Challenge: 50 Books discussion

I can't believe I am only finished with my first book of the year and it is almost March. This is so unlike me. Hopefully I am back into my groove and can continue the pace. Almost done with book 2 as well.

1. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches
5 stars, wonderful! I always anticipate the next installment of this series and this one didn't disappoint. Now I just have to wait another year or so for the next one!

I was off to an uncharacteristically slow start this year too! I started reading that series last year (or year before, yikes!) and loved it but never picked up the second book. I think I'll have to re-read the first one before I can continue the series!

I don't know what's wrong with me! I hope you get into your groove, too. This series really helped ignite the spark - you should definitrly give it another shot! Flavia just gets better and better.

OK, so I haven't been the best at updating this thread (or any form of updates actually). But I am making it my summer goal to keep more up to date.

2. The Witch's Daughter (2 stars)
Eh, I didn't really care about the story or the characters and am not 100% sure why I finished it in the first place. There was an interesting segment in the middle where the main character was living through the Witch Trials but it was only about 60 pages of the book. Otherwise, disappointing.

3. The End of Dieting: How to Live for Life (5 stars)
Phenomenal, a life changer. Been eating a Nutritarian diet for 3 weeks now and can already feel the difference!

4. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott (3 stars)
A book on CD that was beautifully read. 3 Stars because the book itself was lacking in some areas and didn't really have the depth I was looking for. But an enjoyable listen all the same.

5. The Pillars of Health: Your Foundations for Lifelong Wellness (5 stars)
Written by my dear friend and former personal trainer, this was everything I wanted it to be. He really puts exactly what he practices into this book and I love that I can carry his words and guidance with me everywhere on my Kindle now.
Great!

And currently trying to decide if I should read Leila Meacham's Tumbleweeds first or her Somerset . Both seem fantastic! I love when I have such a hard decision to make :)

Still chugging along. Been reading Farm Fatale: A Comedy of Country Manors and loving it. I just wish I were reading at a faster pace. I'm taking part in a Read-a-Thon this weekend and have only ready 40 pages so far. :( Not good.

Oh well, vacation coming up Memorial Day weekend which will hopefully afford some more reading time.

6. Farm Fatale: A Comedy of Country Manors (3.5 stars)
While I loved it, I can't justify giving it 4 stars. It was a cozy chick lit that was entertaining and nice for a break. I definitely plan to read more of Wendy Holden.

7. 101 Secrets for Your Twenties (5 stars)
Absolutely the right time to read this book as well as a wonderful collection that affirms what I believe about your 20's - I am not the only one completely lost. Five stars, definitely.

8. From Notting Hill with Love... Actually (3 stars)

A very cute book to quench my "it's summer and I want to read a chick lit" thirst. Always comes around at this time of year and this book fit the bill nicely. It was cute and had an interesting premise and I enjoyed the characters a lot. I think I will read the next one in a month or so.

9. Mind Over Murder by Allison Kingsley (4 stars)
A great first installment to this cozy mystery series.

10. A Sinister Sense by Allison Kingsley (4 stars)
Another great installment, really enjoying this series!

11. Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett (4 stars)
Although not my favorite in the series, it was still very enjoyable.

12. The Violets of March (3 stars)
I am being generous with the 3 stars, as the writing was just so bad. But the story itself had so much potential, I really wanted to like it. And don't get me started on the ending...

Currently reading Chapter and Hearse and really enjoying it. Almost finished.

Next up I have Wide Sargasso Sea and The Language of Flowers , which I am really looking forward to. Hope to finish both this weekend.

Looks like I'll be going for 25 this year as I am waay behind. Being currently unemployed should help me out a bit but I hope to not be for too long...

13. Chapter and Hearse (3 stars)
A good entry in the series but not my favorite one.

14. Christmas After All: The Great Depression Diary of Minnie Swift, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1932 (4 stars)
Really cute book from a series I used to read a young girl. Still love this series.

15. I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembley, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1691 (4 stars)
Another great entry in the Dear America series.

16. Why Don't I Do the Things I Know are Good For Me?: Taking Small Steps Toward Improving the Big Picture (4 stars)
Great, great book. Lots of action items to take away and lots of insights.

Catching up...

17. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (5 stars)
A great, wonderful read that felt like a new book to me as I don't remember my first reading of it. Love!

18. The Bad Beginning (4 stars)
Excellent. Although a reread, it was as good the second time as it was the first.

19. The Reptile Room (4 stars)
I've read this one as well, but again wonderful the second time around!

20. The Wide Window (5 stars)
Loved this one. This is where I left off with the series and I wonder why I never continued. I was missing out!