Date Finished:  6/30/2007
Pages:  548
Category:  family saga
Rated:  B
Cover:  paperback
From:  pbs
Reason for Reading:  reading cove history

For a family saga, I actually enjoyed this one. Most of the characters are developed in a way that makes the reader actually care about them. It was a quick read as well and I didn't have problems keeping up with the characters (after the initial confusion wore off LOL).

Date Finished:  5/24/2007
Pages:  341
Category:  Chick Lit
Rated:  B
Cover:  Paperback
From:  pbs
Reason for Reading:  desire

I was expecting this to be as funny as Stephanie Plum, but sadly, it wasn't.  I have been told not to give up though as they get funnier.  So, I haven't given up on Bubbles yet.  While there *were* funny moments, because I went in with expectations, I was disappointed.  It was, however, a quick, easy read.

Date Finished:  5/16/2007
Pages:  269
Category:  Fiction
Rated:  A
Cover:  Quality Paperback
From:  bookcrossing rabck
Reason for Reading:  desire

I've heard many good things about this book and they were all true.  It was a great read.  I can't wait to read the others in the series!

Date Finished: 5/5/2007
Pages:  241
Category: Fiction
Rated: A
Cover: Hardback
From: library
Reason for Reading: desire

I went to the library to check out The Song is You (I think) and I got this one by mistake.  I can't wait to read The Song is You.  I love LOVE the style of the book.  I had a lot of fun reading it, and I could not put it down.  I tried.  I simply couldn't do it.

Date Finished: 5/5/2007
Pages:  234
Category: YA
Rated: B
Cover: quality paperback
From: library
Reason for Reading: desire

Island Girl was not what I expected at all.  It is a sweet story of friendship and belonging.  Every summer Meg visits her grandparents at the island, but this year, Tia is there.  Meg is threatened at first, but then they become fast friends.  Meg is unsure of the future and where she might live (with father or with mother and step-father), but in the end, she realizes everything happens for a reason.


 

Date Finished: 5/2/2007
Pages:  159
Category: science fiction
Rated: B
Cover: paperback
From: rob
Reason for Reading: desire

An interesting story.  At times it just seemed to drone on and on with exposition (which I hate), but other than that, I truly enjoyed it.  Who wouldn't love immortality without having to suck the blood of your friends?  Simply go to the house that stood still, and immortality shall be yours!

Date Finished: 4/13/2007
Pages:  325
Category: Fiction
Rated: A
Cover: Paperback
From: library
Reason for Reading:  desire

Absolutely hysterical.  But I think I'm going OT here *snicker*  I have become obsessed with epistolary novels.  They are so much fun.  This one had many moments where I found myself actually laughing out loud.  I'm not a SAHM and still enjoyed it.  What cracked me up the most perhaps would be every time the moderator had a fight with her sister, that would become the TOTW!  *giggle*  Anyone who has ever belonged to some email group needs to read this.  It is too funny.

Date Finished: 4/12/2007
Pages:  198
Category: Fiction / YA
Rated: B
Cover: Paperback
From: library
Reason for Reading:  desire

This is a very cute book and a must read for anyone on the "outside."  Vick's coping mechanism, I thought, was fairly healthy (other than the lying part of course LOL).  I was moved from school to school and had problems making friends so I could relate.  I only wish when I was in high school, I knew magic LOL

Date Finished: 4/8/2007
Pages:  209
Category: Fiction / YA
Rated: B
Cover: Paperback
From: library
Reason for Reading:  desire

Very cute.  At least I thought so.  Adult reviews I've read seem to think this book will be the downfall of society.  I say whatevs to them.  I wasn't expecting anything when I got this book other than a book written in IM conversation.  I liked the style and the format.  It was fun and interesting.  Is it destined to be a classic?  I don't think so.  But taken in context for what it is, it is cute.  I'm glad I read it.

Date Finished: 4/8/2007
Pages:  455
Category: Fiction
Rated: B
Cover: Hardback
From: Jamie
Reason for Reading:  desire

Perhaps I'm hard-hearted, but to me, this book just did not live up to the hype.  This was my first Picoult book and I just don't see what the deal is.  It was a good book, yes, but not one that has me thinking about my life and wondering.  I can barely remember character names at this point.  Many have claimed this is her best yet.  I hope not.  I won't let this stop me from reading her other books...but I hope they are better.

That being said, I do appreciate how she wrote the book from varying view points.  And it was a good story line.  It just didn't really move me or motivate me much.  The ending didn't thrill me either.  It was too clean and too perfect for what was a very imperfect town.

Date Finished: 3/27/2007
Pages:  519
Category: Fiction
Rated: C
Cover: Hardback
From: library
Reason for Reading:  the need for smut

This was my first foray into Jackie Collins and I quite enjoyed myself...until the ending.  What the hell kind of ending is this?  Granted, I don't expect any author to just continue writing the same book for the rest of my life, but I do expect them to end the book and not just STOP WRITING.  Yes, there was an epilogue to tie things up nicely (and I'm not opposed to leaving things open), however, she just stopped writing.  I was highly irritated!  The grade is low simply because of the ending.

That being said, I did enjoy the book.  There were all kinds of people in it, action, and adventure.  I can truly see why she is called a "raunchy moralist."  Although I didn't really find it very "raunchy."  There was hardly any substance, but that is just exactly why I wanted to read it!  I just can't get over the ending *sigh*

Date Finished: 3/23/2007
Pages:  550
Category: Fiction / YA
Rated: A+
Cover: Hardback
From: my collection
Reason for Reading:  Reading Cove

This book will remain with me for a while.  It is beautifully written and the characters have become a part of me.  I laughed, I cried, I became furious at times.  All the emotions Liesel felt, I felt thanks to Zusak.  I feel as though I have lived an entire lifetime in the four years the book takes place. 

Date Finished: 1/27/2007
Pages:  311
Category: Science Fiction
Rated: A
Cover: Hardback
From: Library
Reason for Reading:  Reading Cove

Date Finished: 1/24/2007
Pages:  282
Category: Fiction
Rated: C
Cover: Quality Paperback
From: bookcrossing bookring
Reason for Reading: bookcrossing bookring

I found this book quite interesting. In the beginning though, I felt as though Ishiguro just kept dragging and dragging things on and I wondered if it was going to be worth finishing. Towards the middle, I noticed I just had to know what was going on, even though there really wasn't anything going on. The ending was a little flat I thought.

I've heard many wonderful things about Ishiguro, but based on this novel alone, I wouldn't care to read anything else by him. The concept was very interesting though.

Date Finished: 1/18/2007
Pages: 180
Category: Fiction
Rated: C
Cover: Quality Paperback
From: bookcrossing bookring
Reason for Reading: bookcrossing bookring

This book was an ok book.  Nothing really to write home about as it just didn't thrill me.  It pretty much just told about the daily life of the villagers over a three year period. On the front cover of the book it reads, "A thrilling tale of murder and retribution set on the wild seacoast of medieval Japan."  It is kind of comical actually to see the difference between thrilling tales of murder and retribution of the western world compared to the eastern world.

Date Finished: 1/15/2007
Pages: 676
Category: Fiction
Rated: A
Cover: Quality Paperback
From: my collection
Reason for Reading: buddy read Reading Cove

This book is fascinating.  A story within a story within a story is told in such a manner that all stories meld together to form one.  It is basically the quest of three different historians to find the truth about "Dracula" or Vlad Tepes and the problems they encounter.  Kostova melds fiction with history elegantly and makes me want to learn more about the subject matter (which is rare for me).  She makes me want to travel to Europe and explore until I have unveiled all the mysteries myself.  A brilliantly written book!

I don't make resolutions...never have.  However, I will set up goals ;)  I think I've finally decided on three goals for this year and I'm sure I'll add more throughout the year, but for now, here they are:

1.  Read Anna Karenina
2.  Read Don Quixote
3.  I think I'd like to try the Alphabet Author Challenge I've seen people doing.  I pick an author for every letter of the alphabet and read a book by them.  It should be interesting to see how it turns out. 
4.  Keep track of what I read.  I started doing this (not faithfully) around August, but I want to know how much I read and this is the only way to do it. 

So, there they are...my less than stellar reading goals (of course, Anna and Don both will count as authors for the Author Challenge *snicker*).