Traci's Film Festival Challenge

Converses2015 Category Challenge

Afegeix-te a LibraryThing per participar.

Traci's Film Festival Challenge

Aquest tema està marcat com "inactiu": L'últim missatge és de fa més de 90 dies. Podeu revifar-lo enviant una resposta.

1virginiahomeschooler
Editat: maig 26, 2019, 4:41 pm

TECHNO-THRILLERS



According to Wikipedia a techno-thriller (also known as technothrillers) is a hybrid genre drawing from science fiction, thrillers, spy fiction, action, and war novels. They include a disproportionate amount (relative to other genres) of technical details on their subject matter (typically military technology); only hard science fiction tends towards a comparable level of supporting detail on the technical side. The inner workings of technology and the mechanics of various disciplines (espionage, martial arts, politics) are thoroughly explored, and the plot often turns on the particulars of that exploration.This genre began to exist and establish itself in the early 20th century with further developments and focus on the genre in the mid 20th century.

Some examples of the genre are:

2virginiahomeschooler
Editat: ag. 23, 2018, 10:43 am



Main Street is the first thing you encounter as you enter the gates of Disney World and emerge from under the railroad tunnel, and it's one of my favorite areas just because of how pretty everything is.

1. Main Street U.S.A.
Love (of cover art) at first sight

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
The Hazel Wood
Swiss Vendetta
The French Gardener



I love Adventureland. One of my favorite places there is The Pecos Bill Cafe which probably says something about me. But I have lots of memories taking the kids there for a quick lunch between rides.

2. Adventureland
Adventure / Survival Stories

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
I Am Still Alive
Clive Cussler books

3virginiahomeschooler
Editat: set. 1, 2018, 9:58 am



I never minded standing in line for Pirates because it was always nice and cool inside and there were plenty of sights to see before you even step on the boat.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean
In a Series

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
Dirk Pitt
Rizzoli and Isles
Jack Ryan



Splash Mountain (one of Frontierland's best attractions) was the first big ride we ever were able to get our daughter, Emma, to go on. She wasn't thrilled about trying it (she was 5 at the time), but once she did she was hooked. We ended up riding it 5 times in a row.

4. Frontierland
Set in the Past

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
Becoming Marie Antoinette

4virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 7, 2018, 1:14 pm



The Haunted Mansion is a family favorite. It's also one of the few rides I actually remember from my own childhood. I still can't wait to find out which ghost is going home with me.

5. The Haunted Mansion
Mysteries

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
Hannah Swenson books
Murder She Wrote series
Coffeehouse Mysteries



Fantasyland remains one of my favorite parts of the Magic Kingdom. There are so many iconic rides, and it's just a pretty area in the park.

6. Fantasyland
Fantasies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
Supernatural Tie-in novels
Rereads of ASoIaF and Harry Potter

5virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 7, 2018, 1:15 pm



No matter how many times I visit Disney, I never tire of this simple little boat ride. And it never fails to leave me singing the song for weeks.

7. A Small World
Audiobooks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.



My oldest munchkins on what was Emma's first trip to Disney. It was her 5th birthday, and the tea cups were one of her favorite rides. I can still hear her sweet little voice yelling "faster, Daddy, faster!"

8. Mad Hatter's Tea Party
Food Related
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
Hannah Swenson books

6virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 11, 2018, 4:33 pm



My kids always loved Toontown. Visiting with the characters, playing in the water on Donald's boat, but mostly Goofy's Brainstormed, which was a great first roller coaster experience.

9. Toontown
Manga / Graphic Novels
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
Walking Dead graphics
Lumberjanes



If I had to pick only one land of the Magic Kingdom to visit, it would probably be Tomorrowland. The atmosphere is fun, and there are loads of fun rides. I could spend an entire day there.

10. Tomorrowland
Set in the Future
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:
Abaddon's Gate

7virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 11, 2018, 4:25 pm



Ok, so this probably isn't a ride most people look forward to. It's more an introduction to the land and a way to take a little breather in between waiting in long lines for "ride-ier" rides. But I like it. I also remember when it was called the Wedway People Mover.

11. Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Travel / Transportation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:



Ok, this is a super fun ride, but my standout memory of it is a tear-filled one. On our last trip to Disney, my Emma was about 8. She had a Minnie Mouse that we'd gotten for her when she was about 18 months. She never went anywhere without Minnie. Minnie was in every photo Emma was in, she got cakes for her birthday (unfortunately she couldn't eat them as Minnie is allergic to dairy, but we enjoyed them in her honor), and of course she went to Disney with us. Well one afternoon we were having ice creams in Tomorrowland, and I realized Minnie wasn't with us. Oh the tears. I had a thought that I could retrace our steps in my photos of taken on my phone and see when she last appeared. We tracked her back to the Buzz Lightyear ride. I spoke to a Disney worker, and a few moments later another worker came walking out with Minnie cradled in her arms like a baby. Em and I spent about 10 minutes crying together over that, and it is something that still gets me a bit teary when I think about it. Oh, and Minnie turned 15 in August and we celebrated with cupcakes.

12. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
Set in Space
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:

One of Minnie's birthday parties:

8virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 11, 2018, 4:14 pm



It's not my favorite Epcot attraction, but I've always loved the whimsy of Figment. And it's a nice way to cool off when it's hot and the lines are long.

13. Journey Into Imagination
YA / Kid Lit
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
O.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:



I chose this one for new to me authors because it's been added since I was last there. Apparently it replaced The Malestrom, in Norway, which I always enjoyed. Hopefully I'll be able to experience it before they change it to something new.

14. Frozen Ever After
New to Me Authors
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:

9virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 11, 2018, 4:24 pm



For me, no trip to WDW is complete without a visit to Epcot's World Showcase. It's like taking a miniature Disney-fied trip around the world. My most favorite spot is Mexico. I love how they be created a night-time outdoors environment inside. I always have to have at least one meal in the little waterside restaurant next to the volcano. I would live there if they'd let me. They won't.

15. World Showcase
Set Outside of the U.S.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Possibilities:

Even though you can't see their faces, this is one of my favorite photos of my oldest two, taken within the World Showcase:



10virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 11, 2018, 4:28 pm

BingoDOG



11virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 11, 2018, 4:31 pm

Group CATs



12virginiahomeschooler
Editat: set. 17, 2017, 10:53 am



A Second Helping of Murder
Rereads
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

13virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 21, 2015, 6:25 pm



Category 12: Return to Me - Love Stories
1. Plum Lovin' - Janet Evanovich - Finished 08/01
2. Happy Ever After - Nora Roberts - Finished 08/20
3. Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins - Finished 09/19
4. Beautiful Ruins - Jess Walter - Finished 10/17
5.

14virginiahomeschooler
Editat: ag. 5, 2015, 6:51 pm



Category 13: Vibes - Paranormal / Supernatural
1. Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris - Finished 02/27
2. Rise of the Governor - Robert Kirkman - Finished 06/18
3. Road to Woodbury - Robert Kirkman - Finished 07/07
4. Days Gone By - Robert Kirkman - Finished 07/31
5. Psych's Guide to Crime-fighting for the Totally Unqualified - Shawn Spencer - Finished 08/03

15virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 21, 2015, 6:25 pm



Category 14: You've Got Mail - Books about books
1. Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury - Finished 04/11
2. The Silkworm - Robert Galbraith - Finished 05/05
3. The Little Free Library Book - Margret Aldrich - Finished 06/28
4. The Well of Lost Plots - Jasper Fforde - Finished 09/10
5. The Little Paris Bookshop - Nina George - Currently Reading

16virginiahomeschooler
Editat: oct. 21, 2015, 6:28 pm



Category 15: Everything Else
1. Divine Justice - David Baldacci - Finished 07/26
2. Metro Girl - Janet Evanovich - Finished 08/28
3. Just Another Day at the Office - Robert Kirkman - Finished 08/26
4. Miles Behind Us - Robert Kirkman - Finished 08/27
5. Safety Behind Bars - Robert Kirkman - Finished 08/28
6. The Heart's Desire - Robert Kirkman - Finished 08/29
7. Motor Mouth - Janet Evanovich - Finished 09/02
8. Unlucky 13 - James Patterson - Finished 08/30
9. The Best Defense - Robert Kirkman - Finished 08/30
10. This Sorrowful Life - Robert Kirkman - Finished 08/30
11. The Calm Before - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/01
12. Made to Suffer - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/05
13. Here We Remain - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/06
14. What We Become - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/06
15. Fear the Hunters - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/06
16. Life Among Them - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/06
17. Too Far Gone - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/07
18. No Way Out - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/07
19. We Find Ourselves - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/07
20. A Larger World - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/08
21. Something to Fear - Robert Kirkman - Finished09/09
22. What Comes After - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/09
23. March to War - Robert Kirkman - Finished 09/12
24. 14th Deadly Sin - James Patterson - Finished 09/19
25. Explosive 18 - Janet Evanovich - Finished 09/20
26. Notorious 19 - Janet Evanovich - Finished 09/27
27. Takedown Twenty - Janet Evanovich - Finished 09/29
28. Top Secret 21 - Janet Evanovich - Finished 10/20
29. Zoo - James Patterson - Finished 10/02
30. You're Never Weird on the Internet - Felicia Day - Finished 10/14
31. The Scam - Janet Evanovich - Finished 10/08

17mamzel
abr. 10, 2015, 2:47 pm

What a cutey pie!!!!!!
So glad you are able to get back to your reading and Librarything.

18virginiahomeschooler
abr. 10, 2015, 2:56 pm

Thank you. :)

19NeverStopTrying
abr. 10, 2015, 4:34 pm

Just think how many extra smiles there will be in the world because you posted that great baby pic. I will be looking for BBs on this thread.

20rabbitprincess
abr. 10, 2015, 4:54 pm

Congratulations and welcome back!

21DeltaQueen50
abr. 10, 2015, 10:27 pm

Best excuse for being late .... EVER! Welcome back.

22lsh63
abr. 11, 2015, 12:36 pm

Welcome back! That baby is ridiculously cute!

23MissWatson
abr. 11, 2015, 2:17 pm

Welcome bach and congratulations on your little one!

24sallylou61
abr. 11, 2015, 3:06 pm

Congratulations. Your baby is really cute. Also, welcome back.

25christina_reads
abr. 13, 2015, 10:46 pm

Congratulations -- what a cutie pie! Also, I love so many of the movies you mentioned, especially "Clue," "Return to Me," and "You've Got Mail"!

26-Eva-
abr. 15, 2015, 12:43 am

Congrats on the addition to the family! And good to see you back here too.

27virginiahomeschooler
abr. 16, 2015, 3:13 pm

Thank you all. I turned 40 last year and never would've figured I'd have any more babies (already have a 17 year old and a 12 year old), so Henry was quite a surprise. But a great surprise. :)

28virginiahomeschooler
Editat: abr. 20, 2015, 10:07 pm

Category: Galaxy Quest
Title: Across the Universe ★★★
Author: Beth Revis



"Teenaged Amy, a cryogenically frozen passenger on the spaceship Godspeed, wakes up to discover that someone may have tried to murder her."

I love the idea of colonizing a distant planet. Honestly, if my family could accompany me, I'd totally volunteer to become a resident of Mars one day. So, I thought I'd love this book about a spaceship heading to a new planet in hopes of colonization. Thing is, while it was sort of about that, it really wasn't. It wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't great either. Maybe I'd have liked it more if I hadn't been expecting one thing and ending up with something else entirely. It was pretty fast paced and interesting, but the fact that the shortish chapters alternated between two characters' perspectives made it somewhat hard to follow for at least the first half of the book. I kept having to go back and remind myself who was actually speaking in this particular chapter. It made for a more drawn out and irritating reading experience. I'm not sure I'd recommend this to anyone who wasn't just crazy about young adult science fiction.

29virginiahomeschooler
abr. 16, 2015, 3:46 pm

Category: You've Got Mail
Title: Fahrenheit 451 ★★★★
Author: Ray Bradbury



"Fireman Guy Montag is a fireman whose job it is to start fires. And he loves to rush to a fire and watch books burn, along with the houses in which they were hidden. Then he meets a seventeen-year old girl who tells him of a past when people were not afraid, and a professor who tells him of a future where people can think. And Guy Montag knows what he has to do ..."

The libraries in our area are participating in this thing called '7 Cities, One Book' where they select a particular book for the month for everyone who wants to participate to read. They've got events for it all month as well. The April selection was Fahrenheit 451, and since it was one I'd never read but always wanted to, I thought now was as good a time as any. The thing I kept coming back to while reading this was that it was written so long ago, yet seemed to be so relevant to today. The whole idea of why the books were being burned seemed odd to me - though I suppose his premise of making sure we don't offend anyone may not be too far off. But what really struck me was the technology. Reading about the 'seashells' his wife put in her ears, and how she would sort of tune him out when he was speaking to her, paying attention to what was going on in what I liked to imagine as earbuds, seemed all too familiar. Look at people sitting at any restaurant or coffee shop today, and you're more likely to see people staring at their phones than talking to each other (I'm not judging - I'm as bad about this as anyone I'm sure). We, as a society, have really become so wrapped up in our tech that we do tend to tune out those around us. It's just amazing to me that he hit on this 60 some years ago. I'd like to hope we'll never get to the point where we're burning books due to political correctness, but I suppose you never know.

30sallylou61
abr. 16, 2015, 8:22 pm

RE no. 49: Our book club is planning to read Fahrenheit 451 for our next meeting. None of us had read it, at least recently. I'm one who never had.

31virginiahomeschooler
abr. 20, 2015, 9:50 pm

>30 sallylou61: I hope you enjoy it!

32virginiahomeschooler
Editat: abr. 20, 2015, 10:10 pm

Category: Kate and Leopold
Title: Dragonfly in Amber ★★★★
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Total # of Books Read: 18



"For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ... and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his. Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves."

This is the second installment in the Outlander series. These books are extremely chunky. The first and last 3rd were pretty fast paced, and I found myself flying through the pages, but I got really bogged down in the middle of the book. It just dragged, and I felt as if I'd be reading it forever. In the end, I enjoyed it, but I feel like I'd have enjoyed it more if she were a little less wordy. I've not watched any of the television series, and I'm not sure I want to. Some of the scenes were quite brutal and difficult to get through just reading them. I definitely don't want to have to watch it played out on screen. I'll continue reading the series, though. But I think I'll take a break with a few less beefy titles first.

Category: Kate and Leopold
Title: Peacemaker ★★★½
Author: James Swallow
Total # of Books Read: 19



"Caught between the law of the gun and the deadly plans of intergalactic mercenaries, the Doctor and Martha are about to discover just how wild the West can become."

The Doctor Who novels can be hit or miss in my opinion, depending on how well the author writes the characters. For me, this one was just ok. There wasn't anything glaringly off about their voices, but nothing stood out as 'Oh, yeah, I can totally hear the Doctor saying that.' Still, I think I'd have liked this one more if I were more of a Martha fan. I don't dislike her, but she's not my favorite, either. The story wasn't bad, but again, it wasn't great. If I were going to recommend a Doctor Who novel, I would suggest The Glamour Chase or Beautiful Chaos, both written by Gary Russell. I feel that he gets the characters perfectly, and his plots are well thought out and fun to read.

Currently Reading: Trojan Odyssey - Clive Cussler

33DeltaQueen50
abr. 21, 2015, 3:36 pm

>32 virginiahomeschooler: I am working my way through this series as well, and have finished the first three. Since they are so chunky, I have been listening to them and I have totally fallen in love with the reader's voice which is a good thing as the books run on for hours and hours. I have been setting aside a summer month for this project and will be listening to number 4, The Drums of August in August of this year.

34-Eva-
abr. 21, 2015, 4:19 pm

>32 virginiahomeschooler:
Peacemaker got a 3-star rating from me. It was good, but the Doctor's funny quips sounded a little flippant in this one. Still, definitely on the enjoyable end of the spectrum.

35rabbitprincess
abr. 21, 2015, 5:26 pm

I agree with your rec of Beautiful Chaos. That was a fun one.

And because I am a sucker for Doctor Who plus westerns, I will probably hunt up Peacemaker.

36virginiahomeschooler
abr. 22, 2015, 12:21 pm

>33 DeltaQueen50: I just looked up Voyager to see how long it would be on audio, and it was 44 hours!! I'm not sure if I have the patience for that, but I might give it a try. If the reader's voice is pleasant, I could probably deal with it. And it'd give me something to listen to when I'm doing other things.

>34 -Eva-: I agree. I don't think he was particularly well written. But it definitely wasn't the worst I've encountered. I think that title goes to I Am a Dalek.

>35 rabbitprincess: I'm not a fan of westerns. I'd probably have enjoyed Peacemaker much more if I were. I hope you like it.

I need to catch up on all the other threads. Starting in April has me feeling so behind seeing what everyone's is reading. I'm hoping I'll have some time later today to devote to find out what everyone else is up to.

37lkernagh
abr. 25, 2015, 1:28 pm

Welcome back and congratulations! What a sweetie!

38DeltaQueen50
abr. 26, 2015, 4:09 pm

>36 virginiahomeschooler: The length of these books is why I tackle them in the summer, they are perfect for listening to while I soak up the good weather on the patio. I also find myself playing mindless computer games while I listen as well. :)

39sturlington
abr. 26, 2015, 6:12 pm

>1 virginiahomeschooler: Congratulations! That picture is ridiculously cute.

40-Eva-
abr. 27, 2015, 11:21 pm

>36 virginiahomeschooler:
Uh-oh, I Am a Dalek is still on Mt. TBR for me. I'll make a mental note to lower my expectations! :)

41virginiahomeschooler
abr. 28, 2015, 2:22 pm

>37 lkernagh: and >39 sturlington: Thanks! :)

>38 DeltaQueen50: We're planning a trip this summer to Gatlinburg, which is about an 8 hour drive, so I may plan it for that. Then I'd just have to fit in another 30ish listening hours. I find I'm doing tons of laundry lately, so I'm sure I can listen to it while folding socks or something.

>40 -Eva-: Well, you know, it's all relative. It got 2 1/2 stars from me, so it wasn't horrendously bad or anything. And it's one of those short ones, so it's not like you're investing hours and hours.

42virginiahomeschooler
abr. 28, 2015, 3:18 pm

Category: Ocean's Eleven
Title: Trojan Odyssey ★★★
Author: Clive Cussler
Total # of Books Read: 20



"Underwater adventurer Dirk Pitt and the NUMA crew investigate a black tide infesting the ocean off Nicaragua, a study complicated by the discovery of a mysterious artifact, a powerful storm, and a conspiracy."

I've always read these books out of order, and generally it doesn't matter. But this one apparently followed on the heels of some major life changes for Dirk Pitt, so maybe I should've read the previous book first. Anyway, of the NUMA books I've read, this one falls near the bottom of the stack for me. It started out pretty good. There was lots of excitement surrounding a hurricane and a will they / won't they survive thing going on which kept me reading. But that was just the first quarter of the book. Then it started dragging. I also got the feeling while reading this one that Mr. Cussler is not exactly a feminist. Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, and maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like when he has strong female characters, they tend to be, well, evil. Eh, maybe I'm reading more into it than is there. So, I'll still read these - out of order - because I've got some on my shelf. But I won't be rushing to get to the next one any time soon.

Category: Kate and Leopold
Title: The Last Dodo ★★★
Author: Jacqueline Rayner
Total # of Books Read: 21



"After a trip to the zoo, the Doctor and Martha go in search of a real live dodo, and are transported by the TARDIS to the mysterious Museum of the Last Ones. There, in the Earth section, they discover every extinct creature up to the present day."

This was another that was just ok for me. The story wasn't bad, but there was so much Martha and very little Doctor. I think if it'd been Donna instead, I'd have enjoyed this one much more. That said, my 17 year old son says this one was his favorite.

Currently Reading: The Bat - Jo Nesbo

43virginiahomeschooler
maig 1, 2015, 11:32 am

Category: Clue
Title: The Bat ★★★½
Author: Jo Nesbo
Total # of Books Read: 22



"Detective Harry Hole is meant to keep out of trouble. A young Norwegian girl taking a gap year in Sydney has been murdered, and Harry has been sent to Australia to assist in any way he can. He's not supposed to get too involved. When the team unearths a string of unsolved murders and disappearances, nothing will stop Harry from finding out the truth. The hunt for a serial killer is on, but the murderer will talk only to Harry. He might just be the next victim."

I'd been looking for a good Nordic mystery to start, and I'd heard the Harry Hole series was a good one. I wanted to begin with the first book, but I didn't look at the description before starting it. So, I was a bit surprised when I realized that the entire book takes place in Australia. Still it was a good enough read. I liked Harry well enough, and I'll definitely look for more in the series. I may skip ahead to The Snowman, since I've heard really good things about that one. And I'll make sure to read the blurb first so I know more what to expect.

Category: Harry Potter
Title: Kalahari ★★★½
Author: Jessica Khoury
Total # of Books Read: 23



"When an educational safari goes wrong, five teens find themselves stranded in the Kalahari Desert without a guide. It’s up to Sarah, the daughter of zoologists, to keep them alive and lead them to safety, calling on survival know-how from years of growing up in remote and exotic locales. Battling dehydration, starvation and the pangs of first love, she does her best to hold it together, even as their circumstances grow increasingly desperate."

I love the idea of stories like this - young people alone in a dangerous place left to fend for themselves. I'm not sure why it appeals to me, but it does. This book wasn't the best I've read, but it was really fast paced and a definite page turner, and I had a hard time putting it down. The writing wasn't exceptional, and the ending was a little flat, but overall I really enjoyed it. I'd recommend it if you like survival stories like this. I'd also recommend Surviving Antarctica by Andrea White, which is one of my favorites of this type of story.

Currently Reading: Well, I'm about 50 pages into Death Comes to Pemberley, but I'm finding it so disappointingly boring that I may have to just set it aside. I hate not finishing something when I start it, but I just don't think I have the patience for it. It's a shame because I love P.D. James and Pride and Prejudice is one of my very favorite books, but the combo just isn't working for me. Not sure what I'll pick up next. Any suggestions?

44DeltaQueen50
maig 1, 2015, 3:46 pm

I am addicted to survival stories, so I am adding Kalahari to my list. I read Surviving Antarctica a few years ago and remember liking it a lot as well.

45virginiahomeschooler
maig 1, 2015, 6:04 pm

>44 DeltaQueen50: I forgot to mention that Kalahari is actually book 3 in the Corpus series. Another one of those 'I didn't read the full blurb so I didn't realize it' moments. But having not read books one and two, I can say that it works fine as a stand alone. I think they are only loosely tied together in fact, as the first two don't have the same setting or characters.

46DeltaQueen50
maig 1, 2015, 6:14 pm

>45 virginiahomeschooler: Thanks for letting me know, I will check out the others in the series as well and see if I want to read them all or just the one.

47virginiahomeschooler
Editat: jul. 14, 2017, 9:52 pm

Category: You've Got Mail
Title: The Silkworm ★★★★
Author: Robert Galbraith
Total # of Books Read: 24



"When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs. Quine just thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days--as he has done before--and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home. But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realizes. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were to be published, it would ruin lives--meaning that there are a lot of people who might want him silenced. When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any Strike has encountered before."

I love J.K. Rowling. If I had to choose one book (or series) to accompany me on a desert island - assuming I knew ahead of time that I'd be stuck on a desert island and was somehow prohibited from bringing more than one book - it would be Harry Potter, hands down. I could read the series over and over again and never get tired of it. I've not read A Casual Vacancy because it just didn't seem like my cup of tea, but I enjoyed Cuckoo's Calling immensely. My first impression of The Silkworm was that it made me feel stupid. There was so much symbolism in the novel within the novel that I honestly just kept scratching my head over. The language at times was over my head as well. I don't know if it's due to me being American and perhaps some of the phrasing just doesn't translate or I am just not as well educated as I like to think. But it was a little disconcerting that I had to stop a few times and look up a word (thank goodness for nook with it's online dictionary!). That said, I couldn't put the book down. If there's one thing I feel Rowling does well, it's creating thoroughly well-developed characters, and Cormoran and Robin are perfectly written. The plot was interesting - if a tad confusing at times - and I thought I'd had it all figured out right up until the end...and I didn't. I've read that Cuckoo's Calling is going to be made into a tv series, and I can't wait to see it. I don't know if they have the time or inclination, but I'd love to see Idris Elba and Carey Mulligan as Cormoran and Robin. Oh please can we make that happen?

48virginiahomeschooler
maig 5, 2015, 7:35 pm

I went to the library today, and I picked up a few more books than I really needed. But I just couldn't help myself. Along with the last 4 Doctor Who novels that my library has that I've not read, I picked up three others that I just couldn't resist. So, seven books. A bit excessive, but doable in the 3 week period I get to keep them. Oh, and I'm currently reading Where'd You Go, Bernadette that I'd borrowed off Overdrive. The thing is, I get home, and I see that six of the books that I'd placed on hold with Overdrive have come up. Six more - so 14 all together! Thing is, I was first in line on a couple, 3rd or 4th for a few, and like 70th on another when I placed the holds. How do they all come up on the same day? UGH! Ok, so as problems go, this isn't a terrible one to have, but after waiting for the holds to come through, I hate to not get to them because I don't have time to read them all, and then I go to the end of the queue again.

What I'll be attempting to get through in the next 3 weeks before they have to go back:



Oh, and it's looking like Girl on a Train, that I was 169th when I placed the hold!, and Wolf Hall will be available in a day or two as well. Sigh...

49lsh63
maig 6, 2015, 8:16 am

Hi Traci, that is a nice book problem to have! Your library queue moves a lot faster than mine, I keep peeking to see All The Light We Cannot See has moved any and it seems as though it's still 600 people waiting for it, and that's been since January.

I can only have 6 books out at a time and 10 holds, so I have been know to return a book when something comes through that catches my fancy at that moment.

I didn't know about Cuckoo's Calling being made into a tv series. I fully support anything with Idris Elba in it lol!

50virginiahomeschooler
maig 7, 2015, 6:47 pm

>49 lsh63: The thing about Cuckoo's casting that's so weird to me is I've seen people say they would like anyone from Gerard Butler to Tom Hardy to Brendan Gleeson to play Cormoran. I feel like I must be reading different books from these people, because I see him totally different. Which means I'll probably be disappointed by the show's casting because they'll probably pick someone like Clive Owen, who, let's face it, is dreamy but totally wrong for the part, in my opinion.

51virginiahomeschooler
maig 7, 2015, 6:59 pm

Category: High Road to China
Title: Where'd You Go, Bernadette ★★★★½
Author: Maria Semple
Total # of Books Read: 25



"When Bee aces her report card she claims her reward, which is a trip to Antarctica, but her mother, Bernadette, disappears due to her intensifying allergy to Seattle and people in general, which has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands and Bee uses emails, invoices, school memos, private correspondence, and other evidence to try and understand why her mother has left."

"LibraryThing thinks you probably won't like Where'd You Go, Bernadette (prediction confidence: very high)"

Well, this was one of the few times that LT really got it wrong. Where'd You Go, Bernadette was delightful. The epistolary format was a great way to tell this story. It was funny and sad and sweet, and I loved Bee to pieces. I'm not sure if I was meant to or not, but I also really liked Bernadette. I found her sympathetic and extremely relatable, especially her dislike for the 'gnats' (the all too perfect parents of the children at Bee's school). If the ending had been a little more satisfying (I didn't dislike it, but it felt sort of abrupt), I'd have given the book 5 stars. One of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time.

52lkernagh
maig 8, 2015, 9:15 am

I found Bernadette to be the perfect story to chase away my winter blues when I read it... even with the Antarctica connection. Glad to see you enjoyed it so much! ;-)

53virginiahomeschooler
maig 14, 2015, 1:19 pm

>52 lkernagh: It's funny because I kept expecting Antarctica to pop up (I was really looking forward to that part - I have a weird fascination with that place), and it seemed to take forever for them to actually get there. I was starting to wonder if they were just going to spend the book talking about it and never actually get there.

54virginiahomeschooler
maig 14, 2015, 1:49 pm

Category: Ocean's Eleven
Title: Soulless ★★★★½
Author: Gail Carringer
Total # of Books Read: 26



"Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire - and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Or will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?"

This was an incredibly enjoyable book. It was lighthearted and funny with a bit of romance - not too much, I don't think - and a unique plot. I loved the steampunk atmosphere, and Alexia is a delightful heroine. I could've done with a bit more buildup of the relationship between her and Lord Maccon, but other than that I have no complaints. I'll definitely be reading further into the series.

Category: Everything Else
Title: The Girl on the Train ★★★★½
Author: Paula Hawkins
Total # of Books Read: 27



"Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost. And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?"

I went into reading this book blind. I knew that it was something that just about everyone was reading, and I didn't want to know too much about it, so I placed it on hold at the library without even looking at the blurb. I was 169th in the queue. It took just over 3 months to get it, but it was totally worth the wait. It's one of those books that's hard to say whether you actually enjoy reading it or not. It was excellently written, with a great cast of (not very likable) characters and an intriguing plot. It was a bit scary at times - I went to bed after reading a particularly creepy part and had a hard time falling asleep, and there were parts that were rather heartbreaking (having a 3 month old at home made certain bits hard to read for me). So, if asked if it was a good book, I'd say a definite yes, but it was an uncomfortable one.

Category: Kate and Leopold
Title: The Many Hands ★★★
Author: Dale Smith
Total # of Books Read: 28



"The Nor' Loch is being filled in. If you ask the soldiers there, they'll tell you it's a stinking cesspool that the city can do without. But that doesn't explain why the workers won't go near the place without an armed guard."

Eh, this one was one of those Doctor Who ties-ins that's just not all that great. The voices were not particularly well done, the plot (which was one of the creepier Doctor Who's I've read) was not awful, but not memorable either, and the writing was passable at best. The author switches the point of view so often as to make the reader dizzy trying to keep up with who's speaking to whom. But the absolute worst thing about this book to me was the fact that the wording of a few scenes was word for word something that was said or done in the show. At one point someone questions Martha's being a doctor, and she holds up her hand and starts naming the bones in her fingers. I believe that occurred in the Human Nature episode? And then they describe the doors of a church as being solid by saying "the assembled hordes of Genghis Khan couldn't get through those doors..." Really? Does he assume we skipped Nine's episodes? It was very distracting when you've watched the show enough to know that these came directly from it. I can only assume Smith was trying his best to capture the style of the show, but surely you can do that without plagiarism. Anyway, it was a quick read, and if you've read all the others and just want a Doctor fix, it's not the worst thing out there. But there are far better to be sure.

55virginiahomeschooler
maig 14, 2015, 1:52 pm

I've been having issues with my reading lately. I usually enjoy reading at night just before I fall asleep, but I'm getting so little sleep that it's forcing me to choose being able to read or being able to function properly the following day. It's a dilemma. However, when I'm being woken up to this face at 2am (and 4am and 6am...), I guess I shouldn't complain.

56mamzel
maig 14, 2015, 4:02 pm

The good news is that the frequency will go down so you'll get better sleep so you'll be able to read more!

57virginiahomeschooler
maig 15, 2015, 2:36 pm

>56 mamzel: I know we'll be past this phase all too soon. My real issue is that I tend to give in and read when I should be sleeping. Then I am miserable all the next day, yet I still will probably do the same thing the following night. I think I need a 12 step program.

58virginiahomeschooler
maig 16, 2015, 4:02 pm

Category: Harry Potter
Title: Into the Gauntlet ★★★½
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Total # of Books Read: 29



"Throughout the hunt for the 39 Clues, Amy and Dan Cahill have uncovered history's greatest mysteries and their family's deadliest secrets. But are they ready to face the truth about the Cahills and the key to their unmatched power? After a whirlwind race that's taken them across five continents, Amy and Dan face the most the difficult challenge yet--a task no Cahill dared to imagine. When faced with a choice that could change the future of the world, can two kids succeed where 500 years worth of famous ancestors failed?"

This was a pretty good conclusion to a fun series. It's been a while since I'd read book 9, so there were bits that I didn't really understand because I had forgotten some parts and people. I think if I'd had read them all one after the next, I'd have probably enjoyed them more. Of course, I'd probably have also gotten bored of reading them that way, too. Anyway, The ending was pretty satisfying, tying things up pretty nicely. I will probably read book 11 (which I've been told is just a link between this series and the Cahill vs. Vesper series), but not any time soon.

Currently Reading: Private India (not sure if I'm liking this one as much as the others in this series - I'm having a hard time keeping up with the character names)

59virginiahomeschooler
maig 22, 2015, 3:38 pm

I gave up on Private India after 60 chapters (out of 116). I'm not sure if James Patterson actually read this one before slapping his name on it, but either way he should be ashamed. The idea of the murders was unique enough, and I was really looking forward to the setting. But it was so incredibly boring. I had a really hard time following the character names, and none of them were likable at any rate, and the writer seemed to go above and beyond what's considered normal for these books in terms of sexual content. I'm not a prude, but some of the phrasing was just obnoxious and downright skeevy. There was a lot of repetition, and then something would happen that I suppose was meant as a plot twist that would just come out of nowhere, and I was left trying to figure out what the heck had just happened. This one just seemed so below par for Patterson. I hate leaving a book in the middle, but I just couldn't invest any more time in this one. I have enjoyed the Private books so far (I've only read a few and not in order), but this one may have put me off the series all together. And honestly, if JP doesn't care any more for his fans than to put his name on crap, then I'm not sure I'll be investing any time or money on any of his stuff.

Category: Kate and Leopold
Title: Wishing Well ★★★½
Author: Trevor Baxendale
Total # of Books Read: 30



"The old village well is just a curiosity, something to attract tourists intrigued by stories of lost treasure, or visitors just making a wish. But who knows the real truth about the well? No one wants to believe the Doctor's warnings about the deadly horror lying in wait but soon they'll wish they had."

This was maybe not the best depiction of the tenth Doctor, but I thought Martha was done quite well. The story itself was a bit spooky, and I definitely enjoyed it more than the last couple I've read. All in all I'd say it was worth a read. My library only has two more Doctor Who tie-ins that I've not read, yet, both with Ten and Martha (Sick Building and Wetworld). I'm not sure what I'll do then. I haven't been watching the episodes with twelve because we don't have cable, so I don't really want to read any of his yet. I'm hoping I can convince our library to invest in some of the eleventh Doctor novels.

Category: Harry Potter
Title: Cinder ★★★★½
Author: Marissa Meyer
Total # of Books Read: 31



"Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

This book was heaps of fun. I think it's probably my favorite I've read so far this year. The story was told in a really clever way, weaving in the fairy tale without being annoying or too obvious. The characters were well developed - I loved Cinder and Dr. Erland especially. A few things that I think we weren't meant to know until the end seemed a bit obvious, but it didn't really detract from the enjoyment of the story. My only real complaint is that it ended on a cliffhanger, and now I'll have wait until my turn in the library queue for Scarlet to see what happens.

Currently Reading: The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

60mamzel
maig 25, 2015, 2:01 pm

I never got much into Patterson's books. The short choppy chapters and huge amount of white space on each page made me feel demeaned. It feels like he is in it for the money and not the art and I'm certain he doesn't need my hard earned money.

61-Eva-
juny 2, 2015, 5:49 pm

>50 virginiahomeschooler:
I could see Brendan Gleeson as Cormoran, for sure, but the other ones are just too "pretty."

>55 virginiahomeschooler:
As long as it's a happy face... :)

62virginiahomeschooler
juny 10, 2015, 8:16 pm

>60 mamzel: Yeah, I have to be in the mood for a somewhat brainless thriller when I read Patterson. Unfortunately, this one was high on the brainless and low on the thrilling.

>61 -Eva-: I could probably see Gleeson - certainly more so than the pretty boys, but I'd still prefer Idris. Alas, they didn't ask me my opinion.

63virginiahomeschooler
juny 10, 2015, 9:11 pm

I've been reading a decent amount lately, but I haven't had much time to get on the computer and update stuff. I'm going to try to get everything up to date.

Category: Ocean's Eleven
Title: The Job ★★★★½
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 32



The third installment in the Fox and O'Hare series finds Nick accused of several high profile thefts. Kate is certain Nick is being framed and sets out to find the actual culprit and clear Nick's name.

After a fairly lackluster second book, The Chase, this one was a welcome improvement in the series. It's not something to read if you're looking for great literature, but it makes for a great 'just for fun' read. It was funny, fast paced, and highly enjoyable. I love Lee Goldberg's writing (The Mr. Monk series is fantastic), and Evanovich can be hilarious. I really hope they can keep up the quality in book four.

Category: Clue
Title: The Gods of Guilt ★★★★
Author: Michael Connelly
Total # of Books Read: 33



"Mickey Haller gets the text, "Call me ASAP - 187," and the California penal code for murder immediately gets his attention. Murder cases have the highest stakes and the biggest paydays, and they always mean Haller has to be at the top of his game. When Mickey learns that the victim was his own former client, a prostitute he thought he had rescued and put on the straight and narrow path, he knows he is on the hook for this one. He soon finds out that she was back in LA and back in the life. Far from saving her, Mickey may have been the one who put her in danger. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, Mickey must work tirelessly and bring all his skill to bear on a case that could mean his ultimate redemption or proof of his ultimate guilt."

As legal thrillers go, this one was right up there with the best of them. I'd only ever read The Lincoln Lawyer, and this being the sixth book in the series, there were things that I missed by skipping the middle books. I do wish I'd read them in order just because if I ever go back and read books 2-5, there'll be some spoilery things I wouldn't have otherwise known. Still, it works really well as a stand alone, so I don't feel like this book suffered from my not having read some of the previous ones. Anyway, it was an excellent book that had an interesting and dramatic plot. My only complaint was that it seemed to drag just a little in the middle. Still, it was overall a very good book, and I probably will go back at some point and read the others in the series.

Category: The Fellowship of the Ring
Title: Undertow ★★★
Author: Michael Buckley
Total # of Books Read: 34



"Sixteen-year-old Lyric Walker’s life is forever changed when she witnesses the arrival of 30,000 Alpha, a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors, on her beach in Coney Island. The world’s initial wonder and awe over the Alpha quickly turns ugly and paranoid and violent, and Lyric’s small town transforms into a military zone with humans on one side and Alpha on the other. When Lyric is recruited to help the crown prince, a boy named Fathom, assimilate, she begins to fall for him. But their love is a dangerous one, and there are forces on both sides working to keep them apart. Only, what if the Alpha are not actually the enemy? What if they are in fact humanity’s best chance for survival? Because the real enemy is coming. And it’s more terrifying than anything the world has ever seen."

Ugh. I was so hoping to like this one. I love Michael Buckley. His Sisters Grimm series is one of my favorites. And, I'm a sucker for anything to do with Atlantis or people living underwater. So, this should have been the book for me. But it wasn't. The writing wasn't bad. He's actually a great storyteller. But the story he was telling in this book just did not work for me. The characters were kind of flat, the romance seemed forced, and the plot was just short of downright boring. Add to it that it ended with somewhat of a cliffhanger, and it just made me feel like I'd wasted my time with this one. I won't be reading the rest of the series. Sigh...

Category: Clue
Title: Smokin' Seventeen ★★★
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 35



"Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and no one knows this better than New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. Dead bodies are showing up in shallow graves on the empty construction lot of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds. No one is sure who the killer is, or why the victims have been offed, but what is clear is that Stephanie’s name is on the killer’s list. Short on time to find evidence proving the killer’s identity, Stephanie faces further complications when her family and friends decide that it’s time for her to choose between her longtime off-again-on-again boyfriend, Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and the bad boy in her life, security expert Ranger. Stephanie’s mom is encouraging Stephanie to dump them both and choose a former high school football star who’s just returned to town. Stephanie’s sidekick, Lula, is encouraging Stephanie to have a red-hot boudoir “bake-off.” And Grandma Bella, Morelli’s old-world grandmother, is encouraging Stephanie to move to a new state when she puts “the eye” on Stephanie. With a cold-blooded killer after her, a handful of hot men, and a capture list that includes a dancing bear and a senior citizen vampire, Stephanie’s life looks like it’s about to go up in smoke."

This one gets another sigh from me. I really like the Stephanie Plum books when I need a laugh and not a lot of substance. And, on the laugh front, it actually did deliver. BUT, and this is a big BUT, there was so much wrong with the 17th book in this series that I couldn't really enjoy the sometimes laugh out loud funny bits. First, there's the big 'mystery' which was so incredibly obvious I actually wouldn't call it a mystery at all. Plus it was so contrived and stupid that even if I hadn't been able to figure it out 1/3 of the way into the book, I'd still have been disappointed. Thing is, that's not even the thing that bothered me the most about this particular book. What really bothered me was what Evanovich did to Stephanie in this installment. I've never been a real fan of the love triangle she's got going on with Morrelli and Ranger, but I put up with it because I love Lula and Grandma Mazur and Mooner and their wonderfully quirky personalities. But with this one Stephanie really loses some love from me. She keeps pointing out that her relationship with Morrelli is sort of open, but when a character I'm supposed to like sleeps with someone she calls her boyfriend, then within 24 hours is hopping into bed with someone else, I just can't get past it. It really made me dislike her. I don't understand why Evanovich does this. I think her audience (which is likely 99% female) would be horrified and angry if Morrelli was the one bed-hopping, yet we're supposed to overlook, or even swoon, when Steph does it? Yeah, it's not happening for me. It just makes me feel sorry for Morrelli and feel like Stephanie doesn't deserve him at all. I'm sure I'll keep reading these when I'm in a certain mood, but I would love it if she'd tie it all up already.

So, now I'm all caught up. Next up for me is Hy Conrad's Mr. Monk Helps Himself, and I'm praying it's not a big disappointment. I loved the series when Goldberg was writing it, but the one I read by Conrad, Mr. Monk Gets on Board was not great (or even good, really). I'm willing to give him another shot, because I love Monk, and I'm out of Goldberg's books.

64-Eva-
juny 11, 2015, 11:48 pm

>62 virginiahomeschooler:
They never consult me either when it comes to casting actors. :)

65virginiahomeschooler
jul. 2, 2015, 3:53 pm

Category: Galaxy Quest
Title: Doctor Who: Magic of the Angels ★★★½
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 36



Category: Vibes
Title: Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor ★★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 37



Category: Ocean's Eleven
Title: Mr. Mercedes ★★★½
Author: Stephen King
Total # of Books Read: 38



Category: Ocean's Eleven
Title: Stone Cold ★★★★
Author: David Baldacci
Total # of Books Read: 39



Category: Ocean's Eleven
Title: The Shell Game ★★★½
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 40



Category: You've Got Mail
Title: The Little Free Library Book ★★★★★
Author: Margret Aldrich
Total # of Books Read: 41

66virginiahomeschooler
jul. 5, 2015, 5:18 pm

Category: Clue
Title: All the President's Menus ★★★½
Author: Julie Hyzy
Total # of Books Read: 42



"It’s an old adage that too many cooks spoil the broth. But when a tour of the White House kitchen by a group of foreign chefs ends in murder, it’s Olivia Paras who finds herself in the soup… Due to a government sequester, entertaining at the White House has been severely curtailed. So executive chef Olivia Paras is delighted to hear that plans are still on to welcome a presidential candidate from the country of Saardisca—the first woman to run for office—and four of that nation’s top chefs. But while leading the chefs on a kitchen tour, pastry chef Marcel passes out suddenly—and later claims he was drugged. When one of the visiting chefs collapses and dies, it’s clear someone has infiltrated the White House with ill intent. Could it be an anti-Saardiscan zealot? Is the candidate a target? Are the foreign chefs keeping more than their recipes a secret? Once again, Olivia must make sleuthing the special of the day…"

I love the White House Chef series. Love it. In fact, it's what got me back into mysteries after a fairly long hiatus away from them. And book 7, Home of the Braised, was my favorite of the lot. Maybe that's why this one, book 8, just didn't give me the same enjoyment? Perhaps my expectations were too high. I don't know. But whatever it was, I just wasn't really feeling this one. The mystery itself was just meh, and I actually began to feel like Ollie was a bit too goody two shoes. I still liked it...somewhat. And I'm still looking forward to book 9, Foreign Eclairs, which is set to be released next January. But I'm not quite as excited about it as I would've been before this one.

Currently Reading: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, and I am just adoring it. Boarding school, London, supernatural creepiness, Jack the Ripper, and a Doctor Who reference? This one is right up my alley.

67virginiahomeschooler
ag. 5, 2015, 7:34 pm

Title: The Name of the Star ★★★★½
Author: Maureen Johnson
Total # of Books Read: 43



Title: The Road to Woodbury ★★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 44



Title: We Were Liars ★★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 45



Title: Divine Justice ★★★★
Author: David Baldacci
Total # of Books Read: 46



Title: A Touch of Dead ★★★★
Author: Charlaine Harris
Total # of Books Read: 47



Title: Tempted ★★★
Author: P.C. Cast
Total # of Books Read: 48



Title: Days Gone By ★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 49



Title: Plum Lovin' ★★★½
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 50



Title: Psych's Guide to Crime Fighting for the Totally Unqualified ★★★½
Author: Shawn Spencer
Total # of Books Read: 51



Title: Sold ★★★★★
Author: Patricia McCormick
Total # of Books Read: 52



Currently Reading:



68rabbitprincess
ag. 5, 2015, 7:35 pm

One of these days I will get to 11/22/63! How is it so far?

69virginiahomeschooler
ag. 5, 2015, 7:38 pm

>68 rabbitprincess: I'm about halfway done and really enjoying it so far.

70virginiahomeschooler
ag. 13, 2015, 5:01 pm

Title: Seveneves ★★★½
Author: Neal Stephenson
Total # of Books Read: 53



This one was a good solid 4 1/2 stars right up until the last 250 or so pages (out of nearly 1,000). I felt like Stephenson easily could've tied everything up very nicely in a 30 page epilogue instead of what became a tedious and unnecessary slog.

Title: Game of Thrones Graphic Novel Volume 4 ★★★★★
Author: George R. R. Martin
Total # of Books Read: 54



Excellent as were the previous 3 volumes. Lovely artwork and true to the original books.

Title: The Madness Underneath ★★★★
Author: Maureen Johnson
Total # of Books Read: 55



I'm really enjoying this series. Can't wait to get my hands on book 3.

Title: 11/22/63 ★★★★½
Author: Stephen King
Total # of Books Read: 56



This book started out fabulous, waned a bit around the middle (I did spend a little time thinking 'is he ever going to get to the Kennedy part of the story?'), and finished off brilliantly. Around the last 3rd of the book, my nook died (and I had no access to electricity), and I wanted to cry. After I got my battery back up and running, I didn't put it down til the very end. It was completely different from anything I'd ever read, and it's ranked right behind The Stand as my favorite of King's works.

Title: The Fall of the Governor Part 1 ★★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 57



I like this series. Though I do think the torture scenes are a bit over the top, and I find myself skimming those parts, but I like seeing the other side of things. It gives me something to keep me occupied while I wait for the show to start back up.

Currently Reading:



71lkernagh
ag. 14, 2015, 9:19 am

Great batch of reading, and look at all of those chunksters - Seveneves and 11/22/63! I have been collecting Stephenson books but have yet to start reading one. One of these days I will. Same goes for my copy of 11/22/63, which thank goodness, is a trade paperback edition and not a hardcover. My poor wrists are not fans of the big hardcover books.

72mamzel
ag. 17, 2015, 6:25 pm

>70 virginiahomeschooler: I felt the same way when I read Stephenson's Reamde. After making it through hundreds of pages it felt the last chase scene went on forever. I just finished Snow Crash and there was way more information about Sumerian mythology than I needed. One might wonder if he gets paid by the pound.

73virginiahomeschooler
ag. 23, 2015, 8:36 am

>71 lkernagh: I read both of them on my nook, otherwise I don't think I could've done it. My hands would be cramping like mad. I can't handle big chunky books - especially hardcovers.

>72 mamzel: He must be brilliant - or know people who are brilliant in their field of study, but sometimes I was just like can we please just get on with the story?! I don't really need to know all the minutiae that he seems to enjoy. It was still a good book, but it easily could've been 400 pages shorter and still just as good of a story.

74virginiahomeschooler
ag. 29, 2015, 11:19 am

Title: Shakespeare's Landlord ★★
Author: Charlaine Harris
Total # of Books Read: 58



I enjoyed the Sookie Stackhouse books as a nice diversion when I just needed something fluffy to read. But the first book in this series was really just awful. I found the main character to be horribly unlikable. She was constantly rude and irritating, and while I think I was meant to feel sorry for her or at least admire her for what she'd gone through, I just couldn't. I won't bother with any more in the series.

Title: Happy Ever After ★★★★
Author: Nora Roberts
Total # of Books Read: 59



I haven't read a Nora Roberts book in quite some time. I am not a big fan of romance novels, but Nora tends to tell a good story. I'd read the first 3 books in this series a while back, but I was able to pick right up where I left off, and I really enjoyed this one.

Title: Fall of the Governor Part 2 ★★★½
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 60



A satisfying conclusion to the governor's story, there was a bit less torture in this one than the previous one, which was nice.

Title: The Gunslinger ★★½
Author: Stephen King
Total # of Books Read: 61



I really wanted to like this one. I've never read a Stephen King book that I didn't at least moderately enjoy, but this one was just so incredibly confusing. I was so looking forward to it being over, and considering that it's just over 200 pages, that's saying something. My son tells me that I'll like the series if I just keep going with it, but I'm not convinced.

Title: Metro Girl ★★★
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 62



This is the first book in the Alex Barnaby series. It was very similar to her Stephanie Plum books, which I like, so that doesn't bother me too much. I did find myself wishing Lula and Grandma Mazur would make an appearance, though.

Title: Station Eleven ★★★★½
Author: Emily St. John Mandel
Total # of Books Read: 63



I started this book thinking it was going to be similar to The Stand, but I found myself more reminded of World War Z (without the zombies, of course). I liked Mandel's take on the fallen society and how she brought the multiple stories together. I'd highly recommend it.

Title: Just Another Day at the Office ★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 64



I checked this ebook out from Overdrive, and I'm glad I didn't waste my money on it, even if it was only 99 cents. The actual story was just 15 pages, and it was completely pointless.

Title: Miles Behind Us ★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 65



Title: Safety Behind Bars ★★★½
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 66



Title: The Heart's Desire ★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 67



I'm not a huge graphic novel fan, but I love the show The Walking Dead. I find the writing to be limited in the graphic novels, and Kirkman seems to have an odd view of women. Still, I'm enjoying seeing what his take on his characters was - some of them are downright crazy!

Currently Reading:



75mamzel
set. 1, 2015, 10:54 am

I am in agreement with you on the Harris book and Station Eleven. I was also underwhelmed by The Gunslinger and didn't continue with the Dark Tower series. Unfortunately, I have no desire to watch or read zombie stories but I'm glad you find them enjoyable. My only contact with critters like that is in video games in the form of draugirs.

76AHS-Wolfy
set. 1, 2015, 5:57 pm

>74 virginiahomeschooler: I'm only part way through Stephen King's Dark Tower series myself but I can confirm that it gets a lot better from the second book in. The Drawing of the Three is a lot more vivid in both character development, world building and atmosphere.

77virginiahomeschooler
set. 12, 2015, 10:53 am

>75 mamzel: I never would've thought I'd like the zombie stories either. In fact, when I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies a while back, I kept thinking this is such a great book, except for the whole zombie thing... Somehow I got sucked into the show, after not enjoying the first few episodes. Now, for me, it's more about the characters than about the zombies. I like the whole civilization falls apart thing. The zombies, even though they were the catalyst, are really a minor thing for me.

>76 AHS-Wolfy: I'll probably give the second book a try at some point. My son keeps stressing that they do get better.

78virginiahomeschooler
set. 12, 2015, 11:17 am

Title: Motor Mouth ★★★
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 68



Book 2 in the Alex Barnaby series. A watered down version of Stephanie Plum. Not awful, but not that great.

Title: The Well of Lost Plots ★★★½
Author: Jasper Fforde
Total # of Books Read: 69



Book 3 in the Thursday Next series. I want to like these books more than I actually do. I think part of the issue I have is that I've not read so many of the books he references. I'm sure I'd get more of the jokes if I had. They're entertaining, but not as much as I think they would be if I were more well read.

Title: Unlucky 13 ★★★★
Author: James Patterson
Total # of Books Read: 70



The 13th book in the Women's Murder Club series. Patterson (or rather whoever happens to be writing the current book that has his name on it) tends to be hit or miss for me. Fortunately this one was a hit. The only issue I had was that the ending didn't tie things up very well. I'm hoping the holes will be addressed in book 14.

Title: A Walk in the Woods ★★★★½
Author: Bill Bryson
Total # of Books Read: 71



My kids and I listened to the audio version of this book in the car. It was great fun. We didn't realize that it was being made into a film. After seeing the trailer, I do think it'll be a good adaptation even though they took HUGE liberties with the age of the characters. At any rate, the book was fantastic, and I'll definitely be reading more of Bryson.

Title: Gates of Rome ★★★½
Author: Alex Scarrow
Total # of Books Read: 72



Book 5 in the Time Riders series. I love time travel books, and I really enjoy this series. It's high action and decent plot, and I genuinely like the main characters. I do think this one went on a bit too long, but it was still quite a fun read.

Title: Troublemaker Book 1 & Troublemaker Book 2 ★★★
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 73 & 74



The continuing story of Alex Barnaby in graphic novel format. The artwork was decent - very cartoony, but cute. The story was lacking in substance. This series just sort of falls flat. I'm assuming this was the end of it, but either way, I won't waste more time with this one.

Title: Walking Dead Volume 5: The Best Defense through Walking Dead Volume 19: March to War ★★★½
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 75 - 89



Still enjoying the series.

Currently Reading:



79-Eva-
set. 18, 2015, 5:17 pm

I keep hearing great things about A Walk in the Woods, but I'm wary after having read another one of his books and really disliking that one. I shall be trying this one out, though, since the consensus seems to be that it's very good.

80virginiahomeschooler
set. 27, 2015, 5:39 pm

>79 -Eva-: Do you remember which one of his you disliked? I was considering reading In a Sunburned Country next.

81-Eva-
Editat: set. 27, 2015, 5:43 pm

>80 virginiahomeschooler:
It was the European one (can't remember the name now). He managed to irritate me something awful in that one - it was like he was trying to misunderstand anything and everything Europeans do and make it sound like the Americans do everything better. Growl. :)

ETA: It's called Neither Here nor There. Not recommended.

82virginiahomeschooler
set. 27, 2015, 5:51 pm

>82 virginiahomeschooler: Oh, yeah, I can see why that would be annoying. He was occasionally a bit too whiny and judgmental in A Walk in the Woods, too, so it doesn't really surprise me.

83-Eva-
set. 27, 2015, 6:09 pm

>82 virginiahomeschooler:
Good to know, so I'm prepared for it! :)

84virginiahomeschooler
set. 27, 2015, 6:16 pm

Title: Walking Dead Volume 20: All Out War Part 1 through Walking Dead Volume 23: Whispers Into Screams ★★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 90-93



I'm all caught up in the series with what my library has. The 24th has just come out, and I'm on hold for it and am hoping it comes soon. Then, I guess it'll be a waiting game for the next one. I'm surprised how much I enjoy these.

Title: The 5th Wave ★★★½
Author: Rick Yancy
Total # of Books Read: 94



I'd hoped to like this more than I did. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. I believe there's a movie coming out soon. I'll probably wait til it's on Netflix to see it.

Title: Descent ★★★★
Author: Robert Kirkman
Total # of Books Read: 95



I like these more than the graphic novels even though they don't involve the people from the show. This one was maybe a bit less action than the last few, but it was still a fun read. I've got the next one on hold at the library, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm hoping it'll come through before the 6th season starts for the show.

Title: Anna and the French Kiss ★★★
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Total # of Books Read: 96



I kept hearing great things about this book, but it just wasn't for me. I didn't really like any of the characters, and it dragged on too long with nothing happening. It was just sort of meh.

Title: 14th Deadly Sin ★★★½
Author: James Patterson
Total # of Books Read: 97



After a very enjoyable book 13, I had high hopes for this installment. While it didn't live up to it as much as I'd wanted, it was still pretty good.

Title: Explosive 18 ★★★½
Author: Janet Evanovich
Total # of Books Read: 98



Same old thing happening in these. I'll finish the series probably (or at least what she's written so far), but I'm seriously ready for some closure. She needs to just tie things up and be done with these people.

Title: Throne of Glass ★★★½
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Total # of Books Read: 99



This book was a huge disappointment. First of all, I'd heard fantastic things about it, so I had high expectations. And, the thing is, for the first half of the book, it was totally living up to those. But, god, it just kept going and going. It was at least 150 pages longer than it should've been. A book that easily could've been 4 1/2 stars ended up 3 1/2 because I felt like I was just slogging through to the end. I've got the 2nd book on my nook from Overdrive (for the next 21 days), and I've not yet decided if I'm actually going to read it. We'll see.

Currently Reading:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children during naptime

85lkernagh
set. 28, 2015, 8:53 pm

What a sweet picture of nap time!

86DeltaQueen50
oct. 1, 2015, 11:15 pm

>84 virginiahomeschooler: I am still enjoying The Walking Dead graphic novels as well. I am up to Volume 22 and looking forward to getting Volume 23 and 24 one of these days!

87paruline
des. 24, 2015, 8:44 am

Making the rounds and stopping by to wish you a happy holiday season with lots of naps!

88lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 4:55 pm

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Traci!


89rabbitprincess
des. 24, 2015, 6:02 pm

Merry Christmas and all the best in 2016!