Kathy R's 2011 Book Challenge List

[Kathy]

29. The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew (4 stars)

[Kathy]

30. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (4 stars)

[Kathy]

31. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (4 stars)

[Kathy]

32. Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas (4 stars)

[Kathy]

33. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (4 stars)

This one is a reread, but I'm counting it, as I did read it all the way through. I had to refresh my memory before reading the new one in the series.

[Kathy]

34. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (4 stars)

[Kathy]

35. The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg (3 1/2 stars)

[Andrea, Moderator]

Kathy, I think every book you have recently listed is one that I want to read! I'm glad to see most of them were 4 stars!

[Kathy]

Andrea wrote: "Kathy, I think every book you have recently listed is one that I want to read! I'm glad to see most of them were 4 stars!"

I'd love to know what you think of them, too, Andrea. Four star books are ones that I really have enjoyed and are glad I've read. I try to reserve 5 stars for those books that just take my breath away. Sometimes it's hard to decide between a 4 and a 5. In fact, there are some I might go back and give a 4 1/2, like The Distant Hours.

[Andrea, Moderator]

I have a hard time rating books too :) I think that goodreads should have 1/2 stars too. It would really help me anyhow...lol

[Charleen]

I try to stick with the descriptions you get when you mouse over each star (1- didn't like it, 2- it was ok, etc) just to give a general impression of how I enjoyed the book. But even though sometimes it's hard to decide between 3 and 4 stars (that's the hardest one for me: did I "like it" or "really like it"?), I can just imagine if there were 1/2 stars I'd be sitting there debating between 3 and 3 1/2, or 3 1/2 and 4.

For what it's worth, I remember reading somewhere that 1/2 stars is on the list of things they might add to the site someday.

[Kathy]

Charleen wrote: "I try to stick with the descriptions you get when you mouse over each star (1- didn't like it, 2- it was ok, etc) just to give a general impression of how I enjoyed the book. But even though somet..."

LOL, Charleen! Maybe half stars would make me more indecisive. Ratings are too often hard to do.

[Andrea, Moderator]

That would be great it they added 1/2 stars. On the other hand it would screw up all the other ratings.

[Kathy]

36. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith (4 stars)

A fun book!

[Kathy]

37. The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley (5 stars)

A stunning first novel by Buckley!

[Kathy]

38. The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier (4 stars)

[Kathy]

39. Word After Word After Word by Patricia MacLachlan (5 stars)

I loved this wonderful children's book about writing!

[Kathy]

40. The Danger Box by Blue Balliett (5 stars)

Blue Balliett is once again a clever genius!

[Kathy]

41. Honolulu by Alan Brennert (5 stars)

Another great novel by Brennert about Hawaii!

[Karol]

Kathy, I hadn't heard of Alan Brennert - your 5 star rating prompted me to take a look. Seems like a lot of people have rated this one pretty highly. Sounds like it would be interesting from a historical (although historical fiction) perspective.

[Kathy]

Kay wrote: "Kathy, I hadn't heard of Alan Brennert - your 5 star rating prompted me to take a look. Seems like a lot of people have rated this one pretty highly. Sounds like it would be interesting from a hist..."

Kay, his previous book, Moloka'i, is amazing, too.

[Kathy]

42. The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S. King (5 stars)

Original, clever!

[Kathy]

43. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 95 stars)

Patchett at her best!

[Kathy]

44. Now You See Me by S.J. Bolton (5 stars)

S.J. Bolton never disappoints!

[Kathy]

45. If I Stay by Gayle Forman (5 stars)

This book is a reread, but I counted it, as I did read the whole book again. I wanted to refresh my memory before reading its sequel.

[Kathy]

46. Where She Went by Gayle Forman (5 stars)

[Kathy]

47. The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn (4 stars)

[Andrea, Moderator]

Kathy, I can't wait to read the new Ann Patchett, I'm so glad you liked it!

[Kathy]

Getting way behind in my posting. This summer has been a very strange one for reading, not as productive in that area as usual what with traveling and grandkids. Finding my reading groove again, though.

48. Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach (5 stars)
Actually listened to the audio version read by Samuel L. Jackson, and he did a great job of it.

[Kathy]

49. The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen (5 stars)

[Kathy]

50. A Darker Domain by Val McDermid (4 stars)

[Kathy]

51. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (4 stars)

[Kathy]

52. Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell (5 stars)

[Kathy]

53. Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin (5 stars)

[Karol]

Kathy wrote: "53. Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin (5 stars)"

Kathy, I had never heard of this book. But the title, along with your 5-star rating, really caught my attention. I've added it to my "to read" list.

[Kathy]

Kay wrote: "Kathy wrote: "53. Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin (5 stars)"

Kathy, I had never heard of this book. But the title, along with your..."

Kay, someone sent it to me because they liked it so much and wanted me to read it, too.

[Kathy]

54. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (5 stars)

Absolutely loved this book!!!

[Kathy]

55. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (5 stars)

[Andrea, Moderator]

kathy, I just got The Dry Grass of August from the library. I know you read it and gave it 4 stars so I'm hoping to get through it before I have to return it.

[Kathy]

Andrea wrote: "kathy, I just got The Dry Grass of August from the library. I know you read it and gave it 4 stars so I'm hoping to get through it before I have to return it."

I thought it was really good, Andrea. It's on my list of favorite Southern lit.

[Kathy]

56. Loser by Jerry Spinelli (4 stars)

[Kathy]

57. Still Life by Louise Penny (4 stars)

[Andrea, Moderator]

Is Louise Penny the author of a current book that is getting huge press for being very good?

[Kathy]

Andrea wrote: "Is Louise Penny the author of a current book that is getting huge press for being very good?"

She's been getting a lot of press the last couple of years it seems. Her latest one is A Trick of the Light and is rated 5 stars on Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/Trick-Light-Ins...

[Kathy]

58. A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny (4 stars)

[Kathy]

59. The Cruelest Month: A Three Pines Mystery by Louise Penny (4 stars)

I'm loving this series, should probably be a 4 1/2 rating!)

[Kathy]

60. Maus I: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman (5 stars)

[Kathy]

61. Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman (5 stars)

[Kathy]

62. A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny (4 stars)

[Kathy]

63. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny (5 stars)