Lyssa Lyssa’s Comments (group member since Dec 27, 2013)


Lyssa’s comments from the The 104 Book Challenge - 2014 group.

Showing 81-100 of 105

Feb 17, 2014 05:21PM

120620 #16 The Widow's Guide to Sex and Dating: A Novel The Widow's Guide to Sex and Dating A Novel by Carole Radziwill Received this copy from Goodreads giveaways, and I'm glad it was free as I would have been upset if I'd spent money on this drivel. Claire is just not likeable for me. Vapid, flighty, whatever you want to call it. She's all over the map trying to figure out a way to lose her "widow virginity."

Lately it seems that all of the cover blurbs have collaborated to lie to me. 2/5
Feb 16, 2014 02:00PM

Feb 15, 2014 11:53AM

120620 #14 Bellman & Black: A Ghost Story Bellman & Black A Ghost Story by Diane Setterfield Tried this as the cover blurb sounded interesting and almost gave up on it halfway through. Turned into reading it just to see if anything would happen. Nope. And if anyone else has read it, would you mind pointing out the ghost mentioned in the title? It seems like it's supposed to be one of those "meaningful" books, but I'm not seeing it. 2/5
Feb 12, 2014 06:19PM

120620 #13 Queen of the Darkness Queen of the Darkness (The Black Jewels, #3) by Anne Bishop Moving on to the follow up stories.... I *am* reading other books, they're just going more slowly as they're not my usual type and it's harder to get into them. And I also just found out a new "In Death" will be coming out towards the end of the month, so have to make room for that one, too. I need a vacation so I can just have a few days of curl up and read instead of trying to fit it in between this work and chore stuff... :)
Feb 06, 2014 06:36AM

120620 Ruth wrote: "#11: Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
2/10 non fiction
Second book I've read of hers and couldn't put it down, I love her boundless curiosity."


I've read her books and love them. Just the right mix of fact and humor - learning something with her is never boring.
Feb 05, 2014 08:41PM

120620 #12 Heir to the Shadows Heir to the Shadows (The Black Jewels, #2) by Anne Bishop Re-read number 90 gajillion and one! :)
Feb 03, 2014 08:59PM

120620 # 11 Daughter of the Blood Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels, #1) by Anne Bishop Reading the new Anne Bishop made me nostalgic for the first series of hers that I read. Glad there are more than three books in this "trilogy." :)
Jan 30, 2014 09:49PM

120620 #10 The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling The Year of Learning Dangerously Adventures in Homeschooling by Quinn Cummings Not what I was hoping for. Started as a book about homeschooling her daughter, and there were even neurotic-funny bits. Then it turned into "How I crashed the (insert fringe homeschool group here) conference" for no other reason than to say she did. I don't agree with most of the fringe groups, but it still irritated me since it seemed like she was doing it just for book material. 2/5
Jan 29, 2014 07:48PM

120620 #9 Written in Red Written in Red (The Others, #1) by Anne Bishop First, let me say I love me some good covers. I will pick up books because of covers. This is not a good cover!! The wolf looks....weird, and the girl? Huh. Anyway, I managed to push that aside to read the book cos I love me some Black Jewels by Anne Bishop and was interested in the new world she's created. Wasn't sure about the first third, but then found myself getting caught up and finished up today.

The monsters are monsters. They eat people and don't just mope around and sparkle. Yay! Bishop even brings in Elementals and vampires and it all works. Best of all, it may be the start to a series, but it wraps up plotlines nicely while still leaving enough "What about...?" for the next book. Too bad it's going to be another YEAR....:/ 4.5/5
Jan 28, 2014 06:26PM

120620 #8 Sleepers Sleepers (The Swarm Trilogy, #1) by Megg Jensen Mediocre character development and world building. Semi interesting "twist" at the end. Might not be a twist since you don't get much background in the first place. At least it was short. 2/5
Jan 24, 2014 10:37PM

120620 #7 The Salt God's Daughter The Salt God's Daughter by Ilie Ruby There is a story in here somewhere, but the author's writing style is so wordy that I kept losing it. Just wasn't in the mindset to read something written like this. 2/5
Jan 22, 2014 05:12PM

120620 #6 The Story of Beautiful Girl The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon The premise is good, I can (mostly) believe the characters, but the story just slows way down in the middle. 2.5/5
Jan 20, 2014 06:39AM

120620 Ruth wrote: "I liked it but I am a bit of an art geek. I loved Lamb but My favorite is Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove."

Ah well, I may have to break down and buy them now. :)
Jan 19, 2014 09:37AM

120620 Ruth wrote: "#3: Sacre bleu: A Comedy D'Art by Christopher Moore"

How did you like this one? I really loved Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, but haven't been able to find any of his others at my library.
Jan 16, 2014 09:23PM

120620 #5 Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality Heads in Beds A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky Behind the scenes of the hotel industry, although just from the lobby employees' perspective. Some amusing anecdotes, but basically boiled down to "Tip us if you want anything." 3/5
Jan 14, 2014 07:29PM

120620 #4 Happy Now?: A Novel Happy Now? A Novel by Katherine Shonk Thought I hadn't read it before, but too familiar, so I must have. 2/5
Jan 11, 2014 03:23PM

120620 Samantha wrote: "Starting Book 2 - PS I Love You - Cecelia Ahern"

Love this book!! I have two copies - one is for my permanent library and one is to lend to friends (just in case someone 'forgets' to return it) Have the tissue box handy. :)
Jan 11, 2014 01:20PM

120620 #3 The Vale Girl The Vale Girl by Nelika McDonald Ok, I'm gonna go all unprofessional on this one: Look!! It's my kid on the cover!!

Oh yeah, that's my daughter who oh-so-nochalantly notifies the family last year that she's on the cover of a book, so of course I have to read it. Problem is, it's only being published in Australia. Best Aussie friend in the world finds me a copy, contacts the author and has it signed for me(!!!!) and sends it my direction. I love my friends.

And the book! It's good! I don't normally read mystery-ish stuff, but I really liked this. I grew up in a small town so was nodding my head at the descriptions of places and people and the way they look at each other. The prose is atmospheric without being pretentious and I understood what she was talking about even tho there are lots of Aussie-isms. :) I hope Ms. McDonald makes it into the U.S. market as I know a lot of people would enjoy this. 4/5
Jan 06, 2014 06:36PM

120620 Lindsay wrote: "Lyssa wrote: "I know about those 'to be read' piles...

Catch up?? Ha! I can only try, but I have books and ebooks waiting, as well as a written list of books that I want to read. As many as I get thru, there are always more. But isn't that the best part? :)
Jan 05, 2014 06:55PM

120620 I know about those 'to be read' piles... not as many as you (probably closer to 50), but then Christmas and the Barnes and Noble gift cards and clearance sales.....sigh. There are 11 I can see in the stack from where I'm sitting and I can't see the bookshelves.

You seem to have enough books stashed around the house that you should do pretty well. :)