Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2011
>
Aspen's 2011 Challenge: 50 Books
date
newest »
newest »
I hope you can read To kill a mockingbird this year, it's one of my favorite books!Good luck with you 50, you'll make it this year!!
✿ Deni wrote: "I hope you can read To kill a mockingbird this year, it's one of my favorite books!Good luck with you 50, you'll make it this year!!"
I know, there are so many great reviews about that book. I can't believe I actually haven't read it yet. Once I read it, I let you know what I thought about it. And thanks, I hope I do to :). Happy New Year!
1)Pretty Little LiarsThe first in the series and it was pretty good. Basically all it was secrets, secrets and more secrets. Personally I think I much rather just watch the TV series and skip the rest of the books, regardless of if it is the same. This way I can read other, most likely better books. I gave it three stars.
2) The Black SheepThis book was pretty good. It was about a TV show where two kids swap families for a month and a whole bunch of events take place in one particular family. I felt that the author definitely depicted the Reality show life really well, making you hate it yet love it all at once. While reading, it felt like I was actually watching the show (and some behind-the-scenes stuff too). Four stars.
3) TwistedI had read Speak by the same author and I had loved it. But I was a little disappointed with this book because I was expecting more out of the author. Don't get me wrong, Twisted had a very raw and real plot, along with characters. Yet, for me, something lacked. Maybe a big climax? I don't know. Three stars
4)The Lover's Dictionary: A NovelGod, where do I start with this book? First off, I LOVED it!!! The way they made certain word definitions into ways of expressing love was genius and practically after every entry, there was a smile on my face. I felt like I had to have a dictionary at all times though when I read it because half the words I didn't even know. But I think that might have just made me love the book even more. I definitely recommend it. Five stars.
5) GraceThis book had so much meaning to it. First of Eizabeth Scott's books I've read and I loved it. The book is about freedom and having choices in life and how ultimately what you pick is up to you. I definitely recommend it. Five stars/
6) Of Mice and MenMy first classic I have ever read. I really liked this book. First because of the underlying theme throughout the novel and second because it was so easy to understand and see in your mind as you read the book.I probably will be reading another Steinbeck novel after this just to see if they are all as good as this one. Four stars.
7) Gimme a CallLOVE, LOVE, LOVEEEEEEEE! Sarah Mlynowski never seems to fail me. She is probably, without a doubt, my favorite author. First the Magic in Manhattan series, then Milkrun and now this book? I'm seriously in love. Like four more of hers still to read but she is ah-mazing.I want her to make more YA novels! Definitely recommend this author if you haven't yet to give her a shot. Six stars :)
8) The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin BenwayThis was such a "real" book. The relationship between the three sisters was so raw that it made me want to have siblings of my own (being an only child). I definitely recommend this to any YA novel enthusiast. Four stars.
9) How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie StandifordReally different book (I mean the title is a clue in that itself) but I really enjoyed. The plot and relationships were unusual and unlike any other book I've ever read and I guess that is probably why I liked it a lot. I guess sometimes you just get sick of the whole repeating of the same basic plot in every book. So for once, when I icked up this book, I didn't know what was actually coming next for once. I definitely recommend it for teens and adults alike. Four stars.
10) For Keeps by Natasha FriendThis book was an easy read (devoured in a total of three hours). I can't say the plot was out of this world but it was just one of those books that you kept reading because you just wanted to know what happened next, not because it was particularly interesting - in my opinion. I've heard that Friend's three book series starting with "Perfect" was good so I tried this book out by her but I can't say that I will seek her out in the future for more books. Three stars.
11) That Summer by Sarah DessenNow that I've read all by Sarah Dessen, I can definitely say that this was my least favorite. It didn't have very many plot twists and such, just a couple that spanned for a long period of time. I probably would've stopped in the middle of this book if it wasn't for the fact that I've liked all of her other books. I guess you can say I was a little disappointed? Three stars.
12) One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt Every single book I've read by Lauren Barnholdt has seemed to be good. This book was a quick, easy, light read. Devour read in two days, the plot contained many twists and kept me wanting to read more after every page turned. If you just want something quick and fun to read, this is your book. Four stars.
13) Extraordinary by Nancy WerlinI found this book to be written very oddly and that ultimately made me dislike the book incredibly. When I first started out, I thought I would perhaps ignore the writing style and continue one, wishing the plot will be good enough to keep going. But by the time I was halfway through, I wish I had initially stopped reading in the beginning. It is a rather long book that I found dragged out quite a bit and the plot was only really exciting until the end. Personally, I would say skip this book or you might be like me, thinking when you are done reading the last page that you wasted your time.
14) Perfect You by Elizabeth ScottVery cute, easy read. I recommend it for all YA lovers and for people that just want something lighthearted and warming. Four stars.
15)To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThis was such a powerful, thought provoking book. At the beginning (and probably not until page 200)I thought this book was just okay. If it weren't required reading for school, most likely I would have put it down. But then come the last page, I'm glad I didn't. The novel and so many themes embedded into it it almost felt like you were reading some sort of speech. Definitely recommend it for people that haven't already read it. Four stars.
Aspen wrote: "15)To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThis was such a powerful, thought provoking book. At the beginning (and probably not until page 200)I thought this book was just ok..."
See, sometimes teachers do know what they're talking about. Still one of my all time favorite books.
17) Monkey Business by Sarah MlynowskiReally, I think Sarah Mlynowski has earned her spot on my favorite authors list by now. What is this? The 6th book I've read by her and it STILL HASN'T FAILED! This book...this book...I don't know how to describe it. It's funny yet deep, incredibly smile worthy yet sad, it's everything you could ever want. (Maybe I'm over dramatizing it, eh?) But anyways, these are my instructions for this book: READ IT!!!! Four stars.
18) Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James PattersonI always manage to get myself lost in James Patterson's romance novels. Somehow he always creates a homey, feel good fell to his books even if they are somewhat sad. I truly do SEE myself in the book, right next to the characters instead of just looking at them through a frosted window. This book was definitely like that and I wished it would have gone on longer. And of course I finished all his romance novels (can't believe there are only three! Come on James ;)) already. I'm just gunna have to sit around and wait until the next one is released, until then? I read some more! Haha Four stars.
19) Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth ScottThis book had me cringing after every page I read. It was just one of those books that you just can't bare to take another minute of, yet NEED to know what happens in the end. Beautifully written, Elizabeth Scott surprised me here because the other two book I've read by her (Perfect You and Grace) weren't this out of the world. So least to say Living Dead Girl shocked me. I definitely recommend it regardless of the horrid predicament it contains. Four stars.
20) Every Last One by Anna QuindlenThis book was so powerful in so many ways. The love this mother has for her children is almost inspiring. Being a teenager, this makes me want to have children and a big family later on in my life. If you like heartwarming stories though, this won't be a very good choice. But if you love power and passion in your books, this is definitely a good pick although it is hidden deep within. Four stars.
21) Where the Heart Is by Billie LettsThe only reason I picked up this book was because I absolutely LOVED the movie first. If it weren't for that I might have never read it. And so for the movie I am glad, for the book was just as good, if not better because they had all the added detail to it. The book was just like the movie in every single way though. No added twist, nothing so there was no surprising element for me which was a bummer. Still, the book was very heart felt and something you could learn a few things from. I definitely recommend it. Five stars.
22) Between Shades of Gray by Ruta SepetysDuring the course of this book, I realized that historical fiction just may be my favorite genre. Set during World War 2, "Between Shades of Gray" is about a young girl's family and home the Soviet Union takes over her home and they are sent away to labor camps and prisons. Every page was touching and made me feel so much for these people that had to endure that. Truly heart-touching. Five stars.
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Pretty Little Liars (other topics)The Black Sheep (other topics)
Twisted (other topics)
The Lover's Dictionary (other topics)
Grace (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarah Mlynowski (other topics)Robin Benway (other topics)
Natalie Standiford (other topics)
Natasha Friend (other topics)
Sarah Dessen (other topics)
More...
Here is some books in particular that I want to read and hope to this coming year:
-Finish Percy Jackson series (3 left)
-Pretty Little Liars Series
-Hunger Games trilogy
-Where the Heart Is
-To Kill a Mockingbird
If you have any other suggestions for great books that you personally read, please, feel free to share. Here's to a New Year!