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Book 10 of 2009
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J.K. Rowlings
Started: March 18, 2009
Finished: March 29, 2009
What can I say? This was yet another great Harry Potter book and a great conclusion to the series. Going into the series, I did not think I would care for it. In the end, the whole series caught me off guard and grabbed me from beginning to end. J.K. Rowling did a great job of engaging the reader, even if fantasy in not your first choice in genre. I, recommend, everyone to read the series and enjoy it as I did; this book included!
Book 11a of 2009 
The Dark Tower: The Long Road Home
Peter David
Started: March 18, 2009
Finished: March 21, 2009
The story is good and seems faithful to the original books other than, the creator took the story and put it in order. I don't like the art style at all, but this is still a good read.
Book 11b of 2009
Bone: Volume 1: Out From Boneville
Jeff Smith
Started: March 21, 2009
Finished: March 25, 2009
A fun little graphic novel. I liked the story and really liked the art and I look forward to reading on in the series.
Book 11c of 2009
Bone: Volume 2: The Great Cow Race
Jeff Smith
Started: March 21, 2009
Finished: March 29, 2009
I really am enjoying these books so far. This one was not as good as the first one but still an enjoyable read. I really like the art and the humor is up my alley as well. Fone Bone is a very likable character and I look forward to continuing the series.
(I combined all these books together because they were so short.)
Book 12a of 2009
Harry Potter: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
J.K. Rowlings
Started: March 29, 2009
Finished: March 29, 2009
After coming off of the great story work in Harry Potter, I was very disappointed with this book. This is, essentially, a collection of fairy tales from the Harry Potter world and they all seemed rushed and poorly written. The commentary from Dumbledore seemed to drag on and on and was clearly filler to make the book longer. Lastly, there were only about 5 very short stories/fairy tales in the book making the 13 dollar price tag a bit outrageous.
Book 12b of 2009
Liberty Meadows: Summer of Love
Frank Cho
Started: March 28, 2009
Finished: March 31, 2009
I've always been a fan of Liberty Meadows and this volume did not let me down. The strips are funny and sarcastic and they hit my funny bone every time.
(I combined these together as one book because they are so short.)
Book 13 and 14 of 2009
The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
---13. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
---14. The Restaurant and the End of the Universe
Douglas Adams
Started: March 29, 2009
Finished: April 14, 2009
This book is a collection of the 5 Hitchhiker's Guide books. I read the first two of the five books and enjoyed them a lot. They were good enough that I plan to read the other three as well. I found the first two books to be super funny but, both books are definitely lacking in plot.
Book 15 of 2009
Watchmen
Alan Moore
Started: April 2, 2009
Finished: April 20, 2009
I don't know what to say. Everyone loves this novel. Reviewers, critics, comic lovers, casual readers all seem to love this book. I, just, didn't get it. Hate me or not, I just found this to be wordy and drawn out and I barely dragged through reading it. I did not like Watchmen.
Book 16 of 2009
Darkly Dreaming Dexter
Jeff Lindsay
Started: April 14, 2009
Finished: April 20, 2009
After hearing that a bunch of people like the show but did not like the book, I was skeptical. I was pleasantly surprised. The book moved quickly and the character really has some charm to him. I was always interested in what was gonna happen next, although it was a bit predictable. I look forward to continuing the series.
Book 17 of 2009
Everything is Illuminated
Jonathan Safron Foer
Started: April 21, 2009
Finished: April 30, 2009
Although the book had descriptive serious and/or entertaining events that were great to read, the parts around these event were huge and very boring. Essentially the book is 3 stories that are spread throughout the book. Story 1 was horrible to read; Story 2 was so-so; Story 3 was just OK to read. Unfortunately, to get Story 3 you have to drag through the other two stories as they come. ...To sum this up, I Hated this Book.
Book 18 of 2009
Snuff
Chuck Palahniuk
Started: April 25, 2009
Finished: May 4, 2009
An interesting little book. A strange combination of true facts, humor, and drama wrapped around a story of a snuff film in progress.
Book 19 of 2009
People of the Book
Geraldine Brooks
Started: May 1, 2009
Finished: May 26,2009
I was torn as to what I should give this book because it has more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. On one hand, I hated the main character and some of the side stories about the book. On the other hand, some of the history of the book and most of the main story were pretty interesting. So, I guess, 3 stars it is.
Book 20a of 2009
Bone: Volume 3 Eyes of the Storm
Jeff Smith
Started: April 28, 2009
Finished: May 2, 2009
It's a fun, light-hearted series. I really look forward to continuing on with it.
Book 20b of 2009
Dark Tower: Treachery
Robin Furth
Started: May 2, 2009
Finished: May 6, 2009
Hmm...as the third book in the series, it is the best so far. The first two while entertaining and fairly faithful to the books were a little wordy and drawn out to me. Now that things are starting to happen the pace is picking up and has me hooked in all over again. I look forward to the next collection. But...I still do and always will hate the artwork in this series.
Book 20c of 2009
Bone: Volume 4 The Dragonslayer
Jeff Smith
Started: May 6, 2009
Finished: May 10, 2009
Another great volume. The series really starts to pick up here.
(I combined these all together as one book because they are so short.)
Book 21a of 2009
Summer Blonde
Adrian Tomine
Started: May 11, 2009
Finished: May 15, 2009
This is a very interesting little book containing 4 short stories. Each story is a sliver in 4 different peoples lives with thing happening to the people before the stories begin and after the stories end. It can be a little jarring to jump abruptly into each story only to have it end just as abruptly in the middle of the climax or even before the climax. Although abrupt, this method does invoke your imagination to finish the story and, in a way, I found it refreshing. Each story are very much real life stories, dealing with love, depression, and fitting in and kind of brought me back to high school. Esquire magazine claimed this book was one of the Top 20 must read graphic novels. I don't think I would go as far as to back that up, but if you have a minute and a few extra bucks, go ahead and check this one out.
Book 21b of 2009
Bone: Volume 5 Rock Jaw
Jeff Smith
Started: May 18, 2009
Finished: May 21, 2009
If you are reading this review, you probably have read the previous 4 books and don't need me to tell you the reasons to read this one.
(I combined these two books together because they are so short. I felt like I would be cheating my goal for the year.)
Book 22 of 2009
Vox
Nicholson Baker
Started: May 25
Finished: June 8, 2009
Vox was a very interesting book. It follows an anonymous phone conversation between a man and a woman as they discuss life, sex, and much more. The book has adult situations but is not necessarily focused on them, which was strange and refreshing. The conversation between the two characters was so real, so thought out, I could swear it was an actual transcribed conversation (maybe it is?) It really held my interest to see what they would say next and it's worth a read.
Book 23 of 2009
Zombie Blondes
Brian James
Started: May 27
Finished: May 31
This was an interesting book. I liked it so-so. It was very very targeted at teens/young adults with themes running through the book of school popularity and drama with jocks, nerds, preps, whatever. The build-up to the climax was, literally, 7/8th of the book with the final 1/8th of the book going really fast. Too fast, I think. It felt like the author got sick of writing at right about the climax and seemed to really rush the end. The end was very cliched, and very quick and not very detailed, which is very unlike the first half of the book which was very drawn out and precise.
Book 24 of 2009
Patient Zero
Jonathan Maberry
Started: June 1, 2009
Finished: June 21, 2009
Not a bad book. Overall, the book was fun to read zombie survival thriller. The character was fighting an outbreak of a virus that caused people to turn to zombies and frequently was about the containment and extermination of the zombies to prevent outbreak into the US. At times the book was too descriptive, at times the author was a bit wordy, at times the author was a bit too focused on techniques and tactics, but at times this book was very fun and very fast paced and action packed. If you like zombies, I'd check this one out for sure.
Book 25 of 2009
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Jeff Kinney
Started: June 5, 2009
Finished: June 20, 2009
This was a cute little book, in the form of a diary, about a boy and his happenings through life and school. My daughter read it, and for some reason the little parts that I read over her shoulder pulled at me and I had to read it too. In the end, it is a fun, light, light hearted romp through 1 year of this kids middle school years. Don't run out and buy it but if your child has it laying around, grab it up and read it.
Book 26 of 2009
Fuzzy Navel
J.A. Konrath
Started: June 22, 2009
Finished: June 26, 2009
Another great action-packed, funny, mystery novel following Jack Daniels and her friends. This one was a super fast read with a great ending.
Book 27 of 2009
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
Lemony Snicket
Started: June 22, 2009
Finished: June 26, 2009
I was a little leary going into this book, but I quickly fell in love with the concept and the writing style and look forward to reading on in the series. The kids in the book and all their unfortunate events easily capture your heart and it is hard not to want to know what happens to them.
Book 28 of 2009
The Sea of Monsters
Rick Riordan
Started: June 27, 2009
Finished: July 9, 2009
After reading the first book in the series, I was conflicted. I really enjoyed parts of it, especially all of the mythology and mythological characters sprinkled through the book. But, there were things that I didn't like, as well. This being, mainly, the authors writing style and the main characters personality and such.
I was very torn as to whether I should continue with the series and decided to read the second book in the series (this one) to get a better feel and sway me to one side or the other. After reading this book, I still remain conflicted. Very much like the first one, I feel this book is scattered with good and bad. I guess, after much contemplation, I will continue on with the series, but it, definitely, won't call it the greatest series I have ever read or anything.
Book 29 of 2009
Crank
Ellen Hopkins
Started: June 27, 2009
Finished: July 14, 2009
Just not my type of book. The creative word layouts seemed pointless and give the impression of being poetic when they are not. The book drolls on and on and the ending makes reading the first half of the book seem pointless.
Book 30 of 2009
Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Started: July 9, 2009
Finished: July 11, 2009
I liked this book quite a bit. I would never read it to my children for I think it would scare them silly, but I enjoyed it for sure. It is just an excellent and very creepy book. Coraline is an excellent main character and handles herself under pressure, and the antagonist and all that they do is just darn creepy.
Book 31 of 2009
Dearly Devoted Dexter
Jeff Lindsay
Started: July 12, 2009
Finished: July 19, 2009
Another excellent book in the Dexter series, but not quite as good as the first one. I hope the series recovers in the third one. Overall, still a wonderful book, though and a great series to get into.
Book 32 of 2009
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Jeff Kinney
Started: July 17, 2009
Finished: July 20, 2009
This is a fun, cute little series that is a lot of fun to read. Both my kids and I think this Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is funny and great for the whole family. Definitely pick it up, if you have kids, and read it for yourself before turning it over to them.
Book 33 of 2009
The Living Dead
John Joseph Adams
Started:July 20, 2009
Finished:August 31, 2009
I really really really wanted to like this collection of short stories. I mean, I really wanted to. I love zombies and zombie stories and movies but, in the end I only found a few to be enjoyable and the rest to be mediocre or just plain boring. A couple of the stories such as "Almost the Last Story by Almost the Last Man" and "This Year's Class Picture" are definitely worth checking out but, they are so few and far between that it would be hard to justify a purchase.....even if you are a zombie lover like me.
Book 34a of 2009
Bone Volume 6: Old Man's Cave
Jeff Smith
Started:July 20, 2009
Finished:July 24, 2009
The plot is really picking up here. A lot of key points have been unveiled in this one and I am very curious about how things are going to play out.
Book 34b of 2009
Bone Volume 7: Ghost Circles
Started:July 20, 2009
Finished:July 24, 2009
This volume was action packed and really had me worried about the characters as the climax draws nearer. As plot unfolds now, things are getting a little weird but enjoyable all the same.
(I combined these two books together because they are so short. I felt like I would be cheating my goal for the year.)
Book 35 of 2009
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room
Lemony Snicket
Started: July 25, 2009
Finished: July 30, 2009
I really enjoy this series so far and can't wait to read on.
Book 36 of 2009
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window
Lemony Snicket
Started: July 31, 2009
Finished: August 8, 2009
This is yet another great book in the Lemony Snicket series. I really enjoy them and look forward to reading on. It's a great series for kids or to read to your kids.
Book 37a of 2009
Bone Volume 8: Treasure Hunters
Jeff Smith
Started: August 8, 2009
Finished: August 11, 2009
Getting close to the end of the series with this one. The action picks up here and the book leaves you yearning to read the next and final book in the series.
Book 37b of 2009
Bone Volume 9: Crown of Horns
Jeff Smith
Started:
Finished: August 12, 2009
Overall this series was pretty enjoyable. A couple of the books seemed to draw the series longer than it needed to be and the ending (this book) I found to be rather anti-climactic.
(I combined these two books together because they are so short. I felt like I would be cheating my goal for the year.)
Book 38 of 2009
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill
Lemony Snicket
Started: August 14, 2009
Finished: August 20, 2009
A good if not repetitive series to get into with your kids.
Book 39 of 2009
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Austere Acadamy
Lemony Snicket
Started: August 21, 2009
Finished: September 5, 2009
Book 40 of 2009
A Simple Plan
Scott Smith
Started: September 1, 2009
Finished: September 14, 2009
I extremely enjoyed this book. I found the plot to be very fast paced and it kept me turning pages. It is rare that I give a book 5 stars, but I definitely give 5 stars to this one. Great book!
Well, I did it! I made my goal of 40 books for the year. I didn't make it last year but it is only September of this year so we'll see how many extra I can read.
Book 41 of 2009
A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ersatz Elevator
Lemony Snicket
Started: September 6, 2009
Finished: October 30, 2009
This is book 6 in the series, and although I have enjoyed the series so far, this one disappointed me. The author stretched my imagination too far with what the main characters are able to do and the plot was a stretch as well. I will continue on in the series but this book was a letdown.
Book 42 of 2009
Earth Abides
George R. Stewart
Started: September 16, 2009
Finished: October 3, 2009
This was a pretty good book. It was a very analytical, very sociological look at the end of the world. I enjoyed it. The main character was likable and the plot was enjoyable.
Book 43 of 2009
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Jeff Kinney
Started:September 30, 2009
Finished:October 3, 2009
A good series of books for children. A nice mix of real life with humor and good fun. My kids love em and I think they are pretty fun too. This book is no exception.
Book 44 of 2009
Hannah's Dream
Diane Hammond
Started: October 4, 2009
Finished: October 10, 2009
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The story was very heartwarming at times and sad at times. It was a easy read as well that flowed quickly off the pages. The one thing I didn't like is that the characters always seemed to have the solutions to their problems but never knew it. They never had to work at anything in the end.
Book 45 of 2009
High Fidelity
Nick Hornby
Started:October 11, 2009
Finished:October 21, 2009
I, absolutely, loved this book. I found the plot to be enjoyable and the humor to be witty and funny. A great book. It is rare that I keep a book to read again sometime, but I am going to with this one.
Book 46 of 2009
Little Children
Tom Perotta
Started: October 21, 2009
Finished: November 2, 2009
This was an excellent book. The story was quick and easy flowing and they characters were very enjoyable to read about. The plot made for a good story but was just realistic enough to make you feel like it could happen anywhere/anytime. The emotions of the characters were very well expressed making you feel for them/against them extremely well. My only qualm is in the ending. It seemed a little abrupt and left me hanging for a bit more.
Book 47 of 2009
The Titan's Curse
Rick Riordan
Started: November 3, 2009
Finished: November 10, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. The plot is really picking up here and kept me turning the pages. There were a few inconsistencies that bugged me a bit but still a good addition to a series that I have been so-so about.
Book 48 of 2009
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Jeff Kinney
Started: November 5, 2009
<b?Finished:</b>November 9, 2009
These are just great, fun children's books that are funny and light-hearted. I recommend them for kids and adults alike.
Book 49 of 2009
Under The Dome: A Novel
Stephen King
Started: November 10, 2009
Finished: December 11, 2009
King did a great job with this book. It contains a huge cast of characters that could be impossible to manage for a lesser author but he manages to keep it all organized quite well. I noticed that the writing seems to change a little bit when he is talking about each person to fit that character. I found that to be a very nice touch. The story progresses well and kept me engaged. Typical of King's stories, things do a get a little weird at the end. But, this book keeps it under wraps fairly well and doesn't take it way out there like some of his others (IT). I recommend it. It was a good, strong, well-written story.
Book 50 of 2009
This Boy's Life: A Memoir
Tobias Wolff
Started: December 11, 2009
Finished: December 27, 2009
A fun and sometimes sad look into the life of the author. It was a good story, not great but worth a read.
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