Challenge: 50 Books discussion
2010
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Nance's 2010 50 Books Read in 365 Days
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Cedric Diggory...more cute than Edward the Vampire. Cedric looks innocent...
I really loved it! I thought that this series was going to get boring after awhile, especially when I saw how long the books were getting...but, after each book is read, I find myself picking up the next one. In fact, I've just started the next book last night, and I'm already on page 179. This book, however, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, gave some extra incite into how close "the old crowd" of wizards actually is when it comes to protecting "their own". I also liked the little romance "thing" that was going on with Hermoine and Viktor, which was making Ron jealous...very cute! The tasks that were performed during the Triwizard Tournament, also were very clever and significant whereby they tested each individual's character and essential qualities of existance. Looking forward to see what other new secrets will be revealed in book 5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
I liked HPatOotP, and I guess that there was enough lightness to it that offsets the seriousness, but maybe you've noticed that the books are gettting progressively more serious, upping the stakes...She (JKR I mean) has done such a good job at balancing and keeping the tone that even when the characters are facing difficulties, the outcome is still very hopeful. And I know what you mean about 'What could she possibly have to write about in that many pages?' kind of feeling...and none of it is fluff, it all contributes...what a fertile imagination that woman had/has.I have many adult friends who are big fans of the series.
Carol wrote: "Cedric Diggory...more cute than Edward the Vampire. Cedric looks innocent..." I did like Cedric too! Edward doesn't do anything for me. My girls both love Jacob (in the Twilight series)...as they sigh...with all the posters in their rooms. LOL!!! But poor Cedric...if things have changed since "The Goblet of Fire", though, don't tell me because I haven't read that far yet.
66. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5) by J.K. Rowling - finished 10/18/10Harry Potter and his friends are again pulled into another He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named adventure, which does not disappoint the reader. J.K. Rowling once more does her damnest to suck the reader into another mystical wizard experience with magic and illusions that bewilder and enlighten the mind completely. Harry questions the character of his father along with his school buddies Sirius, Lupin and Moody due to a glimpse into the past. Along with his friends Hermione and Ron, they decide to create the D.A. (Dumbledore's Army), taught by Harry, to learn how to fight the Dark Arts. He still has the support of Professor McGonagall, and though he does not believe it, Professor Snape. His school enemy Draco Malfoy, along with his coverts Goyle and Crabbe, still annoy Harry and his friends with his humiliating antics. We also are introduced to Dolores Umbridge, the Senior Undersecretary to the Ministry of Magic, whereby she eventually comes into unexpected power with the disappearance of an important character. Hagrid, of course, stumbles upon another secret that must be hidden in the dark forest at Hogwarts. There are some unforeseen circumstances disclosed along with the regular peculiar happenings at Hogwarts. Again, another installment not to be missed! It was full of dark moments with the glimpse again of Lord Voldemort as he again causes havoc with Harry and the ones he loves. On to book #6, Harry and the Half-Blood Prince! 4 stars
So, you did it Nance. And this book was rather thick...the next one is even thicker...I think I'm going to have to read the first ones over again before I pick up HBP.
Carol wrote: "So, you did it Nance. And this book was rather thick...the next one is even thicker...I think I'm going to have to read the first ones over again before I pick up HBP."Carol, this book was the thickest one...870 pgs! The next one is only 625 pgs...ONLY! So, now I'm just coasting into the finish line with two books to go...and here I thought that I wouldn't be able to finish all 7 by November 19th, when the first part of the last movie comes out! Ha!
I think I'm going to wait until the second half comes out to see it...oh, wait, I still haven't see HBP yet...I remember, I was going to wait until it came out on DVD so I could pause it if it got to be too intense...lol
Carol, my kids and I are watching the movies as I read the books. I do, however, want to see the one in November in the movie theater...especially since I think the special effects are great on a big screen with a movie like that. So, next up is for me to see the Order of the Phoenix on DVD this weekend. Can't wait!
67. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6) by J.K. Rowling - finished 10/25/10Well, I'm almost to the end of this series, which with all of the intrigue of the witch and wizardry world and the exemplary set of characters, I'm definitely going to miss. Harry Potter again is sucked into the trials and tribulations of Lord Voldemort wrecking havoc on the Hogwarts' witch and wizardry community. Along with Professor Dumbledore's help, Harry learns the story of Voldemort's past as Tom Riddle and discovers some secrets about some of his professors along the way. There is also some young love experienced as the book progresses on, with friendships too becoming more significant and vitally important. Harry also finds some help from the Half-Blood Prince with his wizardy classes, who remains a mystery until the very end of the novel. Some enemies are finally revealed along with the death of a beloved character. I found this book of the series extremely important because of the telling of Tom Riddle's past, which gives the reader an important incite to who the character ideally was and now has become. The ending was emotionally sorrowful, whereby I found myself shedding some tears with the ole' kleenex sitting nearby.The only book that now awaits me is the finale, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, which I cannot wait to tackle! I hope that it is as thrilling and emotionally charged as most of the series has been that I have read! 5 stars
Carol wrote: "Almost to the finish with HP..."I know...it's so sad that I'm almost done! I wish that there were more books after "The Deathly Hollows". It's like...I want to read it slow to make it last, but I can't wait to see what happens!
The hallmark of a good book! The hallmark of a good movie for me is if I keep thinking about it for the next three days...
68. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling - finished 10/31/10Well, I actually did it...I finished all 7 books before Part 1 of the last movie comes out in November! The finale was more than exceptional...it was positively awesome in each and every way! Harry and his friends, Hermione and Ron, are on the run trying to find all of Voldemort's Horcruxes and along the way are also trying to find the Deathly Hallows, which are a vitally important part of who eventually could be the most powerful wizard ever. In addition to the quest for the Horcruxes and Hallows, we find the trio of friends maturing both emotionally and physically with each other and individuals who touch their lives. When faced with difficult perdicaments, the friends don't agree on everything, but they are extremely supportive and honest with each other. We did, however, have to say goodbye along the way to a few main characters that lost their lives fighting either with the Dark Lord or against him, which I think was essential to keep the story alive and progressing. The ending was just perfect for the friends to conclude their seven-year journey together at Hogwarts School of Witch and Wizardry. I wish that eventually there would be a spin-off after this novel. It would be great for the readers, who loved the Harry Potter stories, to have something that they could look forward to in the future. Hope that J.K. Rowling still keeps her hand on that pen. She is a very talented and mesmerizing storyteller! 5+ stars
69. The Martyr's Song by Ted Dekker - finished 10/31/10After finally finishing the Harry Potter series, I was still emotionally charged...so I picked a short story that was both poignant and meaningful. This short story by Ted Dekker, did the trick! A group of hostile soldiers come upon a birthday party for a young teenage girl in the near end of World War II in Bosnia. The soldiers don't agree that these young children should be celebrating while they have just been taking chances with their lives while fighting for their country. What the commander of this group of soldiers does to the childrens' parents and the priest at the party in front of the children, is totally barbaric and heartbreaking. As the soldiers cause pain and suffering during the party, the Martyr's Song is first heard to the priest. A window is then opened to heaven whereby love and eternal exquisiteness is found. A very emotional book that after the last page was turned, had me really stopping and thinking about life's choices and its after-effects in the future. A book for individuals that are just not sure what kind of meaning there is in their life right now. 3.5 stars
70. The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard - finished 11/9/10The novel was a fast moving mystery surrounding the death of a well-liked and good-natured husband of Laurie Linder and father of 3-year-old, Jody Linder. The murdered victim, Hugh-Jay, was shot to death in his home when supposedly he was going to Colorado on some family business, while his wife's body, who was also apparently home, was never found. This book focuses on the effects his death creates on his daughter and the closeknit family that loves the surviving child. In the final pages of the novel, the family and the citizens of Rose, Kansas are shocked as to who the killer really was. All along the way, the killer was thought to be a drunken vindictive hired-hand of the Linder family, Billy Crosby. Eventually the truth does emerge and with it the unexpected lies become apparent. I was deeply intrigued to see who the killer would eventually be. A little more romance expressed within the pages of this fine mystery would have been more to my liking, though. A book that I would recommend to the reader who likes a light blissful read full of family closeness and support. 4 stars
71. How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets by Garth Stein - finished 11/11/10After a dangerous dare with neighborhood children at the age of 12, Evan Wallace, a 31-year-old guitar player, has lived with epilepsy because of a brain injury. He doesn't want anyone to know how he deals with his debilitating handicap so he rarely mentions that he has this problem. Evan also experienced young love at the age of 17, which resulted in his girlfriend getting pregnant. He has been under the impression for the last 14 years that Tracy, his girlfriend, went through with an abortion and her family just moved away to start anew. Tracy, though, could not go through with the abortion, which resulted in the birth of their son, Dean. Evan and Dean finally meet under tragic unexpected circumstances and begin to find each other while Evan begins to take on the responsiblity of "dad" and Dean learns to love the absent father that he has just found. A gripping emotional novel that concentrates on accepting people for who they are and realizing that they, for the most part, will never change. While reading the book, I found myself having to put the book down several times and get ahold of the emotions that I was feeling...sad for their loss, happiness for having found each other at such an unfortunate time in their lives, and triumph for both characters to recognize that they had to accept the circumstances, the people around them, and each other because that's the path their life had taken. A book that I would positively recommend written by the incredible author Garth Stein! 5 stars
72. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton - finished 12/3/10This novel was a little slow for me. Not too exciting...but it did have that sense of intrigue that comes with the gothic-type atmosphere. A young single woman, Edie Burchill, who works for a small publishing house, receives a letter that is addressed to her mother dating back to 1941. The contents of the letter upsets Edie's mother to the point of tears. As time goes on Edie tries to solve the mystery between her mother and the desolute castle to which Edie's mother was evacuated to during WW II. She comes upon the trio of sisters who still reside in the castle while passing through the small town one day where the Milderhurst Castle still stands. The story goes back and forth from the present to 1941 where the events that took place during that time reveals some secrets that devastated the entire Blythe family, including Edie's mother, Meredith. I read the entire book, but was not surprised about the ending. It was just an okay book for me.
73.Vision in White (The Bride Quartet Series, #1) by Nora Roberts - finished 12/8/10Nora Roberts again writes another series of romance novels...this time focusing on four friends that together run a wedding planning business. The first novel in the series, focuses on Mackensie Elliot, a photographer who comes from a set of divorced parents. Her father abandoned her for another family and her mother uses her for money and attention when the "current husband" decides to "jump-ship". Her camera is her life along with the four friends that run their company. She has no time for anything or anyone else until an old classmate, Carter Maguire, steps into the picture. Carter is just the total opposite of Mac...nerdy, cute, safe, and utterly mind-tingling right down to her toes. It was a cute little read that had me rooting for the pair to realize just what they meant to each other. On to Book 2, Bed of Roses:)
74. Bed of Roses (The Bride Quartet Series, #2) by Nora Roberts - finished 12/11/10The second book in The Bride Quartet Series written by Nora Roberts focuses on a florist, Emma Grant, who along with her partners in a wedding planning business, finds love with an unexpected artictect who is like part of the "family". He is also developing strong feelings for the beautiful florist, but is totally afraid of commitment. How the two finally become a couple and engage in some romantically intimate encounters is both comical and tender. A quick little read that had me cheering for them to live happily everafter. A novel not to be missed by the ultimate author of romance and intrigue, Nora Roberts.
75. Savor the Moment (The Bride Quartet Series, #3) by Nora Roberts - finished 12/12/10The Bride Quartet Series plugs on as the third book, written by Nora Roberts, features the baker of the wedding planning quartet, Laurel McBane. Laurel finds herself always yearning for love...and love means daydreaming constantly about her best friend's brother, Delaney Brown. Delaney is a lawyer that finds himself suddenly attracted to Laurel while gazing at her at a summer picnic. What is wrong with him? How did he not notice her before? And, how can he feel this way when he has never thought of her as anything more than just family? The two end up intimately sharing time together while sorting out if they can end up sharing a lifetime together or not. Another romantically comical quick read to lead into the last and final book of the series, Happy Ever After.
MY 75PLUS BOOK LIST!76. Happy Ever After (The Bride Quartet Series, #4) by Nora Roberts (333 pgs) - finished 12/12/10 - 5 stars
77. Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately (282 pgs) - finished 12/29/10 - 4 stars
78. Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt (323 pgs) - finished 12/31/10 - 5 stars
76. Happy Ever After (The Bride Quartet Series, #4) by Nora Roberts - finished 12/12/10The perfect ending to The Bride Quartet Series, written by Nora Roberts, features Parker Brown, the wedding planner of the quartet. Parker is the person that the bride calls when things are amiss. She fixes problems with bridal parties, and makes sure that everything is on schedule...the person that handles all the chaos and makes sure that the event comes off without a hitch. But, can she handle the pressure of a handsome mechanic that catches her off guard with his brusque manner and attractive tough-guy persona? Will a future together be in the cards for the confident and driven wedding planner who is ultimately attracted to the motorcycle riding fearless mechanic? Both characters have confident and powerful personalities, which in turn make them very guarded towards being needy. So, when they are attracted to each other, neither one is expecting to act on it. Open this book and you will be hooked from the very first pages...while learning the future of this dynamic couple. A tender and enjoyable read!
76, impressive! I still hope to crack 50. Working on it!
Sherry wrote: "76, impressive! I still hope to crack 50. Working on it!"Thanks, I'm hoping to hit 80 by December 31st...keeping my fingers crossed...but with the holidays coming up, I might not make it!!!
77. Lipstick in Afghanistan by Roberta Gately - finished 12/29/10Elsa Murphy has always dreamed of becoming a nurse. In the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, she decides to go to Afghanistan to volunteer at a small clinic that is in desperate need of workers. While there she witnesses the devastation of the war-torn country that is under constant watch of the Taliban. She begins a forbidden romantic involvement with a handsome Special Forces soldier while treating the sick and wounded local villagers. Elsa is a confident and intriguing woman that shows no fear when asked to prove herself over and over again to both the doctors and villagers of Bamiyan. At an accident site of a bus that was bombed, she finds a tube of lipstick that leads her to an unexpected friendship with a local villager, Parween. Both women are extremely courageous beyond means and risk their lives for the people of the local village. An exceptional novel of determination and strength that shows how two women can be unforgettable with the power of friendship. Don't be surprised if you shed a few tears when it hits home of how the life in Afghanistan really truly is. A bit graphic, but honest with its heartwrenching details.
78. Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt - finished 12/31/10Pictures of You is an emotionally charged novel that from the very beginning had me mesmerized and roped-in to the circumstances surrounding a car crash between two women both running away from their less than perfect marriages. April, a woman who seems to have it all, just leaves her husband while he is at work, whereby unbeknownst to her, her young son, Sam, is hiding in the backseat. The other woman, Isabelle, has just found out that her husband of twenty years has been unfaithful to her, and she wants nothing to do with him. Both women leaving their marriages behind to start a new life...until tragedy strikes. One does not survive, and the other has to pick up the pieces of her life and begin to live again. A very sad story that also involves another man and child in the mix while dealing with extremely devasting circumstances. The story entails the grieving process to the ultimate extreme with the family left behind and the person involved in the accident learning to live with the tragedy and move on. I was very surprised with what the author did with the ending...not something that I was expecting. I was almost sorry that it ended the way it did. A very sorrowful and thoughtful read that will make me look forward to another Caroline Leavitt novel.
Well, I never did get to my goal of 100 books. November and December are just such busy months with Thanksgiving and Christmas...not much time to read. 78 is not such a bad number:) Happy New Year!!
Challenge: 50 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Savor the Moment (other topics)Happy Ever After (other topics)
Pictures of You (other topics)
Lipstick in Afghanistan (other topics)
Happy Ever After (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Sarah Addison Allen (other topics)Judith McNaught (other topics)
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