Challenge: 50 Books discussion

I hope to read more books in 2014.
Sleep is good. And books are better - George R.R. Martin (A Clash of Kings)

Good luck :)

Thank you Tiffany!

Good luck Monique. Bet wishes for 2014. :D

I enjoyed George R.R. Martin myself.

Maureen

1/50 It's So Easy (and other lies) - Duff McKagan ****

The story of Duff McKagan, former bassist of Guns N'Roses, one of my favourite bands, is an interesting and inspiring read. As a teenager, his life as a rock-star seemed so romantic to me. I had no idea that he had such a bad drugs- & alcohol addiction to battle with. It's good to know that he lives such a happy, healthy life now.

Maureen wrote: "Good luck Monique. Bet wishes for 2014. :D

I enjoyed George R.R. Martin myself.

Maureen"

Thank you, Maureen. Best wishes for you too! George R.R. Martin is one of my favourite writers. Have fun with your reading challenge!

2/50 Divergent - Veronica Roth ***

I expected more from this book, at least I was hoping for a little more action. Still I'm curious for the next book.

3/50 Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher ****

A very moving book about what bullying and gossip can do to young people. How they can be pushed over the edge by the opinions of others and the consequences of that.

4/50 Het Boek Job - Roek Lips ****

In 2011 Roek Lips, netmanager by the Dutch TV, loses his 18 year old son Job. Job drowned while on vacation in San Sebastian, Spain. His body was never found.

'With The Book Job' Roek Lips wrote a very moving book, wherein he shares his deep grief about the lost of his beloved son and the special bond they had together.

5/50 Yellow Birds - Kevin Powers ****

Such a sad & moving book. It speaks out for all those young men & women who went to war and lost their life. Or, when they survived, their youth and ability to live a normal life after they came home. It shows the madness about war and how totally unnecessary war is. My respect goes out to the soldiers.

6/50 Missie: Mongolië - Frederique Schut **

In 2011 the Dutch Frederique Schut participate in the Mongol Derby, the hardest & longest horse-race in the world. After a hard battle with Mongolian nature, the horses and herself, she managed to finish the race.

I have respect for Frederique to participate in this race, but I was hoping to read more about the race, Mongolia and her feelings about the country. I would also liked a photo section. For such a tough adventure and so much bravery, the book is a little summarily and it deserves more.

7/50 Shadow & Bone - Leigh Bardugo *****

It's easy to fall in love with a wonderful, almost faerie-tale-like story like 'Shadow & Bone'. I love the fact that the story takes place in Russia. It's also a relieve that the propagandists are not as perfect as in other YA series.

8/50 The Witch of Duva - Leigh Bardugo *****

I love the writing style of Leigh Bardugo. This short story is almost a fairytale. It reminds me of Hansel & Gretel in combination with The Snow Queen. It's such a pity the story is so short. I didn't want it to end.

9/50 Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - Patrick Süskind *****

This book is like a perfume: everytime you read it, you find something new in it. The story is so good written. The parts about perfume making are very interesting. The protagonist Grenouille, he should be very unsympathetic, but he's not. You know that he's a monster, but you completely understand his motives.

10/50 Arctisch Dagboek - Jelle Brandt Corstius ****

Jelle Brandt Corstius, writer & journalist, joins a group of elderly people on a cruise over the White Sea, Russia. Because all the people wants to talk to him and there's no way to escape them, Jelle gets a panic attack and decides to lock himself up in his chamber until the end of the journey.

Lovely little booklet. Jelle's humour is funny and sad at the same time. The way that people keeps talking to him, while he just wants to be left alone, is so recognisable.

11/50 Miss yellow hair, hello! - Iris Hannema ****

Iris does what we all want to do: travel around the world and enjoying life. The book is written with a good sense of humour and invites you to take the first plane to any kind of country she describes. Her website www.missyellowhairhello.nl is stuffed with beautiful pictures and videos of her trips around the globe.

12/50 Orphan Train - Christina Baker Kline ****

Before reading 'Orphan Train' I didn't know about this part of American History. The moving story inspired me to read more about it. I loved the way the author intertwined the story lines of Vivian & Molly with each other. Although the story and the research are good and interesting, the end was a little to sweet for my liking. I would love to see this book turn into a movie.

13/50 Monte Carlo - Peter Terrin ***

Beautiful written, short story about what a feeling of injustice can do to a person. The combination of F1, a Grace Kelly-like person and the Grimaldi's is interesting, although it's a little tricky to use the name Jim Clarck. The Lotus driver Jim Clark died in a car crash, the same year the story takes place. Maybe it's a homage? I would have liked it if the story would have been a little longer.

14/50 Birk - Jaap Robben ****

Beautiful written story about a young boy who lives on a desolated island. After his father drowns, he becomes the victim of his mother's wrathful rage and madness because she cant cope with the lost of her husband. The story oozes the boy's loneliness and the mothers coldness what makes this book very oppressive and impressive.

15/50 Storm of Swords - George R.R. Martin ****

This series gets better and better, although I remember that, the first time I read this book, I flung it through the room reading a certain part...

16/50 The Fault in Our Stars - John Green *****

It doesn't matter how many times I read this book, it keep touching me. It's such a beautiful, emotional story. Not only the stories of Hazel and her friends, but also the stories of the parents. I like the fact that, despite the serious subject, there's also a lot of humour and positivity in it.

17/50 Stay Where You Are and Then Leave - John Boyne ***

Although it's a good and moving story, I expected a little more of it. There could have been more in the story. I like it that you have to fill in a lot yourself, but it could have been handy if there was a little more information about the characters and the situation of that time, specially the political situation.

The end of the book reminded me of 'The boy in the striped pyjama's', since we all know what will happen within a couple of years after the World War 1 and what that will mean for the main characters.

18/50 Tesla's Attic - Neal Shusterman ***

The aspect of household equipment with magical powers is funny and I liked the humour. Despite that I wasn't completely hooked by the story. But I am curious for the second book in the series.

19/50 In het Wild - Nadja Hüpscher **

A bundle of conversations, collected on the streets by the author. Funny, sometimes painful to read.

20/50 Sword Art Online 1: Aincrad - Reki Kawahara

I love this series! The anime, the manga and this light novel. This novel, 'Sword Art Online 1: Aincrad', follows the first season of the anime and I liked it just as much. It's got the same feeling. While reading it, as a gamer, I wished I could play Sword Art Online myself!

21/50 Kleine Rachel - Brett Michael Innes ***

Sweet, easy to read story, based on a South African legend. Sometimes a little to edifying.