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Getting the thread ready for that first book on JAN 1st : )

Welcome, Meghan!

Ready to start the new list : )

Book #1 is The Tell-tale Horse: A Novel by Rita Mae Brown. Though all of the "Sister" books are a bit heavy on foxhunting details, this one allows too many pages for foxhunting etiquette and attire at the expense of the mystery.

Book #2 is Highlander: The Captive Soul by Josepha Sherman. It filled an hour or so with mindless reading. Just like the show...

Book #3 is It Happened One Night by Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Candice Hern. I read everything by Laurens and I have a weakness for anything Regency Era, so I'm probably a bit biased in my review. I'd give 3 1/2 stars if it were an option. I reviewed each of the stories in my full review.

Meghan, interesting comments. Thank you! (And keep it going, girl. You're off to a great pace for 2009).

[image error] Book #4 is A Rotten Person Travels the Caribbean: A Grump in Paradise Discovers that Anyplace it's Legal to Carry a Machete is Comedy Just Waiting to Happen by Gary Buslik. Well, he got the rotten person part right, and comedy may be waiting to happen but it doesn't occur here. This would be better subtitled "a jerk travels the Caribbean making disparaging remarks about everyone." I do believe I just got my "worst read of the year" out of the way. Trust me, unless you think Animal House (with a healthy does of borderline racism thrown in) is the pinnacle of wit, pass on this one.

Book #5 is The Boyfriend List byE. Lockhart.
(Read for the "Pick a Shelf Challenge Group" and the "Variety is the Spice of Life Challenge" at "The Book Challenge Group".)

My daughter chose this book for me to read and I was happily surprised at the quality of writing. This isn't just a teen fluff read. The angst of teenage life was expressed with wit and humor, yet I felt every sling and arrow (and I am far removed from my own teen years.)
My What I Learned From The Boyfriend List List:
-I need to read more books by E. Lockhart.
-This genre definately deserves some more of my time.
-I'll willingly keep every wrinkle and every stretch mark and every extra pound rather than return to high school.

Book #6 is A Trip to the Beach: Living on Island Time in the Caribbean by Melinda Blanchard & Robert Blanchard. This is good for a "book vacation." While not the greatest narrative and I never felt invested in the characters, it is wonderfully descriptive the food at Blanchard's and of the island of Anguilla. A few recipes are in the book, but the real reason to read this is that it leaves the reader feeling as if they have visted the island. (rated 3 1/2 stars, but I gave it 4)

Book #7 isHounded to Death A Novel by Rita Mae Brown. A much better showing than the previous novel in the series with very little "animal chat" and far less extraneous detail on foxhunting etiquette. This time Brown is back to well-crafted mystery and interesting characters. I figured out most (though not all) of the "why" but it wasn't until close to the end that I guessed the "who." (4 stars)

Book #8 is State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy. An entertaining addition to the genre, a bit unrealistic, but then what cozy isn't? The Washington D.C. and White House kitchen details really made the story for me. I'll read the next one in the series. (3 stars)

Book #9 is The Trouble With Valentine's Day by Rachel Gibson. Gibson is a master at contemporary romantic fluff. Her books are always great for a few hours of escape. (3 stars)

Book #10 is Dog on It A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn. This could end up being my "Best Mystery of the Year" Smart, fun, entertaining and very well-written. (4 3/4 stars)

Book #11 is The Rebel Doctor's Bride by Sarah Morgan. In my opinion, Harlequins should be accepted for what they are, fluff, and judged accordingly. This one is pretty good. (3 stars)

Book #12 is Fool for Love by Eloisa James. I didn't care for this one as much as some of her others, but I still consider James to be one of the best of the genre. (3 1/2 stars)

Book #13 is The Midwife's Baby by Fiona McArthur. It was OK. Having it set in Australia was interesting, but I don't care for romances with babies...(2 stars)

Book #14 is High-Heeled Alibi by Sydney Ryan. I didn't like it. The plot is completely implausible, even for Harlequin, the characters superficial and the romance an afterthought. (2 stars)

...and the end of my reading Harlequin series romances until the next set sent for review...It's a shame, they have some good authors writing for them and if you don't read a bunch, you could really be put off the genre...

Book #15 is The Great Dismal A Carolinian's Swamp Memoir by Bland Simpson. The book is not bad...I just think I was expecting something different, more memoir, less dissertation...(2 stars for enjoyment, 3 for quality)

Book #16 is Highlander The Element of Fire by Jason Henderson. I'm a pretty hardcore fan of the TV series, so I'm willing to make allowances for the implausability of much of this, but the plot was just silly. A mud-pit of fire? A salamander person? Nah. (1 1/2 stars)

Book #17 is Scat by Carl Hiaasen. "Another perfect "younger reader" book from Hiaasen. Great characters, wonderful scenes and a pretty cool plot. This would be a great choice for parent/child book groups or a summer "read together." (5 stars)

Meghan, that's kind of disappointing about Highlander . . . but on the other hand you've got me really interested in "Scat".

Kay- Scat was great! Well worth reading : )

OK...must get caught up here. I'll have to come back and add the reviews, but my OCD is screaming to get them marked as read so...


Book#18 is Harry, A History The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli. I was one of those adults reading Harry from the start courtesy of NPR. As someone who checked on Leaky and other sites for between the books info, this is an interesting behind the scenes look at how it all happened. (4 stars)

Book#19 is Hot Pursuit by Christina Skye. I was surprised at the quality of the mystery, I was expecting straight romance with a hint of mystery. Enough that I think it's worth looking into her other books.(3 1/2 stars)

Book#20 is Where the Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens. I've been reading Stephanie's books since they were first in print (I'm that old...) and she had never let me down.(5 stars)

Book#21 isGuarded Heart byJennifer Blake. I only recently found Jennifer Blake's books but she is now a resident on my keeper shelves. Great historical details, good romance.(5 stars)

Book#22 is Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich. Plum books always make me laugh out loud. This is no exception.(5 stars)

Book#23 is Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik. Not what I expected, but an interesting look at Paris all the same.(4 stars)

Book#24 is Tapping the Dream Tree (A Newford Collection) by Charles deLint. Newford short stories are Charles deLint at his best. This is why they coined the phrase "modern urban fantasy."(5 stars)

Book#25 is Hamlet a graphic novelization of the play by William Shakespeare. I read this graphic novelization of Hamlet to fill a slot in a challenge. Maybe I just don't like graphic novels...but this is awful. (1/2 star, but only b/c I can't give it less)

[image error] Book#26 is The Other Side of Paradise A Memoir by Staceyann Chin. Anyone who has heard Staceyann Chin speak knows she is a strong, confident woman. This is the story of how that happened. Growing up in the brutal Jamaica few ever see, far removed from the glorious resorts of travel brochures, Chin not only survived a childhood that would have destroyed most people, but found strength and voice. “The Other Side of Paradise� is a powerful memoir, often painful, always vibrant, and ultimately, uplifting. (4 1/2 stars)

Book#27 is Where Did You Sleep Last Night? A Personal History by Danzy Senna. Danzy Senna’s family tree looks like a giant oak cleaved by lightning. On her maternal side, grand, majestic branches of New England success and roots deep into the history of America. Her paternal side, merely a small limb and the hints of few branches. What makes Senna’s memoir so moving is not the failed promise of her parents� mixed race marriage in 1968 of Boston blue blood and “a Negro of exceptional promise� but that her story is all too true of many children of mixed race. That the personal lives of so many were deemed unworthy of even the most minimal of documentation, that who we are is so dependent upon who we, and others, believe us to be, is brought to light in this incredibly moving memoir. (4 1/2 stars)

[image error] Book#28 is Lucky Girl by Mei-Ling Hopgood. “Lucky Girl� is the story of how Mei-Ling Hopgood lost and found her Taiwanese family. Adopted as an infant by a loving Michigan couple, this memoir shows everything Hopgood gained, and everything she lost, when her birth parents placed her up for adoption. At times funny and often frustrating, in the end, Hopgood is a lucky girl. (4 stars)

[image error] Book#29 is Death of a Witch by M.C. Beaton. Another perfect Hamish MacBeth cozy from Beaton. (5 stars)

Book#30 is Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas. Again, another strong entry from one of my favourite authors. I read this as a break from the memoirs I had to read and review this past weekend and it served it's purpose excellently. (4 1/2 stars)

Book#31 is "Star Wars" the Ultimate Visual Guide by Ryder Windham. Yes, I should be completing some of that mini-Mt. TBR of books to review, but when this arrived yesterday it just sucked me in. I enjoyed this so much that I think I will end up investing in the anniversary ed. just for the extra 20 pages. (4 1/2 stars)

Meghan wrote: "Book#31 is [b:"Star Wars" the Ulti..."


Meghan, we've got this one too. It's a treasure!

Book#32 is The Heroines A Novel by Eileen Favorite. I need to write a review for this book and I'm just not sure how I feel about it...I can't say I enjoyed it, though it would promote interesting discussions in a book group, in fact it would be a wonderful choice for a mother-daughter group. (3 stars for enjoyment, 4 1/2 stars for discussion potential)

Book#33 is A Few Good Men by Tori Carrington. My first Blaze book. Not bad. I'm not going to ever pay full price for them, but it served it's purpose (mindless brain occupation to distract me from real life.) (3 stars)

In an attempt to get this somewhat caught up...


Book #34 is Mistress of the Sun A Novel by Sandra Gulland. Another book for which I still need to write a formal review. In the meantime, fabulous book, great narrative, good period detail, excellent for book clubs. (5 stars)

book#35 is Lola Carlyle Reveals Allby Rachel Gibson. Because after the previous book I needed something easy and light. (4 stars)

Book#36 is Paula Deen It Ain't All About the Cookin' by Paula Deen. One of the most amazing, honest memoirs I've read in ages. I liked her before, I respect her now. (5 stars)

Book#37 is Feeling The Heat by Rhonda Nelson. Even though it's a Harlequin Romance it gets 4 stars b/c it's funny, romantic, and just well-done. (4 stars)

Book#38 is The Black Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey. (4 stars)

Book#39 is The White Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey. (4 stars)

Book#40 is The Silver Gryphon by Mercedes Lackey. (4 stars)

I love the Valdemar Series and I read these long ago when they were first published. They just haven't held up for me the way many of the others have...

I know I'm missing some other books...

In yet another attempt at updating my list...

[image error] Book#35 is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. Amazing book. I was sure the format would put me off, but it worked perfectly for the novel. (5 stars and a suggestion that anyone who hasn't yet read it, do so.)

[image error] Book #36 is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

Book #37 is New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.

Book #38 is Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer.

[image error] Book #39 is Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.

To me, the books all form one story. The main characters annoyed the hell out of me. Parts of the plot had me sitting there thinking "You're kidding me, right? This is sooooo stupid." Yet I sat up all night reading them and felt like a junkie needing a fix in between books. That has to rate 4 1/2 stars.

Book #40 is McKettrick's Luck by Linda Lael Miller. My first book by this author and I was pleasantly suprised. Some romance, some plot an all around nice book. Some Harlequins are better than others, this definately falls in the better. (4 stars)

[image error] Book #41 is See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson. I liked it, just not as much as some of the others by the same author. (3 or 3/12 stars, depending on my mood)

Book #42 is A Peach of a Murder by Livia J. Washburn. I tried, I really, really tried. I just couldn't make myself finish it. I didn't care about the characters or the story. Maybe I'm suffering from cozy burn out.... (1 star, but don't count my opinion as I didn't even finish)

Book #43 is What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew From Fox Hunting to Whist-The Facts of Daily Life in Nineteenth-Century England by Daniel Pool. Very informative and easy to read. I have another book of this type that reads more like a thesis, this one is interesting and fun. (3 1/2 stars)

Book #44 is The Weekend Book by Francis Meynell. This book is so cool. Everything you would need to know for a weekend houseparty in the country. (4 stars)

Book #45 is The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's Tolkien, it's perfect. (5 stars)

- part B of today's update, as it was too large for one post -

Book #46 is Paula Deen & Friends Living It Up, Southern Style by Paula Deen. I love her cookbooks. (5 stars)

Book #47 is Christmas with Paula Deen Recipes and Stories from My Favorite Holiday by Paula Deen. Again, Paula rocks. (5 stars)

Book #48 is Jan Karon's Mitford Cookbook and Kitchen Reader Recipes from Mitford Cooks, Favorite Tales from Mitford Books by Jan Karon. A wonderful addition to the series with recipes and the excerpts that inspired them. (5 stars)

Book #49 is Bake Until Bubbly! The Ultimate Casserole Cookbook for Everyone by Clifford A. Wright. My main appreciation for this cookbook is the reason others dislike it. No canned soup! This cookbook is full of old-style traditional casseroles, not speed meals, not throw together a bunch of stuff out of the pantry. If you want quick, look elsewhere. If you want some great recipes and are willing and able to put in some effort, this is a great cookbook. Also, no, there aren't pictures. But really, presentation isn't really an issue here. A casserole looks like a casserole. (4 stars - I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 because some of the casseroles do have ingredients that had me thinking "really, no one is going to eat that.")

Meghan wrote: "In yet another attempt at updating my list..."

I love the Silmarilion, it's one of my favorite things Tolkien wrote. It doesn't read like a novel, more like spoken narrative like Beowulf of The Odyssey.

Stacie wrote:
I love the Silmarilion, it's one of my favorite things Tolkien wrote. It doesn't read like a novel, more like spoken narrative like B..."


I never noticed that before but you're right. Maybe that is why I enjoy it even more the the LOTR trilogy.

Book #50 is Naked Came the Manatee by Carl Hiaasen et.al.

This is a novel with each chapter written by one of 13 writers. It was better than I expected, though quite a bit scattered. Not a bad read for those who enjoy Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry, Elmore Leonard and the rest of the authors. (3 stars)

And I am 75% complete for my goal : )

Book #51 is The Plot Thickens by Mary Higgins Clark et. al.

Honestly, I only read it for the Stephanie Plum story, which was a let down. It didn't even feel like a short story, more like a few pages snatched from a novel. Some of the other stories are OK, just not really my style. (2 stars)

Meghan wrote: "Book #50 is Naked Came the Manatee by Carl Hiaasen et.al.

This is a novel with each chapter written by one of 13 writers. It w..."

Way to go, Meghan - looks like you'll make the challenge for sure!

Meghan, I love Paula Dean. We call her the Queen of buttah' in my house! You only need 24 books to complete the goal!