Mike's 2010 List

Would be nice to have a separate list for 2010, though I like being able to have a thread that lists everything since 2007.

01 Honor of Spies by W.E.B. Griffin and William Butterworth IV 12/30/09-01/05/10 - 4.39
02 Too Old for Summer Camp and Too Young to Retire by Jeff MacNelly - 01/05/10 - 3.15
03 Altar of Eden by James Rollins - 01/05/10-01/06/10 - 4.64
04 Psych: Call of the Mild by William Rabkin - 01/07/10 - 3.73
05 A Shoe for All Seasons by Jeff MacNelly - 01/09/10 - 3.25
06 Impact by Douglas Preston - 01/08/10-01/11/10 - 3.88
07 A Cigar Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry by Jeff MacNelly - 01/11/10 - 3.74
08 Heat Wave by Richard Castle - 01/12/10-01/13/10 - 4.42
09 Design for Living by Noel Coward - 01/13/10-01/14/10 - 2.8
10 One Shoe Fits All by Jeff MacNelly - 01/13/10-01/14/10 - 3.5
11 Hands Across the Sea by Noel Coward - 01/14/10 - 3.6
12 Odd Girl Out by Timothy Zahn - 01/19/10-01/20/10 - 4.35
13 Rite of Passage by Richard D'Agostino - 01/22/10-01/25/10 - 4.43
14 Still Life by Noel Coward - 01/26/10 -3
15 Site Unseen by Dana Cameron - 01/27/10-01/29/10 - 4.22
16 Massacre at Goliad by Elmer Kelton - 01/05/10-02/01/10 - 3.0
17 The Whole Truth by David Baldacci - 02/01/10-02/02/10 - 4.66
18 The Domino Pattern by Timothy Zahn - 02/03/10-02/05/10 - 4.34
19 Fumed Oak by Noel Coward - 2.8
20 Icewater Mansions by Doug Allyn - 3.10
21 Buffy: Willow - 02/18/10 - 3.0
22 Buffy: Twilight 1 - 02/18/10 - 3.0
23 Buffy: Twilight 2 - 02/18/10 - 3.0
24 Hitler's War by Harry Turtledove - 02/19/10 - 3.70
25 Absolution by Murder by Peter Tremayne - 02/21/10-02/22/10 - 4.43
26 Station Rage by Diane Carey - 02/22/10-02/24/10 - 3.78
27 Split Image by Robert B. Parker - 02/25/10 - 4.37
28 Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie 02/28/10-03/02/10 - 4.33
29 Wagon Train to the Stars by Diane Carey - 03/03/10-03/05/10 - 4.22
30 Belle Terre by Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey - 03/08/10 - 03/10/10 - 3.50
31 Buffy: Twilight Part 2: 3/11/10 - 3.3
32 Second acts by Mark K. Updegrove - 3/6/10-3/15/10 - 3.58
33 The Islander by John Maddox Roberts - 03/16/10 - 03/18/10 - 4.62
34: Gridlinked by Neal Asher - 03/18/10 - 03/23/10 - 3.15
35 The Black Shields by John Maddox Roberts - 03/24/10-03/25/10 - 4.69
36 Shroud for the Archbishop by Peter Tremayne - 03/26/10-03/29/10 - 4.48

Welcome to the group, Mike!

So far 2010:
First Reads of an Author
34 Gridlinked by Neal Asher - 3.15 - SF
13 Rite of Passage by Richard D'Agostino - 4.43 - Action/Adventure/Archaeology
15 Site Unseen by Dana Cameron - 4.22 - Mystery/Archaeology
08 Heat Wave by Richard Castle - 4.42 - Mystery/Police
25 Absolution by Murder by Peter Tremayne - 4.43 - Historical Fiction, 7th Century Irish
32 Second acts by Mark K. Updegrove - 3.58 - Nonfiction, USA presidents

Genre
Action/Adventure: 4
Alt History: 1
Archaeology (Fiction): 2
Comic strip/graphic novel: 10
Fantasy 2
Historical Fiction: 5
Military Fiction: 7
Mystery: 10
Nonfiction: 1
Post-apocalyptic: 3
Science Fiction: 12
Spy: 1
Thriller/Suspense: 3
Urban Fantasy 2

Top Books
38: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs - 04/02/10 - 4.78
35: The Black Shields by John Maddox Roberts - 03/24/10-03/25/10 - 4.69
17 The Whole Truth by David Baldacci - 02/01/10-02/02/10 - 4.66
03 Altar of Eden by James Rollins - 01/05/10-01/06/10 - 4.64
33 The Islander by John Maddox Roberts - 03/16/10 - 03/18/10 - 4.62

2> Thanks :)

Welcome!

5> Thanks :)

37: The Poisoned Land by John Maddox Roberts - 03/29/10-03/31/10 - 4.33

38: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs - 04/02/10 - 4.78

Wow! Halfway through the challenge already.

8> thanks, yes. :) Though I read 200 books last year, so I am actually slightly below the curve at the moment.

39: Sluggy Freelance: Is It Not Nifty? by Peter Abrams - 04/05/10 - 4.40

40: Sluggy Freelance: Worship the Comic (Book 2) by Peter Abrams - 04/05/10 - 4.44

How are the Sluggy Freelance books? I have not heard of them before.

11> Sluggy Freelance is a webcomic that started back in, I think, 1998. Webcomic being a comic on the internet (world wide web), as opposed to a comic about spiders. Been a while since I heard/used that term/phrase: the web, the world wide web, instead of Internet or online. Though www is still up there in the address bar. Sluggy Freelance is a freelance web designer and he and his friend, an inventor of wacky things, have original stories and parodies of such things as Star Trek.

First heard about the comic from finding some Sluggy Freelance comics in an early John Ringo book. The strips included the characters doing things connected to the Legacy of the Aldenata series (and I think I recall some brief mentions of bun-bun in the book(s), the vicious bunny that lives with Sluggy).

41: Sluggy Freelance: When Holidays Attack! (Book 3) by Pete Abrams - 04/05/10-04/06/10 - 4.43

welcome!

#12: Thanks for the info, Mike!

42: Steel Kings by John Maddox Roberts - 04/05/10-04/06/10 - 4.35
43: Sluggy Freelance - A Very Big Bang! by Pete Abrams - 04/06/10-04/07/10 - 4.25

44: Sluggy Freelance: Fire and Rain by Pete Abrams -04/07/10 - 4.27

45: Sluggy Freelance - Dangerous Days by Pete Abrams - 04/07/10 - 4.33

46: Changes by Jim Butcher - 04/08/10 - 4.27

47: The Night Killer by Beverly Connor - 04/09/10-04/12/10 - 4.22

48-51: The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis by Matt Groening - 4.00
52: A Mighty Fortress by David Weber - 4.5
53: Buffy - Twilight part 3 - 3.8

54: Dark Horse: A Political Thriller by Ralph Reed - 05/02/10-05/05/10 - 4.56

55: His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik - 05/06/10-05/07/10 - 4.68

56: Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik - 05/08/10-05/10/10 - 4.63

57: Black Powder War by Naomi Novik - 05/11/10 - 4.60

58: Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik - 05/12/10-05/13/10 - 3.82

59: Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik - 05/13/10-05/14/10 - 4.33

60: Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann - 05/17/10-05/20/10 - 4.39

61: A Gentleman's Game by Greg Rucka -05/20/10-05/23/10 - 3.84
62: Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay - 05/23/10 - 3.00

63 Queens of Land and Sea by John Maddox Roberts - 05/24/10-05/25/10 - 4.43

64: Stone Cold by David Baldacci - 05/26/10-05/27/10 - 4.30

65: Buffy:TVS: Twilight: Part Four - Brad Meltzer, Georges Jeanty - 05/29/10 - 4.20
66: Green Hornet: Episode One: Night and Day by Kevin Smith - 05/29/10 - 4.50
67: Green Hornet: Episode Two: Happily Ever After by Kevin Smith - 05/29/10 - 4.50
68: Kato - Ande Parks - 05/29/10 - 4.20

Wow! You are getting close to 75 already, Mike. Great job.

Thanks :) Though I do tend to read at least 92 books a year (2007; 125 - 2008; 200 in 2009).

69: Empowered: 2 by Adam Warren - 05/31/10 - 4.45

Looks like you are headed for at least 150 this year!

Maybe, maybe not. I do go through periods where I read 20 books in a month, then periods where I'll read just 1 (saying that as I add three more books read, heh).

70: Empowered: 3 by Adam Warren - 05/31/10 - 4.30
71: Empowered: 4 by Adam Warren - 05/31/10 - 4.25
72: Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon - 05/27/10-06/01/10 - 4.58 ★★★★ 1/2

For May:

Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War

New authors read this month:
Kristen Heitzmann
David Macauly
Naomi Novik
Ande Parks
Ralph Reed
Greg Rucka
Kevin Smith

19 books read in May.

Comic 7
Historical Fantasy 5 (all in the same Novik series)
Humor 1
Fantasy 1
Mystery/Police 2
Political Thriller 1
Post-Apocalyptic 1
Spy Thriller 1

73: I'll Mature When I'm Dead: Dave Barry's Amazing Tales of Adulthood by Dave Barry - 06/01/10 - 4.90 ★★★★★
74: Empowered: 5 by Adam Warren - 06/01/10 - 3.80 ★★★★

75: Green Hornet: Episode Three by Kevin Smith - 06/03/10 - 3 ★★★
76: Green Hornet: Episode Four by Kevin Smith - 06/03/10 - 3 ★★★
77: Slide by Gerald A. Browne - 06/02/10-06/04/10 - 3.50 ★★★ 1/2

78: The Boys Vol. 1 by Garth Ennis - 06/04/10 - 3.95 ★★★★
79: The Boys Vol. 2 by Garth Ennis - 06/04/10 - 3.95 ★★★★
80: The Boys Vol. 3 by Garth Ennis - 06/05/10 - 4.00 ★★★★
81: The Boys Vol. 4 by Garth Ennis - 06/05/10 - 4.05 ★★★★
82: The Boys Vol. 5 by Garth Ennis - 06/06/10 - 4.00 ★★★★
83: The Boys Vol. 6 by Garth Ennis - 06/06/10 - 3.50 ★★★★

84: Serenity by Joss Whedon - 06/07/10 - 4.00 ★★★★
85: Serenity: Better Days by Joss Whedon - 06/07/10 - 3.50 ★★★ 1/2

Congratulations on passing the 75 book point, Mike!

41> Thanks :)

86: Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci - 05/30/10-06/08/10 - 4.15 ★★★★

87: Angel: After the Fall, Vol. 4 by Joss Whedon - 06/08/10 - 4.30 ★★★★ 1/2
88: Angel, Volume 5: Aftermath by Joss Whedon - 06/08/10 - 4.34 ★★★★ 1/2

89: Angel, Volume 6 by Brian Lynch - 06/09/10 - 3.88 ★★★★

90-91: Lio's Astonishing Tales: From the Haunted Crypt of Unknown Horrors (contains Happiness Is a Squishy Cephalopod and Silent But Deadly) by Mark Tatulli - 06/11/10 - 4.05 ★★★★
92: 50,000,000 Pearls Fans Can't Be Wrong: A Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis - 06/13/10-06/14/10 - 3.50 ★★★ 1/2

93: Falcon Seven by James W. Huston - 06/14/10-06/16/10 - 4.50 ★★★★ 1/2
94: Over the Hedge by Michael Fry and T Lewis - 06/15/10-06/16/10 - 4.10 ★★★★

95: Valor's Choice by Tanya Huff - 06/17/10 - 4.90 ★★★★★
96: Over the Hedge 2 by Michael Fry and T Lewis - 06/18/10 - 4.05 ★★★★

So with the plethora of Buffy and Angel books out there do you have any tips on determining which are "good"? or are they all more or less equal?

I've been reading season 8 for Buffy and Season 6 for Angel - continuations of the television series in graphic novel form. Until recently I had not read much in that form. Enjoyable enough continuations of the series, though rarely as absorbing as a good novel. If you decide to sample this continuation, I warn that the individual comic books can be something like 32 pages, but the story will abruptly end. Because of that, the very nature of the series in comic form, I would have to recommend reading them in order and cannot specifically point out one or another to read. The individual comics are written by numerous different authors, some by writers that worked on the television series (including Joss Whedon himself), and some by writers that normally work in the non-illustrated form. The individual comics shift in quality, and most are readable.

Comic/graphic novel is an interesting medium, though not always enjoyable. I have tried extending other series in the past, like George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series (The Hedge Night, side series in comic form), Stephen King's Dark Tower Comics (the Gunslinger as a young man), and Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files Comics (one I read was a prequel, the others appear to be comics based on the books in the series. The Hedge Night (Martin) was an interesting dip back into a series that might never actually have another book published but I would not necessarily recommend it. I was only able to read one comic in the King's Dark Tower prequel series before I moved on. Butcher's prequel was the one that was good enough I decided to try the Buffy/Angel continuations.

The only other Buffy/Angel book I have read was a collection of comics from when the series was on the air. I have not attempted any of the young adult novels (I think I saw that they were young adult).

97: The Better Part of Valor by Tanya Huff - 06/17/10-06/21/10 - 3.50 ★★★ 1/2
98: Bloom County Volume 2 by Berkeley Breathed - 06/11/10-06/20/10 - 4.50 ★★★★ 1/2

99: Blue-Eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker - 06/21/10-06/23/10 - 4.33 ★★★★ 1/2

100: Mission of Honor by David Weber - 06/23/10-06/27/10 - 2.79 ★★ 1/2

Congratulations on hitting 100, Mike!

Thanks, though I wish #100 hadn't been a 2.79 rated book.

Yeah, I understand.

101: Mausoleum by Justin Scott -06/28/10-06/29/10- 4.45 ★★★★ 1/2

102: The Glades by Clifton Campbell - 06/30/10 - 3.70 ★★★ 1/2

103: King of Norway by Cecelia Holland - 06/30/10 - 4.55 ★★★★ 1/2

104: Sarah Palin: Vampire Hunter by Dan McGirt - 07/01/10 - 3.73 ★★★ 1/2

#59: King of Norway looks very good! I will see if I can find a copy.

oh, heh. I was looking for book read 59 when I saw #59.

King of Norway is free inside Warriors at least through Nook. Sample of the anthology includes King of Norway, introduction and . . . maybe something else, though I do not recall now.

I included it, despite not including other short stories, as it is available on its own. Since I was thinking of the sample being different than the full length Warriors, since I do not have the full length Warriors.

105: Comic by Gary Alexander - 4.35
106: The Mysterious Mr. Kim - Martin Limon - 4.05
107: Iron Monk - Melissa Yuan-Innes - 3.84
108: The Untied States of America - Mario Milosevic - 3.63
109: A Passion for Art by David D. Levine - 4.45
110: Plague Birds by Jason Sanford - 4.48
111: Incorruptible by Mark Waid - 07/01/10 - 4.50
112: Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods - 07/01/10-07/02/10 - 4.44

(I'd be at 112 if I included the other short stories I've read this month)

#62: Thanks for the input, Mike!

113: Over Water by Jon Ingold - 4
114: Trailin' by Max Brand - 07/06/10-07/07/10 - 4.15
115: Forever Bound - Joe Haldeman - 07/07/10 - 4.70

116: The Boys 39 by Garth Ennis - 3.70
117: The Boys 41 - by Garth Ennis - 3.70
118: The Boys 42 - by Garth Ennis - 3.70
119: The Stolen Story by Johnston McCulley - 07/08/10 - 3.05

120: The Method in her Madness by Tom Savage - 07/09/10 - 4.33
121: The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman - 07/09/10 - 4.66
122: Kato 2 by Ande Parks - 07/09/10 - 3.00
123: Flash Rebirth 1 by Geoff Johns - 07/09/10 - 3.00
124: The Terminator 2029 1 by Zack Whedon - 07/09/10 - 4.05
125: Spawn 1 by Todd McFarlane - 07/09/10 - 4.24

126 The O-Ban Cat by I.J. Parker - 07/09/10 - 4.20

127: The Adventure of the Proper Comma by August Derleth - 07/10/10 - 4.24

128: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest - 07/07/10 - 07/13/10 - 4.12

129: The Boys: 43 by Garth Ennis - 07/14/10 - 3.70
130: The Boys: 44 by Garth Ennis - 07/14/10 - 3.70

131: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik - 07/13/10-07/14/10 - 4.30
132: Irredeemable Vol 1 by Mark Waid - 07/15/10 - 4.05
133: Irredeemable Vol 2 by Mark Waid - 07/15/10 - 4.20
134: Irredeemable Vol 3 by Mark Waid - 07/15/10 - 4.20

#69: Did you like Boneshaker, Mike? I have it set aside to read this month.

72> Interesting concept, interesting take on zombies and the like. Was kind of flat.

135: Green Lantern Secret Origin by Geoff Johns - 07/15/10-07/16/10 - 4.55

#73: Yours is the second opinion read recently that says the book is kind of flat. I am hoping I like it!

74> I read it because of the TOLI challenge. I went down the list and read a description of every book. Then I got a free sample for the Nook, if available.

The Boneshaker book started off interesting enough. So I went ahead and bought it.

I enjoy Science Fiction, Alternative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, etc., but for some reason Steampunk (which can combine all four listed genre), has never really worked for me.

#75: I really enjoy steampunk, so maybe there is hope!

136: Inquest - Michael A. Black - 7/18/10 - 4.33

137: Triumph by Robin Hobb - 07/18/10 - 4.33
138: Paperweight by Ben Town - 07/19/10 - 4.10

139: Farthing by Jo Walton - 07/16/10-07/19/10 - 4.15
140: Jane and Dick by Gary Alexander - 07/19/10 - 3.50

141: Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler - 7/20/10-7/21/10 - 4.46

142: Catering for Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson - 07/22/10 - 4.43

143: One Dead Dean by Bill Crider - 07/23/10 - 4.25

144: Hidden History of Northern Virginia by Charles A. Mills - 7/24/10 - 4.05

145: Tumor by Joshua Hale Fialkov - 7/25/10 - 4.27

146: Summer Fires by Bob Reiss - 07/26/10 - 4.12

Closing in on 150 . . . Good going!

Thanks :)

147: Something New by P.G. Wodehouse - 07/27/10 - 4.48

148: Day of the Moon by Bill Pronzini - 07/28/10 - 4.35

149: Die Like a Dog - Brett Halliday - 07/29/10 - 4.37

Hi, Mike!

I have been watching your thread, and I'm just fascinated with your rating scheme. Do you use a formula of some kind, or how do come up with such precision (to the hundredths).

Just call me,

Curious (actually, Karen O.)

I used to take the rating out to more places, but I've slowly pulled back on it. There is a reason to the madness, though. To a certain extent it all came about because I was reading a historical fiction series by T. Soos. There was a long series of books in a row that ended up being rated roughly the same rating. but I knew one was slightly better than another and one was slightly worse. But not a full .1 better or worse, so I threw in .01s to organize the books.

Like above, 148-149 books. Both books were roughly 4.3 rated books, but I like to pinpoint it more exactly, and Die Like a Dog ended up .02 slightly higher rated than Day of the Moon. Because it was slightly better than Day of the Moon.

I used to have a more scientific method of determining the rating, but Librarything kind of killed my enjoyment in that. First the books can only be rated full stars and 1/2 stars on LT. from 1/2 to 5 stars. So everything from some determined number, 4.27 I think I picked as the low, up to, if I recall correctly, 4.64 ends up on LT as 4.5 stars (when you play, or set the stars). So now I just somewhat go by gut reaction. A quick "oh, that's a . . . . 4.37." Also, Tim, founder and leader of LT, discounts the stars. Figures they are less useful than they could have been. So they do not impact anything, except on the Zeitgeist there are highest rated books, and high/low authors. But the ratings do not impact recommendations, or the like.

Thanks for the explanation, Mike. It makes a lot of sense. Especially thinking of books in relation to other books.

I find myself using 3 or 4 stars A LOT. I should try to refine my rating system a little.

Thanks!

Karen O.

92> No problem :)

150: Wonderful World of Oz by L.Frank Baum - 07/30/10 - 3.00

Congratulations on 75 x 2, Mike!

Thanks :)

151: The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson - 07/30/10 - 4.50

#95: I surprised myself by really liking that one. I hope you enjoyed it too.

96> Yes, it was better than expected.

152: Cobra by Frederick Forsyth - 07/30/10-08/01/10 - 4.33
reviewed

153: Ask the Right Question by Michael Z. Lewin - 08/01/10-08/02/10 - 4.40
reviewed

#98: Nice review, Mike. I will see if I can find that one.

99> Thanks :)

154: The Way We Die Now - Michael Z. Lewin - 08/02/10-08/04/10 - 3.80

#101: My local library has that one, but not the first book in the series. Does The Way We Die Now stand alone well enough to be read on its own?

It flows, somewhat, from the first. Recuperating from the first book. I do not think that you have to read the first book, though. I am trying to recall if the second book gives away any of the secrets of the first. I am not certain but I do not think anything is, though both the police officer Samson worked with in the first book, and Samson himself are "recuperating" in their own way from the first book.

I think it can stand well enough on its own. It is harder to tell when you read two books in the same series back to back. The stories somewhat merge in your mind.

#103: It is harder to tell when you read two books in the same series back to back. The stories somewhat merge in your mind.

I understand. Well, I will give it a shot at some point.

155: The Road to Andorra - Shirley Deane - 08/05/10 - 3.50

156: Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs - 08/06/10 - 4.27
157: The Boys Believe Part 2 by Garth Ennis - 08/06/10 - 3.3

158: Dave Barry on Dads by Dave Barry - 08/07/10 - 4.24

159: Frames by Loren D. Estleman - 08/07/10-08/08/10 - 4.34

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
When I eat meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner, I read. I do not tend to eat snacks, though, while reading.

What is your favorite drink while reading?

I do not have a favorite reading drink.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
The only time I write in a book, reluctantly at that, is a few times when I was asked to do so - to write down gift date and name, for example.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ear? Laying the book flat open?
Scrap of paper, bookcover flap, page folded (rare and disliked). Any odd way I can without causing too much damage.

I do not have a formal "bookmark" though.

Fiction, non-fiction or Both?
I am not sure I understand the question. I read anything and everything. I tend to read more fiction than nonfiction.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
I like breaking points, so I try for chapters. But if I have to break at some point other than chapter, I try for a natural breaking point, like new page, one of those double space breaks, etc.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
I have thrown one book. Several times.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
No. Most of the time I understand it in context.

What are you currently reading?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It is a young adult book, but due to the violence, bloodshed, children killing children nature of the book, I would not necessarily recommend it to any young adults I know. Depending on what is meant by "young adult".

What is the last book you bought?
I do not believe there will ever be a last book. I will probably have books being sent to me, arriving after I am in my grave. Poor unread books. :(

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
I tend to read one book at a time, though I have been known to read more than one at once. Technically there are something like 5 books listed as being currently read by me, but other than the Collins book, I haven't looked at any of them, other than the Kennedy book, in a real long time (and by looking at, I happened to notice the book on my shelf the other day).

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
I read with each meal unless I am in a restaurant (unless it is lunch during work week, or something like a fast food place). I read while I commute to and from work. I rarely read outside of those times, which is how I tend to end up a lot more books read during the week than during the weekend.

Do you prefer series books or stand-alones?
I do not prefer one over the other. A big long series can hit me either as an opportunity for a long and happy reading experience, or hit me as an intimdating stack of books that would take a long time to wade through. Depending on my desire to read a specific book, and my interest level in a series on the subject.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?

There is not.

How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author's last name etc)?

My to be read stacks have somewhat gotten away from me, though I still have a certain organization going on. Science Fiction, Westerns, Mystery, Legal Thriller (rare though I read), etc. are all, for the most part, on their own shelves.

Hi, Mike! Thanks for doing the survey. I'm finding them quite interesting to read. I might have to complete one of these someday!

Karen O.

Thanks, I found it on one of the thraeds. Figured I'd fill it out.

160: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - 08/09/10 - 4.64

161: Days Gone Bye by Robert Kirkman - 08/10/10 - 4.24

162: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - 08/10/10 - 4.55

163: Miles Behind Us by Robert Kirkman - 08/11/10 - 4.23

164: Safety Behind Bars b7 Robert Kirkman - 08/11/10 - 3.90

165: The Heart's Desire by Robert Kirkman - 08/12/10 - 3.88

166: Alone by Loren D. Estleman - 8/12/10-8/13/10 - 3.80
167: The Best Defense - by Robert Kirkman - 8/13/10 - 3.75
168: This Sorrowful Life - by Robert Kirkman - 8/13/10 - 3.75
169: The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - 8/14/10 - 4.24

#117: I hope you enjoyed The Uncommon Reader, Mike. I have read it three years running now and still enjoy it.

I did enjoy it. Perfect length, though I could read more.

Another little random thing I found. Figured if I could fill it out with stuff I've read.

****************************************
WHAT'S IN A NAME CHALLENGE
****************************************
http://whatsinaname-2.blogspot.com/2008/10/welcome.html

Here's the official challenge for What's in a Name 2:

*The Challenge: Choose one book from each of the following categories.

1. A book with a "profession" in its title. Examples might include: The Book Thief, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Historian

Catering for Nobody - Diane Mott Davidson - 07/22/10 - 4.43
Iron Monk - Melissa Yuan-Innes
King of Norway - Cecelia Holland - 06/30/10 - 4.55
One Dead Dean - Bill Crider - 07/23/10-07/24/10 - 4.03
Queens of Land and Sea - John Maddox Roberts - 05/24/10-05/25/10 - 4.43
Steel Kings - John Maddox Roberts - 04/05/10-04/06/10 - 4.35
Sarah Palin - Vampire Hunter - Dan McGirt
Worship The Comic - Pete Abrams - 04/05/10 - 4.44

2. A book with a "time of day" in its title. Examples might include: Twilight, Four Past Midnight, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Day of the Moon - Bill Pronzini - 07/28/10 - 4.35
Days Gone Bye -Robert Kirkman - 08/10/10 - 4.24
The Night Killer - Beverly Connor - 04/09/10-04/12/10 - 4.22

3. A book with a "relative" in its title. Examples might include: Eight Cousins, My Father's Dragon, The Daughter of Time

The Boys - Garth Ennis - 06/04/10-3.95
Dave Barry on Dads - Dave Barry - 08/07/10 - 4.24

4. A book with a "body part" in its title. Examples might include: The Bluest Eye, Bag of Bones, The Heart of Darkness

Blue-Eyed Devil - Robert B. Parker - 06/21/10-06/23/10 - 4.33
Hands Across the Sea - Noel Coward - 1/14/10 - 3.60
Heart's Desire - Robert Kirkman - 08/12/10-3.88
Tongues of Serpents - Naomi Novik - 07/13/10-07/14/10 - 4.30

5. A book with a "building" in its title. Examples might include: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Little House on the Prairie, The Looming Tower

Icewater Mansions - Doug Allyn - Feb 2010 - 3.10
Mausoleum - Justin Scott - 06/28/10-06/29/10 - 4.45
Mighty Fortress - David Weber - April 2010 - 4.50
Station Rage - Diane Carey - 2/22/10-2/24/10 - 3.78

6. A book with a "medical condition" in its title. Examples might include: Insomnia, Coma, The Plague

Plague Birds - Jason Sanford - 07/05/10 - 4.48
The Poisoned Land - John Maddox Roberts - 03/29/10-03/31/10 - 4.33
Tumor - Joshua Hale Fialkov - 07/25/10 - 4.27

#120: I will give that quiz a shot too! It looks fun.

170: The Heart of Valor - Tanya Huff - 08/15/10-08/17/10 - 4.28

171: Von Ryan's Express - David Westheimer - 8/17/10-8/18/10 - 4.27

#123: Did you like that one, Mike?

124> There were some gripping edge of the seat moments. It was a good enough little book.

172: The Cat, The Professor and the Poison by Leann Sweeney - 08/18/10-08/19/10 - 4.47

173: Bill Bryson's African Diary - Bill Bryson - 8/19/10 - 4.33

174: The Calm Before - Robert Kirkman - 8/20/10 - 3.00

175: The Athletic Shoe - Jeff MacNelly - 8/20/10 - 4.33

#126: I have not read that one by Bryson. I will have to look for it.

129 - has some pretty funny turns of phrase, scenes. It is 56 pages and was written for the benefit of the CARE group. All money goes to them, and everyone, including publishers and author, volunteered their time.

#130: What a nice gesture by the people involved with the book!

176: It Looks Like a President Only Smaller by Joel Achenbach - 8/21/10-8/22/10 - 3.15

177: Wesley the Owl by Stacey O'Brien - 8/23/10 - 5.00

Oh, I loved Wesley the Owl!

Me TOO!

178 The Darlington Jaunt - Angus Ross - 8/24/10 - 4.34

179: Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins - 8/24/10-8/25/10 - 4.95

#137: I am looking forward impatiently to getting my hands on that one!

It was good. As normal there was a certain strong in the beginning and end and somewhat less so in middle that is found in the other books in the trilogy. Which is the reason for the whole 0.05 point deduction from the rating.

180: The Loved One - Evelyn Waugh - 8/26/10 - 3.90

181: The Silent Gondoliers - S. Morgenstern - 8/27/10 - 4.20

182: Shakespeare by Bill Bryson - 8/27/10-8/28/10 - 4.20

183: Made to Suffer - Robert Kirkman - 8/29/10 - 3.70
184: Here We Remain - Robert Kirkman - 8/29/10 - 3.70
185: What We Become - Robert Kirkman - 8/29/10 - 3.70
186: Fear the Hunters - Robert Kirkman - 8/29/10 - 3.80
187: Life Among Them - Robert Kirkman - 8/29/10 - 3.90

188: Daisy Miller by Henry James - 8/29/10 - 3.10

.

189: The Burgos Contract - Angus Ross - 8/30/10 - 4.24

190: The Silent Salesman - Michael Z. Lewin - 8/31/10 - 4.03
191: The Good Fairies of New York - Martin Millar - 8/31/10-9/1/10 - 3.50

192: The Boys: Believe 3 - Garth Ennis - 9/2/10 - 3.50

193: Big Short - Michael Lewis - 9/1/10-9/2/10 - 3.55

194: Dragon Bones - Patricia Briggs - 09/02/10 - 4.63

195: The Case of the Gilded Fly - Edmund Crispin - 9/3/10-9/4/10 - 3.65
196: The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole - 9/4/10 - 3.90

#151: What did you think of The Castle of Otranto, Mike?

152> It was an interesting look back to the forerunner of the Gothic novel. I found the style somewhat confusing, though. In that it had paragraphs, breaks, chapters but . . . the conversation all ran together without markings. As in:

They walked down the long gloomy hallway, looking back over their shouldars at the Spectre. - It's following us, I know it! - whimpered Charles Marten. - Nonsense, man, pull yourself together, it is just dust. And a little wind. Muttered Ralph Marterball.

(the above has nothing to do with the story and is instead something of my own poor attempt to convey the running together of thought that occurred in the book).

#153: Sounds a bit difficult to read. Hmm, I wonder if it is the same way in the version I downloaded to my Nook. . .

154> Oh, it was understandable. I should have clarified what I meant. It is confusing that the book would have paragraph breaks, section breaks, chapter breaks, but ran conversation together in one paragraph without breaks between speakers or words spoken/unspoken. There was some way I understood what was going on, except for once when I had to reread, so there might have been some greater indication of speaker than I recall now. Definately didn't have normal quotation marks, single or double, though.

Borrowed from saraslibrary's 5th thread, post 13, which was stolen from one of Stasia's many threads: http://www.librarything.com/topic/97880 .

1. The last book you gave five-stars to: I've rated one book 5 stars this year.
Wesley the Owl - Stacey O'Brien - 5.00

One book rated 4.95:
Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins - 4.95

Two books rated 4.90, both read in June:
4.90 I'll Mature When I'm Dead - Dave Barry - Nonfiction - humor
4.90 Valor's Choice - Tanya Huff - Science Fiction - Military Fiction

2. The last book you were unable to finish: A Good Walk Spoiled: Days and Nights on the PGA Tour - John Feinstein

3. The last book you bought: Ordered three books at the same time, arrived at the same time. All bought used. All for TOLI challenges.
Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Winifred Watson
Home Game - Michael Lewis

4. The last book that made you cry:
I'll go ahead and admit - Wesley the Owl - Stacey O'Brien - 5.00

5. The last book you borrowed: The Athletic Shoe - Jeff MacNelly - MikeBriggs

6. The last book you received as a gift: Cemetary Dance - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

7. The last book you found disturbing:
The Age of Shiva: A Novel by Manil Suri

8. The last book you read that made you laugh: The Athletic Shoe - Jeff MacNelly - MikeBriggs

9. The last book you really felt you got lost in (the good kind of lost): Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

10. The last book you reread: I do not normally reread books. I reread the first two or so of the WEB Griffin Badge of Honor series when the next book came out (something like book 9), and I reread Ian Fleming's Casino Royale when the film version came out.

#156: Borrowed from saraslibrary's 5th thread, post 13, which was stolen from one of Stasia's many threads

Who stole it from Charlotte, who got it from Lois. . .ad infinitum :)

197: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling - 09/05/10-09/07/10 - 4.15

198 The High King of Montival - S.M. Stirling - 9/7/10-9/9/10 - 4.70

199: Dying for Chocolate - Diane Mott Davidson - 9/9/10-9/10/10 - 3.50

200: Zero Cool - John Lange (Michael Crichton) - 9/11/10 - 4.27

201: Human Target Chance Meetings - Peter Milligan - 9/12/10 - 3.27

202: The Vigilantes - WEB Griffin and WEB IV - 9/13/10-9/14/10 - 3.00

203: Into the Wild - Erin Hunter - 9/14/10-9/15/10 - 4.23

Into the Wild - a book from the point of view of a domestic kitten, Rusty, with access to the outdoors. Who takes advantage of this access to flee into the underbrush and join the ThunderClan, a band of warrior kitties. ThunderClan kitties may play fight among themselves, among the family, but their fights with the other clans, WindClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan are far from gentle.

While Rusty (aka kittypet, Firepaw, Fireheart), trains with the ThunderClan, the ShadowClan goes on the warpath. War among the kitties. The wild kitties.
-- -- --
Through the TOLI (take it or leave it) challenges here on LibraryThing I have tested a category that I probably would otherwise have avoided. Young adult. The Hunger Games series were so good that I decided to test other works in this category (I was going to say genre, is Young Adult itself a genre?). First up was the first Harry Potter book, which I had seen in movie form eons ago, but had avoided in written form. It did not block further progress so I dipped my toe into the Warrior series, Into the Wild being the first book in that series.

Into the Wild starts off with an owned kitten, named Rusty, dreaming of catching and devouring a mouse. He walks up and stares at the pellets his twolegs have left him for sustenance. He groans and eats a few then crawls out into the backyard to sniff the air and stretch. Big fat lazy neighboring kitties contemptuously spotted. The woods looked at with longing. With a dash he sprints into the woods going further than he had ever gone before. A streak of red in the greenery. The smell of mouse. Wiggles, ready to pounce, when he himself is tackled by another cat. Graypaw, an apprentice warrior with the ThunderClan, and Rusty lay panting near each other, neither able to get the better of the other. Rusty learns that he is in ThunderClan territory and he really shouldn’t be eating their mice, prey being so scarce.

The leader, Bluestar, and a top warrior of the clan, Tigerclaw, wander up. Bluestar offers Rusty the chance to join their clan of warrior cats. Tigerclaw hisses and calls him kittypet. Rusty is tempted but needs time. The next night he enlists. Training, battle, daring deeds and kitties running around meowing and hissing fill out the book (which I say so I do not give out too much of the plot, though I think I’m still in chapter one, plot-wise).

Erin Hunter, the author, is pen name of Cherith Baldry, Kate Cary, Victoria Holmes, and Tui T Sutherland. Quite a large group, eh? Oddly enough, the style and quality remains even throughout the book. Four writers seem to work as well as one in this instance. The series itself has something like 35 books in it (there are many sub-series and side-books and the like so it is not quickly easy to determine the size of the series), and I do not know how the writing might have been broken down. Did all four write each and every book together? One or two write one or more of the subseries? No information came to light.

Would I recommend the book? Well, all the reviews I’ve seen seem to indicate the books are devoured eagerly by their intended audience. Nine to twelve year old girls. I am neither in that age bracket nor a girl, and yet I found the book quite entertaining. Will I read another book in this massive series? More than likely. Am I eagerly awaiting my next dip into the world of cats? Eagerly? No. Willing, yes. Returning to the question that began this paragraph, do I recommend the book? Yes. Just be aware both that it is not exactly intended for adults (if you are one), yet, at the same time, it does not keep the fighting, blood, and death away from view.

204: Crossfire - Dick Francis and Felix Francis - 9/15/10 - 4.34

#164: Nice review, Mike!

Thank you

205: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Winfred Watson - 9/16/10 - 5.00

206: When Pigs Fly - Stephan Pastis - 9/16/10 - 4.60

207: A Rare Benedictine - Ellis Peters - 09/17/10 - 4.05

Oh, good! You liked Miss Pettigrew! I really like Stephan Pastis, too!

Karen O.

I was somewhat surprised by how good it was, Miss Pettigrew, and how it pulled me along to the end. Pastis is hit or miss for me but the latest book was somewhat more consistently funny than others in the past.


208: Mircale on the 17th Green - James Patterson and Peter de Jonge - 9/18/10 - 4.66

209: Psych: A Fatal Frame of Mind - William Rabkin - 9/19/10-9/20/10 - 4.15

210: Honor Among Spies - Quinn Fawcett - 9/21/10-9/22/10 - 2.97

#173: Does not look like that one is very good. I think I will stay away!

173: Yes, Mike, you don't begrudge points to books, so that last one must have been a little weak. That's too bad; I hope you are happier with your next read!

Congratulations on your TIOLI reading! I'm trying really hard to catch up to you! (maybe if I had October to do so)

Karen O.

It is interesting in its way, the Honor book, third in the Ian Fleming series. Certain annoyances downgrade the rating. The end was stretched out an extra 25 or more pages. Everything was done but . . . . let us have 25 more pages, eh? Certain other things annoyed - Fleming being disgusted by the smell of tobacco in the fictional book, when in the real world he smoked like 60 cigarettes a day. Eh, that's what one snippet of a biography of him stated.

The book was flat, weak, annoying.

Thank you, and now I add two more to the TIOLI list.

211: Preferred Risk - Edson McCann - 9/23/10 - 3.95
212: Lines Around China - Qiu Xiaolong - 9/23/10 - 3.18

213: Abbot's Ghost - A.M. Barnard (Louisa May Alcott) - 9/24/10 - 3.80

214: Grave Descend - John Lange - 9/24/10 - 3.45

215: In the Clearing - Robert Frost - 9/26/10 - 3.00

216: Falcon Strikes - Mark Ramsay (John Maddox Roberts) - 9/25/10-9/27/10 - 3.50

217: Home Game - Michael Lewis - 9/27/10-9/28/10 - 4.00

218 Binary - John Lange - 9/28/10 - 3.28

219: Holy Disorders - Edmund Crispin - 9/29/10-9/30/10 - 3.30

220: Mercy Thompson: Homecoming - Patricia Briggs and David Lawrence - 10/01/10 - 3.50

221: Dragon Blood - Patricia Briggs - 10/01/10 - 4.45

Are you enjoying the Briggs' books, Mike? I am especially interested in knowing about the Dragon Blood series.

I entered Patricia Briggs' world through the Mercy Thompson series, and I've enjoyed every book in that series. Then I decided to this highly rated, by me, author to test a new way of absorbing books while at the same time expanding, slightly, to her other series. I listened by way of an audio book on ipod to the first book in a side series to the Thompson one.

Narrator was a man. Main character was a woman. Man read her parts in a false high pitched voice. It was quite painful and almost lead me away from Briggs. Read another Thompson book, liked. Eventually read the second book in that side series, Alpha and Omega, and liked it well enough, less so than the Thompson series. Mostly because I would be reading and suddenly I'd start hearing that narrator saying the female character's thoughts in his false high voice.

Well, one thing lead to another and I found TOLI. Which lead me to test other Briggs series. First the Dragon 2 book series. Dragon Bones and Blood. Dragon Blood involves a kingdom made up of five former kingdoms. The high king is something of an evil little tyrant, much like Ward's father, who had been leader in one of the sub-kingdoms. A brutal man. Liked beating his children. Dead in first chapter of first book. Ward would have become ruler in Hurog but for his hiding from future beatings by his assumption of the disguise of being stupid. That was used against him by the High king and others to try to put him into an asylum for embarrasing nobles.

Second book takes place four years after the action in the first.

Both have their strengths, both are entertaining, though both end kind of weakly.

Thanks for the input, Mike. I think I will stay away from the audio versions for sure!

222: Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror - John Ashbery - 10/02/10 - 1.50
223: Fantastic Mr. Fox - Roald Dahl - 10/02/10 - 3.25

#189: Self-Portait in a Convex Mirror only gets 1.5 stars? I will stay away from that one for sure!

Ah well, it was the 3rd or fourth poetry collection I had read in a short span of time and I kind of was tired of it by that point. And, to make it worse, the poems were kind of boring.

Well, whatever the next poetry collection is, I hope it is a better one than that!

Hopefully.

224: Naked Heat - Richard Castle - 10/3/10-10/4/10 - 3.35

I've been meaning to pick that book up--I'm a fan of the TV show, and I read the first book Heat Wave. Well, 3.35 is an okay rating, isn't it? Not the best book in the world, but not the worst. Is it worth the price?

Karen O.

It was good enough for what I paid for it. I might recommend getting it from the library, though. The series might be better if it actually followed the characters from the show instead of this one step distance thing. I kept thinking, as everything unfolded, that we were just getting one side of it. Just Castle's. Since he "wrote it". And he is putting thoughts and actions for the rest of the characters.

225: Inherit the Stars - James P. Hogan - 10/5/10 - 3.90

226: The Cold Spot - Tom Piccirilli - 10/6/10 - 3.50

227: Painted Ladies - Robert B. Parker - 10/07/10-10/08/10 - 4.47

228: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Last Gleaming 1 - Joss Whedon - 10/9/10 - 3
229: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Last Gleaming 2 - Joss Whedon - 10/9/10 - 3
230: Souless - Gail Carriger - 10/09/10-10/10/10 - 4.63
231: Incorruptible 2 - Mark Waid - 10/10/10 - 3.33

#198: I will be reading Soulless soon. Glad to see it is so well thought of.

Stopping by to see what you thought of Soulless--I'm glad you liked it!

After a longish period of average work, Soulless was a nice dip back into above average reading.

232: 1635:Eastern Front - Eric Flint - 10/11/10-10/13/10 - 4.44

233: Persuasion - Jane Austen - 10/08/10-10/15/10 - 4.31

#202: Persuasion is on my list of books to read next year. Did you enjoy it, Mike?

203> It was frustrating and boring in the beginning and I stopped reading after about 29 pages. Read 1635 more or less straight through then returned to Persuasion. Once I returned the book picked up speed and was rapidly read and enjoyable.

234: God and Sex: What the Bible Really Says - Michael Coogan - 10/16/10 - 4.50

#204: I am glad it went better for you the second time around!

235: Unshelved - Gene Ambaum - 10/18/10 - 4.50
236: What Would Dewey Do? Gene Ambaum - 10/18/10 - 4.45

237: Library Mascot Cage - Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum - 10/18/10 - 4.40

238: The Sinner - Tess Gerritsen - 10/13/10-10/18/10 - 2.50

239: Book Club - Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum - 10/19/10 - 4.15

240: Last of the Old Guard - Louis Auchincloss - 10/19/10 - 3.14

241: Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain! - Scott Adams - 10/17/10-10/20/10 - 4.25

242: Changeless - Gail Carriger - 10/21/10 - 4.53

243: This is a Great Idea - Tim Buckley - 10/22/10 - 4.24

244: Read Responsibly - Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum - 10/22/10 - 4.15

245: Freshman Year - Ananth Panagariya - 10/22/10 - 4.63

246: PvP at Large - Scott Kurtz - 10/22/10 - 3.30

Wow, Mike! You have been extremely busy with the books lately.

It helps that I found some that I could read while at work. And I have found that reading more than one book at a time can result in many books ending on the same day.

247: Blameless - Gail Carriger - 10/22/10-10/24/10 - 4.34

#218: I have found that reading more than one book at a time can result in many books ending on the same day.

Yeah, that happens frequently with me too.

248: Lady Susan - Jane Austen - 10/25/10 - 4.26

249: The Watsons - Jane Austen - 10/25/10 - 4.65

250: The History of England - Jane Austen - 10/25/10 - 3.50

Congrats on hitting 250!

Thank you :), though I think I over-did the Austen reading. The last ten pages of Sandition have taken three days.

251: Attack of the Bacon Robots - Jerry Holkins - 10/26/10 - 4.23

252: Sandition - Jane Austen - 10/25/10-10/27/10 - read but not rated

Sandition was too much of a fragment to allow me to delve deep enough into it to get a feel of it or what it might have turned into. Oh, I got the general idea - husband and wife crash near a successful farmer's family; husband talks family who never goes anywhere but London to send along a daughter to visit Sandition - a seaside vacation spot husband is trying to develop; oldest daughter (I believe it was oldest daughter) sent along; husband -Mr. Parker, has three "invalid" relatives, brother, two sisters, a feeling that they are more sickly because they wish to be sickly, third brother is a wise-cracking fellow who arrives in last moments of chapter 12, and the fragment - all family, Mr. Parker, siblings, in Sandition; etc. I assume Charlotte Heywood would have been the main character, the woman matched up with some man. A man, Sir Edward Denham, flirts with her in the fragment but he does it because he expects he needs to, she does not fancy him. On the other hand there is a rich sickly young woman who would be "perfect" for Sir Edward Denham, has money and is sickly, who has just arrived on scene. bah, the whole cast of characters might have been present, maybe it was brother Arthur, youngest brother and "invalid" though healthy looking, or brother Sidney, the "funny" one, who was being set up for Charlotte. Maybe she was just going to watch while Sir Edward and Miss ...rich and sickly joined together.

I can see now why Sandition took so long to be completed and seems to have been completed just once, in 1975, while The Watsons seems to have been completed 5 or so times. While shorter, The Watsons fragment has a better construction and group of characters than Sandition.

253: Frequently Asked Questions - Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes - 10/27/10 - 4.22

254: Epic Legends Of The Magic Sword Kings - Jerry Holkins - 10/27/10-10/28/10 - 4.12

255: Sinfest Volume 1 - Tatsuya Ishida - 10/28/10 - 4.55
256: Masques - Patricia Briggs - 10/29/10-10/30/10 - 4.68

257: Gentle Giants of Ganymede - James P. Hogan - 10/31/10-11/01/10 - 4.22

258: Furies of Calderon - Jim Butcher - 11/02/10-11/04/10 - 4.58

259: Echo - Jack McDevitt - 11/05/10-11/06/10 - 4.27

260: Academ's Fury - Jim Butcher - 11/07/10-11/09/10 - 4.46

#232: I need to return to that series! I have only read the first book.

It is an interesting series, though each book is at least 500 to 700 pages long. Which means that I need at least 2 to 3 days to finish them.

I bought the first 4 books in the series, but have never managed to get them read beyond book 1. Too many library books all the time!

Bought the first book in the series for the chunkster challenge. Whenever that challenge was out there. Finally read it. Rest of the books I am going to get from the library.

261: Steal the Dragon - Patricia Briggs - 11/10/10-11/11/10 - 4.24

262: Cursor's Fury - Jim Butcher - 11/12/10-11/15/10 - 4.63

263: Wolfsbane - Patricia Briggs - 11/16/10 - 4.53

264: Captain's Fury - Jim Butcher - 11/17/10-11/19/10 - 4.43

265: A Kiss Before Dying - Ira Levin - 11/19/10-11/20/10 - 4.24

266: Backup - Jim Butcher - 11/21/10 - 3.00

267: Princeps' Fury - Jim Butcher - 11/23/10-11/24/10 - 4.35

Have a happy Thanksgiving, Mike!

Thank you :) Happy Thanksgiving to you also :)

I had a very nice one, thanks!

Good to hear :) I had cereal, myself.

268: Weird Science - Ananth Panagariya - 11/27/10 - 4.42

269: The Skull Mantra - Eliot Pattison - 11/24/10-11/29/10 - 4.43

I take it 4.43 means you liked it? The sequel is also very good. Haven't gotten to the rest yet, but they're on my list.

Yes, I liked it. :) Interesting look into Tibet. I am uncertain, though, if I will read the sequels. It seemed quite complete as a stand-alone.

270: First Lord's Fury - Jim Butcher - 11/30/10-12/04/10 - 4.31
271: Flawed Dogs - Berkeley Breathed - 12/04/10 - 4.77

272: Red Inferno:1945 - Robert Conroy - 12/04/10-12/08/10 - 4.23

#252: I have never read anything by Robert Conroy, but since that one is tagged 'alternate history' I will have to give it a try.

Robert Conroy's books are all alternate war type of books. I believe the first one he wrote involved the Germans attacking the USA at the turn of the 20th Century. His most recent, Red Inferno: 1945 (at least most recent read by me), involved the very last few months of WWII and something that might have happened. The Soviets launch an attack against the other Allies and make a drive to take over Germany and Europe.

273: One Grave Less - Beverly Connor - 12/09/10-12/12/10 - 4.48

#254: Thanks for the additional info on Conroy, Mike. My local library does not have any of his titles at the moment, but maybe that will change in future.

274: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling - 12/12/10-12/13/10 - 4.35

276: A Different Flesh - Harry Turtledove - 12/14/10-12/16/10 - 4.05

Mike, the 2011 group is up and running. I hope you will be back with us next year!

Mike, the 2011 group is up and running. I hope you will be back with us next year!

Thanks, I'll wander over and join.

277: The Blue Max - Jack D. Hunter - 12/17/10-12/20/10 - 3.50
278: Blockade Billy - Stephen King - 12/21/10 - 3.70

#260: Good!

279: The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan - 12/27/10 - 4.23

280: The Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan - 12/28/10 - 4.34

281: The Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan - 12/29/10 - 4.22

2010 in review

281 books read

Jan
15 read (TOLI: 4)
Highest Rated: James Rollins Altar of Eden - 4.64
Most Read: Jeff MacNelly - 4 books
New Authors: Dana Cameron (4.22), Richard Castle (4.42), and Richard D'Agostino (4.43)

Feb
12 read (TOLI: 1)
Highest Rated: David Baldacci The Whole Truth - 4.66
Most Read: n/a
New Authors: Peter Tremayne (4.43)

March
10 read (TOLI: 3)
Highest Rated: John Maddox Roberts The Black Shields - 4.69
Most Read: John Maddox Roberts - 3
New Authors: Neal Asher (3.15), Mark K. Updegrove (3.58)

April
13 read (TOLI: 1)
Highest Rated: Patricia Briggs Silver Borne - 4.78
Most Read: Peter Abrams - 6
New Authors: Matt Groening (4.00)

May
18 read (TOLI: 2)
Highest Rated: Naomi Novik His Majesty's Dragon - 4.68
Most Read: Naomi Novik - 5
New Authors:
# Kristen Heitzmann - 1 (4.39)
# David Macaulay - 1 (3.00)
# Naomi Novik - 5 (4.68, 4.63, 4.60, 3.82, 4.33)
# Ande Parks - 1 (4.20)
# Ralph Reed - 1 (4.56)
# Greg Rucka- 1 (3.84)
# Kevin Smith - 2 (4.50)

June
31 read (TOLI: 1)
Highest Rated: Dave Barry I'll Mature When I'm Dead - 4.90; Tanya Huff Valor's Choice - 4.90
Most Read: Garth Innis - 6
New Authors:
# Kelley Armstrong - 1 (4.34)
# Gerald A. Browne - 1 (3.50)
# Clifton Campbell - 1 (3.70)
# Cecelia Holland - 1 (4.55)
# Tanya Huff - 2 (4.90, 3.50)
# Garth Innis - 6 (3.95, 3.95, 4.00, 4.05, 4.00, 3.50)
# Mark Tatulli - 2 (4.05)

July
47 read (TOLI: 19)
Highest Rated: Joe Haldeman - Forever Bound - 4.70; Robert Kirkman - The Walking Dead 1 - 4.66
Most Read: Garth Innis - 5
New Authors:
# L. Frank Baum - 1 (3.00)
# Michael A. Black - 1 (4.33)
# Max Brand - 1 (4.15)
# Diane Mott Davidson - 1 (4.43)
# August Derleth - 1 (4.24)
# Joshua Hale Fialkov - 1 (4.27)
# Brett Halliday - 1 (4.37)
# Robin Hobb - 1 (4.33)
# Jon Ingold - 1 (4.00)
# Geoff Johns - 2 (3.00, 4.55)
# Robert Kirkman - 1 (4.66)
# David D. Levine - 1 (4.45)
# Johnston McCulley - 1 (3.05)
# Dan McGirt - 1 (3.70)
# Charles A. Mills - 1 (4.03)
# Mario Milosevic - 1 (3.63)
# Cherie Priest - 1 (4.12)
# Bill Pronzini & Jeffry Wallmann - 1 (4.35)
# Jason Sanford - 1 (4.48)
# Tom Savage - 1 (4.33)
# Ben Town - 1 (4.10)
# Mark Waid & Jean Diaz - 1 (4.50)
# Mark Waid - 3 (4.05, 4.20, 4.20)
# Jo Walton - 1 (4.15)
# Zack Whedon - 1 (4.05)
# P. G. Wodehouse - 1 (4.48)
# Melissa Yuan-Innes - 1 (3.84)

August
39 read (TOLI: 37)
Highest Rated: Stacey O'Brien Wesley the Owl - 5.00; Suzanne Collins Mockingjay - 4.95
Most Read: Robert Kirkman - 12
New Authors:
# Joel Achenbach - 1 (3.15)
# Alan Bennett - 1 (4.24)
# Suzanne Collins - 3 (4.64, 4.53, 4.95)
# Shirley Deane - 1 (3.50)
# Henry James - 1 (3.10)
# Stacey O'Brien - 1 (5.00)
# Angus Ross - 2 (4.34, 4.24)
# Leann Sweeney - 1 (4.47)
# Evelyn Waugh - 1 (3.90)
# David Westheimer - 1 (4.27)

Sept
29 read (TOLI: 27)
Highest Rated: Winifred Watson Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - 5.00; S.M. Stirling The High King of Montival - 4.70; James Patterson and Peter de Jonge Miracle on the 17th Green - 4.66
Most Read: John Lange (Michael Crichton) - 3
New Authors:
# A.M. Barnard (Louisa May Alcott) - 1 (3.80)
# Edmund Crispin - 2 (3.65, 3.30)
# Robert Frost - 1 (3.00)
# Erin Hunter - 1 (4.23)
# John Lange (aka Michael Crichton) - 3 (4.27, 3.45, 3.28)
# Edson McCann - 1 (3.95)
# Martin Millar - 1 (3.50)
# Peter Milligan - 1 (3.27)
# James Patterson and Peter de Jonge - 1 (4.66)
# Mark Ramsay (John Maddox Roberts) - 1 (3.50)
# JK Rowling - 1 (4.15)
# Horace Walpole - 1 (3.90)
# Winifred Watson - 1 (5.00)

Oct
37 read (TOLI: 37)
Highest Rated: Patricia Briggs Masques - 4.68
Most Read: Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes - 6; Jane Austen - 5
New Authors:
# Louis Achincloss - 1 (3.14)
# Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes - 6 (4.50, 4.45, 4.40, 4.10, 4.15, 4.22)
# John Ashbery - 1 (1.50)
# Tim Buckley - 1 (4.24)
# Gail Carriger - 3 (4.63, 4.53, 4.34)
# Michael Coogan - 1 (4.50)
# Roald Dahl - 1 (3.25)
# Tess Gerritsen - 1 (2.50)
# Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik - 2 (4.23, 4.12)
# Tatsuya Ishida - 1 (4.55)
# Scott Kurtz - 1 (3.30)
# Ananth Panagariya and Mohammad F. Haque - 1 (4.63)
# Tom Piccirilli - 1 (3.50)

Nov
13 read (TOLI: 7)
Highest Rated: Jim Butcher Cursor's Fury - 4.63
Most Read: Jim Butcher (6)
New Authors:
# Ira Levin - 1 (4.24)
# Eliot Pattison - 1 (4.43)

Dec
11 read (TOLI: 11)
Highest Rated: Berkeley Breathed Flawed Dogs - 4.77
Most Read: Rick Riordan (3)
New Authors:
# Jack D. Hunter - 1 (3.50)
# Rick Riordan - 3 (4.23, 4.34, 4.22)

Great summary, Mike! Looks like a terrific reading year to me!

It was a great reading year, yes. :) Most books I've read in a year. And so many good ones (and, as happens when a ton of books are read, a lot more lower rated books were also run across).