Stacy's (LittleTaiko) 2015 Sporting Challenge

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Stacy's (LittleTaiko) 2015 Sporting Challenge

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1LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 2, 2015, 4:19 pm

Excited about another year of challenge reading! While I'm not a sports nut, I couldn't help but think that my reading sort of fell into some of the sports quite nicely while I'll freely admit that some are a stretch. :)

As usual, I've kept some categories that are fairly easy to meet and some others that will be harder to give me some balance next year. I'll be participating in a couple of CATs, KITS, and am eagerly awaiting BINGO DOG as well.

I'll try to read a minimum of five books in each category for a total of 75 books. Once I hit that target, I'll keep logging books here until the end of the year.

Ratings:

1 Star - Didn't like at all or did not finish
2 Stars - It's okay but not something I would recommend.
3 Stars - I liked it but may or may not recommend it
4 Stars - Really liked it and am happy that I spent time reading it
5 Stars - Loved it and the whole world should read it too

2LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 31, 2015, 12:04 pm



Grand Slam

My favorite sport is tennis - so in honor of that I'll read books set in Australia, France, London, and New York City (homes to each of the Grand Slam events).

1. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (Australia) - January 4 stars
2. Mrs. Jeffries and the One Who Got Away by Emily Brightwell (London) February - 4 stars
3. Bad Debts by Peter Temple (Australia) April - 3 stars
4. Alex by Pierre Lemaitre (France) June - 5 stars
5. Final Jeopardy by Linda Fairstein (New York) June - 3 stars
6. Irene by Pierre Lemaitre (France) December - 5 stars
7. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (New York) December - 3 stars

3LittleTaiko
juny 28, 2015, 4:40 pm



March Madness

Tournament of Books - each year I think I need a category just for this and this year I finally remembered to set one up.

1. Department of Speculation by Jenny Offill January - 3 stars
2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel January - 4 stars
3. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer January - 3 stars
4. Silence Once Begun by Jesse Bell February - 3 stars
5. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng February - 4 stars
6. Adam by Ariel Schrag February - 2 stars
7. The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell March - 4 stars
8. All The Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld March - 2 stars

4LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 15, 2015, 4:46 pm



Kentucky Derby

Short Stories/Plays/Poems - A very quick race seemed appropriate for these shorter reads

1. Blue Horses by Mary Oliver February - 4 stars
2. The Party After You Left by Roz Chast February - 4 stars
3. The Birds by Aristophanes March - 4 stars
4. The Frogs by Aristophanes March - 3 stars
5. A Blackbird Sings by Fiona Robyn April - 4 stars
6. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff May - 4 stars
7. Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi May - 3 stars (Volume 11)
8. Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi July - 4 stars (Volume 12)
9. Felicity by Mary Oliver October - 3 stars
10. Rubayiat of Omar Khayyam November - 4 stars
11. Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann November - 4 stars
12. Star of the East by Tasha Alexander November - 3 stars
13. That Silent Night by Tasha Alexander November - 3 stars

5LittleTaiko
Editat: juny 28, 2015, 4:53 pm



Westminster - Best in Show

1001 books to read before you die - I've been trying to check these off but didn't make much progress in 2014. Hope to renew my efforts in 2015.

1. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift February - 2 stars
2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon February - 2 stars
3. The Female Quixote by Charlotte Lennox March - 2 stars
4. Thirty-nine Steps by John Buchan May - 3 stars
5. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck May - 4 stars

6LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 27, 2015, 12:31 pm



World Series

Next book up in any series that I've read

1. A Fatal Winter by G.M. Malliet January - 3 stars
2. Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie January - 5 stars
3. Hey There, You With a Gun in Your Hand by Robert Randisi February - 4 stars
4. Poirot Loses a Client by Agatha Christie March - 4 stars
5. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Kills You by Robert Randisi April - 3 stars
6. Mystery off Glen Road by Julie Campbell May - 4 stars
7. Stirring the Plot by Daryl Gerber May - 2 stars
8. I'm a Fool to Kill You by Robert Randisi June - 4 stars
9. Acts of Faith by Patricia Wynn July - 5 stars
10. Mystery in Arizona by Julie Campbell October - 3 stars
11. An Uninvited Ghost by E. J. Copperman November - 4 stars
12. Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie November - 4 stars

7LittleTaiko
Editat: ag. 1, 2015, 2:00 pm



Tour de France

Books over 400 pages - the tour is one of the ultimate in endurance sports and sometimes reading anything over 400 requires a bit of endurance and focus on my part.

1. Death of a Red Heroine by Xiaolong Qiu January - 3 stars
2. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker April - 5 stars
3. Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett April - 3 stars
4. Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin June - 2 stars
5. The Royal We by Heather Cocks July - 2 stars

8LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 13, 2015, 2:21 pm



Super Bowl

NFL = Normal Fiction Lover

1. Inimitable Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse - February - 4 stars
2. Blindness by Jose Saramago March - 3 stars
3. These is My Words by Nancy Turner April - 4 stars
4. A Sudden Light by Garth Stein April - 3 stars
5. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh May - 3 stars
6. Crampton Hodnet by Barbara Pym June - 4 stars
7. Full Moon by P.G. Wodehouse July - 4 stars
8. Circling the Sun by Paula McLain September - 3 stars
9. The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma October - 4 stars
10. Good Hard Look by Ann Napolitano November - 4 stars
11. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino November - 3 stars
12. The Homesman by Glendon Swarthout December - 3 stars
13. My True Love Gave to Me by Stephanie Perkins December - 3 stars
14. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami December - 3 stars

9LittleTaiko
Editat: oct. 28, 2015, 12:47 pm



The Masters

Classics

1. Grimm's Fairy Tales - May - 2 stars
2. The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling - July - 5 stars
3. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - September - 3 stars
4. Men Without Women by Earnest Hemingway - September - 4 stars
5. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - October - 4 stars
6. Dracula by Bram Stoker - October - 4 stars

10LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 20, 2015, 5:18 pm



Stanley Cup

NHL - Next History Lesson (non-fiction)

1. From Baghdad with Love by Jay Kopelman January - 5 stars
2. Can't We Talk About Something Pleasant? by Roz Chast January - 4 stars
3. Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown May - 5 stars
4. The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore July - 3 stars
5. Powers of Two by Joshua Wolf Shenk October - 2 stars
6. The Big Short by Michael Lewis December - 4 stars

11LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 15, 2015, 4:46 pm


NBA Championship

NBA = New Books Allowed (books published or acquired in 2015)

1. Stagolee Shot Billy by Cecil Brown January - 3 stars
2. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin February - 4 stars
3. The Stranger by Harlan Coben March - 4 stars
4. The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos March - 4 stars
5. Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova May - 5 stars
6. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee July - 4 stars
7. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins July - 2 stars
8. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion August - 4 stars
9. Kitchens of the Great Midwest by Ryan Stradal September - 3 stars
10. After You by JoJo Moyes October - 4 stars

12LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 31, 2015, 12:02 pm



America's Cup

Books set in the Americas

1. Breaking Point by C.J. Box January - 3 stars
2. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery January - 3 stars
3. The Suspect by L.R. Wright May - 4 stars
4. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry May - 3 stars
5. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery May - 4 stars
6. Last Dead Girl by Harry Dolan June - 4 stars
7. Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny September - 4 stars
8. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline September - 4 stars
9. Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery November - 3 stars
10. Anne's House of Dreams by L.M.Montgomery December - 4 stars

13LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 31, 2015, 12:03 pm



Olympics

Mysteries/Thrillers - since the Olympics are usually quite thrilling

1. Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas by Stephanie Barron January - 3 stars
2. The Snowman by Jo Nesbo February - 4 stars
3. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle February - 4 stars
4. Cloche & Dagger by Jenn McKinlay March - 3 stars
5. Pagan Spring by G.M. Malliet April - 3 stars
6. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie June - 4 stars
7. A Fatal Chapter by Lorna Barrett June - 4 stars
8. A Demon Summer by G.M. Maliett August - 4 stars
9. Murder with Mirrors by Agatha Christie August - 3 stars
10. Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bown August - 4 stars
11. Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie August - 3 stars
12. Voices by Arnaldur Indriaason August - 4 stars
13. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams - August 4 stars
14. Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams - September 4 stars
15. Cover Her Face by P.D. James - September 3 stars
16. Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd - September 3 stars
17. Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie - September 3 stars
18. Likely to Die by Linda Fairstein - September 4 stars
19. Night of the Living Deed by E.J. Copperman - October - 4 stars
20. The Counterfeit Heiress by Tasha Alexander - November - 3 stars
21. The Adventuress by Tasha Alexander - November - 3 stars
22. Mixed Signals by Jane Tesh December - 3 stars
23. Arctic Chill by Arnaldur Indriasson December - 3 stars
24. Old Haunts by E.J. Copperman December - 4 stars

14LittleTaiko
Editat: juny 28, 2015, 4:52 pm



Iditarod

Team effort = book club/group reads

1. Goodbye to a River by John Graves - January - 3 stars
2. Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott - February - 5 stars
3. Yes Please by Amy Poehler May - 3 stars
4. The Lady in Gold by Anne-Marie O'Connor May - 3 stars
5. An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine June - 4 stars

15LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 15, 2015, 4:43 pm



Formula 1

Science Fiction/Fantasy - F1 represents the cutting edge of science and technology

1. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett - 5 stars - March
2. The Martian by Andy Weir - 5 stars - April
3. Parasite by Mira Grant - 4 stars - May
4. Armada by Ernest Cline - 4 stars - August
5. Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood - 4 stars - September
6. Neuromancer by William Gibson - 2 stars - October
7. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams - 4 stars - November

16LittleTaiko
Editat: oct. 22, 2015, 12:18 pm



Scripps Spelling Bee

Books Chosen for Me - as words are chosen for the contestants

1. Possession by A.S. Byatt chosen by japaul22 - January - 3 stars
2. The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag chosen by Kathryn (non-LT) - March - 4 stars
3. The Death of Sweet Mister by Daniel Woodrell chosen by DeltaQueen - April - 3 stars
4, Years of Wonder by Geraldine Brooks chosen by Lois B - April - 3 stars
5. The Rider by Tim Krabbe chosen by Phil - October - 4 stars

17LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 11, 2015, 4:23 pm

18LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 2, 2015, 4:48 pm

Finished completing a card right around the end of June so thought it would be fun to try another card for the second half of the year. I'm just going to read and let the chips fall where they may, so to to speak.



Read a book...

1. With a protagonist of the opposite gender - Armada by Ernest Cline
2. Chosen by someone else - The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
3. You've owned for more than 1 year - Full Moon by P.G. Wodehouse
4. With scientists - Powers of Two by Joshua Wolf Shenk
5. On a subject you're unfamiliar with - Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
6. Translated from a language you don't speak - Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi
7. With a natural disaster -
8. About autism - The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
9. With an LBGTQ main character
10. Set in a country other than your own - Acts of Faith by Patricia Wynn
11. About language -
12. Published in 1915 -
13. Read a CAT - Demon Summer by G.M. Malliet
14. Reminds you of your childhood - Mystery in Arizona by Julie Campbell
15. Where prophecies and portents are part of the plot -
16. Based on a fairy tale or myth -
17. Inspired by another piece of fiction - Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd
18. With correspondence or letters - Dracula by Bram Stoker
19. By an LT author - Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann
20. Where an animal is of importance - Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling
21. With a mythical creature - Night of the Living Deed by E.J. Copperman
22. Centered around a major historical event - Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
23. Whose author shares an ancestors' first name - Likely to Die by Linda Fairstein
24. That is a genre bender - Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
25. That is completely outside of your comfort zone - The Royal We by Heather Cocks

19-Eva-
juny 28, 2015, 6:47 pm

Happy new thread!!

20Chrischi_HH
juny 29, 2015, 5:57 am

Happy new thread! :)

21MissWatson
juny 29, 2015, 6:54 am

Happy new thread! And a second Bingo, wow!

22dudes22
juny 29, 2015, 8:02 am

Happy new thread! And lots to mention as I reviewed what you've read this year so far.

First - about that last book you read on the other thread Winter's Tale. I have that on my TBR pile and, based on your review, wonder if I should purge it Or push it further down. I'll have to go look at my copy and decide what to do.

Saw lots of interesting reads as I reviewed your reading so far this year. My sister-in-law is reading Boys in the Boat and recommended it to me and I see you've given it 5 stars so I'm looking forward to that one later this summer maybe. And my sister (who's a librarian) looked and told me that I'm almost to the top of the list for Inside the O'Briens which I'm happy about. I love Lisa Genova's books.

23lkernagh
juny 29, 2015, 9:55 am

Happy new thread!

24rabbitprincess
juny 29, 2015, 4:59 pm

Hurray, new thread!

25mamzel
juny 30, 2015, 3:18 pm

Cool new thread ... and to celebrate the theme, the Tour de France starts this Sunday. Yay!

I didn't read the book but the movie of Winter's Tale was pretty cool.

26VivienneR
jul. 2, 2015, 2:03 pm

Regarding your review of Winter's Tale on the previous thread: If it had been about 400 pages shorter this might have been better.

A lot of authors should keep this in mind :)

27LittleTaiko
jul. 20, 2015, 5:18 pm

Woefully behind on posting as RL keeps getting in the way. Here's the shortened version.

Books 78-82
78. Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi - 4 stars: Volume 12 was one of the better ones. Think there are only two more left. It's been a fun little series.

79. Acts of Faith by Patricia Wynn - 5 stars: Latest in the Blue Satan series and offered several squee moments for fans of the series.

80. Full Moon by P.G. Wodehouse - 4 stars: Part of the Blandings series. Not the best of Wodehouse, but even an uneven Wodehouse is better than most things. The scene with the pig in the bedroom had me shaking with laughter.

81. The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling - 5 stars: Really loved these stories. It included the Mowgli stories as well as some other stand alone ones. All of them involved animals and were quite fun to read.

82. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee - 4 stars: Lots of controversy about this book, but I quite liked it for what it was. Considering it was written many years ago and really wasn't a finished product, I judged it on those merits. Enjoyed spending time with Scout again and loved the flashbacks.

28PawsforThought
jul. 21, 2015, 5:36 pm

>27 LittleTaiko: Ooh, I haven't got around to reading the Blandings novels yet; I'm still on the Jeeves & Wooster ones. I'm glad to hear you liked Full Moon, that makes me excited for future reading adventures.

I read The Jungle Book in upper secondary school and loved it. Was obviously aware of the Disney version (both in movie and book/comic form) but the original was something else. So good!

29mstrust
ag. 1, 2015, 2:07 pm

Dropping in with a *wave* and a thumbs up on your progress. 82 is excellent!

30LittleTaiko
ag. 1, 2015, 2:24 pm

Another quick round of reviews:

83. The Royal We by Heather Cocks - 2 stars: Fan fiction loosely based on William & Kate and really not the sort of thing I would pick up on my own, however my book club selected it so I gave it a try. There were some funny moments, however it was way too long for what it was, the story gets bogged down, and the twists are a bit ridiculous and predictable.

84. The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore - 3 stars: Who knew that the private life of the creator of Wonder Woman would be so fascinating? It's almost something you have to read to believe. The unfolding of the story was a bit slow, but overall I enjoyed learning more about Wonder Woman and the people behind her.

85. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins - 2 stars: Billed as the next Gone Girl, this book tries but really doesn't succeed. The characters are paper thin, especially the women. The book is told from three different women's points of view and none of them are particularly interesting. Their whole reason for being seems to be related to the men in their lives. Other than that, they do absolutely nothing. Since it's a thriller, there is a murder and a supposed surprise unveiling of who the murderer is, however it's quite obvious early on who it's going to be.

31LittleTaiko
Editat: ag. 1, 2015, 2:26 pm

>29 mstrust: - Thank you! I've been slowing down with my reading recently. Hoping to pick up something really good soon to help get me back into the groove.

32rabbitprincess
ag. 1, 2015, 6:09 pm

>30 LittleTaiko: I thought that cover art looked awfully like Will and Kate...! I'll stick to actual documentaries and books about them ;) Thanks for the warning!

33christina_reads
ag. 10, 2015, 3:10 pm

>27 LittleTaiko: There is a new Blue Satan book?!?! Off to put Acts of Faith on my Amazon wishlist IMMEDIATELY!

34LittleTaiko
ag. 15, 2015, 4:03 pm

>33 christina_reads: - hope you get it soon. It was so good!

36LittleTaiko
Editat: ag. 15, 2015, 6:34 pm

So, I can't go into a bookstore without buying a book. Stopped in at B&N to kill some time and left with three more books.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams
Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams

37mstrust
ag. 15, 2015, 7:00 pm

Well aren't you having fun? Great haul!

38RidgewayGirl
ag. 15, 2015, 7:02 pm

Hooray for vacations which incorporate trips to different bookstores!

39lkernagh
ag. 15, 2015, 9:52 pm

Vacations and bookstores.... a perfect combination!

40thornton37814
ag. 19, 2015, 3:57 pm

>35 LittleTaiko: I remember visiting a bookstore in Minneapolis-St. Paul called Uncle Edgar's which was a mystery bookstore. It was adjacent to Uncle Hugo's which was sci-fi.

41LittleTaiko
ag. 22, 2015, 2:47 pm

Another quick round of book updates. One day, I'll get back to writing a bit more...maybe. :)

86. A Demon Summer by G.M. Malliet - another good entry in the Father Max series.

87. Murder with Mirrors by Agatha Christie - maybe not the strongest of the Christie novels but still a good read. I was pretty sure that I remembered who the murderer was and was happy to find out I was correct. It was fun to see Miss Marple interact with her old school friends.

88. Armada by Ernest Cline - not as strong as Ready Player One but still a lot of fun. It starts off a bit slow, but picks up quite a bit through the end. Lots of pop culture references to chuckle over.

89. Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen - the latest in the Royal Spyness series was quite fun . Love spending time with Georgie. The mystery wasn't completely strong but the characters continue to develop (ever so slowly) and the ending definitely leaves things open as to what might come next. Can't wait for the next one!

90. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - Finally got around to reading this book after hearing about it from so many different people. Loved it! Granted there were a few times I was having problems figuring out what exactly was wrong with his behavior, but so many funny moments and Don is such a sweet man.

91. Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie - a collection of four short stories involving Hercule Poirot. Her short stories weren't where she shined but these were still enjoyable.

92. Voices by Arnaldur Indriaason - latest in the wonderful if slightly depressing Iceland series featuring Inspector Erlendur. This time it's Christmas and they have been called to a hotel to investigate the murder of Santa Claus.

93. Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams - picked up this book on a whim and am really glad that I did. Such a fun new series full of colorful characters and a location I truly wished existed. I found that I was still thinking about the characters a few days later so went ahead and started the second book in the series. It will be a bit sad when that book is over since the next one won't be published until next year.

42thornton37814
set. 3, 2015, 10:00 pm

>41 LittleTaiko: I've enjoyed some of Adams' other series even though I've thought some of them to be based on strange premises (such as a lighthouse in the mountains of NC). I will have to look for that one.

43LittleTaiko
set. 7, 2015, 3:38 pm

>42 thornton37814: - I'll have to try some of other other series then.

44LittleTaiko
Editat: set. 7, 2015, 3:55 pm

94. Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams - second in the series and just as much fun as the first book. Will be interesting to see how this one progresses.

95. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny - so nice to be back in Three Pines with Gamache and company. Everyone is moving on after the events of the last book. Overall I really enjoyed this book though I do get tired of how dramatic and over the top the story line can be.

96. Circling the Sun by Paula McLain - how is that I've never heard of Beryl Markham before now? It seems that from an aviation perspective she should be as commonly known as Amelia Earhart. A fictionalized account of her life, the author does a nice job of showing us what life in Kenya was like in the early 1900's. However, I would have preferred less focus on the love story part of the book and more about the horse training and her later years as a pilot.

97. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - read this book when I was either in high school or college and absolutely loved it. I'm sure I was caught up in the Scarlett/Rhett romance. Now almost 20 years later it's a bit harder to read. It's hard to stomach such an romanticized version of the South prior to the Civil War. It also asks us to read quite a bit about one of the most unsympathetic creatures possible. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt as she was quite young, but it's not until the very end that it's possible to really root for her.

45mamzel
set. 8, 2015, 10:42 am

>44 LittleTaiko: How did I miss the latest of the Three Pines series? *going to reserve copy at library*
Sorry you found it over-dramatic. I consider myself forewarned.

46LittleTaiko
set. 8, 2015, 12:17 pm

>45 mamzel: - It was really good, it managed to balance out all the character really well I thought. I may have phrased it poorly - the mystery was a bit dramatic, maybe just a tad too much for the location, however it allowed everyone to play a part so I was happy.

47LittleTaiko
set. 9, 2015, 5:56 pm

Finished a couple of enjoyable books this week.

98. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (4 stars) - Lovely story about a part of America's history I didn't really know much about. It alternates between a modern day teenager struggling with her foster situation and a 1920's orphan who was brought to Minnesota on one of the orphan trains that took children from the east to the midwest in hopes of finding a home for them. Really loved both Vivian and Molly.

99. Men Without Women by Earnest Hemingway (4 stars) - A nice collection of short stories. He really has a way of telling a story subtly and succinctly. Favorite stories were "An Alpine Idyll," "A Pursuit Race," and "Today is Friday."

48LittleTaiko
set. 16, 2015, 5:41 pm

100. Blind Assassins by Margaret Atwood (4 stars) - What a fantastic book! Really enjoyed the switch from the narrator in the present day reminiscing on her past, to the unnamed couple from the past, and the science fiction story. Very creative and hard to pull off but Atwood does a good job of balancing everything overall. My main quibble would be with the character development of Iris as I never got a good sense of how she became a stronger more assertive person. Really enjoyed this story though.

49RidgewayGirl
set. 17, 2015, 5:37 am

I've been thinking that I need to reread The Blind Assassin. I have forgotten too much. Of course, I'd also like to reread The Handmaid's Tale and she has a new book out in just a few days...

50mstrust
set. 17, 2015, 12:19 pm

I loved The Blind Assassin. That and Alias Grace have been my favorites from her so far.

51LittleTaiko
set. 21, 2015, 2:58 pm

>49 RidgewayGirl: - Haven't read The Handmaid's Tale yet but it's on my wishlist. She's not an author that I always love but so far she's had more hits than misses with me.

>50 mstrust: - Alias Grace wasn't one of my favorites but still enjoyable. I found that I really liked Penelopiad too.

52LittleTaiko
set. 21, 2015, 3:03 pm

101. Cover Her Face by P.D. James (3 stars) - Finally I've read a book by P.D. James! Not sure why it took so long but am glad that I finally did. This first book in her series was pretty good and I look forward to reading more by her. Love a good English mystery.

102. Murder at Mansfield Park by Lynn Shepherd (3 stars) - Really didn't think I was going to read Murder at Mansfield Park but I was on a plane with my ebooks and figured why not cross one more book off my TBR list. The author takes Mansfield Park by Jane Austen and completely turns it around. This time Fannie isn't the sweet (yet annoying) character from Austen's novel, instead she is a selfish, cruel heiress who of course gets murdered. Since Fannie was never a favorite of mine in the original, I had no problem with her being bumped off. Overall a nice way to spend some time when stuck on a plane.

53mathgirl40
set. 25, 2015, 9:51 pm

>51 LittleTaiko: I think it's definitely worthwhile to read The Handmaid's Tale, if only because it's so well-known and controversial. I need to do a reread of it myself, as it's been so long since I'd read it the first time. I like Atwood's non-fiction too.

54LittleTaiko
oct. 9, 2015, 5:42 pm

>53 mathgirl40: - Good to know. One of these days I'm sure I'll finally get to it.

55LittleTaiko
Editat: oct. 9, 2015, 5:57 pm

How do I keep getting so behind on my posts? Time for another round of quick book reviews. Wanted to get these out of the way before heading off for a short vacation to New York! Should have another round of reviews due to that quality airplane reading time.

103. Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie (3 stars) - Not my favorite Poirot but it was still pretty fun. It starts with him overhearing a snippet of conversation "You see that she has to be killed" and initially passing it off as a frustrated author trying to kill off a character. When coincidence puts him in contact with the person who uttered those words right after a mysterious death as occurred, Poirot is determined to figure out the truth.

104. Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (3 stars) - Really wanted to like this book better than I did. It's essentially the story of Eva and how she came into her love of food and cooking. Each chapter is about someone who crossed paths with Eva somehow. This device worked for me, what didn't work was the people themselves. Maybe it was supposed to be a satire, but most of these people were horrible and a bit over the top. Liked the ending though.

105. Likely to Die by Linda Fairstein (4 stars) - This is the second book in the series featuring Alex Cooper - sex crimes attorney. Once again it finds her in the midst of cases, a fresh murder, and trying to have a life. Looking forward to continuing with this series.

106. After You by JoJo Moyes (4 stars) - Me Before You was one of my favorite books the year I read it so expectations were high for this follow up. Overall it did not disappoint but definitely didn't have quite the impact the other book did. It picks up 18 months after the first book ended with Louisa trying to figure out what kind of life to have. I adore Louisa and would love to hang out with her sometime if only she were real. There was a part in the middle that seemed a bit off and took me out of the story, but in the end it was worth reading. Kind of hoping for yet another follow up book.

107. Neuromancer by William Gibson (2 stars) - So, most of Neuromancer went right over my head I fear. It kept me interested but also hopelessly confused. I still don't know what they meant by "ice." Ah well, can't love everything you read. I'm just happy that I finished it and can cross something else off the list!

56mamzel
oct. 9, 2015, 6:22 pm

>55 LittleTaiko: Monsieur and I are going to see Gibson tonight. I haven't read any of his books but he is kind of a nerd god and I can't miss it.

57LittleTaiko
oct. 9, 2015, 8:12 pm

>56 mamzel: - Have fun! If he mentions what ice is please let me know!

58lkernagh
oct. 10, 2015, 4:38 pm

Have a wonderful time in New York! One of the cities still on my 'to visit' list. ;-)

59LittleTaiko
oct. 14, 2015, 3:25 pm

108. The Rider by Tim Krabbe (4 stars) - Wonderful, true short story about the author's amateur cycling career, specifically a one day race he competed it. It really gets into the mind of a cyclist and the suffering they go through.

109. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (4 stars) - Really, really enjoyed this book. It was nice to go into a book not really know anything about it. A bit scary how realistic the scenario of this perfect world is and the means taken to achieve it. Some days it does seem like everybody is on a quest to live in their own utopia with nothing to make them unhappy.

60LittleTaiko
oct. 15, 2015, 12:31 pm

110. The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards by Kristopher Jansma (4 stars) - What a weird and fun book this turned out to be. From the start you know that the narrator isn't going to be the most reliable of people and proceeds to churn out various stories that may or may not be true about his relationship with a famous author and a female actress. Reads a bit like a collection of short stories even though they are all linked together.

61christina_reads
oct. 22, 2015, 11:04 am

>59 LittleTaiko: I'm with you on really liking Brave New World! That last sentence is one of my favorite endings in literature; it's absolutely chilling.

62LittleTaiko
oct. 22, 2015, 12:04 pm

>61 christina_reads: - Yeah, that is a very chilling last sentence - perfect for the book though.

63LittleTaiko
oct. 22, 2015, 12:15 pm

111. The Mystery in Arizona by Julie Campbell (3 stars) - Needed a break from some of the other books I was reading and decided a trip back to my youth was in order. Love spending time with Trixie and the other Bob-Whites. This one was a little different since they were all on vacation in Arizona, but it was still fun.

112. Powers of Two by Joshua Wolf Shenk (2 stars) - This started off really well and then just sort of fizzled out for me. It's a look at how creative genius really comes as the result of two people working together as opposed to the popular image of one person doing it all on their own. The examples were interesting, but after a while they felt repetitive. If you are a fan of the Beatles you may enjoy this more than I did as about two thirds of the anecdotes seemed to be about Paul and John.

64LittleTaiko
oct. 22, 2015, 12:23 pm

And with that last book I officially hit the minimum in all my categories! Yippee!! Plenty of reading left though for the various challenges and I'll continue to log everything here.

65DeltaQueen50
oct. 22, 2015, 3:24 pm

Congrats on completing your challenge! I loved Trixie Belden when I was young. I can still vividly recall Mystery in Arizona!

66dudes22
oct. 23, 2015, 6:27 am

Congratulations on finishing your challenge!

67MissWatson
oct. 23, 2015, 7:25 am

Well done on finishing early! And enjoy your next books!

68AHS-Wolfy
oct. 23, 2015, 7:48 am

Congrats on completing your challenge!

69-Eva-
oct. 23, 2015, 1:41 pm

Congratulations on completing! And yey for hanging around the rest of the year. :)

70rabbitprincess
oct. 23, 2015, 5:39 pm

Woo hoo, congratulations! :)

71Chrischi_HH
oct. 23, 2015, 6:25 pm

Yay, congratulations!

72lkernagh
oct. 23, 2015, 11:45 pm

Congratulations! Better late than never, right? ;-)

73LittleTaiko
oct. 28, 2015, 9:42 am

So excited! Just found out that the 2019 Bouchercon is going to be held here in Dallas! For those of you unfamiliar with Bouchercon it's a wonderful mystery book convention where many authors gather, sign books, participate in panel discussions, etc...Lots of fun for the fans too.

74LittleTaiko
Editat: oct. 28, 2015, 5:31 pm

113. Night of the Living Deed by E.J. Copperman (4 stars) - I was in the mood for something light and Halloween themed and this book fit the bill quite nicely. It's the first of a guesthouse mystery series. Alison is trying to finish the renovations on her newly purchased home in order to turn it into a guesthouse, the only catch is that it's currently inhabited by two ghosts. The ghosts are two people who were recently killed in the house and would like some help figuring out who did it and why. Fun characters and overall enjoyable read, definitely a series I'd like to read more of.

114. Dracula by Bram Stoker (4 stars) - When I was young I saw a picture of Dracula (or the actor playing him) in my parents Time magazine and have essentially scared of all things vampire related since then. Finally decided it was time to read the book that started it all, so with trepidation and I got the book from the library. After getting through the first section with Jonathon (which had me quite tense), I really started to get into the book. I loved how it was told through letters and journal entries. Yes, it's a bit dated, especially in it's portrayal of women, but I found it quite thrilling and enjoyable.

115. Felicity by Mary Oliver (3 stars) - This latest collection of poems by my favorite poet just didn't resonate with me the way earlier collections have done. The poems are very sparse and are broken up into three sections, Journey, Love, and Felicity. The Journey section is where I found my favorites such as "Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way," "The Wildest Storm," "Storage," and "For Tom Shaw S.S.J.E." The Love portion was too gushy for my taste.

75RidgewayGirl
oct. 29, 2015, 5:51 pm

That is exciting about Boucheron! Several of my favorite authors are regulars.

76LittleTaiko
oct. 30, 2015, 3:40 pm

DNF - Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman - This book should have worked for me as early 1900's New York is an area of time that I want to read more about. The historical part of the book worked well for me overall, but the characters were just so boring. Lots of repetition in the character's thoughts and actions that got us nowhere. The whole instant love thing really bugged me as well as it was completely unrealistic. In the end I just gave up as I really didn't care what happened to them in the end.

77-Eva-
oct. 31, 2015, 4:31 pm

I listened to an audio version of Dracula a few years back - it was my first time - and found that it has held up quite well. Yes, there are some things that are very dated, but not enough to be intrusive, I thought.

78VioletBramble
nov. 2, 2015, 1:51 pm

Congratulations on completing your challenge.
The Mystery in Arizona is a good one. It's one of my top 3 Trixie Belden books.

79LittleTaiko
nov. 2, 2015, 4:31 pm

>77 -Eva-: - Agreed - nothing that got in the way of enjoying the story.

>78 VioletBramble: - Thanks! Some of the things they found exotic during the trip made me chuckle. Pretty sure everybody has heard of guacamole now, though I wouldn't have known what they were talking about when I was younger.

80LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 2, 2015, 6:17 pm

116. The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (4 stars) - Once upon a time I signed up for Easton Press's 100 Books of All Time collection which has resulted in several books on my shelf that I really don't know too much about. Having focused on trying to read some of those books this year has resulted in me reading some things that I've unexpectedly really enjoyed. The Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam is an example of one of those books. Really not sure what I thought it was going to be, but was pleasantly surprised to discover a collection of thoughtful quatrains. The primary focus seemed to be on living life to the fullest because death eventually comes for everyone. One in particular stuck out to me since Agatha Christie used it as the inspiration for one of her book titles. Love it when book stuff connects.

"The Moving Finger writes, and having writ,
Moves on; nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Not all they Tears wash out a Word of it."

Also thought I recognized this one or some version of it:

"Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough;
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse - and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness
And Wilderness is Paradise enow."

81LittleTaiko
nov. 2, 2015, 4:47 pm

117. Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann (4 stars) - Very excited that McCann had a new book out as he is one of my favorite authors. This book is actually a novella and three short stories. Loved the title novella with it's stream of consciousness narrative, especially when we are spending time with the judge. Another of the stories shows the inner workings of an author's mind as they contemplate what to write next - found this one to be completely fascinating. All of the stories were quite good and are recommended.

82rabbitprincess
nov. 2, 2015, 5:30 pm

>80 LittleTaiko: Ooh, I didn't know that about the title of The Moving Finger! Neat!

83LittleTaiko
nov. 3, 2015, 5:47 pm

>82 rabbitprincess: - Yeah, love little surprises like that and seeing how books are interconnected even slightly.

84LittleTaiko
nov. 3, 2015, 5:53 pm

118. Good Hard Look by Ann Napolitano (4 stars) - This is a fictional historical book set around 1960 that involves the author Flannery O'Connor. I really didn't know much about O'Connor works or life so came into this fresh. Would have been helpful to know ahead of time when she lived as it took until about two-thirds of the way into the book to realize it was set at an earlier time. However, the reason it didn't register is that I was just so caught up in the story. It opens on the eve of Melvin and Cookie's wedding and involves lots of peacocks which may sound odd but really set the tone for the book. It's about life in a small Southern town, personality conflicts, and trying to figure out how to live life to it's fullest. My one quibble was with the character of Cookie as her reasons for hating Flannery were so paper thin and not really believable.

85LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 15, 2015, 5:16 pm

119. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams - What an absolutely fun book to read. The horse, the Electric Monk, the professor, and the other colorful cast of characters kept me entertained following their adventure.

120-123: Went on a Tasha Alexander reading spree and read the following. All are pretty solid fare. Overall I enjoy Emily and friends but wish Emily wasn't quite so smug all the time.

The Counterfeit Heiress - When someone attending the same masquerade party that Lady Emily is attending is found out to not be who she says she is and is later murdered, Emily, Colin, Jeremy, and Celsete start looking into the past of the murdered lady as well as the person she was trying to pass herself off as.
Star of the East - Christmas novella from 2014 that focused on a stolen jewel at the get together that Emily's mother is hosting.
The Adventuress - Can it be that Jeremy is finally settling down? His fiancee is a bit too good to be true and lots of drams ensues when one of Jeremy's closest friends is found dead with the official verdict being suicide.
That Silent Night - Another Christmas novella that has Emily and Colin in town for a few days during the holidays. While getting to know their new neighbors a bit better a mystery pops up involving a ghostly looking woman who appears each night on the street corner.

86LittleTaiko
nov. 17, 2015, 5:09 pm

124. Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery (3 stars) - The fourth installment in the delightful Anne of Green Gables series. Anne is now a teacher in a small village and eagerly awaiting her wedding to Gilbert once his three years of medical school are over. This book is primarily told from Anne's point of view in a series of letters to Gilbert. It's nice to see Anne more grown up, but it was a tad tedious to have only Anne's perspective with basically no interaction with Gilbert. Even when they were supposedly together there was no conversation. Her letters relate her experiences as a new teacher as well as the ways she fixes everybody's problems just by being herself. Basically each chapter was "insert problem, have Anne be a darling, problem solved, and repeat." Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the book but am really hoping for something different in the next one.

87DeltaQueen50
nov. 17, 2015, 9:49 pm

>86 LittleTaiko: I wasn't a big fan of Anne of Windy Poplars either. As Anne grows up, I miss that lively, naughty side. She's too perfect. I started enjoying the books again when her children became the main focus.

88RidgewayGirl
nov. 18, 2015, 2:05 pm

>86 LittleTaiko: That's why I stopped reading the series with Anne of the Island, which is my favorite. I couldn't see how it could get better. I've read everything else Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote, just not past the first three Anne books.

89LittleTaiko
nov. 19, 2015, 5:34 pm

>87 DeltaQueen50: - It is that perfection that I started to find a bit annoying during Poplars. I am looking forward to the next one though since it should get back to more of her family life.

>88 RidgewayGirl: - Not a bad idea to stop with something you love and not risk ruining it. There have been a few series that I've read for too long and should have stopped when it was at it's peak.

90LittleTaiko
nov. 19, 2015, 5:37 pm

125. An Uninvited Ghost by E.J. Copperman (4 stars) - This second book in the Guesthouse series was so much fun. I enjoyed the first book in the series but this one was better and seemed tighter. Maybe it's because the author didn't have to spend as much time on the set up. Allison is a new PI and owner of a guesthouse that just happens to have a couple of ghosts. When another ghost shows up needing her help, Allison doesn't have much choice but to do a little investigating. Throw in a Jersey Shores like TV show that is being filmed at the guest house as well as tour group who wants to be entertained by the ghosts and here is plenty of action and chaos.

91LittleTaiko
nov. 27, 2015, 12:39 pm

126. Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie (4 stars) - A book I've read a couple of times before but still find interesting even though this time I remember who did it as soon as they appeared in the book. Basic premise is a mean old man who enjoys manipulating his children requests that they all come home for Christmas. Once they are all gathered old resentments flair with the inevitable result being murder.

92LittleTaiko
nov. 27, 2015, 12:42 pm

127. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino (2 stars) - Marco Polo entertains Kublai Khan with various descriptions of cities he has encountered throughout his travels. At least I think that's what it's about. It's more of a commentary on the nature of cities and humanity but for the life of me I just couldn't quite piece it all together. Some of the city descriptions made me nod my head in agreement with how people behave but overall this book didn't quite gel for me.

93LittleTaiko
Editat: nov. 28, 2015, 8:36 pm

128. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (2 stars) - This book can be summed up with one phrase - melodramatic soap opera. These characters were basically all awful human beings whose story was like a trainwreck, so horrible it was a bit fascinating and yet disgusting. It's a book that I know I read at one point and remembered not liking, but I couldn't remember why. This is a note to my future self to never, ever read this book again!

94-Eva-
nov. 28, 2015, 10:45 pm

>93 LittleTaiko:
That one and Madame Bovary are my least liked books every. Whiny McMoany!

95LittleTaiko
des. 13, 2015, 2:23 pm

>94 -Eva-: - Completely agree - whine, whine, whine...:)

96LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 13, 2015, 2:34 pm

129. The Homesman by Glendon Swarthout (3 stars)

Western or pioneer stories are not usually my kind of book, but this one really grabbed my interest early as the main character was such a strong female - very tough and resourceful. The first two thirds of the book were so enjoyable that I was heading towards giving this book a 4 or 5 star rating. Then it all falls apart in the last third. It's almost like somebody else wrote that section. It still ended up being an overall good book, but I just couldn't help but feel like a bait and switch occurred.

97LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 13, 2015, 2:34 pm

130. Irene by Pierre Lemaitre (5 stars) This is the first book in the trilogy by Lemaitre featuring Camille Verhoueven. I had already read the second book Alex earlier in the year as apparently it was the first one translated into English. If you're planning on reading the series I highly recommend that you start with Irene though. Word of warning to the more squeamish readers - these are not for the faint of heart or those who really do not want their books to have graphic violence. However, if that doesn't bother you then they are well worth your time.

98LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 13, 2015, 2:40 pm

131. My True Love Gave to Me by Stephanie Perkins (3 stars)

I didn't realize that this collection was geared towards a YA audience when I bought it. Even though my YA years are far behind me I still enjoyed this group of holiday stories. Needless to say Rainbow Rowell's story was a hit as were the majority of the other stories. It's a book I'll hang onto and reread some of the stories from time to time throughout future holidays.

99LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 13, 2015, 2:47 pm

132. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami (3 stars)

This is the first Murakami book that I've read and I must say that I fail to see what all the fuss is about. Maybe it's a case of having expectations so high that nothing could possibly come close to matching them. This is the story of Tsukuru. In high school he was close friends with four other people. When all of a sudden they cut him out of the group with no explanation it sends him into a tailspin. Now almost 20 years later, at the urging of his girlfriend, he decides to find out what caused them to turn away from him. Tsukuru was interesting enough though I never really understood why he just accepted the group's dismissal so easily. Maybe it was the translation but the dialogue seemed a bit stilted too.

100AHS-Wolfy
des. 14, 2015, 5:47 am

>97 LittleTaiko: Thanks for the reading order suggestion. I have both Irene & Alex sat on my tbr shelves and was wondering which way around they should be read. Also glad to see the very good rating you've given this too!

101LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 14, 2015, 7:14 pm

>100 AHS-Wolfy: - Definitely read Irene first. Can't wait to see what you think of them!

102LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 14, 2015, 7:24 pm

133. Mixed Signals by Jane Tesh (3 stars)

Despite the very logical part of my brain that really couldn't get into the psychic and superhero part of this story, I just couldn't help but get caught up in this rather basic story. It featured a very colorful cast of characters (really loved the main character's mother). Set at Christmas time, David Randall is looking forward to his mother's visit, trying to push away any feelings he has regarding the death of his daughter, and in general get on with life. When he and his friend Camden discover the dead body of one of Camden's friends they start investigating. Camden is psychic and keep channeling the murder. In addition, there is a masked Avenger running through town trying to help stop crime and in fact interrupts several robberies. Quirky is the best word for this mystery.

103LittleTaiko
Editat: des. 20, 2015, 5:27 pm

134. The Big Short by Michael Lewis (4 stars)

This book has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while but with the movie coming out soon it seemed like now would be time to read it. I won't even pretend that I understood all of the technical financial details, but then again that might be the point. Anything that complicated probably shouldn't have been allowed. It's appalling that so many smart people who should have known better buried their heads into the sand and that greed won out.

104rabbitprincess
des. 20, 2015, 5:49 pm

>103 LittleTaiko: Maybe this will finally be the book about the financial crisis that I actually read! Added to my TBR list.

105mamzel
des. 22, 2015, 12:00 pm

>103 LittleTaiko: I did not know the movie was based on a book. It's second on my want-to-see list after Star Wars.

106lkernagh
des. 24, 2015, 5:01 pm

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas, Stacy!

107rabbitprincess
Editat: des. 27, 2015, 6:05 pm

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

108dudes22
Editat: des. 25, 2015, 7:28 am

Merry Christmas, Stacy!


109-Eva-
des. 27, 2015, 5:57 pm

Hope you had a wonderful holiday!

110christina_reads
des. 28, 2015, 6:44 pm

>98 LittleTaiko: I also liked My True Love Gave to Me, and Rainbow Rowell's story was by far my favorite. :) There were some clunkers, for sure, but I think I enjoyed more stories than I didn't.

111LittleTaiko
des. 31, 2015, 12:22 pm

Mad year end rush to finish up my reviews, really more like quick summaries.

135. Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery (4 stars) Finally! Anne and Gilbert are married and heading off to live in their house of dreams. As usual, there are the assortment of colorful characters to round out the story including Captain Jim, Miss Cornelai (she's a hoot!), and Leslie. This was one of my favorites as Anne finally grows up and becomes a more well rounded person.

136. Arctic Chill by Arnaldur Indriaason (3 stars) Not sure what it says about me that I purposely chose this book for my plane read. These books are never the most uplifting but they sure do keep me engrossed. This time a young Thai boy is found dead near his family's apartment. By all accounts he was a sweet boy with no inclination to trouble. The police immediately wonder if it's a hate crime as there are tensions between native Icelanders and the Asian immigrants. I thought the parallels between the tensions and what we have in the US to be quite interesting. It seemed a little off that the police immediately leap to that assumption. As usual, there are several other stories going on that continue to carry forward from book to book.

137. Old Haunts by E.J. Copperman (4 stars) Third in the haunted guesthouse series and so far it's still a fun series to read. Allison's ex-husband is in town causing trouble, Maxie wants Allison to investigate the murder of a man she used to know, and Paul needs her to track down an old flame. Plenty of things to keep a girl busy.

138. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (3 stars) What a lovely coming of age story about a young Irish girl who moves to Brooklyn in search of more opportunities. Sponsored by a Catholic priest she finds work in a shop, takes night classes to become an accountant (had to love that aspect of it!), and learns to deal with homesickness, housemates, and navigating her first serious relationship. When a tragedy calls her home to Ireland she has to decide whether to return to her new life or stay in her old familiar world. Thought the ending was a bit rushed. And as usual, I was frustrated with how a character's reluctance to actually talk about what they were thinking or feeling could cause so much trouble. Then again, there might not be anything to read about if everybody were always so open and honest.

112LittleTaiko
des. 31, 2015, 5:10 pm

One last one to round out the year.

139. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (2 stars) I know I'm really in the minority on this one, but I just didn't love the book. Parts of it were amusing, but I found the whole "introduction" and various asides to be quite tedious. I did enjoy the bits with Indigo and Fezzik but other than that really could have passed on the rest. Fairy tales just aren't for me.

113rabbitprincess
des. 31, 2015, 7:28 pm

>112 LittleTaiko: I really like the movie but have never been tempted to read the book.

Sorry to hear that the last book of 2015 was not the greatest. But I am glad you liked Anne's House of Dreams!!

114LittleTaiko
gen. 2, 2016, 3:08 pm

>113 rabbitprincess: - Yeah, stick to the movie - it's way less aggravating. On to 2016!