Xymon81's horde in 2015 part two

Hello again everyone I am Matthew. I am 33 and I have been married for almost 8 years. We have 6 kids between us. Oldest two, 21 and 14 are my step daughters. Next one,9, is from my first marriage. The last three, 7, 6 and 4, are all ours. The eldest does not live with us but it is still a busy house.

I am a active duty soldier, currently in Anchorage Alaska. I just moved here last november. Soon Summer here will draw to a close and snow will soon be again on the horizon.

I work in the Artillery field and have been in for 15 years. I am originally from Chicago and plan to back there when my time is done. I spread my time between work, reading, my xbox, spending time with my family and a few various other things.This is my 4th year in the challenge.



This is still one of my favorite pictures I have come across this year.

Currently reading:The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King {Main Book}
nEvermore!: Tales Of Murder, Mystery & The Macabre by Nancy Kilpatrick

Completed: 84/75

January:

Helen and Troy's Epic Road Quest by A. Lee Marinez

Strange Stories of Alaska and the Yukon by Ed Ferrell

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

Red Rain by R L Stine

Him Her Him Again The End of Him by Patricia Marx

A Macabre Miscellany by Geoffrey Abbott

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman.

Zeus is Dead by Michael G. Marx

Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther

Flight To Terror by Michael Elder

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Febuarary:

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

Chasing The Moon by A. Lee Martinez

Through the Reality Warp by Donald J. Pfeil

Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football by Rich Cohen

Step On A Crack by James Patterson

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman

March:

American Gun by Chris Kyle

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Dr. Who The Visual Dictionary by Andrew Darling

The Amazing Mr. Howard by Kenneth Harmon

Tools For Survival by James Wesley Rawles

Run For Your Life by James Patterson

Doctor Who: The Vault by Marcus Hearn

Dreamers and Deceivers: True Stories of the Heroes and Villains Who Made America by Glenn Beck

April:

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

Blood Infernal by James Rollins

Strangers On A Train by Patricia Highsmith

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss

Emperor Mollusk versus The Sinister Brain by A. Lee Martinez

Skipped Parts by Tim Sandlin

Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman

The Child Thief by Brom

May:

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

How to Retire the Cheapskate Way by Jeff Yeager

Cycle of the Werewolf by Steven King

The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly

Worst Case by James Patterson

Sorrow Floats by Tim Sandlin

Faerie Tale Raymond Feist

June:

Zombie Illinois by Scott Kenemore

Stargate Retaliation Bill Mccay

Binary by Michael Crichton

A Nameless Witch by A. Lee Martinez

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

Tick Tock by James Patterson

Married to Distraction by Edward M Hallowell

As You Wish by Cary Elwes

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Miracle at Augusta by James Patterson

The Book of Joby by Mark J Farreri

Getting off by Lawrence Block

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

July:

The Opening Kickoff The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation by Dave Revsine

Finders Keepers by Stephen King

Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

Eternity's Wheel by Niel Gaiman

August:

I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson

Half The World by Joe Abercrombie

Armada by Ernest Cline

Murder in Tarsis by John Max Roberts

Second Life by S. J. Watson

The Ultimatum by Dick Wolf

September:

No One Gets Out Alive by Adam Nevill

Working For Bigfoot by Jim Butcher

Half A War by Joe Abercrombie

The Servents Of Twilight by Dean Koontz

October:

Red Hill by Jamie McGuire

The Making of Major League: A Juuuust a Bit Inside Look at the Classic… by Jonathan Knight

The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M Harris

Have Spacesuit- Will Travel by Robert A Heinlein

Gone by James Patterson

Day of Wrath by William R. Forstchen

The Aeronauts Windlass by Jim Butcher

Hull Zero Three by Greg Bear

November:

One Year After by William R. Forstchen

The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot

The Red Knight by Miles Cameron

On The Clock: The Story of the NFL Draft by Barry Wilner

So Nude So Dead by Ed McBain

Burn by James Patterson

Video Game list:

Working on: Final Fantasy Type Zero (PS4), Lego Marvel

I now have an updated list for standalone fantasy novels. The list I use was updated earlier this year and now I am changing mine in return. The list has now been expanded to 50 and there are many new enteries as well as adjustments to the list overall. Feel free to comment on what has been done. I have included when I completed that book or if it is on my TBR stack and where the book last placed on the list.

1: Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
2: Good Omens By Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (Jan 2015) {LP 11th}
3:Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke ( FEB 2013) {LP 14th}
4 The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien ( NOV 2012) {LP 9th}
5: The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie {New Book}
6: The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison {New Book}
7: Perdido Street station by China Mieville {LP 12th}
8: Talion: Revenant by Michael A. Stackpole (TBR Stack) {LP 22nd}
9: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle {LP 4th}
10: American Gods by Neil Gaiman ( NOV 2012) {LP 5th}
11: Watership Down by Richard Adams {LP 3rd}
12: The Golden Key by Melanie Rawn {New Book}
13: The Folding Knife by K. J. Parker {New Book}
14: Elantris by Brandon Sanderson ( OCT 2012) {LP 23rd}
15: The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers (TBR Stack) {LP 10th}
16: Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover {LP 8th}
17: Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart ( TBR Stack) {LP 2nd}
18: Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock ( JUL 2013) {LP 7th}
19: The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold ( TBR Stack) {LP 16th}
20: The Etched City by K. J. Bishop ( TBR Stack) {LP HM}
21: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern ( DEC 2012) {LP 15th}
22: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley {LP 17th}
23: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia K. McKillip {New Book}
24: The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison {New Book}
25: The Once and Future King by T. H. White {LP HM}
26: War For the Oaks by Emma Bull {LP 25th}
27: American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett {New Book}
28: Little, Big by John Crowley {New Book}
29: Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker {New Book}
30: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (DEC 2013) {LP 24th}
31: The Neverending Story By Michael Ende {LP 19th}
32: The War of The Flowers by Tad Williams (TBR Stack) {LP HM}
33: The Stand by Steven King {LP HM}
34: Deerskin by Robin McKinley {New Book}
35: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman ( AUG 2013) {New Book}
36: Death Of the Necromancer by Martha Wells {LP HM}
37:Howl's Moving Castleby Diana Wynne Jones (JUL 2013) {New Book}
38: SwordPoint by Ellen Kushner {New Book}
39: Lord of Light by Roger Zelanzy ( TBR Stack) {LP 18th}
40: Legend by David Gemmell {New Book}
41: The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson {New Book}
42: The Book of Joby Mark J. Ferrari (JUNE 2015) {LP 20th}
43: To Ride Hell's Chasm by Janny Wurts {New Book}
44: God's Demon by Wayne Barlowe ( OCT 2012) {LP HM}
45: 11/22/63 by Steven King {LP 13th}
46: Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson (APR 2013) {LP HM}
47: Fevre Dream by George R R Martin ( NOV 2012) {LP 6th}
48: Butcher's Bird by Richard Kadrey {New Book}
49: Imajica by Clive Barker {LP 21st}
50: Terror by Dan Simmons {LP HM}

Well, I've read 27 of these, and have sixmore in my tbr pile. Probably not going to read any Stephen King no way, no how, (at least not the Stand--I may actually read 11/22/63 some day) and wasn't impressed with the one Kadrey I have read.

>7 ronincats: The Stand is a classic along with It. 11/22/63 is also considered one of his best written. I have read a bunch of his since highschool, love the movies too.

I may have almost 10 or so on my shelves from the list that I need to read.

Happy New Thread, Matthew!

Shiny new thread!

Thanks you both. Enjoy your weekend. I have only a few more days til my vacation is over, sigh.

Book 56: The Opening Kickoff The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation by Dave Revsine



A good perspective on the beginning of college football, from inception to around 1915. It shows that many of the problems that plague today's game are not new and have been around since the beginning. What began as four ivy league schools playing a friendly game a few weeks a year quickly took off and caught on across the nation. While everyone agreed in principle on the rules, there was no oversight or enforcement. Each school policed itself and if caught in transgression some schools may temporarily may boycott but that may be all.

So why did this sport take off so quickly? Schools saw how much money they could bring in by ticket sales and with that more prestige and more people attending that university or donations from alumni. Winning meant everything, sometimes by any means. At the very beginning this meant maybe bringing in a ringer or two before a big game. Then that person would move on to another team. Now there are may eligibility requirements before a person can play and how long a person has to be on a campus before playing in a game. So now when you see a player transfer schools that they are not eligible to play for a time.

Players taking money in any form has always been an issue. These are supposed a pure amateur teams, but there is big money all around the sport even more today. Somewhere along the way things got screwed up. Instead of this being an just a extracurricular activity, it has become a primary focus of schools. The true purpose of a schools is to educate and to graduate to move on with your life ready to meet the challenges. Less that half though of players even ever get a diploma. Imagine how much worse it would be if they got any type of pay. Most only choose a school based on whatever legal incentive they get from the athletic program. Just last year players from Northwestern, helped pave the way for teams to be able to unionize, instead of being student be considered employees of the university because the schools profit from the play.

The game itself was also an issue. The early years were just running and kicking, since the forward pass was not a legal play until around 1910. It was dirty, nasty and at one point 20 players died on the field in a year across the nation. There were bounty programs similar the Saints controversy a few years back to injure a teams best players by any means. A series of reforms were made, if not football could have been done away with altogether. In those reforms, the NCAA was born. As we see today, injuries are still a problem. While not death on the field, now we see the players get brain injuries similar to soldiers during the wars who were hit with multiple roadside bombs. The thing that bothers with me about that is what do they do about healthcare after their football days are done. Only a very small amount of college players move on to the NFL where they can afford any type of healthcare. Even after then most do not manage their money correctly and end up broke with nothing other than their name because they never earned a degree while at their school. So how do these ex players get the health care that they need for playing a dangerous game that other profit off of. While I do agree that college ball should stay armature, I think some type of co-pay with help from their alma-mater to compensate for any football related long term injuries.

Happy birthday Angelica. Our enegetic and headstrong now 6 yr old. We love you more every day even on the days you drive us crazy.

So on July 4th, did anyone else watch the twilight zone marathon? I watched a few. Although this year I did see one I don't remember watching before. Such a sad tale it was. It was about a very avid reader. He reads so much that both work and his wife object to it. So he works in a bank and for some reason he decides to spend his lunch break reading in the vault. Somehow on that day, WW3 begins and when he emerges, he is the only one around for as far as the eye can see. He eventually comes across the town library and sees parts of it have survived. Now with all the time in the world and more books than a person could ever read. He is about to grt stsrted when his glasses break right then. Ahh bitter irony.

Yup, one of my faves!

>15 drneutron: It is now for me too. Along with the one with William Shatner, where he thinks he sees a gremlin on a an airplane; the talking doll that murders the father of her owner; and my last fav is The Box. It is the ultimate question, would you kill a random person you don't know for a large sum of money? Would your morals hold up to that? The movie that came out a few years back based on the episode was pretty lousy but the episode is one of my favs.

Book 57: Finders Keepers by Stephen King



This was a pretty good thriller book written by Mr. King. What starts off with Mr. Mercedes continues in this novel. While not really considered a direct sequel to me, it fits in nicely to the same timeline and many characters return or are known acquaintances of the principle characters of the first novel. There is even a very interesting twist at the end that you know will bring these characters back for at least one more novel.

Book 58: Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman



One of his original short story collections. A few I have read eldewhere but most were new to me. Not a bad set overall with a few standouts such as an ode to Moorcock and a retelling of snow white where the original tale is not how it really happened.

It is hard to believe that this next book took me almost half a month to finish. Not that is was not good I just was in a funk. There were days when I could only read a few pages at a time. Then the last few days as I got to the second half it was all downhill and did it in very sizable chunks. I did the last almost hundred pages this morning the day it is due with no extensions left.

Book 59: Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay



Review to be done later.

Book 60: Eternity's Wheel by Neil Gaiman.



Book three of the Interworld series. This will probobly be my last book of July as my reading slump continues. I was a little dissapointed with the last volume with this series. There was too much rehashing of the previous books and not enough moving forward. I like the concept of the series and hope this is not the end afterall. There are too many possibilties for a good series such as this.

Closing out another month. One of my slower ones. Hopefully my slump is finished. 5 books for me is off but not suprising since it is my first month back from recovery and I may have over read a tad last month.

Read total: 60

This Month: 5

Fiction: 4; thriller 1, short story 1 , fantasy 2,

Nonfiction: 1

It might have been a down month for you, but you're right there with me for the year - I'm at 63 as of the end of July.

Book 61: I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson



Michal Bennett takes down a dangerous drug lord. In the aftermath he has to protect his family and help bring peace to a small community that is overrun with gang violence. His love life is in shambles as another interest tempts him from his almost girlfriend and nanny. A good book with a very gruesome villan.

What a great weekend. I saw the new Dragon Ball Z movie. It was a limited theater release. Well worth the wait to see it. I tried twice before during the week and each time it was already sold out and there was only one showing a day. That same day my library loan of Armada by Ernest Cline came in. I just finished my last book yesterday began the first few pages of Armada. A book I have been anticipating for some time, since I first learned of it months ago. I loved his first novel and this one is more of the same so far.

Book 62: Half the World by Joe Abercrombie



Yarvi's quest to topple the High King continues. As he travels across the world to gain allies he gains a new warrior to his cause but not in a traditional sense. Thorn is a girl who trains to be a warrior for her country, looking for acceptance in a place where only men are allowed to fight. After an accident in training, she is branded a murderer. She is allowed to live after she swears a oath to serve Yarvi. Her adventure makes the story and I really cannot wait to read the finally to this series.

Book 63: Armada by Ernest Cline



A really good second book by this author. More thoughts later.

>25 xymon81: Looking forward to your thoughts on this as I have seen mixed reviews.

Book 64: Murder in Tarsis by John Maddox Roberts



A very early Dragonlance novel. It definatly is in the realm of pulp fantasy. Not much going on but a halfway decent mystery set in a fantasy setting. Patterson has better plot twists.

How is the recovery going?

>28 ronincats: Its going well thank you. Mobility is good, just really working on strength and trying to straighten it completely. Once the rest of the swelling leaves it should be good.

As for Armada, I read all the negative stuff on it as well. I think it is a pretty good second outing by the author. It has a lot of the same fun with a good mix of scifi to go with.

Good to hear you are doing well. I'm wondering if maybe Armada might appeal more to those who are very familiar with classic science fiction, in the same way Ready Player One built on the trivia of the 80s?

>30 ronincats: Just some of the classics such as Close Encounters or The Last Starfighter.

What a day. First day of school for three of my kids. We have a high schooler again. Where does the time go? Played hookie most of the day. And it is free day at thrift store so got four really good titles.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Rose Madder by Stephen King
Shadowfires by Dean Koontz
Mine by Robert McCammon

And wife didnt even complain about my adopting today.

Book 65: Second Life by S J Watson.



This was s great second book by this author. It gives you alot of twists and the ending is one of those where you wish they would have written two more lines to finish it. It is a book that gives you alot to think about.

My local library has started stocking PS4 games. Started playing Diablo 3 and I could see myself becombing very addicted to this game.

Book 66: The Ultimatum by Dick Wolf



The third book of the Fisk series by the creator of Law and Order. He has alot of good things in this one. How much power od we give our police in the name of security and really do you want to know everything that goes on behind the scenes to catch the bad guys or do sometimes the ends justify the means. Thee is also the plot about a sniper that uses drones as his weapon of choice to release a prisoner. It opens up an issue that this area is not well regulated yet and does have the ability for abuse and very easlily with the right skills.

August has come to a close and I am 10 away from this years 75. Can I make 100 this year? It remains to be seen.

Read total: 66

This Month: 6

Fiction: 3 Thriller, 2 Fantasy, 1 Scifi

Nonfiction: 0

I have three books going right now at the same time. Hopefully I can start making some progress on them. I have two suspense, almost horror novels as we move into autumn and one Early Review on my kindle app about the making of Major League. One of my favorite movies by the way. Both of the other ones are on the longer side, I have yet to get drawn into either one.

2/3 of the year gone and you are 2/3 of the way to 100 books--seems to me like you've got a good chance!

Book 67: No One Gets Out Alive by Adam Nevill



A great book to kick off the dreary fall. I swear since Sept hit it has been all rain and this is the type of book to get a fire going and curl up. Not too late though since there are plenty of thrills and scares involved.

Stephanie is a girl down on her luck. Not being able to afford school and with the only work available temporary, she sees an ad she cannot pass up. CHEAP ROOMS/ GIRLS ONLY sounds like a dream. Taking a chance, she uses almost all her savings for the deposit and first months rent. That first night she begins to hear voices from nowhere and footsteps. The next day she realizes she might be the only tenant, so where is all the noise coming from. Her landlords are shady but cannot put a finger on what is wrong. She is refused from getting her deposit back and with out any work tries to make due, but as the night go by things get worse as do her dreams. Finally two more girls show up and it becomes apparent what type of house this really is. With no income steph is informed that her rent has gone up and she will have to pitch in. Without spoiling everything else, the house quickly spoils into madness and Steph barely makes it out alive. She moves away and after a few years she is able to start a new life with a new name but the ghosts of the past don't seem able to leave her in peace.

Boom 68: Working For Bigfoot by Jim Butcher



A novella of three short stories all concerning our favorite sasquatch. His half human son seems to be a magnet for trouble and Harry is the one who always has to bail him out. This story set is a nice treat while we wait on the next installment of the series.

Book 69: Half A War by Joe Abercrombie

Book 70: The Servents Of Twilight by Dean Koontz



Grace Spivey is the leader of a cult church concerned with the Twilight, or the coming of the Antichrist. Her visions tell her the time is close and that the Antichrist is a six year old boy named Joey in southern California. When Joey and his mother are leaving the mall, Grace accosts them and says the boy must die. This sparks a two state wide chase as the familiy and thier private detective bodyguard flee from the church with thousands of members.

This is my first Koontz book in some time and it was one of his better ones. I have an issue with his endings but this one was good. He always leaves that little bit of mystery at the end and this time it works. Because in the end did we see the antichrist live? You would have to decide for yourself.

Send that rain down the coast!

>42 ronincats: We are supossed to get 4in of snow later today

Today is the first snow fall, we got close to 4 in overnight and it is still coming down. I don't expect it to be staying though, not cold enough yet. By Friday at the latest it will all be gone again.

Wow! It's difficult for me to imagine snow just yet, although we have had snow here before Halloween in the past. This is likely a dumb question, so I apologize: do you have deciduous trees there or only evergreens? Do you have much in the way of fall ever?

>45 scaifea: we have both. Further up the slopes you get the more pine you get though. Oh here is what I think about questions...lol.

September is gone and Winter is coming. I expect my reading to go back up again now.

Read total: 70

This Month: 4

Fiction: 1 Thriller, 2 Fantasy, 1 Horror

Nonfiction: 0

*waves cast--2 more days!*

>48 ronincats: Glad your almost done :)

Book 71: Red Hill by Jamie Mcguire

A really good zombie novel. It doesnt break any new ground. What it does great is the focus on the relationships between the characters.

Today's cartoon.

After every training meeting, somebody gets choked out. Now we know why.

*waves*

Book 72: The Making of Major League: A Juuuust a Bit Inside Look at the Classic… by Jonathan Knight



A great look at one of the classic sports movies of all time. I don't think you even really need to be a sports fan to enjoy this film. From beginning to end you can tell the writers love of the film and how it shaped a team and a city in the process. It has interviews with all of the cast and alot of the behind the scenes of a film that was almost never made. I recieved this as a ER a few months back and have been using it as my stationary bike read for a few weeks. I am glad I was able to get it since is a life long favorite movie of mine.

Next up for my kindle app: Day of Wrath by William Forstchen

This novella is a fictional account of ISIS using our southern border to cross into the U. S. and take over a school.

>52 ronincats: Hey hope you are enjoying being cast free

>53 xymon81: Oh, nice! Love that movie.

>54 xymon81: Oh, I definitely am! Thanks for the support.

>53 xymon81: That movie is a classic. :)

It is. I was so upset that the second movie replaced a main character. It still gets to me.

Book 73: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M Harris



A history of the Norse Gods as told by Loki. Everyone one knows him, but to his own credit has he ever been given a fair chance to explain his version of the events that led to the end of the world. Each chapter is its own short tale and as the story progresses they connect together to form a interesting and complicated plot to overthrow reality and order.

>59 xymon81: I keep picking this up in the bookstore and then putting it back down again. Any good?

Book 74: Have Spacesuit- Will Travel by Robert A Heinlein



A quick silly read that is a blast to read. Kip always wanted to go to the moon. When he wins a spacesuit in a contest he might actually get that chance. After some repairs and the suit is fully functional, he is kidnapped on night by space pirates. The hostile alien is part of a plan to take over the earth and use us as a food source. With some help and his trusty suit, he able to help thwart their plans.

Book 75: Gone by James Patterson

Congrats!

>63 drneutron: Thanks. This was just a short filler book that I did since I did not want to tackle my main read yesterday. Two days ago I started readingThe Red Knight. Very interesting so far but a lot of detail and very small print, which means lots of concentration to get it all.

>60 lycomayflower: Yes it is good, once you get past the few first chapters.

Congrats on 75!

I see you're originally from Chicago. I'm happy for the Cubs!

>65 tymfos: Yup Fly the W!! and thanks

Congratulations on reaching the 75 book mark, Matthew!

Book 76: Day of Wrath by William R. Forstchen

Book 77: The Aeronauts Windlass by Jim Butcher

>69 xymon81: Oh, I read that a week ago. What did you think?

>70 ronincats: I really enjoyed it. I have not read that much in the way of steampunk fantasy but I had faith in Butcher. He came through too. This will turn out to be a very good series I think. It is a shame I now have to wait for the next one.

>71 xymon81: So glad you liked it too! I warbled about it on my thread because I though it a lot of fun. I've not read that much Butcher--the first 3 or 4 Harry Dresden and bounced of the first Codex Alera book (although I'll try it again someday) but thought this one was a winner from the start.

>72 ronincats: I am completely up to date with Dresden but have not yet tried his other series. I have so many others that I have to finish first.

Book 78: Hull Zero Three by Greg Bear



I had a hard time with this book at times. I found it to be very confusing and I just not get enaged with it.

Hope everyone had a good holiday. Now what to do with all this extra candy? I read a good amount this month as well. I am just about finished with my current book One Year After. I probably could have finished it already but oh well. Two months left in the year to go, I am going to hopefully finish my library stack this month and move on to some of my adoptions before the year runs out.

Read total: 78

This Month: 8

Fiction: 2 Thriller, 2 Fantasy, 1 Horror, 2 Science Fiction

Nonfiction: 1

Book 79: One Year After by William R. Forstchen



One Second After was a realistic account of what would happen within the first year after an EMP blast. At the end we know that five nukes were detonated in the skys across the globe. Three in the U.S., One over Japan, and One over Eastern Europe. The blast then took these areas pretty much back to pre industrial age technology.

The second books opens up a year later. The government is trying to resume control. There is a new administrator for the area and with him comes a draft for most able bodies. The Army of National Recovery will quell all the hot spots and quiet all rebellious factions in the country. It isn't that simple though. One neutron bomb has already been used on those that do not agree with the new government. When a nearby town is attacked by the government, it leads to a confrontation and it opens the door to what could result into all out civil war.

For me it's "buy ALL the candy in the stores for 75 percent off" day. :D

Belated happy halloween and happy 75 books!

>78 Ape: if you can find it among the christmas displays

> 79 Thanks. How was yours? we have snow lol, our kids quit after up and down our block. Too cold they said.

Book 80: The Tale of One Bad Rat by Bryan Talbot



This is not your average graphic novel. The author uses a great medium to tell a very uplifting tale of a young woman's journey from repression to healing from abuse. The care taken in writing this story is very well done considering the topic it concerns.

One of the best nights of the year last night. St. Barbara Day Ball.

Book 81: The Red Knight by Miles Cameron.



A company of knights takes on a contract to protect a fortress nunnery from the forces of the Wild. The wild are those untamed creatures and humans living beyond civilizations edge. it is really a battle of order vs. chaos. Leading the wild is the king's old magus, who has turned into a power of the wild. The Powers are those that manipulate the creatures to their will. Leading the knights is our unnamed hero who goes just by The Red Knight. By the end it seems that he along with other characters are all being manipulated by various Powers to achieve their own ends.

This is a very gritty realistic fantasy that plays our rather well. The writing and pacing are great. There are a lot of characters and viewpoints though and until you get really familiar with everyone involved, it can become confusing but it is tolerable. It is a long book though at over 600 pages. Don't have anything else while you have this as you will want to take your time.

>82 xymon81: Oh, lovely! Looks like a wonderful time.

>84 scaifea: It was great,

Book 82 On The Clock: The Story of the NFL Draft by Barry Wilner.



It is crazy when you think about how popular the draft has become. How can something that shows now real action have more viewers that playoff hockey or basketball? What began as a simple thing done in a few back rooms has morphed into part reality show and part award show as the new picked are added to the NFL rosters. This book takes you through that history and breaks it up to good digestible sections that will not over burden you.

Book 83: So Nude So Dead by Ed McBain.



A very good noir tale. A pianist turned addict wakes up next to a dead woman and six kilo of missing heroin. Since he is the fall guy it is up to him alone to clear his name while also trying to find his next score.

Book 84: Burn by James Patterson



Bennett finally returns from Cali and his given his own squad to lead. Not an ideal assignment since he also has a high profile case to solve at the same time. Also a father of one of his adopted kids sues for custody after stating he was never informed of the child. There are health issues as well as Bennett's father has a stroke and Mary Catherine's mother passes away.

If that seems like a lot going on, it is. This one I think had the most plot lines and with that none of them got the real proper treatment in a 500 page novel. This is maybe the weakest story of the series, which is a surprise since the last two were very good.

>80 xymon81: Our Halloween was rainy, but we've since had about 2 foot of snow in town - and 1.5 foot of that in one ridiculous day.

>89 evilmoose: We caught some of that same snow. Got like 8 In. in one evening. Then today was well over 50 degrees. So now it is a slippery mushy ugly mess.

Book 85: Attack on Titan 1 by Hajime Isayama



Atttack on titan is one of the most popular anime's in recent years and deservedly so. Some call it Japan's equivalent to The Walking Dead. Both in the scope it has, the amount of blood shown and you never know who is safe. You get a favorite character and see them die often unexpectantly.

The titans are giants that range from 10 feet to 50 feet tall and eat only human flesh. They have pushed us to the edge of extinction. Only this one town is all that is left of humanity. Walled off from the world for the last century, all knowledge of the outside is forbidden. Everyone is ignorant of where or how this started and what are the titans and are they the only ones left.

Eren Yeager is sick of being penned up. After the first wall falls, he swears to kill every titan and to end the nightmare. Five years later and the titans attack again and he is called into his first battle.

Book 86: Attack on Titan 2 by Hajime Isayama



The soldiers are reeling as the titans advance into the city. Things look really bleak when a strange thing happens. One titan seems to be fighting its own kind. What is it really and where did it come from and can they use it to their advantage?

Book 87: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King



A group of short stories by one of the best writers around. All the stories here are some way connected to death and the afterlife. They are not all horror or even have a supernatural twist but do relate together well. Some are longer novella that have been other places like Mile 81, UR, and Blockade Billy. Some are brand new. I enjoyed most of them, except for maybe the poetry. That's just not me, no hit against mister King but even other authors who try at it I find it hard to get through them. Just be prepared since death is the topic that some have very sad endings.

Book 88: Attack on Titan 3 by Hajime Isayama

Read total: 88

This Month: 10

Fiction: 2 Thriller, 1 Fantasy, 1 Short Story Collection, 4 Graphic Novels, 1 Dystopia

Nonfiction: 1

One more month left to go. I fell one short of the century mark last year. I shall attempt to do so again. Vacation is coming up in two weeks. I know then I'll get time. All those pesky work hours get in the way. I have my Main book which right now is The Immortal Nicholas by Glenn Beck. A fictional account of the famous red cloaked man that brings it back to the true meaning of Christmas, not gifts and commercialism.

I am almost halfway through nEvermore!: Tales Of Murder, Mystery & The Macabre - Neo-Gothic Fiction. All are related to a Poe story somehow. It is good but I don't get to it very often since it is just while working out on the bike and such.

I also have six more attack on titan books lined up right now. That is all they had at the library I went to. I know there are like 18 total as of right now.

It appears I won a new book this month and it is holiday related too. Fright Before Christmas: 13 Tales of Holiday Horrors. Tis appears to be what I get lately on ER, short story collections. A little variety would be nice. I hope it is decent enough.

>96 xymon81: I gave up on LT ER after a while. I always got books to which I was like "Why did I request this again?" Now I use NetGalley which works a lot better for me because it has more choices. I tend to only pick the ones I want, and when I want more, I request more.

Book 89: The Immortal Nicholas by Glen Beck

Book 90: Attack on Titan 4 by Hajime Isayama

Book 91: The Comedy is Finished by Donald E. Westlake



Vietnam and all the unrest and that went with it are finally over. One group though wants to spark a new revolution and their first step is to free some of their members. To do this they kidnap a Bob Hope type celebrity and are willing to trade his life for their comrades.

This was the author's last released book, not done so until after his death. It sat in the drawer of a fellow writer's office and was not released at the time because the plot was to similar to something else at the time. The book does have it's share of clichés and really does nothing with the characters. One gaping whole really bothers me too. At one point the actor has a flashback to one of his USO tours where he met an American defector and they elude that this somehow relates to he kidnapping group but it is never explained. It was an opportunity to really make this book good but missed it.

Happy weekend!

Thanks, trying too

Book 92: Attack on Titan 5 by Hajime Isayama

Book 93: Alert by James Patterson



Finally caught up and reached the end for now. This book is really over the top. Entertaining yes, realistic not really.

Book 94: Attack on Titan 6

Book 95: Attack on Titan 7

Book 96: Attack on Titan 8

This catches up with the season finally. The female titan is caught and her true identity is discovered. A bizarre truth about the walls themselves is revealed.

For my Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/Holiday image this year (we are so diverse!), I've chosen this photograph by local photographer Mark Lenoce of the pier at Pacific Beach to express my holiday wishes to you: Peace on Earth and Good Will toward All!

Merry Christmas one and all!

Book 97: The Girl With the Deep Blue Eyes by Lawrence Block.

An ex New York cop retires to Florida and takes up as a P I. He takes jobs from the local sheriff such as posing as a out of town hit man. On such a case, he fskes the tape and works with the woman to kill her husband who is worth millions. But can they get away with it?

Book 98: Attack on Titan 9

Merry Christmas - looks like you're on track to reach 100 books :)

I doubt it, im not even half way through my current book and I still would have one more to go.

Ah, I was tricked by the speed you seemed to get through books 94 - 96. And for me the Christmas - New Years period always seems to mean a lot of reading, but it's not the case for everyone!

Well the Attack on titan books are really graphic novels. I ran out of the set i rented. I have more waiting for me to pick up but not sure. Do I want to go that route to finish up the hundred. I do supossedly have the time. Im also playing my ps4 a bunch after kids are in bed. During the day I cant seem to concentrate on it for some strange reason.

Book 99: Nightwise by R. S. Belcher