed to captivate me at all

Full Review: here

Awwww. I am so sorry. I hate it when you get a book that just doesn't work for you. Better luck next time.

#6 Dewey:The Small Town Cat Who Touched The World By Vicki Myron



Short Review: If you are an animal lover especially a cat lover then a must read.

Full review: Is here

My sister is reading Dewey right now - I'll have to give it a read next time I'm out visiting her.

Hi Caspe. I haven't talked with you in a while. It looks like you found a good book this time out. I checked this one out of the library, but didn't get around to starting it. I guess that I will pick it up again when I go back.

Hi Kirconnell, yes I have actually been busy trying to work through my growing pile of books. Order of reading is determind by when I have to give it up LOL Dewey had to go back so Mum could give it to another friend of hers.

Also it has been raining alot here so I have been out enjoying the rain. This is probably the last hurrah for the wet season this year.

I am currently reading Finding Nino which is due back at the library next week :)

Hello jenna? Are you there?

hello? enyone there?

hello? enyone there?

#7 Finding Nino A Sea Change In Italy by Marc Llewllyen



Short Review: A nice fun book with lots of great awkward social/cultural moments.

Full Review: here

#8 World War Z by Max Brooks



Short Review:An excellent book. Loved it!

Full Review:here

edited - extra star was one star short!

I've been wanting to read World War Z. Good to know that you liked it!

#9 Body Count by P.D Martin



Short Review: A really interesting book. Serial killer profiling and psychics what more can you ask for?

Full Review:here

I'm so glad you liked WWZ! I've been recommending it to everyone. It is one of those books that just resonated for me!

#10 On a Hoof and a Prayer by Polly Evans



Short Review: A delightful read. Will be reading more of her books.

Full Review:here

OMG I am now in double digits Wahoo!!

congrats!

It only took me three months....oh when will the stupid social life end??? *throws hands up in despair* my books are going to start feeling neglected. :)

Social life sounds good! That last book looks terrific. Have a great day!
--BJ

On a Hoof and a Prayer looks really interesting! I'm definitely going to add it to the TBR mound.

I really enjoyed it. The author is very down to earth and all the activities she does you could imagine yourself doing.

Just finished reading Mutiny on the Bounty and the review is to come soon.

I have been much to my surprise been baking muffins today!

edited spelling mistake.

Awwww.... I recently picked up Dewey, and teared up reading the inside of the dust cover. It's on Mt. TBR, but it might be a while before I get to it.

I read all of Meyer's Twilight series, and am a bit burned out on her. I was a bit let down by Breaking Dawn, so I'm just kind of... meh... about The Host.

I like the way you've set up your thread, btw :-D

Thanks the koolaidmom I hope you enjoy Dewy as much as I did. My Mt TBR is about to get scaled I have set myself a goal of reading 14 books over the next 3 months and they must be TBR books.

Hi Caspe. Good luck on your new challenge to scale Mt. TBR. I wish that I had such discipline, but I keep getting lured away by the sirien songs of other books. Sigh. How did the muffins come out? Send me one. I have the glass of milk ready.

Actually they turned out better then I thought they would. They were apple and cinnamon. Will have to up the cinnamon next time (but that is a person preference I think) and not cook it as long as they were a little crunchy on top. Also I need to use a muffin tray so my muffins were all weird shapes LOL

Yum!

#11 Mutiny on the Bounty by John Boyne



Short Review: A clever historical fiction that was great to read.

Full Review:here

#12 Valiant by Holly Black



Short Review: A dark fairy tale dealing with lost of teen issues. An interesting read.

Full Review:here

#45 That book by Boyne looks interesting so I think that I will check it out. Thanks.

I also like the sound of that one. I have been enjoying more historical books lately.

I was really impressed by John Boyne. I had heard his name around as the author of "The boy in the stripped pajamas" but I was hesitant to read a "popular" book.

But I really enjoyed his book so I will definitely be on the look out for others written by him.

Mutiny on the Bounty also looks like a good one to me, too! Thanks for writing about it!
--BJ

Hi, Caspette!
Thanks for stopping by my thread! That was my thread from last year, so I am going to give you a link to my 2009 thread. I just learned how. HeathMochaFrost taught me!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/53861&newpost=1#top

I hope that it works! Have a wonderful day!
--BJ

#13 Demons are a Ghoul's Best Friend by Victoria Laurie



Short Review:Great brain candy book. Lots of fun with some great laughs.

Full Review:here



#14 Fried Eggs with Chopsticks by Polly Evans

1/2

Short Review:Another excellent travel book from Polly Evans. Lots of fun to read.

Full Review:here

Both books 13 and 14 have great titles, the kind of titles that are fun to be "caught" reading :-)

I'm clicking on your reviews now ;-)

Hi Caspe. How's things? Yesterday I watched (for the first time) The Dresden Files. My sister and I both enjoyed them. They are supposed to be based on Jim Butcher's novels about Harry Dresden, a wizard for hire. Have you read any of these books?

#53 They are really fun titles. I almost groaned though when I first read Demons are a Ghouls best friend.

#54 OMG Kirconnell do not even get me started. All I will say is I LOVE the series. I watched the tv show first and I think that helped in terms of if I had done it the other way around I probably wouldn't have liked the show (TV Murphy and Book Murphy look totally different). Definitely get your hands on Storm Front the first in the series. Jim Butcher is next in line behind Terry Pratchett as my fave author.

#15 Blood Bothers by Nora Roberts



Short Review:An interesting read. Not my usual pick but glad I tried it.

Full Review:here



#16 Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull



Short Review: I am loving this series it is great fun.

Full Review: here

#17 Moon Called by Patricia Briggs



Short Review: A good light supernatural mystery with were wolves!

Full Review:here

I seem to have had a good run with books lately pretty much loving everything I have read. I am about to step out of my reading comfort zone and read Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. I know people love her but her books are not normally my style. Fingers crossed I will enjoy it as much as every one else.

Moon Called sounds good. I'll have to check this out. I am so glad that you are having a good run on books. That always makes things better.

I am dreading the fall though. When I find that awful book it will probably hit hard. TO be fair I had two awful books right at the start of the year.

#18 The Hollow by Nora Roberts



Short Review: A different read for me but good.

Full Review:here



#19 Princeps Fury by Jim BUtcher



Short Review: Freaking Awesome I loved it

Full Review:here

Well I had that fall I was talking about. I dont know if I just wasnt in the mood or I dont like the author. I really wanted to like Plain Truth by Jodi Piccoult too. I know lots of people love her writing. I gave up and went on to light and fluffy Undead and Uneasy which I am really enjoying.

Perhaps I have been ruined to more serious books and only can handle light and fluffy?

I doubt it. It's just that that book wasn't the one for you. That happens to me where everyone loves a book, but it turns out not to be my cup of tea. Lately, I have been reading books of comic strips from when I was in college in the 80s. That has been wonderful. Good times! Have a great day!
--BJ

I really need to get around to ready the Codex series. Everybody just keeps going on about how great it is.

yes David....you really do.

>61 Caspettee:. Not me! From the very beginning, I thought Piccoult's books had a Made-For-TV quality to them. Read a couple of them because I was forced to for my book group, but I was gnashing my teeth with the second one.

I agree with bonniebooks on Piccoult; made-for-tv seems to me to be the perfect description. I'd say not to worry about giving her a second chance--there are plenty of better writers out there whether you're looking for something light-hearted or heavier.

Well I am glad I am not alone on the Piccoult thing. Thanks everyone for your support for being in the "dont know what the fuss is about camp".

#63 David I am amazed you have not yet succumbed to the peer pressure :)

I tend to like Picoult, but not all of her books. Plain Truth wasn't among her best so don't feel bad about not getting into it. Maybe later on down the road try something else of hers, but even if you don't its not like you'll ever lack for something to read. ;-)

*snort* noooo not with an enabling mother living round the corner who buys more books then I do and definitely not since I discovered a really good Australian Online book store with free shipping! Ordered Turn Coat it should hopefully be here this weekend. I am so excited, this one is another long weekend for us so it will be perfect to sit and devour it.

Hi there - what's the name of the Aussie online bookstore that you've found? I tend to use the Book Depository (UK) - also with free postage - because Aussie bookstores just can't seem to match their prices (even allowing for a pathetic Aussie dollar).

Hey! I'm gone for a few days and you guys start a party without telling me! For shame. Lol.
Don't worry about the book, Caspe. I would like to echo the others in saying that it might not have been your cup of tea, but add that it may have been the wrong time in your life for this book. I have read books and just didn't get them at the time then later reread them and wondered how I missed so much. However, I have to admit that I usually find Picoult bleak. Maybe because she gets a lot of her story ideas from the current news. Good luck on the next one.
Thanks for the heads up on the Codex series. I have been debating about that one.

I see you've read a few Nora Roberts books recently. She's not an author I'd normally pick up either but a friend got me her latest book as a gift (Tribute) so I'll finally get to see for myself what all the fuss is about. What did you think of her writing and storytelling style?

#70 the online bookstore i have been using is fishpond.com.au . I have found their prices reasonable and best part is orders over $50 get free shipping in Aust woot! considering I nearly always spend well over that it works out. I have found in comparison to ordering from Amazon.com you basically come out the same cost wise.

#71 What can I say party central around here LOL Have you read Harry Dresden yet? Codex is good not a heavy fantasy like a lot are.

#72 I quite liked Nora Roberts style. It flowed easily and was mixed with good doses of humour and action (big pluses in my book in case you cant tell from my reviews LOL). My only gripe and it is small as it rarely happened she sometimes randomly switched character perspectives occasionally in the middle of a conversation. It happened rarely and that sort of thing is a personal bug bear of mine so it might not phase others. Having said that I still enjoyed the book. I have only read her supernatural series and apparently she writes lots of different genres.

Thanks! I'm starting to realize the different genre thing. I always thought she wrote things along the same lines as Danielle Steel but from what I've seen in this group, there's some thriller/mystery type stuff in the mix as well. I'm also a fan of humour and action, so we'll see how I it goes! I'm leaving for a trip on Friday and I'm planning to bring Tribute to read on the plane.

Didn't realise I had fallen behind in posting in here eek.



#20 The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts



Short Review: I thought the best out of the three.

Full Review: here



#21 Plain Truth by Jodi Piccoult



Short Review: Just to slow for me. Never really grabbed me.

Full Review: here



#22 Undead and Uneasy by Mary Janice Davidson



Short Review: Ah brain candy books what would we do with out you? good light and funny book.

Full Review: here

Caspettee, I've read a couple of Picoult's books and although they have definitely held my attention at the time, I forget them very quickly. A bit like the 4pm Mars Bar really!

I've seen so much mention of Jim Butcher lately and I seem to bump into his books all the time at the library - I think I wil have to have a look at them too.

Hi Caspe. I just finished my first Harry Dresden book Stormfront: Book One of the Dresden Files and loved it! I'm hooked now. It was so good that some of the weirder aspects showed up in my dreams. I can't tell you how seldom that happens.

#23 Triskellion by Will Peterson



Short Review:Great fun, action packed read. X-files meets YA

Full Review:here

#24 Halfway to the Grave by Jeannie Frost

1/2

Short Review: An interesting new surpernatural series.

Full Review:here



#25 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins



Short Review:Awesome new YA series. A terrifying concept of a distant future. Cant wait for the 2nd book.

Full Review:here



#26 One Foot in the Grave by Jeannie Frost

1/2

Short Review: Book 2 was just as good as book1, if not better.

Full Review:here



#27 The Murderers Club by PD Martin



Short Review: Book 2 in a supernatural/crime thriller. Great read.

Full Review:here

Have been very slack posting in LT my blog has turned into its own monster and is taking over. I promise to make more of an effort to post in here more regularly!

hehehe... but I enjoy reading your blog, too :-D

I know what you mean, though... I've gotten a bit behind on keeping up with LT posts.

You have a blog?? Caspe, you never told me! *waving wildly to say hi*

Hi Kirconnell. If you click on the full review link that should take you to my blog The Narrative Causality. LOL Like the self promotion :)

*waves back*

Caspe! Where arrre you! *looking around* Miss you! *sad face*

I have been very sick. Am slowly getting better but still a long way to go yet. I can only spend small amounts of time on the pc currently and getting no reading done at all (Mum says I must be sick). Hopefully I will be AWOL for only a couple more weeks at most (I really really hope not).

oh, Caspe! I'm so sorry. Whatever is wrong? I will be right over with chicken soup and TLC. Hold on!

Oh no! I hope you recover and feel better soon!