Katie's books

[Katie]

I just found this group - of course I just found this site, thanks to a friend of mine, so no surprise. I'm pretty well on track to doing fifty books this year, but like the idea of keeping track.

So far in 2008 I've finished:

1. The Vanishing (Little)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
3. Autumn (Moody)

And I have five that I'm currently reading, some close to finished, so hopefully I can update soon!

[Katie]

Update to my books:

1. The Vanishing (Little)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
3. Autumn (Moody)
4. World War Z (Brooks)

I absolutely loved World War Z. I have to say it's one of my favourite reads of the last year or so. The other books I'm reading right now have been kind of slow going, and it was fantastic to have something so fun to read in between the others.

[Katie]

Update to my books:

1. The Vanishing (Little)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
3. Autumn (Moody)
4. World War Z (Brooks)
5. Animosity (Lindsey)

This was one of those books where the ending leaves you feeling not only disturbed, but a bit cheated. I hate that. It isn't that I was overly attached to the idea of a certain ending, but I felt like the author ran out of steam somewhere in the last forty pages or so. I was let down, because the beginning of the book was so dense with emotion and so carefully reeled you in with a promise of something amazing coming.

[Katie]

Another update to my books:

1. The Vanishing (Little)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
3. Autumn (Moody)
4. World War Z (Brooks)
5. Animosity (Lindsey)
6. The Waste Lands (Dark Tower 3, King)

Looks like I'm off to a start of mostly horror and suspense this year. Not that it's not my normal pattern, but usually I have a *little* more variety! I really loved my most recent addition though, by far the best book in the Dark Tower series. I almost stopped reading after the first two, because while I liked the books, I just didn't feel driven to learn where there story went... there were so many more interesting things to read, I thought. This volume changed my mind and has me itching to get into the next book.

[Katie]

7. Live in a Better Way (Dalai Lama)

I've been slowly working through this book since the beginning of January, letting the lessons and concepts sink in.

As mentioned in my review of this book, I've had an extremely difficult few months and find myself in a position of having to forgive someone I don't want to forgive, not because she "deserves" it (she feels no remorse, and really what she did is nearly unforgivable) but because my own rage is eating me alive.

I didn't think it would be possible, but this book is slowly helping me. I try to be a "good Buddhist" but know I am not always. I have a hard time letting go of resentments, but this book clearly outlines what you are doing to yourself by holding onto grudges and hatefullness, how it can affect your life in ways you may not think of, and how to remedy it. Perhaps in time it will help me completely let go of my anger; for now I find it a comfort to at least be able to try.

[Katie]

8. Another You (Beattie)

I started this book well before several others that I finished in the mean time. As I mentioned in my review (on my profile) the book made me a little uncomfortable in the beginning, because it came a little close to me and made me think a little too much about things in my own life. It's a very interesting look at the ways in which people relate to one another. Not as plot driven as most books I tend to enjoy, but I really liked this one.

[Katie]

9. Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower 4, King)
8. Another You (Beattie)
7. Live in a Better Way (Dalai Lama)
6. The Waste Lands (Dark Tower 3, King)
5. Animosity (Lindsey)
4. World War Z (Brooks)
3. Autumn (Moody)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
1. The Vanishing (Little)

My review of Wizard and Glass on my profile here: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/84...

[Katie]

10. Sweeping Changes (Thorp)

This was a re-read for me, one I'd been looking forward to for a long time. This wonderful little Zen book was one of the first volumes I read on Buddhism, and profoundly affected the way I live my life day to day.

9. Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower 4, King)
8. Another You (Beattie)
7. Live in a Better Way (Dalai Lama)
6. The Waste Lands (Dark Tower 3, King)
5. Animosity (Lindsey)
4. World War Z (Brooks)
3. Autumn (Moody)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
1. The Vanishing (Little)

[Katie]

11. Guilty Pleasures (Hamilton)

Meh. First of the Anita Blake series, and it's okay, entertaining, but is fluffy, not much meat to the story. Less satisfying of a read than I usually prefer. Started reading the series because it's a favourite of my husband's.

10. Sweeping Changes (Thorp)
9. Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower 4, King)
8. Another You (Beattie)
7. Live in a Better Way (Dalai Lama)
6. The Waste Lands (Dark Tower 3, King)
5. Animosity (Lindsey)
4. World War Z (Brooks)
3. Autumn (Moody)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
1. The Vanishing (Little)

[Katie]

I haven't really finished two books tonight, 11 was finished a couple of days ago, I was just slack in updating. I did, however, just finish 12, and my heart is still aching from the powerful ending.

12. The Awakening (Chopin)

Amazing. I kick myself for not reading this sooner. It addresses some issues I've found lurking in my own heart lately, about the ways in which women define themselves in society. It's hard to believe this was written in the late 19th century, as the simple, poignant story is so incredibly applicable to contemporary life.

11. Guilty Pleasures (Hamilton)
10. Sweeping Changes (Thorp)
9. Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower 4, King)
8. Another You (Beattie)
7. Live in a Better Way (Dalai Lama)
6. The Waste Lands (Dark Tower 3, King)
5. Animosity (Lindsey)
4. World War Z (Brooks)
3. Autumn (Moody)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
1. The Vanishing (Little)

[Katie]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm posting my little list in a vacuum. Then again, I haven't come out of my shell enough to comment on other people's lists either, so I shouldn't complain!

13. A Perfect Arrangement (Berne)

Touching, enthralling story that genuinely shocked me at the end.

12. The Awakening (Chopin)
11. Guilty Pleasures (Hamilton)
10. Sweeping Changes (Thorp)
9. Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower 4, King)
8. Another You (Beattie)
7. Live in a Better Way (Dalai Lama)
6. The Waste Lands (Dark Tower 3, King)
5. Animosity (Lindsey)
4. World War Z (Brooks)
3. Autumn (Moody)
2. Straight to You (Moody)
1. The Vanishing (Little)

[Kelly]

Don't worry, I'm sitting here, eating my pink grapefruit and lychee yogurt (weird, right?) and reading all the posts. I am planning on going out after work and picking up World War Z for my next book--did you like it? I've been hearing really good things about it. Good job for already reading thirteen books, that's impressive!