The Book Challenge discussion

I guess since everyone else is doing it, I might as well! My goal is fifty non school books for this year.

1. The Vampire Sextette
Ed. Marvin Kaye

Finished March 13th, 2009

This was a compliation of six stories about vampires. Gee, who would have guessed? Any way, as a whole I liked the book though I liked some of the stories better than others. I was a little disappointed with the final story which was by Tanith Lee who I personally adore however the other stories made up for it.

2.

Princess Ben Being a Wholly Truthful Account of Her Various Discoveries and Misadventures, Recounted to the Best of Her Recollection, in Four Parts

Finished March 27th

Loved this book! It was especially interesting because the characters changed and you can really see how and why they changed and other characters change in response to their changes. Are you throughly confused? All in all, it was a great book and there were some parts (while predictable) that still made me squeal like a little girl.

3.Wren to the Rescue

Finished April 9th

This one was a reread for me and I loved it no less. I recently got the second book and have been dying to read that one. It's a fast little book and the series promises to be just as fast to read.

4.Ink Exchange

Finished April 12th

Really like this one though the ending kinda threw me off. Not to say I wasn't happy with the ending but I felt like it could have been so much more. Melissa Marr, the writer is working on the next book and I for one can't wait for Fragile Eternity!

All in all, it didn't feel as well constructed as the first book (Wicked Lovely) but leaves room for a sequel. The first book didn't exactly invite a sequel but it obviously didn't deter one either! I guess my only real complaint is I would have liked to have seen more of Donia in this one.

5. Wren's Quest

Finished April 13th

Must. Have. Sequel. This book was such a quick little read. I was a little disappointed with certain aspects of it. The interaction between Connor and Wren was a little...eh. They clearly like each other but they're both too wrapped up in their own issues (Wren trying to find her family and Connor trying to keep his pastimes a secret) to notice it.

One thing was disappointing but so realistic that I couldn't be upset by it. Connor wants to write stage plays but the play he writes is so horrible that he is discouraged because he doesn't like the idea of rewriting his play. The implication is that he gives up which is so awesomely human of him. I loved that part.

The action was great too, as I've come to expect and I enjoyed the book. Once I got over my initial expectations, that is.

6. We'll Always Have Parrots

Finished April 20th

Donna Andrews makes me laugh. The story itself is simple, Meg and her boyfriend Michael are off at a convention for a TV show he stars in and (since this series is mystery) his boss gets killed. I love this series sooo much. The characters are a trifle crazy but entertaining and strangely realistic (Her father is a semi retired doctor who likes bird watching and reading murder mysteries). All in all, for the fifth book in the series, it did not disappoint!

7.God Stalk

Finished April 24th

You have no idea how happy I was to know that this wasn't the only book in the series. I read this one years ago and recently got my hands on a copy of the sequel, Dark of the Moon.

God Stalk is wonderful. PC Hodgell created a wonderful world with this story and I for one look forward to the next installment.

8. Dark Of The Moon

Dark of the moon was everything I wanted from a sequel. It was fast paced, just like God Stalk and such a good read. Like with God Stalk, the characters are definitely one of the best parts. It's easy to follow their decisions but you never quite know if they actually are going to do what you would expect them to. I really loved this book which isn't surprising.

9. Heart-Shaped Box A Novel

Oh...my...God. I loved this book. It had me right from the get go. I was a little worried that the book was going to fizzle out, because so much happened so early but I was surprised and happy when it didn't. The book is fantastic and I really really want Joe Hill to write another book.

10. Diamond of Drury Lane

This was a quick read for me but cute. There were some parts that were a little easy to guess at and a whole bunch that caught me by surprise. It was a little dark at times, for a kids book, but all in all, a really good story.

11. The Sign of the Twisted Candles

Yet another quick read. I've been in the process of moving so quick reads are all I can handle lately. It was pretty predictable in more than one spot but it was pretty cute.

12. Nancy's Mysterious Letter

Predictable again, but still adorable, nonetheless.

13. Ironside A Modern Faery's Tale

I was very excited to find this book at my new library. Libraries are awesome and I've been looking for Ironside for a while now, ever since finishing Valiant, like three years ago. I'm glad to see Kaye make a return. I like the relationship between her and Roiben. It's realist. Kaye is spiteful, bitchy and all in all, a normal human girl for all that she is a fairy.

14.The Clue in the Diary

Yet another Nancy Drew Mystery. Nothing really struck me in this book. It was a quick read but a little disappointing.

15. The Mystery of the Ivory Charm

The last of the Nancy Drew books that I own. I like the books enough but I don't think I'll actively pursue the rest of the books.

16.The Last Oracle A Novel

I won't say anything if you haven't read this series, but I was soooo happy with certain...aspects of it. :3

17. Marked

I was really excited that this book met all my expectations of it. The book was really good and I liked it a lot. Definitely an auspicious start to a series.

18. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built

I've read the entire series to date and I still haven't made up my mind about it. It's a good series, I just don't know how well I like it.

19. The Way of the World

I read this one years ago for an English class. I didn't like it then and I still don't like it that well.

20. Curses, Inc. and Other Stories

Another anthology. I really like Vivian Vande Velde and her short stories just make my day some times. I read this one in a day.

21.

This was cute. I loved it. I've read a lot of Patricia C. Wrede and I'm happy to see she works just as well in a team.

22.
The Grand Tour

This one was adorable. I liked both the characters and I enjoyed it throughly!

23.Wit'ch Fire

James Clemens just makes me insanely happy. I loved this book. I cannot wait to start Wit'ch Storm!

24. Wit'ch Storm

I nearly died! I love this book soooo much. It was fantastic. Everything I could have expected from a sequel and then some.

25. Wit'ch War

This one took longer than I expected but I blame my GREs. Any way, it was another wonderful installment in the series.

26. Wit'ch Gate

I cried like three times while reading this book. It was wonderful and I loved it!

27. Wit'ch Star

OH MY GOD! I loved this series. No frickin' joke! It was wonderful. I especially loved the ending which was phenomenal and different but somehow everything I could hope for.

28. Ground Zero A Repairman Jack Novel

So this series is, hands down, one of the best I've read in years. Jack is an awesome character and I'm really happy with the newer books. They don't end quite as easily or nicely as the others have, but even The Tomb had loose ends. And I really do love it.

29. Jennifer's Body

Generally I avoid film to book adaptions because they turn out crappy but I liked the film and it was nice. I mean, I read the whole thing in like three hours but it did answer a few questions I had.

30. The Swarm A Novel

Think Michael Crichton. Yeah, that damn good. This book took me forever to read but it was soo worth it. It was a new author for me and the genre wasn't one I experimented with often (you know, aside from MC.) but I really enjoyed it. There were a couple parts that were just so horrifically beautiful that I swear I stopped breathing. Utterly fantastic.

31. The Fairy-Tale Detectives

This was technically a re-read for me but I enjoyed it just the same. Was still just as good as I remembered it.

32. The Unusual Suspects

Another re-read but I'm still counting it. Once again, it was really good.

33. The Problem Child

I was really excited to get this book! The main character is definitely developing and while you spend half the novel disliking her, she's still pretty cool. Added bonus, my two fav characters kinda got together in this one!

34. Once Upon a Crime

Everything I wanted it to be!

35. Magic and Other Misdemeanors

The first book to date where I don't dislike the main character for large portions of it. All her stupidities are understandable, but you still dislike her for it.

JUSTIFICATION! My two fav characters officially are a couple. Well...kinda.

36. Tales From the Hood

Once again we're back to hatin' the main character. Kinda.

37. The Everafter War

FINALLY! finally caught up on this series and man was the newest book one of the best! I cannot wait for the next book. Plus, there's talk of making the series into movies! squeee!

38. The Secret Garden

As sad as it is, I have never actually read this book. Seen the moive, sure, but never read the book. It was incredibly good.

39. The Art of Racing in the Rain

Good book! I won't say fantastic, because while it was really good, it was also kinda...jerky at times. Not enough to stop me from finishing the book, but some of the scenes just didn't fit with the ones around them and had little or no bearing on the rest of the book.

40. The Sleeping Doll

Jeffery Deaver is famous for his plot twists and i was super excited to have seen one of them coming! It rocked my world that I saw it. Great book, again.

41. Pirate Latitudes

Michael Crichton...I can't say enough good things about you. It pains me that he never got the chance to formally edit this story. It totally rocked but when it was over you kinda were like...oh if only! Great story and damn near perfect. Totally earned a place next to Timeline on my shelf of Awesome Literature.

42. A Dirty Job

Christopher Moore makes me laugh. I really like all his stories, especially the fact that his characters cross stories. Jody and the Emperor from Bloodsucking Fiends made guest appearances in this story as well as Rivera and his partner.

On a second note, I'm not going to make my original goal for this post board: to read all 50 by New Years but I can still make my second goal which was to read 50 in a year which means I have until March to finish nine books.