Passion for the Page

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:46:00 +0000

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

My rating: 2 of 5 roses

I finally finished The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova and it took WAY too long! While the story was interesting and Kostova's descriptions of European cities were often lovely, I found the book unnecessarily wordy and not as gripping as I would have liked. And the ending? No idea what that was all about.... but I didn't like it at all. Unfortunate considering it took me 900 pages to get there *sigh*.

Currently Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:26:00 +0000

I've been away from the blog for a while, but I'm still participating in the Goodreads Seasonal Reading Challenge. I'm currently reading:

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova -- Reading this one for a task that required a book over 700 pages. This one's been sitting on my bookshelf forever, so it finally got chosen. Oh. My. God. It's slow going... but, I only have 300 (!) more pages to go. Look for a review, soon(ish).

Beloved by Toni Morrison -- Listening to this one on my iPod when I go to the gym and while cross stitching. Really like it, so far (need to go to the gym more so I can listen more, too ;o)). Sarah Addison Allen's books have reminded me how much I enjoy magical realism (with the exception of the Gabriel García Márquez's books I've read so far. Don't like those at all). Now I'm seeking other books like hers. Have any recommendations?

Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax -- Also enjoying the heck out of this one. Once I finish The Historian, I'll get back to it.

Trust Me on This by Jennifer Crusie

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 03:03:00 +0000

Trust Me on This by Jennifer Crusie

My rating: 3 of 5 roses

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. It's a cute, light romance.

From the Publisher:
Dennie Banks is an investigative reporter chasing down the biggest story of her career. Alec Prentice is a government agent working undercover to catch an elusive grifter. When they meet by accident, it’s a case of mistaken identities at first sight. What they don’t mistake is the instant attraction they have for each other, an attraction they’ll do everything in their power to resist—because Dennie thinks that Alec is running interference for her interview subject, and Alec suspects that Dennie is linked to his swindler. As the confusion grows, so do their feelings for each other, and what begins as a romantic comedy of errors may just end in the love affair of a lifetime.

If you're looking for a quick, fun read you might really enjoy this one.

Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:45:00 +0000

Bright Lights, Big City was published in 1984. It's about a young man's struggle to make sense of his life in the Big Apple. New York City isn't quite the same today as it was in the 1980s, but it's certainly still recognizable. The use of second person to tell the story was strange at first, but as I read I found myself liking it more and more. I certainly liked it better than The Bonfire of the Vanities. This is another book read from the Entertainment Weekly's New Classics list. I'm working on reading all 100.

Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:38:00 +0000

The Color of Magic is the first Discworld book. I've heard about this series for years, but fantasy isn't normally my thing. I probably wouldn't have picked it up now if it were not for one of the tasks for the Seasonal Reading Challenge. The task required us to put a favorite author into the Literature Map and choose two male authors we'd never read before. Most of my favorite authors are romance authors. There weren't a lot of men to choose from ;o). So, I went with J.K. Rowling as my favorite author instead and chose Terry Pratchett and Isacc Asimov as the two new-to-me male authors.

I didn't love The Color of Magic, but I enjoyed it well enough. It was funny -- my favorite was the Luggage that ran around on hundreds of little legs -- and had some great adventure scenes in it. And, while fantasy isn't destined to become my genre of choice, I liked it well enough that I'll probably check out the next book in the series, The Light Fantastic.

Anyone else read the Discworld books? What did you think?

March 2011 Round Up

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:14:00 +0000

Currently Reading: The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett

Read in March:

One Day by David Nicholls -- 5 roses -- a wonderful love story told over a twenty year span revealed through snapshots of the same day—July 15th—of every year.
The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax -- 5 roses -- awesome story of four writing friends who decide to write a book together and the unintended consequences that threaten their friendship.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver -- 4 roses -- a great story of a woefully unprepared missionary, his wife, and his four daughters in Africa.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley -- 4 roses -- charming little mystery starring an 11-year-old chemistry-obsessed detective.
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher -- 4 roses -- second book in the Dresden Files. In this one, Harry, wizard PI is up against a pack of werewolves, or two.
Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning -- 4 roses -- second book in Moning's Fever series. MacKayla continues to get stronger and learn about the Fae.
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov -- 4 roses -- very enjoyable linked series of short stories based on the three laws of robotics. I'd like to see the movie someday.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling -- 4 roses -- a cute addition to the world of Harry Potter.
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy -- 3 roses -- Interesting and written in Conroy's trademark smooth, Southern style.
Murder at the ABA: A puzzle in four days and sixty scenes by Isaac Asimov -- 3 roses -- one of Asimov's few mysteries. I liked it, but I see why he's better known for his sci-fi.
Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern -- 3 roses -- this short book was loaned to me by a friend. Very cute and often laugh-out-loud funny. Very, very fast read.

That's it for me. What about you? Read anything good lately?

2011 Reading Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:34:00 +0000

The first of the year is always a time of reflection for me. I look back at what I've accomplished in the past year and decide what I'd like to work toward in the next year. This year I'm doing it again but I won't bore you with all my goals for this year, just the reading ones ;o).

Last year, I joined the Reading Resolutions challenge hosted by Jenny Loves to Read. And, though I didn't finish all the resolutions I set for myself, I did finish several and felt that listing my reading goals gave me something to shoot for. So, once again, I'm making a list of what I'd like to accomplish as far as reading goes this year.

In 2010, I read 130 books. I'm not going to try to beat that. It was all I could do to get that many read ;o). In fact, I'm going to lower that number just slightly to 125.

2011 Number of Books To Be Read Goal: 125

The rest of my 2011 goals relate to particular perpetual challenges I'm trying to finish (or at least get further along) or to the physical books on my bookshelves.

1. Read 125 books -- 0/125
2. At least 50 of those 125 books should come from my physical bookshelves -- 0/50
3. Read 3 books in 5 different series I’ve already started -- 0/15
4. Read 12 books on my Filling in the Gaps list -- 0/12
5. Read 12 books on the New Classics list -- 0/12
6. Read 10 category romances that have been sitting on my shelf forever! -- 0/10
7. Read 10 books for Around the World in 80 Books -- 0/10
8. Read 1 book in each Dewey Decimal classification -- 0/10
9. Read 10 1001 Books -- 0/10
10. Read 5 hardbacks on my shelves -- 0/5
11. Read 5 books for Booking Around the States -- 0/5
12. Read 5 books from my Trade Paperback shelf -- 0/5

And, of course, all these books will have to be fit into Goodread's Seasonal Reading Challenge. If you're looking for the ultimate reading challenge, check it out. It's a doozy ;o).

That's it for me. What about you? Do you have particular reading goals you plan to concentrate on for 2011? If so, tell me about them!

Excuse the Dust...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:17:00 +0000

No, I'm not gone for good, but I thought about it. This summer was a bit overwhelming and, as it turns out, that bled over into fall as well. I thought about just letting Passion for the Page go, but I'm starting to feel like I'm getting my feet back under me ;o). So, my plan is to get the blog back up and running for the beginning of 2011.

I'm still actively involved in The Seasonal Reading Challenge over on Goodreads and it's likely see many more posts about the books I've read for different tasks. But for now, I'm going to concentrate on cleaning up, reorganizing, and wrapping up 2010.

Hope everyone else is merrily reading, blogging, and holiday-preparing! Enjoy!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:46:00 +0000

I picked this book for the following Seasonal Reading Challenge task:

Read one of the group read selections. The Hunger Games was the sci-fi/fantasy pick.

About the book (from the publisher):

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Thoughts:
This is a great YA dystopian novel. Very, very disturbing (but, isn't that what you want in a dystopian novel?). I was constantly thinking about the reality television shows so popular today. Not much of a stretch...

What book would you have chosen to complete this task? Tell me about it.

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:24:00 +0000

I picked this book for the following Seasonal Reading Challenge task:

Read a fiction book with a food or beverage in the title.

About the book (from the publisher):

In this irresistible novel, Sarah Addison Allen, author of the New York Times bestselling debut, Garden Spells, tells the tale of a young woman whose family secrets—and secret passions—are about to change her life forever.

Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds her closet harboring Della Lee Baker, a local waitress who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey’s narrow existence quickly expands. She even bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who is hounded by books that inexplicably appear when she needs them—and who has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush. Soon Josey is living in a world where the color red has startling powers, and passion can make eggs fry in their cartons. And that’s just for starters.

Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.

Thoughts:
As I said in my last post, I love Sarah Addison Allen's books and this one is my favorite of all. Each book has just a touch of magic. Nothing big, but I find that the magical elements are the things that stick with me. In Garden Spells, there's a magical apple tree. In The Girl Who Chased the Moon, the wallpaper changes with the main character's mood. And in The Sugar Queen it's the books. If you like Sarah Addison Allen, or if you just love books, you have to read this one for the magical books. They're really, really funny.

I also have to point out the covers of these books. Aren't they gorgeous? I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but in this case you can ;o).

What book would you have chosen to complete this task? Tell me about it.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:35:00 +0000

I picked this book for the following Seasonal Reading Challenge task:
Read a book whose title follows the formula "The (insert noun here) Who (insert verb here)...".

About the book (from the publisher):
In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world…no matter how out of place they feel.

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. For instance, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? Why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew—a reclusive, real-life gentle giant—she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life.

Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.
Everyone in Mullaby adores Julia Winterson’s cakes. She offers them to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth and in the hope of bringing back the love she fears she’s lost forever. In Julia, Emily may have found a link to her mother’s past. But why is everyone trying to discourage Emily’s growing relationship with the handsome and mysterious son of Mullaby’s most prominent family? Emily came to Mullaby to get answers, but all she’s found so far are more questions.

Is there really a ghost dancing in her backyard? Can a cake really bring back a lost love? In this town of lovable misfits, maybe the right answer is the one that just feels…different.

Thoughts:

I love Sarah Addison Allen's books. They all have a touch of magic, a sweet love story, and sigh-worthy satisfying endings.

What book would you have chosen to complete this task? Tell us about it.

Food Rules by Michael Pollan

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:49:00 +0000

Why I Picked It Up:
After watching Food, Inc. the other night, I decided to pick up Food Rules by Michael Pollan for a Season Reading Challenge task that required us to read a nonfiction, non-cookbook, food-related book.

From the Publisher:
A pocket compendium of food wisdom-from the author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food
Michael Pollan, our nation's most trusted resource for food-related issues, offers this indispensible guide for anyone concerned about health and food. Simple, sensible, and easy to use, Food Rules is a set of memorable rules for eating wisely, many drawn from a variety of ethnic or cultural traditions. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat-buffet, this handy, pocket-size resource is the perfect guide for anyone who would like to become more mindful of the food we eat.

My Thoughts:

This is a great book to pick up if you're interested in staying away from processed food and you just want to know the best ways to pick what you eat. Each of the 64 "chapters," or rules is about a page to a page-and-a-half long and includes tips like

Avoid foods you see advertised on television.

and

Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself.

Some may seem a bit simplistic, such as don't eat anything with ingredients a fourth grader can't pronounce or eat when you're hungry not when you're bored, but, in general, it's a good guide to help you eat better. From what I understand, many of these tips are taken from his In Defense of Food. I haven't read that one yet, but I plan to. I like to read about the research behind the rules, but if you just want the lowdown on how to choose your food for a healthier diet Food Rules might be your best bet. It's short, at times funny, and always to the point.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:36:00 +0000

Why I Picked It Up:
I chose to read The Help by Kathryn Stockett to complete a task in The Seasonal Reading Challenge that asked participants to read a book that had won the Indies Choice Book Award and watch a movie that had won (or was nominated for) an Independent Spirit Award. My face-to-face book club also picked this book as it's June book. We had a wonderful discussion about it.

From the Publisher:
Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step. Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger.

Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women — mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends — view one another.

A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t.

My Thoughts:

I loved this book. I liked the characters (Minny was my favorite), I enjoyed the writing, and I found the issues and setting to be very authentic. I would highly recommend this book to book clubs. Lots to discuss. This is one of the best books I've read so far this year.

For the film part of this task, I couldn't make up my mind so I watched Hairspray which was a 1988 nominee for best picture and Food, Inc. which was a 2010 nominee for best documentary. The racial discrimination themes in Hairspray mirrored the themes in the book nicely and it was just fun and uplifting to watch. I had seen the Broadway play of Hairspray, but I'd never watched the movie. Food, Inc., on the other hand, was neither fun nor uplifting (not that I expected it to be) since it's about how our food supply has gotten more and more processed and industrialized. Both Eric Schlosser (author of Fast Food Nation) and Michael Pollan (author of The Omnivore's Dilemma) were involved with the film. If you're at all familar with either of their books, you probably have a pretty good idea as to what to expect out of the movie. Disturbing, really.

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:20:00 +0000

Why I Picked It Up:

I needed a nonfiction book about South America to complete one of The Seasonal Reading Challenge tasks and my library had this one in ebook form.

From the Publisher:

In 1925, Percy Fawcett ventured into the Amazon to find an ancient civilization, vowing to make one of the most important archeological discoveries in history. For centuries Europeans believed the world's largest jungle concealed the glittering kingdom of El Dorado. Thousands died looking for it. Over time many scientists came to view the Amazon as a deathtrap that could never support a complex society. But Fawcett, whose daring expeditions helped inspire Conan Doyle's The Lost World, had spent years building his scientific case. Captivating the imagination of millions around the globe, Fawcett embarked with his 21-year-old son & his son's best friend, determined to prove that this ancient civilization, dubbed Z, existed. Then he & his expedition vanished. Fawcett's fate & the tantalizing clues he left behind became an obsession for hundreds who followed him into the uncharted wilderness. For decades scientists & adventurers have searched for evidence of Fawcett's party & the lost city. Countless have perished, been captured by tribes or gone mad. As David Grann delved ever deeper into the mystery surrounding Fawcett's quest & the greater mystery of what lies within the Amazon, he found himself, like the generations who preceded him, drawn into the jungle's green hell. His quest for the truth & his discoveries about Fawcett's fate & Z, form the heart of this narrative.

My Thoughts:

This is a fascinating story of an explorer I'd heard of, but didn't really know much about. The author was given access to some of Fawcett's notes and letters that had been passed down through the Fawcett family. These primary sources (and many others) allowed him to reconstruct Fawcett's amazing Amazon explorations. But Grann goes beyond retracing Fawcett's steps by adding history and his own trip to the Amazon to the mix. Amazing story. Great book. And I loved the ending! I'd highly recommend it.

Finishing up the Sookie Stackhouse Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:46:00 +0000

I've finished the Sookie Stackhouse Challenge by reading From Dead to Worse and Dead and Gone. There's one more book in the series, Dead in the Family, that was released in May. It's not part of the challenge, but I'm already on my library's waiting list for it.

Why Did I Pick Them Up:
Because I'm a challenge addict, finishing this challenge wasn't enough to make me pick up the last two books in the series (at least not as fast as I did). Oh no, I needed another push. I got it from The Seasonal Reading Challenge group at Goodreads. To complete one of the tasks for the challenge, I had to check out what other Goodreads members, who were online at the same time I was, were reading and choose one of those books to read. After checking the list a time or two, I found another member reading From Dead to Worse.

Dead and Gone was read as part of the swimsuit task. For this task, you have to choose a swimsuit style that fit your reading type. The bathing suit styles included: Tank Suit (read 1 book that has at least 850 pages), Bikini (read 2 books totaling at least 850 pages and first published in 1946 (date of first named bikini) or later), Tankini (read 850 pages of book(s) published in last 5 years) or Victorian (the kind with sleeves, skirt & bloomers - read 850 pages of book(s) published between 1834 and 1901). I chose Tankini and Dead and Gone is one of the books for that task. To complete the task, I've picked two other books from my TBR pile that will help me fulfill the page requirement.

What Are They About?
From Dead to Worse -- From the publisher:

The supernatural community in Bon Temps, Louisiana, is reeling from two hard blows - the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and the man-made horror of the explosion at the vampire summit the month before in the up-north city of Rhodes. Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, yearning for things to get back to normal. But that's just not happening. Too many vampires - some friends, some not - were killed or injured, and her weretiger boyfriend, Quinn, is among the missing.

It's clear that things are changing, whether the Weres and vamps of her corner of Louisiana like it or not. And Sookie - friend of the pack and blood-bonded to Eric Northman, the leader of the local vampire community - is caught up in the changes. In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death... and, once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood flowing, her world will be forever altered.

Dead and Gone -- From the publisher:

Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps-and nothing about weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works-and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it.

But there's a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings-older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves-is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.

My Thoughts:
I'm surprised by how much I've enjoyed this series. Generally speaking, the whole vampire thing does absolutely nothing for me. But there is something about the characters, particularly Sookie, that keep me coming back for more. However, the series is pretty uneven for me. Some books didn't inspire me to continue reading the series as much as others. If I'd not been involved in a challenge I'm not sure I would have made it this far into the series.

One of these days, I need to try Charlaine Harris's Aurora Teagarden series. They're cozy mysteries with a librarian as the amateur sleuth. These books sound like they'd be even more to my liking. The first book in the series is Real Murders. I'll have to see if I can fit that one into the next seasonal challenge.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:14:00 +0000

Why I Picked It Up:
I've recently found the mother-of-all challenges on Goodreads ;o). If you like reading challenges, The Seasonal Reading Challenge is definitely that -- a challenge! And, with 56 tasks to complete and over 75 books to read in 3 months, I have no hope in finishing it. But, oh, it's going to be fun to try!

So, why did I pick up Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter? I chose this book to complete a task called An Ode to Illinois. One of the books for this task had to be a book about Abraham Lincoln or his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. I was planning to just read a nonfiction bio of Abe Lincoln, but when others started talking about reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter for the task, I was intrigued. Here's a synopsis of the book:

From the Publisher:

Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."

"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.

Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.

When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.

While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled uponThe Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.

Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the rolevampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.

My Thoughts:

This book just wasn't my thing. I didn't hate it, but by the time I was about half-way through it, I wished I'd just picked a nonfiction biography of Abraham or Mary Todd Lincoln. Their lives were actually really interesting, in a sad sort of way. I don't think their story needed to be embellished with a fictional fight against vampires. Oh, well... Now I know...

However, I'm not quite finished with this task for the reading challenge. An Ode to Illinois is a two book task. The other book must either be set in Chicago, have Chicago in the title, or be an Oprah book club pick. When I was looking through past Oprah winners, I realized that my book club's pick for August -- Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat -- will work so I'm planning to read that to finish up the task.

Sookie Stackhouse Challenge Update

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:12:00 +0000

I've been plugging along on the Sookie Stackhouse challenge and I should be able to finish the series (all but the latest release, anyway) by the June 30 deadline.

The last book I reviewed was book #4, Dead to the World. Since then, I've read through book #7.

Book #5 in the series is Dead as a Doornail. In this installment of the series, Sookie finds out what happens to her brother, Jason, and a sniper is going around shooting shifters.

It turns out that there is a book of Sookie short stories, too. I found the book, A Touch of Dead, while hunting around the library for books #8, and #9. It includes a short story that tells what happens to Sookie's cousin, Hadley, who shows up in book #6. These short stories can be found in various short story compilations with other authors as well, but if you're looking just for the Sookie stories they're all included in this book.

Book #6, Definitely Dead, continues the story with Sookie going to New Orleans to clean out Hadley's apartment. Along the way, she meets the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, a few half demons, and a witch named Amelia.

The latest one that I've finished is book #7, All Together Dead. In All Together Dead, Sookie leaves Bon Temps and goes with the the Queen and the other Louisiana vampires to a vampire convention. With that many vampires in one place, mayhem ensues and, of course, Sookie is right in the middle of it.

With each book I read, I enjoy this series a little more. I'd give books 5 through 7 four roses because I'm really enjoying them.

Look for reviews of books #8 and #9 soon.

Review: Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:34:00 +0000

Season of the Witch is set in modern-day London, but this psychological mystery/thriller has a decidedly creepy, gothic feel. The story begins when Gabriel Blackstone, a computer hacker with psychic abilities, is asked by his former lover to "see" what has happened to her missing stepson before her ailing husband, and the young man's father, dies. At first, Gabriel tries to refuse, but he does ultimately take a peek inside the missing man's head. What he sees is Robert's obsession with two beautiful, mysterious sisters--Minnaloushe and Morrighan Monk. He also sees Robert's death at the hands of one of the sisters. But which one? In an attempt to unravel the mystery, Gabriel is also drawn to the sister's secret, magical world. If you're looking for something a little spooky that mixes the genres of thriller, suspense, and erotic romance with a healthy dash of the paranormal, Season of the Witch might just be what you're looking for (this would be a perfect read for Carl's fall RIP challenge).

Highly recommended

Reviews: Book Club books

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:29:00 +0000

In the last couple of months, my face-to-face book club has brought two very different, but excellent books to my attention. The first is 72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell. This is the story of Keri, a successful black business owner who gets caught up in a world she cannot control. It all starts when her 18-year-old daughter, Trina, starts to experience the uncontrolled mania of unmedicated bipolar disorder. Because Trina is an adult (even if just barely), mental health facilities can legally hold her for a maximum of 72 hours against her will. After 72 hours, she is released whether her medication is working or not. Eventually, frustrated with the system, Keri tries to go circumvent it in an expensive and ultimately unsatisfactory way. However, Keri's desperation to help her daughter came through loud and clear. So much so, in fact, that the book often read like a thriller. It was very compelling reading and I couldn't put it down to the very end. Excellent.

The other book recently picked by the book club was Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. This book is a fascinating look into the history of China thorough the eyes of the women in the author's family. The tale starts with Chang's grandmother, a warlord's concubine, moves through to her mother's experiences as an officer in the Communist Party, and ultimately on to Chang's own experiences as a young woman in China and her eventual settlement in England. The book is long, detailed, and completely absorbing. I didn't realize how much I didn't know about China until I read it. Also excellent.

Reviews: In Death series by J. D. Robb

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:28:00 +0000

Another series I'm working my way through is the "in Death" series by J. D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts). I'm up to book #13 of 37 (if you count all the novellas).

Book #11 of this series in Witness in Death. In this book, New York police detective Eve Dallas attends opening night for a play in her husband Roarke's New Globe Theater. As she (and several hundred other people) watches the action on stage, it becomes clear that the leading man's murder isn't just theatrics, it's real. Now she just needs to figure out which of the actors on stage are innocent and which are just really good actors. As with all the "in Death" books, I enjoyed this one. It wasn't my favorite, but it was good.
very good

The next book in the series, #12, was Judgement in Death. So far, this book is one of my favorites in the series. The mystery wasn't anything exceptional--a series of cop killings--but the emotion in this book, between Eve and Roarke and between Eve and the bad guy makes it stand out for me.
Excellent

Review: Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:03:00 +0000

Dead to the World is book #4 in the Sookie Stackhouse series and follows on the heels of the previous book, Club Dead. In Dead to the World, Bill, Sookie's vampire boyfriend, is off to Peru. While he's out of the picture, Eric, Bill's boss and the head vampire for the area Sookie lives in, turns up at Sookie's house with no memory of who he is and what's happened to him. It turns out that some powerful witches want to take over Eric's businesses in Shreveport and have put a spell on him, erasing his memory. While they figure out what to do about the witches, the other vampires ask (read: demand) that Sookie hide and take care of Eric. When Sookie's brother, Jason, disappears she doesn't know if the witches have him or if his disappearance is unrelated, but one thing is certain, the witches need to be stopped.

I liked Dead to the World much better than Club Dead. After Club Dead I wasn't sure I was going to continue with the series, but I already had Dead to the World on my bookshelf so I decided to at least read that one. I'm glad I did and I already have the next book in the series, Dead as a Doornail, on my TBR pile ready to go.

Very Good

Review: The Nerd Who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:20:00 +0000

One of the categories for the Shelfari Readers of Romance Spring Challenge is to read a book with a beta or an unlikely hero. For this category, I chose to read The Nerd Who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson. The hero in this story is Harry Ambrewster, a shy accountant who works for a Las Vegas casino. The same casino where the heroine, Lainie Terrell, dances as a showgirl. Harry is intrigued with Lainie from the beginning, but doesn't believe a showgirl would ever be interested in a solid, boring accountant like him. However, when Lainie asks him to babysit her son, Dexter, Harry can't resist. The kid is brilliant and he and Harry get along great. One night, just after the 4-year-old Dexter beat Harry in chess, a game which Harry just taught him how to play, Dexter's drunken father starts pounding on Lainie's apartment door. Harry takes the kid, shimmies down a tree, and runs. He picks up Lainie at the casino and they set off on a journey masquerading as husband and wife while Harry tries to protect Lainie and Dexter from her ex. Cute story. Nothing Earth-shattering, but I enjoyed it.

Good

Reviews: Mysteries & Thrillers

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:29:00 +0000

I've read a couple of good thrillers lately. First up is Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. I know a lot of people think that Dan Brown's writing isn't great, but I really enjoy his books. His plots are intricate and, for the most part, don't make me want to roll my eyes and toss the book at a wall (occasionally, especially in Angels & Demons, I lost the suspension of disbelief, but mostly I can hang in there with him). Anyway, in The Lost Symbol, Robert Langdon, the Harvard symbolist form The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons is back. This time, Langdon is called to our nation's capital to rescue his friend and mentor, Peter Solomon. In order to find his friend, Landon must unravel some of the country's hidden history, travel through secret tunnels and chambers buried beneath D. C., and decipher ancient Masonic symbols and rituals. It was a fun, fast, and fascinating read. I'd give it 3.5 roses (very good).

Next up was another fast moving thriller--1st to Die by James Patterson. 1st to Die is the first book in Patterson's Women's Murder Club series and it's been sitting around on my shelf for way too long. Like Brown, Patterson is a master break-neck plotting. The action never slows down and with Patterson's one to two page chapters, it's easy to stay up way too late and devour his books in a night or two. This book introduces a group of women--Lindsey Boxer, a San Francisco homicide detective; Claire, a medical examiner; Cindy, a reporter; and Jill, an assistant D.A.--who join forces to help stop a manic who is going around killing newlyweds. Unfortunately for them, the manic is famous which puts pressure on the police department to make sure they get it right (and they do, eventually). This one was certainly good enough for me to continue with the series. I gave this one 3 roses (good).

And, last but not least, I finished up the third installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Club Dead, written by Charlaine Harris. In Club Dead, Bill, Sookie's vampire boyfriend, is working on a secret project for the Queen of Louisiana. A secret project that winds up getting him kidnapped. Eric, Bill's bloodsucking boss, sends Sookie and a werewolf friend after him. I didn't enjoy this book as much as I liked the first two in this series. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I don't usually like vampire books. They just don't do much for me. I think part of my problem with this book was that Bill is just being a jerk. And, while Eric is okay, I don't really like him as a mate for Sookie either. In fact, the only character I really liked was the werewolf, Alcide. If I didn't already have the fourth book in this series on my shelf, I'm not sure I would continue but I have it so I'll give it a whirl and see if it gets any better. Ath this point, though, I'm not sure I'm going to stick it out through book #10. I'd give Club Dead 2.5 roses (okay).

Readers of Romance Spring 2010 Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:51:00 +0000

The Readers of Romance Shelfari group's spring 2010 challenge has already started and it goes thought May 31, 2010. The object of the challenge is to read 5, 10, or 15 books that fit the following criteria. I've listed the books I think I'm going to read for each category, but they often get shuffled around. I'll come back and link each book to its review as I finish it.

THE CHALLENGE:
1. Read book with a one word title -- Captiva by Randy Wayne White
2. Read a new (to you) author -- 72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell
3. Read a book from a genre you have not read/rarely read -- Too Wicked to Kiss by Erica Ridley
4. Reader’s Choice -- Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts
5. A book that has been in your TBR pile for a long time -- Judgement in Death by J. D. Robb
6. Read a Western (united States)- historical or contemporary -- McKettricks of Texas: Tate by Linda Lael Miller
7. Read a book with a Sports Theme -- It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
8. Read a Beta/Unlikely Hero --About a Boy by Nick Hornby
9. Read a book from the backlist of an author you enjoy! -- 44 Cranberry Point by Debbie Macomber
10. Read a book that is a Cabin/Road Romance http://www.likesbooks.com/cabinroad.html -- The Enforcer by Anna Perrin
11. Select a book that has been marked favorite or 5 stars from another group member's shelf -- Witness in Death by J. D. Robb
12. Read a book that was read by another member in Any of the previous challenges.-- Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
13. Read a book with a Name in the Title -- Ben’s Wife by Charlotte Douglas (1997 HQN Intrigue)
14. Read a book that has love, kiss or heart in the title -- Ransom My Heart by Gayle Wilson (1998 HQN Intrigue)
15. Read a book that has an arranged marriage or Marriage of Convenience -- The Nerd Who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Readers of Romance Winter 2009 Challenge Wrap-up

noreply@blogger.com (Kristi) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:40:00 +0000

Even with the Olympics slowing me down, I did manage to finish the Readers of Romance Winter 2009 Challenge by the hair on my chiny-chin-chin. This challenge was to read 15 books between December 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010 that fit particular categories. Here are the books that I read:

1. Read a book that was read in the Fall Challenge -- Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber (read by Marie T)
2. Read a book with a cheesy cover -- Does She Dare by Tawny Weber (2008 HQN Blaze)
3. Read a Julia Quinn Book -- What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
4. Read a romance that starts as a friendship Suggestions -- Black Hills by Nora Roberts
5. Read a book with “ICE” or “FIRE” in the title -- Familiar Fire by Caroline Burnes (1998 HQN Intrigue)
6 Read a book that is a Cabin/Road Romance Suggestions -- Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson
7. Reader’s Choice (Author last name A-K) -- Dying Scream by Mary Burton
8. Reader’s Choice (Author last name L-Z) -- The Gift by Nora Roberts
9. Read a book with a color in the title -- Blue Bayou by Joann Ross
10. Read a book that has a setting other than the U.S. or England -- Fugitive by Cheryl Brooks (takes place on Barada Seven)
11. Read a book with a "magic" element (time travel, miracles, magic, psychic, angels...whatever this means to you!) -- Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert
12. Read a book that is a stand alone (not part of any series) -- River of Eden by Glenna McReynolds (Brazil)
13. Read a new to you author -- Breakfast in Bed by Robin Kaye
14. Read a book that has a three word title -- Big Sky Dynasty by B. J. Daniels (2009 HQN Intrigue)
15. For Winter, Read a book that has a “W” word in the title -- Whisper My Love by Gayle Wilson (1998 HQN Intrigue)

Favorites: Lots of favorites in this challenge -- Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber and Black Hills by Nora Roberts were predictable favorites for me. I like just about everything I read by these two. But What Happens in London by Julia Quinn was a shocker, I don't normally read historical romances but I loved this one. I also throughly enjoyed Blue Bayou by Joann Ross and Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert.

New Authors: Julia Quinn, Natasha Mostert, Mary Burton, Vicki Lewis Thompson, and Robin Kaye were all new to me.

I'll be signing up for the spring challenge tomorrow. Already have my books picked out for it. Want to know more or sign up for the Spring Challenge? Check out the Reader of Romance Challenges Blog.