11 - 12

Drop Dead Gorgeous by Kim Ericson

All the Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson.

Most of my favorite authors I've stumbled upon in that little gift and book store in Harrison. Robinson and Rollins and Browne. Considering they only sell about 12 books at a time, that's pretty good odds.

8-10

8. Alter of Eden by James Rollins
9. Doomsday Key by James Rollins
10. The Monster in the Box by Ruth Rendell

...I've read an awful lot of James Rollins lately and though I've complained an awful lot about his writing in the past (too formulaic) this time things felt different. I didn't read the JR books in any particular order (more in order of when they were due back at the library!) and each one seemed better than the last.

I love how he takes real scientific fact and builds these insanely crazy stories. If people ask, I always describe Rollins as a hybrid of Dan Brown and Michael Crichton.

I thought I was going to discontinue blogging about books, but I'm just finding it so useful for my own reference that I'm going to try and catch up with what I've read so far this year:

1. A compilation of British Mysteries from my mum. I'll have to find the title and update here.
2. Silver Birches by Adrian Plass
3. Not in the Flesh by Ruth Rendell
4. The Kite Runner
5. Deep Fathom by James Rollins
6. Friend of the Devil by James Robinson
7. Map of Bones by James Rollins

66-67

Shred of Truth was the follow up to The Best of Evil and I read it too long ago. I started three books in between finishing Truth and starting The Book of Negroes.

Book of Negroes is my January book club read and given my track record with not finishing/losing books before our meeting I thought I'd better start it. I have had this book on my shelf since early last spring and I can't believe I haven't read it till now. Quite possibly my favorite of 2009, definitely in the top 5.

It's a huge door stop of a book and that is mostly what intimidated me. But I devoured all 486 pages in a few days (3?) When I wasn't reading, I was wishing I was. The story was that absorbing. It was a tough read, but not a depressing one. And the more books like this I read, the more I want to do a History degree one day. Seriously, I feel like I've missed out on so much good stuff.

I have 3 weeks till our meeting. I might have to read this again.

63-65

I read some more of the books Scott and Chadya gave me. I think after the one I'm currently reading, I only have three left :( But then again, time to get to more "book club worthy" books!!

First of the trio was Gun Lake by Travis Thrasher. You know how sometimes you just read a book and it matches stuff that's going on in your life so it seems like a better read than it really was? Well, I haven't decided yet, but this might be one. It was an interesting read, but I found all the dissecting storylines confusing and with almost all the characters names being really similar it was hard to keep them straight. Still, it wasn't preachy and that's always a plus when you're reading Christian Lit.

Next up was the The Negotiator by Dee Henderson. This is part of a huge series about a family called the O'Malleys. This is the kind of book I would have loved in my teens. It's got action and a hint of romance without being uber mushy. I think it's the kind of book I'd like when I need something brainless, but good. Overall I enjoyed it, and I wouldn't mind reading the rest of her books...but I'm not sure I'd pay for them.

And last of all was The Best of Evil. Based on the title, I wasn't sure I wanted to read Eric Wilson's book. I've kind of played out the Ted Decker/Robert Liparulo books for now. But two pages in I was looking for a pen to highlight whole paragraphs. Unfortunatly, the whole book is not as beautifully written as those first few pages; Wilson tends to wax eloquent every once in a while and then get focused on the story and wax off. But I did enjoy this book enough that I picked up the next in the series to keep going with the story. Interesting point, Wilson wrote the Expiration Date book I wrote about a few posts back. I'd never guessed I was reading an author I'd already read.

59, 60, 61, 62

I was in Alberta earlier this fall and my wonderful hosts sent me home with a suitcase FULL of books! I finally had some time to start reading.

Expiration Date by Eric Wilson is the story of a man who has fallen on hard times. Returning home to live with his parents (and get his life sorted out) he meets a woman on the bus who makes a strange promise to him. Soon the hero finds that by touching the skin of those he comes into contact with their death date is revealed to him. There's a side story that involves Russian royalty, and all in all the story reminded me a lot of Frank Peretti. An intersting and fast paced read.

Next up was Stolen Lives by Brian Reaves. This one is a story of revenge, grace and redemption. Interestingly though both of these books were written by Christians, neither really bashes you over the head with the salvation story - which I like. In fact, both of these stories were probably meant to appeal to non-Christians but hook them into finding more about Christianity. Just a guess. Another good story, this one had me reading as fast as I could to find out what happened.

Months ago another friend of mine leant me two books from an author she's recently become addicted to. I finally remembered I had her books and read them. Even Now and Ever After by Karen Kingsbury. Honestly, just from reading the backs of the books, these aren't my kind of stories. And after reading them, I can say they're well written and interesting, but the kind of thing I would have read about 20 years ago. Still, they now I can say I've read KK and I know I probably won't seek her out.

57 & 58

Hmn, somewhere along the line I stopped blogging about books as I read them.

After I finished Playing with Fire, I devoured the other book I'd bought by him. By happy chance I'd picked up the two books that followed the PR book I read this summer. And even odder, I read them in sequence. So Strange Affair was the third of his books and I have to admit, I'm hooked. Britmystery along the lines of PD James or Ruth Rendell.

I feel like I quickly read another book before I had to start on the book for our book club. As I haven't quite finished that, I won't mention it yet. Suffice it to say it was last month's book and I'm still not quite done! However, I've recommitted to reading all the books I started this year and haven't finished (unless they were rubbish) so there's a stack of them waiting for me. After book club meeting, I finished Early Days by Miss Read.

Then it was on to Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan Lake. EXCELLENT book, though I almost feel like I need to read it again and not be so emotional about it this time.