Allison's comments (member since Oct 18, 2008)

Allison's comments from the The Next Best Book Club group.

I'm about 1/4th of the way into Shadow of the Wind.
I'm really enjoying it, although around the 3-4th chapter I started to lose some hope, but it was quickly regained.

It really depends how good the book is. If it's fast-paced, or I'm really enjoying the story, I'll make time to read it. However, if it's just so-so or not holding my attention very well, it takes me a while to get through it.
That being said, I'm generally a fast reader, as far as getting through the pages.

I'm plugging away through White Nights.
I read the prequel, Raven Black a few months ago, and although it was okay, it was so slow. White Nights is as well, so perhaps it is just Cleeves' writing style...
The premise of both mysteries was really good, and the characters are enjoyable- it just is not a page turner. I don't feel like anything exciting ever happens, because even if it does, Cleeves doesn't build it up, in fact, she really downplays everything. A very non-chalant read, and one that's very hard to pick back up.

Felina wrote: "C wrote: "Felina wrote: "Lottie wrote: "To be honest, I LOVE spoilers for books.

It really annoys me if I've not yet read a book I want to and a friend has and they won't tell me what happens. ..."


agghh...another semi-spoiler!
I'm with you C- I have only read up to the 3rd one, and when I read these posts, my mind was turned upside down. Kind of ironic- a spoiler on a thread about spoilers.

I'm trudging along through Case Histories A Novel.
I like the idea of the story, and when it focuses on the actual cases, I really enjoy it. It just seems like there is so much unnecessary talk about how one of the characters has no sex life, but wants one; and about another character's ex-wife. At first I chalked it up to character development, but now I'm not seeing how it is going to enhance the story. I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and I'm really hoping it will pick up.

I just finished 10.9: Baseball.
I read Three Days In August, about Tony LaRussa and the St. Louis Cardinals. I loved this task, because I had really been wanting to read this book as the Cardinals are my very favorite team.

This brings my total to 65 points.

I finished task 10.10: Dog Days of Summer.
I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. I started and finished it yesterday. I just enjoyed the writing style and story so much I couldn't put it down.

New Total: 55 points

Lori and Kristin- I really really enjoyed The Historian. It was an on a whim purchase for a few bucks at Borders, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. There was just the right balance of history and fiction mingled together.

I just started The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. As soon as I finished the first chapter I knew that I would love it. It reminds me of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, which I love. I really like the honesty of the character,and the stream of consciousness style of thinking and writing. Definitely one to add to my library.

I completed 5.1 Small Town: Club Dead- Charlaine Harris

Up to 45 points

Candace wrote: "Angie wrote: "Ok help, anyone know of how to find a book that takes place in a state capital? I need to find a book that takes place in Sacramento."

Angie I believe they said that if you live i..."

Candance- You live in MO too? I searched for Jefferson City forever and could not find one thing!

Just testing the ticker. I don't know if I'll like using it or not, but figured I'd give it a try.

Jenna- I really enjoyed A History of Love. At first, it seemed a little disjointed, but as I read on, everything began to come together and I really became engrossed in it.

I'm getting ready to start Club Dead by Charlaine Harris. I'm really looking forward to it, and wouldn't be surprised if I finished it tonight.

I've read a few more books, and finally completed some tasks. I've read quite a few books, but many of them were for multi-book tasks. Finally I'm on the board.

15.5: Current Events
I read Games with Books by Peggy Kay and an article from School and Community Magazine (a local publication for/by teachers) titled Reaching and Supporting Students From Poverty. The article addressed how to help students from poverty escape poverty by increasing reading skills.
The book gave many suggestions for games to accompany 28 popular childrens books, aimed at improving reading, writing and comprehension skills. Although they were good ideas, some of the books were quite dated, ones that I had never heard of. Not that there is anything wrong with this, of course, I was just hoping that since it was pubbed in '02, there would be some more current books.

25.4 Birthstone
I read The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl. I enjoyed this book, although it wasn't a page turner. I really liked how it mixed fact with fiction around a literary mystery.

Total Points: 40

Kristin wrote: "=O Allison, i want the Jane eyre Illustrated book sooo bad ill have to stop and see if my borders has it on their bargain cart"

It's amazing, and it was only $4!

I stopped at the book carts outside Borders today, and picked up Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda and a fabulous edition of Jane Eyre illustrated by Dame Darcy.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through The Last Dickens A Novel. It's an okay book- not a page turner, but entertaining enough.

I stopped at the used book store today, and got my order from Better World Books today. Needless to say, it was a good day.

The Book of Fate
Scarpetta
Odd Thomas
Green River Running Red
Sorcery and Cecelia
The Bookman's Promise
Schindler's List

I just finished Time Bandit Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World's Deadliest Jobs for one part of task 25.9- this book was published in 2008. No points yet, but it's nice to have finished my first challenge book.