Melissa: I have read 9 of Donna Andrews' Meg Lanslow series. Andrews writes with humor, not as much as Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. In the beginning books of the series Andrews spends more time on Meg's craft, which is working with metal (welding etc). Meg's family, especially her dad, is kind of wacky. The dog, Spike, is a holy terror. I can't say that this series ranks in even my top 10 but since I have read 9 of them I feel like I should read the rest. They are in the "okay" range but not like the ones I can hardly wait until the next book comes out.

Thanks, Denise. Don't know why I didn't think of Updike. I have read one book by him previously, and know he has an extensive backlist. Too bad none of them are already in the TBR! Guess I'll have to hit the UBS. Oh, the horror! hehe...

Denise wrote: "Okay everyone, it is time to start thinking about our reading resolutions for 2010. I will start us off by saying that I resolve to go back through all my cozy series and try to catch up with the b..."

Ive heard alot about the Donna Andrews
series..please keep us posted on your views for her cozy series!

Heather L: In regards to your A-Z Author Challenge here is some help for the letter U: try this link--
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/u/ it lists 32 authors with the last name starting with U (ie two popular ones are John Updike and Leon Uris, neither of which have I read but of course have heard of)

A timely revival of an old thread! I have been thinking of 2010 reading goals for the past few weeks, and considering a number of reading challenges to help me along. At the beginning of this year I set a goal of 75 books, four of which were to be classics. I am currently on book 76, and will be working that final classic in this month to coincide with a Christmas Reading Challenge (Capote's A Christmas Memory).

I read primarily in the mystery/thriller/rom suspense categories, with or without paranormal elements, but try to work in a few other genres here and there as well. I get bored if I read within any one genre for a prolonged period of time, and that translates into reading less.

Aside from setting a goal of 75 books again for the coming year, I have already committed to The Historical Reading Challenge and the Really Old Classics Challenge. The latter requires the reading of only one pre-1600 classic by end of February (I have Homer slated for this), and the Historical has no set limit, but I am planning to use it to catch up on my Johanna Lindsey's, one book per month. I've also just received a "first reads" book that will fit that, The Botticelli Secret.

I am also considering the A to Z Author Challenge, picking titles from my TBR mountain range. Took me forever to come up with names for I, Q, N, and V, and I'm still looking for an author whose last name starts with U (feel free to offer suggestions).

Okay everyone, it is time to start thinking about our reading resolutions for 2010. I will start us off by saying that I resolve to go back through all my cozy series and try to catch up with the books I haven't read in series that I have started. I want to do this before I start adding new series. So I will just have to put blinders on when everyone is talking about new series that they are reading. I just feel like I have a lot of loose ends. I will start January off by catching up with Donna Andrews's Meg Lanslow series. I need to read Six Geese A-Slaying and Swan for the Money. Then I will move on to Cynthia Baxter's Reigning Cats & Dogs series. I have three to read starting with Who's Kitten Who?.

If I get off the track (with cozies) someone in the group, please, remind me of my resolution. (Now mind you I will have to read some non-cozies along the way and that will not be breaking my resolution.)

Denise wrote: "Melodie wrote: "Del Franco's Conor Grey books are good, too. They deal with the fae."

Thank both you and Sandy for this info. You can tell I have not read this type of book as I had to go look u..."

If the shapeshifter idea appeals to you, you might consider Patricia Briggs' series. The first book in the series is Moon Called. There are also vampires and fae in the series. They are quite good.

Melodie wrote: "Del Franco's Conor Grey books are good, too. They deal with the fae."

Thank both you and Sandy for this info. You can tell I have not read this type of book as I had to go look up "FAE". I went to my favorite informational site, Wikipedia and if there are others reading this that are as clueless as I was here is a really good article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy. I printed it off for future reference! I like the shapeshifter idea (of course that reminds me of Lon Chaney Jr in "The Werewolf". And if you ask who is Lon Chaney Jr you are way too young for the reference. But then there was a Shapeshifter on Deep Space Nine (ie Odo) also).

Denise wrote: "Melodie wrote: "I read 18 books in July. I think that is a record for me since I started keeping track of what I read. Am at 102 for the year so far. I also read different things. I love UF! P..."

I consider any of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books to be urban fantasy. The Twilight books are YA fantasy, but not what I would consider urban fantasy as they don't have all the necessary world building to qualify, IMHO. And Sandy mentions Tanya Huff & Mark Del Franco. I loved Huff's Blood Books which the Lifetime TV show Blood Ties was based on. Del Franco's Conor Grey books are good, too. They deal with the fae. Patricia Briggs has a series with a heroine named Mercy Thompson who is a shapeshifter. She's a coyote in her non-human form. UF is only good when the writer does good world building. They have to be in what we consider the "real" world, but it has to be a world in which supernatural beings exist and are more or less "out" to the world.

Urban Fantasy is fantasy which is set in the real world as opposed to a made up world. Some titles would be:
Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy
The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff
Unshapley Things by Mark Del Franco

Melodie wrote: "I read 18 books in July. I think that is a record for me since I started keeping track of what I read. Am at 102 for the year so far. I also read different things. I love UF! Put a vampire in ..."

Exactly what is an Urban Fantasy book? Give me a couple titles please. :-)

I read 18 books in July. I think that is a record for me since I started keeping track of what I read. Am at 102 for the year so far. I also read different things. I love UF! Put a vampire in it and I'll probably read it! Am also a sucker for pop-culture bios and love about any kind of mystery.

KimG wrote: "I'm sorry, but I had to giggle over here - "haven't finished a book in days." I average a book a month, if I'm lucky. My goal was one book a month, and I'm already behind by three.

Either I'm..."

I finished 8 books in July and so far this month I have read 7 books. I read a variety of books, a lot of cozy mysteries but also others. For instance the last three books that I have read are The Lost Quilter An Elm Creek Quilts Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini, (finished on Aug 6 the book before that was finished on Aug 4) then The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen finished on August 8 and then Bindweed A Gardening Mystery by Janis Harrison. Sometimes I can finish one book and start another in a day. The longest it has taken me to read a book in the last 2 months was 7 days and that was a cozy mystery. I read a lot of different kinds of books. If I'm reading non-fiction and taking notes as I read that will take me longer. And I don't just read. I work (I am fortunate to have a job that I can work out of my home) but right now I'm only getting about 20 hours a week, I watch some TV but not much (I haven't had the TV on all weekend), I like Sudoku, Logic puzzles, and Picture puzzles (find the difference). I also spend a lot of time on Goodreads! :-). I am also house hunting on the internet trying to find a place in Phoenix as I would like to get moved before the end of the year so that takes up some of my time. I guess I just read fast. Also if I am really into a book I can read until the wee hours of the morning (3 or 4 a.m.).

My reading varies. Some I can read through quite quickly no matter thick or thin, but others take me much longer, so I think a lot depends on content and writing style. Grab my attention and you've got me hooked until I'm finished. Some books just seem to plod or have too much going on to focus.

I'm sorry, but I had to giggle over here - "haven't finished a book in days." I average a book a month, if I'm lucky. My goal was one book a month, and I'm already behind by three.

Either I'm choosing longer books and everybody is reading super short mysteries or I don't spend hours reading every day. How does everyone manage to read so much?

When I was single I could read a book in a weekend, or longer if it was during the week.

I've set a goal of 175 books. I'm at 56, so far! But I'm in a reading rut right now and haven't finished a book in days. :-(

My resolution is to expand my mystery reading. I do read some paranormal and sports romances, but I want to get back to reading mysteries again and discover some new authors.

I'd like to try one of the Miss Silver mysteries by Patricia Wentworth this year.

I've tried reading other genres over the past year, but always seem to go back to the mysteries and thrillers. A lot of friends have recommended what I call "chickie books." They're not chick lit, but ones that women are more drawn to. Instead I've tried new authors like Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown(their suspense ones, not the romances or trilogies), Janet Evanovich, and Sarah Strohmeyer (Bubbles). This year, I've got some Heather Graham, Kathy Reich, and J. Jance in my TBR boxes.

oh and btw, the stitching is also for creative therapy to keep me out of the kitchen cabinets, too close to the tv. :)

I agree with more stitching, but I tend to combine both TV and stitching at the same time <G>. I'd go nuts if I couldn't watch my favorite hockey team play.

As for reading resolutions, I'd like to expand the books I read. Not just fiction but some nonfiction that interests me such as books on architecture and the history of the textile industry.

Hi - I'd like to get back into reading, more stitching, less TV. So, let's try for one a month to start.

I resolve to start writing that next mystery manuscript!

Also, I'd like to send out my Happy New Year wishes to everyone in the group. I hope you are celebrating with those you love, and may the new year fulfill your hopes and bring you many enjoyable mystery reads and lots of joy!

I want to find and read any Midnight Louie mysteries I haven't read yet, by Carole Nelson Douglas. I think there might be two. I' also like to find and read any more Carol Anne O'Marie Sister Mary Helen mysteries I haven't read yet. I just discovered there are several my library didn't have, thanks to Goodreads.

I'm disappointed that I haven't read as much as I'd like in the past few months. I started caring for my granddaughter (kindergartener) & that's really put a hitch in my reading! ;-D Reading is one of my great joys in life. I have so many classics I want to read. Right now I'm reading Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens & it's enjoyable (although, so far, not my favorite of his). I'm also trying to finish Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery. Been too tired to read before bed! I thought grandkids were supposed to keep you young?!

I resolve to read all of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I have them all on my shelf, but have yet to start them.

I have set a goal of 75 books hopefully more if I can
I am going to start going my months instead of bouncing around thinking what do I want to read next.
So Jan is Christian Historical Novels
One month will be all Debbie Macomber
One Month all Mary Higgins Clark
Etc Etc.
I hope this works for me like this

Anyone have any resolutions of what they want to read for the new year? I have so many I can't keep track of them all!