47, 48. 49, 50

No time to comment, but here are some books I've read lately...

• Sandstorm by James Rollins
• The Summer that Never Was by Peter Robinson
  
• Christmas at Fairacres by Miss Read
  
• The Caxley Chronicles (which was three books in a collection, but I can't remember their individual names). Also by Miss Read
  

43, 44, 45 and 46

This is a book I forgot to blog. For some reason, though I hate reading nonfiction, I've never found it difficult to read about financial stuff. This was another good book, though Andrew and I both wondered if she was really writing a marriage book disguised as a finances book. Still, we've been trying to apply the principles and keep working on that aspect of our marriage.

I'm on a mission to read everything buy James Rollins. Now I'm wondering if I should pace myself. Don't get me wrong, this was another great book. It's just that the first two were so different from each other, and now the last two have been more of the same. Still great writing and great stories, just kind of similar. But then I reminded myself that the first book I read by him was actually his latest book (at the time) and it was completely different. So I'll keep reading...

This book was recommended to me by a friend who knows I like(d) Ted Dekker. I enjoyed Robert Liparulo's other two books, so I didn't even bother reading what this one was about before ordering it. Then it arrived and I read the praise on the inside cover. And I was scared. Gory. Thriller. Read it with the light on. Should I really be reading it?? But actually, apart from some gore which really was along the lines of the left behind books, this wasn't toooooooo bad. An interesting end times tale with a twist. And Liparulo is a very talented story teller. I'm very excited for his next book.

And now I'm off to bed to finish the last few pages of this one. I know! TWO non-fictions in less than six months! What's wrong with me?

41 & 42

After hearing so many comments about Dorothy Sayers' mysteries, I decided I needed to check one out for myself. One commentary warned that perhaps she was less popular than she should be due to the obscure references she makes in her stories.

I wonder if it's more likely due to the fact that she wrote closer to the other end of the 20th Century and so her books are a bit more difficult to read than say, oh most modern fiction. Not that I didn't enjoy Murder Must Advertise, it was a refreshingly different kind of mystery for me. Intelligent. Humorous. With a not-so-subtle commentary on society's consumerism. Actually, it surpised me how little the world has changed in the last 100 years.

There were enough references to Jeeves and Wooster that I've decided I definitely need to read some of P.G. Wodehouse's work and not just buy it for my brother. Oh. And I'm going to keep an eye out for more of Sayers' work too.

The other book I read was The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy. This was another anthology of short stories. I find these difficult at first because Binchy is so talented at characterization and story telling that is really hard to let go of the current story and move on to the next one. In her short stories I always feel like I've only just gotten to know the characters then I'm moving on to knew ones and new stories. Bleh. And yet I can't stop reading...

The Dirty Duck (40)

Another Martha Grimes, this one rather an oldish one.

Good, but not my fave.

And I just realised that in The Wink we didn't really find out if Viv and the Count called off their wedding. Gah!

36, 37, 38, 39

At this rate, I might beat the number of books I read last year. Although, I've decided to stop trying for meaty books. It's just too hard (trying?!) to read classics when you keep getting interrupted!

We were on holiday this past five days and I managed to read four books.

I absolutely adore James Rollins. Unfortunately everyone seems to have discovered him at the same time I did. Everytime I walk into a used bookstore and ask for his books I hear, "Oh we just sold several this morning. I'm not sure we have any..." He's brilliant. Really. This was his first book. So good I forced Andrew to begin it the moment I finished and he too had to devour it. Very Michael Crichton-ish and very, very good. Though I'm not sure I'd watch the movie. Too scary.


I had to read this one because it's the first in the series (of the last James book I read) and I think I read somewhere that this was her first novel. Which is very interesting considering up until now I'd only read Children of Men and her Adam Dalgliesh books. And he plays a huge role in these books (albeit only as being quoted by Cordelia as having taught her dead partner everything he knew about solving mysteries.) Still, very interesting to read a book in which he figures so largely and knowing (I think) that she had yet to write a book about him.

Also, this was better than the other Cordelia book. I think there's another C book. I'll have to dig it up somewhere...

THIS Dan Brown had no religious stuff going on. Though I suppose the thought of finding life on another planet might scare some Christians, but not me. Anyway I quite like his writing style too, but it's not as good as Rollins'.


I think I say this after every Martha Grimes book I read. My favorite. And I really am going to buy all her books and (one day) read them all in order.

*happy sigh* I still have four more new (used) books from Penticton's Book Store to go read.

32, 33, 34

Have to say this was not my favorite PD James. I read another book review on this one and I think I might agree that it's in part because it is hard to warm up to the main character. I wanted to like her but it just didn't happen.

Also, I didn't figure out the mystery before she did.

I think my mystery figuring out must be in a downward spiral. This book had me guessing right until the end too. In fact, I did something I never do...I read the last page of the book before I was even halfway through the story. Yes, that's how obsessed I was solving the mystery.




I do love these Richard Jury mysteries. Funnily enough, I read The Case Has Altered first and it makes several references to Five Bells. One of these days I shall have to collect the entire Richard Jury series and read them from beginning to end.

28, 29, 30, 31

Time to catch up on what I've been reading...

When we first arrived in Switzerland, I started with this. Pretty stock Rendell, I'd say.


Next it was Death of an Expert Witness by PD James. Probably my favorite of the books I read while we were on our trip.

I quickly moved on to this one...
And then I ran out of books. Dave leant me Leanings by Peter Egan. Brilliant reading. Who knew motorcycle stories could be so funny? I found myself laughing out loud, quoting whole sections of the book, and I can't stop thinking about it. I only got a little into the book, so I have to steal it from Dave so I can finish it.

Home again and two weeks without a book. I picked this one up at Costco and pretty much devoured it. Today I'm hoping to drag my kids to a used bookstore in search of more by him. Just brilliant.

27

Just finished The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Satterfield. AMAZINGLY good.

24, 25, 26

...wow it's been almost a month since I've had anything to say on this blog. Luckily, that doesn't mean I haven't been reading. Still - not as much reading has been happening as I would have liked.

I have had the serious misfortune of reading two of the worst books ever in my entire life back to back. This is what comes from forgetting to bring books with me to the beach and having to comb the shelves of the gift shops for something to read (that and accidentally buying a book I've already read because I didn't take the time to read the back of the cover...) If I had spent a little more time looking this book over, I would have realised that she had comments from all sorts of paranormal societies littered through the first few pages. As it is, I thought it would be a conspiracy along the lines of Crichton or Ludlum. Not so. Plus, again something I didn't notice, it's a romance. *barf* Still, I needed something to do while my family ignored me at the beach, this was it.

Thankfully, I met for coffee with my good friends a few weeks ago and Jane lent me so really good books.

Now maybe just maybe I loved this book so much because I read two really bad books before it. But I don't think so. De Los Santos is an amazing story teller. Even better than that, she can craft characters. I drove my poor hubby crazy reading pages of this book to him. But each of her characters are real people I've met in my life. And I couldn't believe how well she captured their essences. Like Piper in the beginning of the book? I know so many women like her. I am probably the way I am as some sort of rebellion against women like her. Belong to Me is one of my very favorite books ever. I strongly urge you to rush out right now and get your own copy. I can't lend you mine. It's Jane's.

For some reason (maybe the pretty jackets?) I thought Between, Georgia was also by de Los Santos. Not so. As evidenced by the name Joshilyn Jackson on the cover. Duh. I was hopeful that I would love this book just as much, but not sure it would really happen. Very pleasantly surprised.

This story is, in some ways, grittier than the other. I mean, I wouldn't exactly call Belong to Me a Hallmark story despite the Hollywood Ending but, Between, Georgia takes place in some of the, well, less tidy areas of Georgia. The characters are rougher. But no less real. And maybe that's why the story felt uncomfortable sometimes. Just like some of those small towns in the southern states. They're quaint in their own own poor, run down way. But you're not really sure if it's safe to stay too long.

That feeling doesn't last for long. Once again the story and the characters draw you in and once you're in you can't stop. Another amazing read which leaves me very, very eager to start the third book Jane lent me (plus, I want to return them to her before we leave for our summer vacation!)

23

Just finished The Judas Strain by James Rollins. Why haven't I read anything by him before (at least I don't think I have!) This book was like some amazing hybrid of Dan Brown and Michael Crichton. I seriously couldn't put it down. And every time Andrew tried talking to me while I was reading it I wanted to rip his face off. It was that good. I must pay off my library fines so I can track down more of his stuff. It seems like the characters in this book carried through from previous books and on to future books...so hopefully I've discovered a wealth of reading material...just in time for summer!

15 - 22

Och! Too busy reading to track the books. In no particular order:

Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes (I read one of her books years ago and didn't really like it, but I think I've changed my standards since then and thoroughly enjoyed this one.)

Moon Islands by Rosie Thomas

Ruby and Iris by Rosie Thomas (RT spins an interesting enough tale, but I find it really hard to finish her books. I think there's just not enough momentum to pull me through. I did finally get through these though.)

How Will I Know by Sheila O'Flanagan

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Glorious Appearing by Jenkins/LaHaye

Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

Hokus Pokus by Fern Michaels (perhaps one of the worst books I've ever read. Great idea for a story, terrible writing. Had to finish it though because the premise was so funny. Toooo bad.)

14: Germ

My friend Chadya introduced me to Robert Liparulo. When it's time to buy me a gift, she pretty much just has to go and ask her husband what he's into these days and she knows I'll like it. So aside from Starbucks and pumping iron, Scott's been getting into Liparulo. And I do like.

I'm a big fan of Michael Crichton and Liparulo's Germ is very reminiscent of something Crichton would have written. Once again I had to read the first chapter to Andrew so he could see what a good movie this is going to make. SO exciting!

Liparulo also reminds me a bit of Ted Dekker - before his books started becoming so formulaic. As far as I know, this is only the second of maybe 4 books he's written, but if he can keep up this quality then I'm a fan for life!

13: Dominion

When I pick up a book, it's because I want to lose myself in a story. If I wanted a lesson or a sermon I'd thumb through a non-fiction book. Not a supposed story. I don't care if you teach me something, just don't make it so gosh darned obvious.

Dominion was my third Randy Alcorn book. The guy is a good writer and his story ideas are right up my alley. It's just his tendency to sermonize that I don't appreciate. I decided to stop being so judgemental and shallow and try to learn something this time, but about half way through this (way toooooo long) book I just started skipping sections. This happened in his previous book too.

This particular book is 602 pages of fairly small font. There are too many stories trying to be told. Too much trying to be said. Historical fiction, conspiracy theory, mystery and suspense. What genre was I even reading?

That said, if you had the patience to dig deep, there were several stories in there. And other people must like his books; they seem to sell well. And I will probably read his next book (Deception) just because I've grown to like the characters. But you'd better be ready to listen to my whining about that one too...

11 & 12

11. The Lightning File by Eric E. Wright: written by a Toronto area writer. I got this from my inlaws for Christmas - me and dad love sharing books!

12. Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

ten

The Copper Scroll by Joel Rosenburg.

Do a search online and you'll find the first chapter...it would make an awesome movie!! Indiana Jones slash Da Vinci Code slash Alias.... COOOOOL.

NINE

The Ezekiel Option by Joel Rosenberg

Eight?!

SEVEN

Lost by Joy Fielding.

six

book 5

4

Books 1-3

Whew! I never thought I was going to get these books up here. Andrew and Chadya gave me a BUNCH of new books for Christmas and I've been dutifully reading. But I've also been knitting and scrabbling and watching all the movies I got for Christmas AND playing Wii bowling (I got pro status YA!)

Anyway, I've wanted to read these Joel C. Rosenberg books for a long time. I can't remember where I first heard about them, but they sounded like "just my thing". And they are! The Last Jihad reads like a Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum book. Exciting, fast paced and well written, I loved every word.

Next I read Unveiled, a story by my good friend Christine. Her first book is being shopped out to publishers by her agent and this story was finished but before she sent it away she wanted me to read it to make sure the story was good. WAS IT EVER! This was one of those books that you could hardly put down - and when you did put it down all you did was think about the characters and the story and wish longingly to be sitting somewhere quiet so you could keep reading. It was over far too soon, but I'm so happy that she's got two more books planned that continue the story of these characters. Now if she could just quit her day job and get those books out, pronto!

And last night I finished my second Rosenberg book. Again, a great story and well written. But I'm like this with Clancy and Ludlum too - I can only read so much and then I need something light and fluffy to read. I saw that the movie rights to these two books have been snatched up. Those are going to be some intense movies folks!