210 of Twenty Ten
I recently created a new book challenge called 210 of Twenty Ten. It is a huge challenge I know, but what would the fun be if it wasn’t? I don’t know if I’ll make it too the end but I’ll definitely give it a short. Here are my books, why not give some of them a try? (and go join while you’re at it):
Books read: 17
Books remaining: 193
Currently reading: Lust – Seven Deadly Sins #1 by Robin wasserman
#17. Huge
Sasha Paley
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 7th March 2010
This was quite fun. I liked the setting of Wellness Canyon aka Fat camp. It was mostly light and full of sneakiness on Wil’s part. The ending was a bit syrupy but I wasn’t hoping for a lot. It was a nice Saturday read.
#16. My Sixteenth Summer
Christine Wenke
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 6th March 2010
I really enjoyed this. A great australian coming of age story. I was sad it ended so early actually. I felt that much more could have been said but it was a great idea for a story nonetheless.
#15. Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession
Anne Rice
Rating: 2/5
Completed on: 6th March 2010
Oh man, this book was tough! It took me a long, long time to get through and for much of that time I wondered if I should close it and leave it partially read. Having read some of Anne Rice’s novels I was so disappointed by this ‘memoir’. It was ever so dull.
#14. Beautiful Disaster
Kate Brian
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 27th Feb 2010
I enjoyed this more than Privilege. I know that Privilege was setting the scene but some of the stuff was just bizarre! Beautiful Disaster is similar, there is always Ariana’s narrative of murder. She seems to really like the idea now.It just gets a bit repetitive, her answer to every problem is “hmm, could I kill them?” I don’t know if I’ll read the next book or not. I don’t know how much longer I can deal with parallel Private. They are just so similar in different settings.
#13. Privilege
Kate Brian
Rating: 2.5/5
Completed on: 21st Feb 2010
Hmm, once I found out there was a Private spin off with Ariana as the main character I was intrigued. I had hoped it would be Ariana’s new life in prison but alas, it is now. It’s all blackmail, murder and identity theft. Much like the Private series. I don’t know if I liked this book. I was disappointed that Ariana is now so much like Reed. Boo!
#12. Zombie Blondes
Brian James
Rating: 2.5/5
Completed on: 18th Feb 2010
I heard some bad things about this book but it wasn’t that bad. It was, however, exactly what the blurb said it would be. There was meant to be twists but when they book is called Zombie Blondes you kind of know what you’re in for right?
#11. Inner Circle
Kate Brian
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 13th Feb 2010
It’s a new school year. Apparently Kate Brian didn’t deem the last part of the first year interesting enough to write about. Kind of weird if you ask me. I wouldn’t mind knowing what happened to Reed when things were going ok. Oh well, back to the snarky Billings house instead I suppose. It’s all angst and blackmail as per usual.
#10. Confessions
Kate Brian
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 12th Feb 2010
More Private for me. I’m getting confused about what happened in which book now. I think I need to take a deep breathe :D I don’t know if I liked this one much. It tied up everything that had happened previously but I don’t know if it was actually interesting and well… Reed. I hate her more and more with each letter. I’m usually like that though with main characters, I always find the back up characters to be more interesting.
#9. Come On, Get Happy
Jonathan Lazear
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 8th Feb 2010
After having a hard week at work I saw this at the library and decided to give it a go. Although it seems to be targeted at someone a bit older than me (lots of talk about wives, husbands and grown children) some of the tips were relevant and made me think about my out-take on life. If you’re looking for a bit of an upper why not give it a try?
#8. Untouchable
Kate Brian
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 7th Feb 2010
I read this in about 4 hours! I can’t believe it, was it shorter than the others? I’m not sure. Reed is back for the 3rd in the Private series and man things are never dull in her world. I can’t believe so much happens at Easton. After getting through this one I realised how much I just don’t like Reed. It is kind of painful to read her thoughts and she is a bit fickle. One boyfriend gone so she is into another 2 days later. Keep it in your pants Reed!
#7. Gathering Blue
Lois Lowry
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 7th Feb 2010
I read some reviews on this that it wasn’t overly good. Not in comparison to ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry anyhow. Not having read ‘The Giver’ though I didn’t mind Gathering Blue. I’d have liked it to be a bit longer though. I read the last page and turned it expecting more. Oh well.
#6. Girl Next Door
Alyssa Brugman
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 6th Feb 2010
This is classic Brugman. She has a formula to all her books it seems. Somewhat like Sarah Dessen. I don’t mind that but it sometimes gets a bit boring. This book ended much to soon… everything happened and then. BAM! Last 5 pages everything is right in the world again even though nothing has really be resolved. I was a bit disappointed.
#5. Invitation Only
Kate Brian
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 3rd Feb 2010
Reed is back and on a new mission. There is a new guy in her life and my is he dull. So cardboard and boring! I kind of wanted to skip pages when he was in it and all of her thought processes about him. Yawn, Reed, yawn. The Billings girls were lovely as ever though and I think Reed sorted herself out by the end… what will the next book bring?
#4. Private
Kate Brian
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 28th Jan 2010
I was lucky enough to get this as a freebie at work. Initially, I thought it was Cecily Von Cegesar thing but its not. It’s more like Evernight but, you know, without the vampires. It was good and I read the second in the series but a little predictable… plus Reed (the main character) isn’t overly likeable. Although, I rarely like a main character. Well paced though and made me request the next 3 from the library.
#3. The Book of Tomorrow
Cecelia Ahern
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 26th Jan 2010
How was it?: I had this book on hold at my local library and finally got to pick it up a week and a half ago. I looked at the cover and read the blurb and tried for the life of me to remember why I had borrowed it. I read a few chapters in and thought ‘that is why I borrowed this’. It was a great story and kept on keeping on. Unfortunately, though, the ending was so disappointing. It could have ended in so many ways and this might have been the worst of the lot. Also, lots of errors! Wrong names, he/she mixed up, spelling mistakes and continuity errors made it slightly confusing at times as well. It was a fun read but nothing to spectacular in the end.
#2. The One to Watch
Shane Watson
Rating: 2.5/5
Completed on: 22nd Jan 2010
How was it?: Uhm, Well… it was strange. I can’t determine if I liked it or not. I didn’t feel myself compelled to stay up late reading it and really just wanted the chapters to end already. It was kind of like a chick flick in a book… is there a chick flick book category? If so, this was it. Just a little bit to corny for me.
#1. The Moonlit Cage
Linda Holeman
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 15th Jan 2010
How was it?: This is one of my favourites. I was desparate for a book a few years back and this called to me from the shelves at our local book store. It is an excellent read of a young Afghani girl from the 1850’s. We travel through her life from young girl to womanhood. Very sad but also quite uplifting to think of challenges she overcame.
