Challenge: 50 Books discussion

1. Baltimore Blues - Laura Lippman

This is the first of Laura Lippman's book that I read. It was available at the office library to borrow, so I decided to give it a try anyway. I liked it... This is the first book of the Tess Monaghan series.

2. Violets Are Blue - James Patterson

I think there are some parts of the story that continues from previous books? I couldn't understand some bits and pieces of the story..

I used to like James Patterson's books, but this is not one of them.

3. Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

4. The Bone Collector - Jeffery Deaver

5. Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella

I've always liked Sophie Kinsella books, especially the Shopaholic series. This one was not as good. Not funny and a bit boring

6. Amazing Grace - Danielle Steel

7. High Noon - Nora Roberts

8. The Last Coyote - Michael Connelly

9. Lightning - Dean Koontz

I really like this book.

10. The Rule of Four - Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason

I just finished reading The Rule of Four... and I didn't like it at all.. :( it was bad..

11. Sweet and Deadly - Charlaine Harris
I really like Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series, so I thought I'd try her other books. This is one of her earlier work. This is just an easy read.

12. Barefoot - Elin Hilderbrand
I found this book at the office cafetaria. Someone has donated their copy and the cover looks interesting, so I pick it up. I really like this book. I can't put it down from the first page. I would've finished it sooner but I didn't have the time unfortunately.. The story is about 3 women going to Nantucket for summer. This is a really good beach read

13. Dead To The World - Charlaine Harris
The fourth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I like the series and the writings of Charlaine Harris. The story gets more interesting. The fourth book introduces more supernatural creatures in Sookie's world.

14. Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
One of my favorites by Nicholas Sparks... Nicholas Sparks wrote this soo beautifully. I cried in the end. I haven't seen the movie yet.. but would love to see it

15. Ship of Magic - Robin Hobb

My first attempt to another Fantasy book after quite some time. The first 100 pages are a bit tough. I quite around a quarter way through because I have to travel and I read Eat Pray and Love instead during travelling. But I got back to reading this book when I'm back from travelling and i can't put it down despite the limited time that I have for reading at the moment

16. Eat, Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert

I heard about this book so many times and I live in Indonesia, so it would be interesting to read this book. I only enjoy the first part, which is Italy. The other two parts are just too much and uninteresting

17. Jinx - Meg Cabot

Okay, after reading a science fiction - fantasy book, I am now back to the easy reading type.

18. A Mother's Way: Romance Anthology - Lisa Cach, Susan Grant, Julie Kenner Lynsay Sands

Another easy reading...

19. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

Enough with the chic lits and easy reading for the moment... going for the serious one now :) Heard so many reviews about this book, so will try it now

20. The Boy Next Door - Meg Cabot

Back to the easy reading :) I like Meg Cabot..

21. The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson

The story seems really dark, but interesting, so i'll give this one a try

I finished reading this book last night.. i stayed up until 1.10 am to finish it and I really like this book.

Rosabelle wrote: "21. The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson

The story seems really dark, but interesting, so i'll give this one a try"

I really liked The Gargoyle. It was one of my favorite reads of 2009. Hope you enjoy it.

Hi Connie, I am enjoying it. One of my friend lent me this book, I had my doubts at first, but once I start I really enjoy it... It's unputdownable..

Rosabelle wrote: "14. Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
One of my favorites by Nicholas Sparks... Nicholas Sparks wrote this soo beautifully. I cried in the end. I haven't seen the movie yet.. but would love to see it"

I just saw the movie this weekend (but haven't read the book) and I loved it. I watched it twice. I think I'll wait a month or two and then read the book. Thanks for the little review.

Connie wrote: "Rosabelle wrote: "14. Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
One of my favorites by Nicholas Sparks... Nicholas Sparks wrote this soo beautifully. I cried in the end. I haven't seen the movie yet.. but would..."

You should read the book :) i cried reading the book, but didn't cry when I watched the movie.. The movie was okay, but the ending was slightly different..

22. A Babe in Ghostland - Lisa Cach

Okay, back to Chic-Litty Easy Reading again after I was still haunted by the ending to The Gargoyle.

I didn't like this one bit. I skim read in some of the parts. Luckily this book was borrowed from a friend, so I didn't feel too bad that it's a bad book ha ha

23. Pirate Latitudes - Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton is one of my favorite author. This is the book that was published after he died, the manuscript found in his computer after he died.

24. The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time

I saw in many of the group threads in goodreads who gave a good review on this book and I happen to see it at the little library in the cafetaria in my office, so I thought I'd give it a try.

Rosabelle wrote: "24. The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time

I saw in many of the group threads in goodreads who gave a good review on this book and I happen to see it at the little library in the cafeta..."

I hope you like it! I thought it was incredible how the story is told from the POV of an autistic child who has no real idea of what's going on, yet the reader knows exactly what's happening and what really happened to the dog. REALLY well done!

Thanks Heather. I did actually like it. I finished the book in just 1.5 days, which is a record for me, seeing as I don't have as many time to read as I would like to :) Yes, it is really interesting seeing the story being told in the point of view of Christopher as the autistic person. He gets kind of annoying sometimes, but it really is interesting.

25. When in Rome: A novel of Piazzas and Passion - Gemma Townley

My friend lent me this book.. It looks like a funny chic lit story.

And.... yay, I passed the 25 mark of my 50 books a year goal for June... 25 more to go...

I just finished reading When in Rome.. ooohhh I can't stand the heroine sometimes, she's dumb but she's kinda funny too... This is just okay for me. I managed to finish this book in just 1 day. An easy read.

26. The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson

This is the second book in the Millenium trilogy. I really liked the first one, the girl with the dragon tattoo.. so I'm going to enjoy this one over the weekend..

I just finished reading this book. I find that I like the first book better at first, but this one is just as unputdownable as the first book. I'm getting to know the character Lisbeth Salander better in the second book. The book is fast paced, keeps you guessing and wondering about what's going to happen next. I would definitely recommend reading this trilogy if you're a mystery-thriller fan.

Now I'm still thinking of what to read next. Maybe I'll try something light first before continuing to the third book...

27. And Then You Die - Iris Johansen

This is my first book by Iris Johansen. I'll give this one a try. Just finished this book yesterday. It was just okay, a light thriller. Quite fast paced, but I didn't particularly like the characters.

28. Cruel and Unusual - Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell is one of my favorite authors. I love Dr kay Scarpetta. This is the fourth book in the series. Hope it's as good as the others, but I will enjoy it anyway..

29. Thanks for the Memories - Cecelia Ahern

30. Rant - Chuck Palahniuk

My first attempt at a Palahniuk book.. Only 40 pages in, but not getting it so far... hope it gets better soon.

Arrgghh.. i didn't like this book... didn't really understand it, even until the end i'm still confused. I get the main story, but there are some details that are just lost in translation. It's confusing for me. I didn't like the way it's written in oral biography form.

Rosabelle wrote: "29. Thanks for the Memories - Cecelia Ahern"

I like this book. It's funny and romantic. I especially like the character of Joyce's dad.. I would definitely recommend this book for all the romantics.. :)

31. The Ideal Wife - Mary Balogh

I got exhausted after reading Rant, so I thought I'd read something light and easy. This is my first book by Balogh as well, a friend lent it to me. So far so good.

I just finished this book.. it's quite okay, funny at times.. good if you would like to read something light and quite romantic..

32. Until I Find You - John Irving

I got this book almost 4 years ago and haven't read it yet. I was discouraged by the size of the book, it's 924 pages long.. So, let's try to read it now.. Don't know how long I can finish this book... We'll see..

I finally finished this book in 2 weeks. Some parts i just wished to skip, especially the parts that he talk about Jack Burn's character in the movie and the Drama that he acted in.. Oohh that is just boring.. I wish he didn't have to go into detail about that. But all in all, I give this book 3 stars. I like it, but not enough to make it a favorite and to think that it's amazing.. there are parts of this book that is just plain disturbing.

33. Airhead by Meg Cabot

Another light reading after finishing John Irving's Until I Find You. Hope to finish this one in 2 days, if I can just get off goodreads and start reading... LoL

Yippee.. I finished this book in just 2 days. I gave this 3 stars on goodreads. I liked it. It makes you wonder, What if you wake up one day and you're being given a chance to change your average, boring life to a life of luxury and glamor? Would I do it?

34. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

I've always known James Patterson as a writer of mystery-thriller genre, so it would be interesting to read his Romance-ish book.

Oh I loved this book... it's such a wonderful and magical story.. I've posted a review of this book at my website fortheloveofbookz.blogspot.com

35. Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen

Already halfway through in 2 days.. so far so good.

Just finished this one. It was just okay for me.. just a quick read. will be reviewing this soon on my blog at http://fortheloveofbookz.blogspot.com

36. How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else by Michael Gates Gill

I'm a huge fan of coffee and I buy coffee from Starbucks quite often, at least 3 times every week. So it's interesting to read this one.

A great read and an inspiring story. I cried at the end of the book. It was so touching.

37. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

A Re-read.. trying to re-read the whole series before reading the last book.

38. Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter

Just finished this one. Imagine if you have a huge crush on a character you found in a book and always dreamed of finding someone like that. Now, what if you have the chance to actually meet this character? Would you really fall in love with him?

I actually enjoyed this one. A fluffy read, good for vacation on the beach or to read in a plane. Something that doesn't require heavy thinking. I like the heroine in this book, Emily Albright.. she works in a bookstore, loves reading, she filled her suitcase with books rather than clothes when she goes on vacation.. she's a true book addict :) and that's what I like about this character..

39. Eragon by Christopher Paolini

This is the first book in the Inheritance trilogy. Heard mixed reviews about it, but I decided to give it a try. I've always been interested in stories about dragons. I was going to watch the movie, but I've found the book in the office cafetaria library, so I thought I'd read the book first before watching the movie.

Just finished this book. I quite enjoyed it. It's a light fantasy read. Makes me want to read the second book in this series. I got Eragon from the cafetaria in my office, but they don't have the second and third book there, so i have to go and buy it :(

40. Things I Want My Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble.

I just started this book and only about 30 pages in, but I can't put it down. It's sad though.. I hope it's only sad in the beginning, not through till the end... because I might need a box of tissues with me everytime I read this book

41. Chasing the Dime by Michael Connelly

Connelly is one of my favorite authors. I like the Harry Bosch series, but this book is a non-Harry Bosch one. So far so good, hard for me to put it down.

42. Smoke and Shadows by Tanya Huff

My friend bought the whole trilogy and I borrowed this from her. I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. It was just okay for me. Gave it 2 stars. I read this during my 5 days travel this week and managed to finish it on the plane back home. This book mentions references to the previous books by Tanya Huff that the characters first appeared. Obviously I haven't read her other books, so I'm a bit confused and didn't really connect with the character very much. But it was an enjoyable, light read. Since my friend already lent the whole trilogy to me, I will read the second and third book when I find the mood to.