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: 37
Books remaining: 173
Currently reading: Anonymity Jones by James Roy
#37. Fade (Dream Catcher, #2)
Lisa McMann
Rating:3/5
Completed on: 16th May 2010
I was so lucky to also have Fade on hand when I finished Wake. I’m not sure what I would have done if I didn’t. It was great being sucked back into Janie’s world but this book was a tad unrealistic to me. Some of the sequences were great but I felt like McMann was trying to make some sort of epic love out of Janie and Cabel’s relationship. A love they weren’t ready for.
Still exciting. I read it in a few hours after all but I wished for more.
#36. Wake (Dream Catcher, #1)
Lisa McMann
Rating:4/5
Completed on: 16th May 2010
Wow, I got sucked into this book. I read it in less than 24 hours and I would say less than 12 conscious hours and then proceeded to finish Fade in the same day also. I loved the idea behind this and learning of Janie’s struggle with her ‘gift’.
I wish we found out more about her. What happened with her Dad? Why is her Mum the way she is? Instead, we found out more about her romantic interested Cabel, which wasn’t a bad thing. It made him my favourite character but it also made Janie my least favourite.
Great, easy, read but needed more depth.
#35. Shadow Boxing
Sherie Posesorski
Rating:3/5
Completed on: 15th May 2010
I loved how this book started and felt the dispair of our main character however by the end it seemed like everything would end all wrapped up in a nice bow. I wish sometimes that books like these didn’t always end up quite so nice.
#34. A Girl Like Me
Penny Matthews
Rating:3/5
Completed on: 3rd May 2010
I can’t remember why I picked this book up but I felt a little bit of intrigue. Firstly, it is set in 1902 which is something I always like. I kind of love historical fiction and it is also set in Australia which is nice. The story was so sad and I didn’t really want to read the end, didn’t want to believe it. Great read.
#33. A Girl Like Me
Penny Matthews
Rating:3/5
Completed on: 3rd April 2010
I can’t remember why I picked this book up but I felt a little bit of intrigue. Firstly, it is set in 1902 which is something I always like. I kind of love historical fiction and it is also set in Australia which is nice. The story was so sad and I didn’t really want to read the end, didn’t want to believe it. Great read.
#32. Girlosophy: Real Girls Eat
Anthea Paul
Rating:3/5
Completed on: 27th April 2010
This book was a bit of a whim. I picked it up as I was walking out of the library one day because it was bright and shiny. I loved the ideas and the girls from all over the world suggesting their recipes… unfortunately, I don’t remember any of them now! The only down side was that the author seemed to be trying to push vegetarianism onto the reader as though she were somehow superior because she was a vegetarian.
#31. Extras
Scott Westerfeld
Rating:3/5
Completed on: 25th April 2010
I was pretty surprised when I found out that this trilogy had a 4th book. It’s been out a while but I never realised. I didn’t mind it. It brought back all the memories from the other books. I don’t know if it was necessary though and all the fame-making was a bit repetitive.
#30. Watermelon
Marian Keyes
Rating: 2/5
Completed on: 18th April 2010
Hmm, I found this a bit slow. I just wanted Claire to get on with it. Then when she did I just wanted her inner dialogue to stop! Her thoughts were so frustratingly annoying!
I just… wanted it to finish.
#29. Greed
Robin Wasserman
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 11th April 2010
Oh no, the last sin! I’ll miss you gang, you’ve been fun! This book as actually a let down from the rest. I know it had to put everything into place to end but I got a bit bored and well, I didn’t want to know anything else about Harper but she was constantly there! What was happening with Reed? How about Kane? It was a bit sad. In the end the person who least deserved it got everything she had ever wanted. Boo!
#28. Gluttony
Robin Wasserman
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 10th April 2010
Oh my Kane, you are a king among men. Or is that a sleaze among men? I’m not quite sure. I do love your charm though. The gang is in Vegas baby! And everyone has a secret, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas right? I bet these guys sure hope so. Except Miranda of course. Her dreams just came true!
#27. Sloth
Robin Wasserman
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 7th April 2010
Everyone feels guilty and they have all started sucking up to Harper again. Why, Wasserman, why? Harper is such a pain in the arse character. I’m sick of her whining, seriously, I wish the outcome were different. On the plus side, Reed gets some air time and I think he is my new favourite.
#26. Wrath
Robin Wasserman
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 5th April 2010
Beth is getting her wrath on! If only she weren’t so dull, it could have been fun, instead it is tragic and the best character is about to die. Why Beth why? You used to be cool (ok, that is a lie. She was never cool).
#25. Pride
Robin Wasserman
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 3rd April 2010
Is it a bad sign that I can’t quite recall what happened in this book? Generally, I would say yes, however I have devoured this series so fast that all of the books flow into one. I do recall that I love Kaia and Kane and it was beginning of the hate for Harper.
#24. The Life of Akmal
Akmal Saleh
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 29th March 2010
This was incredible. I’m not a huge biography or non fiction reader but I saw this on the shelf and after seeing Akmal on this show or that show I decided to read it. I was so intrigued about what was inside of him and how strong of a person he really is. It was nothing like I imagined but it was wonderful all the same. A snippet.
#23. The Piper’s Son
Melina Marchetta
Rating: 5/5
Completed on: 27th March 2010
The thought of reading more Melinda Marchetta made me giddy AND it was a sequel. I always hoped for sequels in the Marchetta world but figured it was never to be. The book is incredible. I’m so pleased I got it as soon as possible, it is as well written as Marchetta always is and makes you love the characters twice as much. All I wish is that Jimmy appeared just once! Not just in namesake. It was kind of like an episode of a TV show when the actor has quit but the other characters pretend they’re still around by referencing them. I miss you Jimmy!
#22. Saving Francesca
Melina Marchetta
Rating: 5/5
Completed on: 21st March 2010
How much do I love Melina Marchetta? A lot is the answer. This was her second book and I bought it the minute I realised it existed (my favourite book of all time being hers – Looking for Alibrandi). Recently I ran out of new books to read but I knew I had the sequel to this on the way (The Piper’s Son – set 5 years later). Francesca is sometimes hard to like but at those times her friends are always lovable and the story is heart-wrenching and well written.
#21. Miss McAllister’s Ghost
Elizabeth Fensham
Rating: 4/5
Completed on: 19th March 2010
I loved this one. The story starts with 3 siblings whose family life isn’t overly good and the youngest thinks he has seen a ghost. The others go and find out with him and they meet ancient Miss McAlister who hasn’t left her house since before ‘The Great War’. Yes, Miss McAlister is super old and lives like it is 100 years ago. She teaches the children how to work hard and in the end learns a thing or two from them. Lovely read.
#20. Speaking to Miranda
Caroline MacDonald
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 15th March 2010
What a strange book. Ruby has an ‘imaginative’ friend called Miranda, who appears to know more than Ruby does about things. Ruby relies on Miranda to help her out until she realises Miranda is a huge pain in the arse. There is more and it is all a bit strange but an ok read.
#19. Envy
Robin wasserman
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 11th March 2010
The second in the series. It gets a little bit more evil as everyone gets more and more green with envy at each other. The good girls take the bad boys and the bad girls get all huffy, and I laugh. Good, light, but evil fun.
#18. Lust – Seven Deadly Sins #1
Robin wasserman
Rating: 3/5
Completed on: 9th March 2010
Yes, another trashy series I have started. I quite like this one though, the characters appear to exist to make other characters cry. Even the nice ones. This one is also a bit longer than the others I have been reading and yet it left me wanting to read the next title. Which, luckily, I already had.
#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
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.30
