Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2013! Yay!
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Hayley's 2013 Challenge
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Wow, this is *such* a common theme for our group :) I think we're all book addicts ;)
This list looks amazing! I may have to read some of these ;)
Haha thanks everyone! :)Tiffany: I think we all have to be book addicts to be here! So far, there are only three on that list that I don't have, but it's not a 50 yet so I'm sure I'll be breaking that rules a few more times...
Book 1: A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan DoyleFinished: 20.01.2013
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 162
Total pages this year: 162
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
A nice little book to start the year. A great read - I've been wanting to dig into these for a while, planning on reading all 9 of them this year. It was a good story, got a bit confusing at the beginning of part two, and lost me for a bit, before I figured out what was going on, and then I wanted to know what was going to happen! Looking forward to picking up the next one.
Book 2: Inheritance by Christopher PaoliniFinished: 24.01.13
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 849
Total pages this year: 1,011
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
A good end to this epic series. I didn't find myself connecting with it as well as the others, but it has been a while since I read them. I had a few gripes with some plot/character decisions, but otherwise an enjoyable read, worth the effort.
Book 3: The Crush by Sandra BrownFinished: 30.01.13
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 478
Total pages this year: 1,489
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This was a pretty good bood; fast-paced, well written, with good characters and a great twist at the end. I did see a pattern, however, between the general plot of this book and of the previous Sandra Brown book I read. But I have enjoyed her work and will hopefuly be able to pick up more.
Book 4: The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan DoyleFinished: 09.02.13
Rating: 3/5
Pages: 150
Total pages this year: 1,639
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
A pretty good follow-up to the first one, though not quite as good or as engaging. Also, whilst I understand it is a product of the time in which they were written, but I'm hoping to see some more action from the female characters in future books.
*not actual version I read
Hayley, be aware that female characters in Sherlock Holmes books rarely do much. Nevertheless, I have adored Sherlock a very long time.Rose
Obsessedreader wrote: "Hayley, be aware that female characters in Sherlock Holmes books rarely do much. Nevertheless, I have adored Sherlock a very long time."Haha thanks Rose - guess I'm just hopeing for a bit too much! But I am still looking forward to reading them all and I shall persist with it.
Book 5: The Night Circus by Erin MorgensternFinished: 15.02.13
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 490
Total pages this year: 2,129
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
First 5 star book of the year - absolutely fantastic! The use of the present tesnse, and occasional passages in second person were engaging and refreshing, and the language was mystical and magical. A fantastic read, though I found many of the secondary characters more interesting than the main characters, but it was still a fantastic read and I highly, highly recommend it.
Book 6: Fallen by Tim LebbonFinished: 02.03.13
Rating: 3/5
Pages: 527
Total pages this year: 2,656
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This was an enjoyable book. It's dark, gritty, Lovecraftian horror, with a sense of adventure thrown in too. The setting was vivid and interesting, the characters and their relationships diverse and easily kepy my interest. But despite the darkness of this story, I still felt that the ending was too a bit too depressing, and really lacked closure.
Book 7: Gaebrel's Gamble by Zackery ArbelaFinished: 09.03.13
Rating: 3/5
Pages: 172
Total pages this year: 2,828
Read me review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I got this free from the author in exchange for a review, and overall it was a good book. The characters were all very different, which caused a great deal of interesting conflict as they spent a great deal of time essentially trapped together. The main character Gaebrel was particularly entertaining. However, there were a few grammatical and continuity issues that at times made it a little difficult to read. But all in all a good book.
Book 8: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan DoyleFinished: 28.03.13
Rating 4/5
Pages: 300
Total pages this year: 3,128
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Another good Sherlock Holmes novel. This one was different, in that each chapter formed a short case, and whilst at first I didn't like it, the format did grow on me, and in the end I quite enjoyed that I could sit down and after half an hour have a resolution to the issue at hand. Very much looking forward to continuing this series.
*not actual version I read
Book 9: Fearless by Cornelia FunkeFinished: 28.03.13
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 432
Total pages this year: 3,560
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Loved it! Picks up a few months after Reckless finish, and straight away I'm hooked. The characters are all amazing (how much I love Jacob and Fox!!), the storyline engaging and always surprising, and I just can't get enough of the magical fairy-tale world behind the mirror. Can't wait for the next instalment!
Book 10: Broke Faith by Brandy NacoleFinished: 03.04.13
Rating: 2.5/5
Pages: 190
Total pages this year: 3,750
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This was a pretty average book - promising storyline, but the writing style really let it down, and made it hard to enjoyed
Book 11: Abode of the Damned, by Matt ColeFinished: 04.04.13
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 11
Total pages this year: 3,761
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
No, that's not a typo, this was only an 11-page short story. So should I really be counting it here? I thought about it, and decided that as I don't have as much time as I would like to dedicate to reading this year, then every little bit should count, so here it is. This was a good little story, easy to read and easy to engage with.
Book 12: Legacy by Nancy HolderFinished: 16.04.13
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 315
Total pages this year: 4,076
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This was the third book in the series, and has it had been over a year (maybe even two) since I read books 1 and 2, it took me a little while to remember what was going on, and get back into the swing of it. But once I did, I remembered why they were such great books - I love the way magic is written, and all the different characters. This was a very bleak story, however, so hopefully it lifts up again in the next one.
Book 13: Dark Genesis by Dave FerreroFinished: 10.05.13
Rating 4.5/5
Pages: 439
Total pages this year: 4,515
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Great stand alone fantasy. The world building was fantastic, and I loved the alternate earth that was put forward. Alyssa was a great heroine, strong and feisty and determined, though at time a little more than human. The characters around her were great, especially the monsters. Two great twists - one right at the end - came as a real surprise. Only a few typos and grammar issues made it fall short of the full 5.
Book 14: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan DoyleFinished: 07.06.13
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 151
Total pages this year: 4,666
Read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Best one of the series to so far. All the cases were interesting, it was fantastic to finally meet Mycroft, and the ending with Moriarty was great - even though I knew what was coming! Can't wait to pick up the next one.
I just finished 11/22/63 last night. I thik u will like it!
Book 15: Letters from the Ministry by Phillip DonnellyFinished: 22.06.13
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 380
Total pages this year: 5,046
Read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Quite an odd book really, although it grew on me and I liked it in the end. A few bits didn't quite make sense, however, and I wasn't a fan of the ending, although it made a good point.
Book 16: Murder on Olympus by Robert B. WarrenFinished: 27.06.13
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 376
Total pages this year: 5,422
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
A great read - an inventive twist on the detective-cum-fantasy genre, using a modern setting with the Gods of Olympus thrown in. Plato was a fantastic main characters, and his supporting cast didn't let him down, either. A few stylistic and continuity issues meant it lost one start, but otherwise very well done.
Book 17: Thirst by L.A. LarkinFinished: 29.06.13
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 332
Total pages this year: 5,754
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
A bit of a surprise, this one, but a fantastic read in the end. The characters were a diverse bunch, all of them very much three-dimensional. Perhaps the best parts were the amazing descriptions of the beautiful and mystical Antarctica.
Book 18: A Prescription for Delirium by Noree CosperFinished: 02.0713
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 280
Total pages this year: 6,034
Read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Great book. Fantastic concept and, for the most part, very well executed. Some great characters and a really engaging story. Look forward to book 2.
Book 19: Vampire Origins - Project Ichorous by Riley BanksFinished: 09.07.13
Rating: 2/5
Pages: 377
Total pages this year: 6,411
Read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Started off really well but went downhill once the current action kicked in. A great concept - vampires being involved in every big even in human history - and those bits were great. Also loved most of the characters, but I felt it difficult to really connect with any of them, let alone care too much about what they did (especially when for some of them it was their own fault). Ending was way to blunt and didn't feel like proper closure for the story.
Book 20: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan DoyleFinished: 17.07.13
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 279
Total pages this year: 6,690
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
A great edition to this series, exciting and mysterious and suspenseful, and enjoyable as always.
Book 21: Fallen Spire by Aaron SafronoffFinished: 25.07.13
Rating: 3/5
Pages: 305
Total pages this year: 6,995
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I got this book for free from the author after I found book one average - and this one, too, was average. Some improvement in areas I'd suggested last time, but I still found it hard to connect with any of the characters, and thus, the story. But I made it to the end and would probably read the next one.
Book 22: The Steward by Christopher ShieldsFinished: 30.07.13
Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 336
Total pages this year: 7,331
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I got this free from the author, and it was fantastic! Took a little while to get into, but once I pushed through it was well worth it. The characters were great, the story lines and descriptions fantastic, and the twist at the water trial - and at the end - wow! Can't wait to read the next one!
Book 23: Black Moon by Jessica McQuayFinished: 09.08.13
Rating: 2.5/5
Pages: 240
Total pages this year: 7,571
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Another free one from the author, but this one I didn't enjoy so much. In general it was a good premise, but things moved quite quickly and I couldn't figure out what some characters were thinking at times. Also struggled to really connect with Paige, although loved Naialah and thought that was a good storyline.
Book 24: Steel Lily by Megan CurdFinished: 13.08.13
Rating: 5/5
Pages: 380
Total pages this year: 7,951
Read my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
This one was an ARC, and I absolutely loved it! The characters were rich and deep and real (and hot!) and they felt real. The story line was interesting and kept me guessing at every turn, and the final twist came as a complete (but awesome) surprise! Can't believe I have to wait until December to read the next one!
Book 25: The Lost Symbol by Dan BrownFinished: 21.11.13
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 509
Total pages this year: 8,460
Read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This was an alright read, not Dan Browns' best. The whole noetic science/ancient mysteries was a bit too flimsy for me, and never really properly explained, always circled around. But good twits and turns and kept me reading.
Book 26: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert GalbraithFinished: 26.12.13
Rating: 5/5
Page: 449
Total pages this year: 8,909
Read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I first picked this up because it was actually written by JK Rowling. I started reading it because it sounded really interesting. And it was. Great characters, all diverse and different, but most - especially the main ones - easy to connect to. Even the murder victim, Lulu, really came to life even thought she was dead from page 1. The plot was great, too, and I did not catch on to who it was until the final reveal! Can't wait for the series to continue.
With my final book for the year read, and this indeed being the final day of 2013, time to look back and see what it was all about. I had a busy schedule with honours, which would mean little time for reading, but in the end I would find time during my experiment to make my way through several e-books. This was a first for me, and I picked up quite a few freebies through Goodreads, and almost all of them turned out to be fantastic! I'm now hooked on a few series that I'll hopefully read next year!
Best book of the year is difficult to pick. Thirst by L.A. Larkin was a freebie that I was hesitant about, but a real surprise that it was a fantastic read! Great plot, great characters, great message. Really glad I won that giveaway.
Best book of the year probably goes to Steel Lily by Megan Curd. A free e-book I picked up on Goodreads, this had me hooked from the start, and the ending was such a twist I never saw it coming. Can't wait to pick up the next one!
There were many 5 and 4 star books, so all in all it was a very good year. I am looking forward to aiming for the big 5-0 again next year! :)
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (other topics)The Hound of the Baskervilles (other topics)
The Crush (other topics)
A Study in Scarlet (other topics)
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Dan Brown (other topics)Arthur Conan Doyle (other topics)
Sandra Brown (other topics)
Christopher Paolini (other topics)
Cornelia Funke (other topics)
More...
So I finished 2012 with exactly 50, with 9 read in December, so it was a pretty big push to finish. This year I know I will have even less time to read, so I'm going to have several smaller goals, though will still aim for 50 books in 2013. So the goals:
24 for fiction books for the year. That's two a month, or a one a fortnight. I think with my busy honours schdeule, that should be doable. Also, I specified fiction for a reason - any non-fiction I read will still count towrads the overall goal, however I will up current total by 1 for each nonfiction book. So today (01.01.12) as I am planning this, I only have 1 non-fiction on my list, so my current goal is 25 books for the year.
I'm also trying to buy less books, read more of the ones I already have, and make better use of the library.
I'll make a general list for planned/planning to read below, and each book will get an individual post once it is read.
Time Frame: 01.01.13 - 31.12.13
Books purchased this year: 10
Complete: 26/25
01.
A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle20.01.13 ♥♥♥♥02.
Inheritance by Christopher Paolini24.01.13 ♥♥♥♥03.
The Crush by Sandra Brown30.01.13 ♥♥♥♥04.
The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle09.02.13 ♥♥♥05.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern15.02.13 ♥♥♥♥♥06.
Fallen by Tim Lebbon02.03.13 ♥♥♥07.
Gaebrel's Gamble by Zackery Arbela09.03.13 ♥♥♥08.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle28.03.13 ♥♥♥♥09.
Fearless by Cornelia Funke28.03.13 ♥♥♥♥♥10.
Broken Faith by Brandy Nacole03.04.13 ♥♥♥11.
Abode of the Damned by Matt Cole04.04.13 ♥♥♥♥12.
Legacy by Nancy Holder16.04.13 ♥♥♥♥13.
Dark Genesis by Dave Ferraro10.05.13 ♥♥♥♥14.
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle07.06.13 ♥♥♥♥♥15.
Letters from the Ministry by Phillip Donnelly22.06.13 ♥♥♥♥16.
Murder on Olympus by Robert B. Warren27.06.13 ♥♥♥♥17.
Thirst by L.A. Larkin29.06.13 ♥♥♥♥♥18.
A Prescription for Delirium by Noree Cosper02.07.13 ♥♥♥♥19.
Vampire Origins - Project Ichorous by Riley Banks09.07.13 ♥♥20.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle17.06.13 ♥♥♥♥♥21.
Fallen Spire by Aaron Safronoff25.07.13 ♥♥♥22.
The Steward by Christopher Shields30.07.13 ♥♥♥♥23.
Black Moon by Jessica McQuay09.08.13 ♥♥♥24.
Steel Lily by Megan Curd13.08.13 ♥♥♥♥♥25.
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown21.11.13 ♥♥♥26.
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith26.12.13 ♥♥♥♥♥