12 Days of Summer Challenge - the Official Game Room - ended

[Abigail]

Finished C - Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs. Sadly, this one wasn't as good as my earlier books in this challenge. Not bad; just not great.

[Lauren]

Tara wrote: "What did you think, Lauren?"

I was really into the story and then it just ended and I felt a little like the rug had been pulled out from under me. It was not what I expected at all. I enjoyed it.

[Tara]

Finished Land of a Hundred Wonders and I give it 4 stars.

Quite a quirky book, but about halfway through I could not put it down.

[Luann]

Finally finished my first BEACH BLANKET book yesterday! I read The Body on the Beach for "B." I agree with Amy that it was mediocre - except I did like the two main characters and the contrast between their personalities. I might pick up another Simon Brett book sometime since I did like his writing style as well. The mystery itself wasn't very engrossing or memorable.

Now I've started The Eight for "E" - which is quite engrossing so far. People compare it to The Da Vinci Code, Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Luann - I loved The Eight, probably as much as I loved the Da Vinci Code. You'll have to let me know how it goes.

[Lauren]

B - Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen

A reread for me but just as riveting as the first time a number of years ago.

[Tara]

A- The art of Uncontrolled Flight

What a strange read for me. The first 2 chapters I really enjoyed and then it got progressively worse.

[Sam]

Starting my E this week with the Executioner's Art by David Fine :-) hopefully I'll get this challenge finished before christmas :-)

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Hey Sam - that is my goal. I am two thirds through my first E and can't wait to start my A.

[Lauren]

Finished L - A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines

[Amy]

Finished C - Chasing Harry Winston.

I read this because I liked "The Devil Wears Prada" (the movie--I didn't read the book), and figured the author might be worth a shot. Bad move--this was a total waste of time. On to H, which will hopefully be an improvement.

[Tara]

Just finished N- The Next Mrs. Blackstone

[Abigail]

Amy, I've read all three of the books by the author of "The Devil Wears Prada" (incl. "Chasing Harry Winston"). Don't ask me why; I've never been impressed. The movie MUCH improved upon the original in my opinion, and I don't say that about many books. Somehow, those shiny covers always catch my attention or something...

Anyhow, better luck with H!

[Vicki]

Finished E- Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev and now I am reading a book that most definitely does not start with an A. :(

[Abigail]

Finished H - Having It and Eating It by Sabine Durrant (I think the first one that was actually on my plan -- heh)

[Tara]

Just finished E- The Entertainer and the Dybbuk.

[Slayermel]

Tara I can't put you down for your E book yet, as I have not seen your K post yet. Did you read a K book?

[Tara]

That is odd. I posted the K- book when I was in the car from my i-phone. Something must have happened during the transmission. Hmm. I read K- The Kommandant's Girl.

[Slayermel]

Excellent, thank you!
I'll update the list right now :0)
No worries, I've had issues using the internet on my phone as well.

[Luann]

Natasha wrote: "Finished T - Tipping the Velvet.

Haha! I am finished now. :)"

Congrats, Natasha! Good job!

I finally finished my second book! :) For "E" I read The Eight by Katherine Neville. I'm giving it four stars. I was intrigued by the storyline - which reminded me very much of The DaVinci Code and the movie National Treasure. I just had a few problems with the writing style.

For "A" I'm listening to Abhorsen by Garth Nix. I've just got a little left, so I might finish it later tonight.

[Luann]

Finally some actual progress! I finished Abhorsen, which is the third book in a GREAT fantasy series by Garth Nix. 5 stars! I enjoyed it a lot.

[Sam]

I have finished my first E with the Executioner's Art by David Fine, took a while to get into but was well worth it in the end

[Roseann]

Congratulations Natasha!
Go, Tara, Go!!

[Sam]

My next one will be Anne Frank Diary of a Young Girl (assuming this counts of course), which I'm quite looking forward to in a slightly odd way...

[Tara]

I am done!!

Just finished T- The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show A Novel. A really interesting read. Lots of little blurbs about the saints and an interesting story line.

[Sara]

Congratulations on Finishing Tara!!!

[Sara]

All of you who are finished amaze me!! Makes me wish I hadn't been such a chicken to do the challenge ;-)

[Slayermel]

Sam Anne Frank Diary of a Young Girl would be fine for "A". The only book that had any stipulations was the first one, you can read anything your heart desires for the rest, as long as they start with the same letter as the one you are currently working on. The, An, A don't count if your book title starts with them. :0)
Hope that helps.

[Abigail]

Congrats, Natasha & Tara!

[Sam]

Slayermel wrote: "Sam Anne Frank Diary of a Young Girl would be fine for "A". The only book that had any stipulations was the first one, you can read anything your heart desires for the rest, as long as they start ..."

Thanks Slayermel, I wasn't sure as Anne Frank is also the author as well so thought it was best to check :-)

[Tara]

It is nice to be finished and to know I finished this challenge. It was a lot of books!

[Lauren]

Congrats to those who have completed the xhallenge!

I just finished my second A - Angela's Ashes

[Abigail]

I just finished my second B - The Boy I Loved Before. I guess one word plus a little isn't bad for a month?? Thanks, everyone. I've had fun!

[Tara]

Abigail wrote: "I just finished my second B - The Boy I Loved Before. I guess one word plus a little isn't bad for a month?? Thanks, everyone. I've had fun!"

Not bad at all!

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Abigail wrote: "I just finished my second B - The Boy I Loved Before. I guess one word plus a little isn't bad for a month?? Thanks, everyone. I've had fun!"

Not bad at all - I only got one letter and three fourths of the second! As my son's girlfriend says FAILSAUCE!

[Cam]

What on earth is FAILSAUCE Lyn?

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Cam: wrote: "What on earth is FAILSAUCE Lyn?"

A stupid, nonsense teen/young adult word, like Groovy was in my day (I know I am dating myself.) Everything they say is followed by the word sauce, sort of like the word "like" was for a while. So - if you don't do something you were supposed to it is Failsauce. If something is delicious it is Yummysauce. You get the drift. I must be reverting to my second teen years. (That's what happens when you are just old, before you get seriously old and enter your second childhood.)

[Amy]

Finished two more:

Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse - very creative; I liked the author's writing style.

The Bone Garden - I've read a lot of Tess Gerritsen's books and found this one very enjoyable. I listened to the audiobook and thought the reader did a great job as well.

[Lauren]

N - No Full Stops in India

I found this book to be a real chore.

[Abigail]

Lyn wrote: FAILSAUCE!

Lyn, I'm cracking up. All day long, I'm going to be adding -sauce to every adjective that comes through my mind ... and everyone around me is going to think I'm crazy. ;)

[Leonie]

Lauren wrote: "Congrats to those who have completed the xhallenge!

I just finished my second A - Angela's Ashes"

Lauren, what did you think of Angela's Ashes - I read it for this challenge too but it was for the first A, need more reading time!

[Luann]

I was tempted to wait for my copy of Catching Fire to arrive, but decided not to wait to complete "C." So I read my planned "C" title: Clash of the Sky Galleons, which I enjoyed a lot! It's the ninth book in Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell's Edge Chronicles.

Now on to "H" with Honor Among Thieves by Jeffrey Archer. I've never read Jeffrey Archer, but I've had two different people at work recommend his books to me.

[Lauren]

Leonie:

I really enjoed Angela's Ashes. I liked the fact that the writing style was much more of a narrative than the typical memoir's collection of random snippets. It seemed more cohesive. What did you think?

[Luann]

Finished BEACH with Honor Among Thieves. My first Jeffrey Archer, which I enjoyed a lot. I'll be reading one more of his during this challenge. Now on to BLANKET, starting with The Beekeeper's Apprentice. :)

[Lauren]

I finished K - Knit Two by Kate Jacobs

I am off on vacation and likely away from a computer for a couple weeks (Italy yeah!!). So I may not be able to update but I am bringing E & T with me. :)

[Lyn (Readinghearts)]

Believe it or not, I just finished my first E book.

It was Edward VI The Lost King of England by Chris Skidmore. It is a non-fiction book about Henry VIII's son's short reign as the King of England. I was exceptionally good, I gave it 4 stars, but then I am a Tudor aficionado, so that doesn't say much. Now on to Amagansett.

[Amy]

I finished The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (audiobook) and enjoyed it. Good mix of legal drama and murder mystery. The Alienist is next.

[Sam]

I have finished my first A with Anne Frank:Diary of a Young Girl. I kind of enjoyed it although it wasn't what I expected. Reading the Crossing by Cormac McCarthy next.

[Luann]

Just finished my second "B" with The Beekeeper's Apprentice. I thought it was much too slow in the beginning and read too much like a memoir. (Which isn't really a bad thing, I just wasn't expecting it to be like that.) The more I read, the more I enjoyed it, though. It made me want to reread some Sherlock Holmes mysteries.

Now on to "L" with The Last Unicorn - with a brief detour to read Catching Fire. I simply can't wait until I've finished all of my BLANKET books to read it!

[Leonie]

Finished reading Captain Corelli's Mandolin, found it a bit slow to get started but after about 100 pages I really loved it. I had not seen the movie before reading the book but have watched it since and was really disappointed in how much of the book was left out or changed completely. The books are nearly always better - but we already know that, don't we!