U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

I absolutely love Sue Grafton's character Kinsey Millhone.  I have followed this character from A to U and haven't been disappointed yet. I do wish that it didn't take the author so long to finish a book, but then when I read her latest installment and come away totally satisfied I realize that Sue Grafton takes the time to research her information and remains true to her character and time period. U is for Undertow also goes into some of Kinsey Millhones family issues that she has been dealing with throughout the series. I liked getting another peak at what makes Kinsey, Kinsey. Another page-turner and a great way to end 2009's reading log!

Holiday Break Reading Activity #14

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #14

Happy New Year's Eve

Today is the last day to read anything for your 2009 Reading Logs.  I know I've been trying to finish the books I'm working on so I don't have to carry them over to 2010.

Today's challenge is to think about all the books you've read that came out in 2009.  You have two choices.  You can either post your Top 9 of 2009 or choose 1 favorite book of 2009.

1 - Post your Top 9 of 2009 OR your 1 favorite book of 2009.

2 - Link your post here using Mr. Linky.

 

Here are my top 10 of 2009:

 

10. Beastly by Alex Flinn
9.The Dying Breath by Alane Ferguson
8. The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Frederick
7. Death On The Nile by Agatha Christie
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
5. Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
4. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
3. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
2.  Fireproof by Eric Wilson
1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

 

Well, I just re-read the instructions and they are supposed to be books that came out in 2009. Oops, but I'm sticking to my list! These are books that I have read in 2009 and they are still my favorites. Some did come out in 2009, but there are a few that came out years and years before that. And Pride and Prejudice will always be my favorite!

Holiday Break Reading Activity # 12

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #12

 Think back on all the books you've read dealing with animals.  What are your favorites.  You can choose one or more than one.  It doesn't matter to me.  BUT, please make these REAL animals.  No werewolves or other fantastical creatures.

1. On your blog, list the book cover(s) with author information.

 

2. Use Mr. Linky to link back to the Holiday Break Reading Challenge blog.

 

Here are 2 of my favorite animal stories:

 

Any Hank the Cowdog story by John R. Erickson

 

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Right Behind You by Gail Giles

When Kip was 9 he killed a boy. He spent 5 years in a mental hospital getting counciling and serving his time. When he gets out he and his dad and step-mom have to move to Indiana to start a new life. After making new friends and trying to fit in, Kip is still in self-destruct mode. He can't get away from the demon that chases him...guilt. All too soon he self-destructs. Now he is having to put his family through yet another move. This time to a beach house that was left to his step-mom. The first day there he meets Sam. Sam has demons of her own. Will they be able to help each other chase the demons away or will Kip self-destruct once more? This was a very interesting book. I really couldn't put it down. It made me think would I be one of the people that could not forgive and forget or would I be supportive of Kip. Very provocative. I didn't like the ending. I guess I like things spelled out and easy to understand. Black and white. But life isn't always like that.

Holiday Break Reading Activity #11

December 28, 2009

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #11

2010 Challenges

There are several bloggers hosting Challenges this year.  I have already signed up for several and look forward to participating in them.

This Activity is designed to help you explore some of the many challenges available to you.

1.  Visit these blogs to read about some 2010 Challenges.

J. Kaye's Book Blog

Look in the left side bar at YA Challenge, Library Challenge, 100+ Challenge, and 3 author specific challenges.

Royal Reviews

Look at the lower right sidebar for 1st in a Series Challenge, The 2nd Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, E-Book Challenge, Fantasy Challenge, Finish That Series Challenge, Historical Fiction Challenge, Romance Challenge, Winter Reading Challenge, and Wish I'd Read That Challenge.

Book Chick City

Look at the lower right sidebar for Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge, The Anita Blake Challenge, Speculative Fiction Challenge, and Typically British Reading Challenge.

MizB's Reading Challenges

Hosts Original TBR Challenge, TBR Lite, RYOB Challenge, Raved-Reads Challenge, Read 'n Review Challenge, and Vampire Challenge.

A Novel Challenge (informational blog about challenges)

The Twiga Blog

Look at the right sidebar for Chick Lit Challenge, Medical Mysteries Challenge, Biblical Fiction Challenge, and Christian Non-Fiction Challenge.

Some Various Challenges:

GLBT

Flashback Challenge (rereading)

Graphic Novel Challenge

What's in a Name? 3 Challenge

A to Z Challenge

TBR (To Be Read)

Chunkster Challenge

I'm sure I've missed some.  So, if you know of others just leave the link to them in the comments section of this post.

2.  Create a post on your blog about Challenges, either in general or specific to the ones you plan to join for 2010.

3.  Use Mr. Linky to link your post back to this one.

 

 

I'm kind of doing my own challenges so didn't sign up for anyone's blogs. It would be too much for me to keep up with too many. So here are my challenges for the year.

 

2010 Reading Challenge:

My own TBR list. You can check it here on my blog. There are a lot on there...hope I finish.

 

Also there are books that I would like to re-read but don't want to sign up for a challenge because I am never sure what I am in the mood to re-read. But usually during the year I re-read several of my old favorites. I will probably re-read The Twilight series, I am going to finish up the Trixie Belden series that I started in 2009 and didn't get to finish. I am on #18 of 39. There's the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson that I try to read every year. Also I didn't get to the Cheney Duvall series by Gilbert and Lynn Morris  last year that I would have loved to read.

 

So those are my personal challenges. I keep track of all of them on my blog so check it out!

Holiday Break Reading Activity #10

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #10

Give A Shout Out

There are so many blogs on the Internet that it would be impossible to keep up with all of them.  So, your challenge is to: 

1 - Go to Google or one of your favorite search engines and find search for blogs that cater to your tastes.  Try to find at least 3 blogs to share.

2 - Keep track of their title, web address, and a short summary of what you like about it.   

3 - Post something on your blog about these blogs with the title I'd Like To Give A Shout Out To...

3 - Come back here and use Mr. Linky so we can visit your site and visit some of the blogs you've found.

 

I am new to blogging so haven't been searching very much. I have just started my own blog here and then there are 2 others that I have been to to check out:

 

http://karinlibrarian.wordpress.com/

Karin is hosting the Holiday Break Reading Challenge. Very fun so far. I have a feeling that I have done this challenge wrong, but like I said...newby here!

http://ronicastromberg.wordpress.com/

Ronica is an author that has recently sent me 2 of her books to review. This is the first time that I have ever done something like that. I'm kind of nervous about this but stay tuned and hopefully next week I will have those reviews posted and an interview with her.

Beastly by Alex Flinn

A modern day Beauty and the Beast. I thought it was pretty good. Before being turned into a Beast Kyle Kingsbury was a total jerk. Hence the reason for turning him into a beast. Through his time as a Beast he learned to put others before himself. He learned to love others besides himself. Of course it was the fairy tale ending...which is what I love! I really enjoyed this book.

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #9

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #9

trusty Holiday Break Reading Challenge participants - here is your challenge.  You have two choices.  You need to create a post on your blog about one of two things.  
1 - You can feature Christopher Moore talking about books you've already read or ones you'd like to read
OR
2 - You can go a totally different direction and create a post about books about ZOMBIES - either ones you've already read or ones you want to read.


I know, I know...this isn't really sticking to the Christmas spirit, but... oh well, maybe you'll win a prize.


Be sure to link your post to this one using Mr. Linky.

I have only read 3 Zombie books(that I can remember) And they are all favorites:

First:



I believe this is the first zombie book that I have ever read. I enjoyed it very much.  Lots of action. Lots of death(didn't like that part). Some romance.

Second:



I totally enjoyed this book! I laughed out loud! The original Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is my absolute favorite book. I totally thought I would hate this book but it was surprisingly entertaining and humorous.

Third:



This is the companion novel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. It was pretty good but I was disappointed in the fact that it wasn't a sequel. I would have loved for it to have picked up where The Forest of Hands and Teeth left off. It had lots of action, romance etc. to keep the pages turning. A terrible ending though. I think the author has re-done the ending. I have read an Advanced Reading Copy of this.

Lastly: I know that I said I read 3 but I have attempted to read 4. This last book I tried to read but had to put it down. I know several people who have totally enjoyed it but I couldn't get past the ritualistic events that took place at the very beginning of the book. So it was one that I had to set down. Probably will not pick it up again.

Holiday Break Reading Challenge #7

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #7

Best and Worst Book-to-Movie Adaptations

This Activity is completely and totally based on your opinion.

1 - You need to choose the BEST Book-to-Movie Adaptation you've seen and the WORST Book-to-Movie Adaptation you've seen.

2 - Post the pictures of the book cover next to the movie poster for each pair.

3 - Use Mr. Linky to link your post to the Holiday Break Reading Challenge Blog.

 

The Best:

 

 

 

Worst:

Let the Sun Shine In by Jackie Gilmore

THAT'S MY MOM!!!! Seriously! I about flipped out when I got it! I'm still crying! How exciting for my mom to be a "published author" and  of course I think it is the best book EVER written!

Holiday Break Reading Challenge #5

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #5

Posted: 21 Dec 2009 10:10 PM PST

I'm going to go easy on you guys today. Here is all you need to do:

1 - Pick up the book you are currently reading.

2 - Since it is December 22nd, turn to page 22 in your book.

3 - Count down to the 22nd line on the page. (If there is a partial word on the line you can leave it off.)

4 - Post a picture of your book cover along with the 22nd line from the 22nd page on your blog.

5 - Use Mr. Linky to link your post to the Holiday Break Reading Challenge blog.

 

Here is my entry:

 

Page 22, line 22

"...on the collar of one of Dad's shirts." "Pretty cushy job if..."

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

This is an Advanced Reading Copy.  This World We Live In takes up where Life As We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone left off. Alex and Julie from The Dead and the Gone meet up with Miranda's father and his wife and new baby. They all come home to be with Miranda and her mom and two brothers. Life is still hard. The family is still struggling to survive. There are still things that they can salvage out of houses around the community and also the boys are able to go fish and bring back some much needed protein for the family.  Miranda is still kind of whiney. You would think after all that they have been through that she would have gotten over her selfish ways. But there is still self-centeredness that kind of gets annoying. When Alex shows up she goes from being jealous of him, to feeling sorry for him to thinking that she is in love with him. By the end of the book she does seem to gain some maturity. Not my favorite book out of the 3 but I did like to read more of Miranda and Alex's story. There is enough excitement in the book to keep the pages turning.

Holiday Break Reading Activity #4

Monday, December 21, 2009

Holiday Break Reading Challenge Activity #4

Today's challenge is taken from Stella Matutina's blog. Here is what you need to do:

1 - List the title and author of the book you are currently reading.

2 - Use any photo hosting site (Google Images, Flickr, Photobucket, FlickrCC, etc.) to find photos related to your book. "The image(s) you post need to have something to do with the book you're currently reading. You can post a painting or photograph that makes you think of the story or the characters, choose a few pictures that highlight some of the book's most important elements, or do a little of both. The only thing you can't do is just post the cover art and leave it at that, though you're welcome to include a cover image alongside your other selections." (Stella Matutina)

3 - Put a short description with each picture explaining what it means to the book.

 

This is the book that I am reading:

 

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

 

Finally we are able to find out what happens to Miranda and her family and Alex and Julie.

 

 Miranda and her family are still trying to survive even though winter does seem to be subsiding. Matt and Jon decide to go catch fish(shad) about 15 miles away. They are gone for about a week.

While the boys are away Miranda continues to break into homes in the area searching for anything that her and her family can use. She is looking for toilet paper, paper towels, food, toiletry items like shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash etc.

 

 On their return from fishing the boys bring a girl with them. Matt says that he and Syl have "spoken words" and are now married. Mom is not happy, another mouth to feed.

One day Dad shows up with his wife and new baby and 3 other people. Charlie that they met at a shelter and Alex and Julie(from The Dead and the Gone). Everyone pitches in to cut wood, find food etc. Extra food is given to Dad's wife so she has enough energy and nutrients for the baby. Ten people living in one home is too much though. Dad makes plans to move his group to another house. Alex makes plans for he and Julie to move on. He is planning on leaving her at a nunnery and himself finding a monestary to become a priest. What will happen from here? I have no idea but I will keep reading!

 

Holiday Break Reading Activity #3

This is my submission to the Holiday Break Reading Activity #3

The idea is to pick 3 or 4 books from your "to-read" pile and create a sentence out of them using just those books. This is my attempt:

My sentence is: The Rainmaker Sent The White Darkness.

Holiday Break reading challenge activity #1

Here is my entry for the holiday break reading challenge activity #1. I'm hoping to win a prize!



Heather is a workout instructor at the local Y. All day long she works with women helping them "sweat off the pounds."  Her life revolves around exercise. One evening when she is leaving the Y late she catches a young girl trying to sneak into a side door. After further investigation she finds that the girl is homeless and has been staying at the Y after hours. Heather, confronted with her own childhood memories of abandonment is forced to exercise a muscle that she hasn't been able to use for a very long time-her heart.

Peace Child by Don Richardson

I love missionary stories! I love to read about someone going to a foreign land and presenting The Word to people groups that have never known the outside world. Peace Child is about the Sawi tribe in what was then called Papua New Guinea. They were head hunters and cannibals. Don Richardson, his wife Carol and their 7 month old son lived among them for 15 years. Many Sawi became Christians and gave up their old practices. Don and his family were able to show the Sawi that Jesus is the ultimate "Peace Child"

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

This is an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. I am not sure when it comes out. I understand that the author has changed the ending of the book. If that is the case then I am very glad! The ending stunk! Not to mention the fact that this is a companion book to The Forest of Hands and Teeth instead of a sequel. I was hoping for a continuation of Mary's story from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Instead The Dead-Tossed Waves jumps years ahead of that story. Yes, we do find out some of her story(eventually)but it just isn't the same. BUT~I got caught up in this story. It is exciting, tense, nerve-wracking! What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the ending.