aeWRAY's Little-of-Everything Challenge 2011

[Babbs]

All from January to the end of June... which means I'm behind for 50 books this year! Most of these where given to me by friends and not all were enjoyed, but I was weeding out my collection and wanted to read them before they were donated.


1) The Hand of Chaos by Margaret Weis
Tags: Fantasy/ SciFi
Pages: 468
Stars: 2



2) Into the Labyrinth by Margaret Weis
Tags: Fantasy/ SciFi
Pages: 468
Stars: 4



3) The Seventh Gate by Margaret Weis
Tags: Fantasy/ SciFi
Pages: 356
Stars: 3



4) Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Tags: Dystopia/ YA/ Apocalyptic/ SciFi
Pages: 288
Stars: 2
Comments: The third book in the "Hunger Games" series, after The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. This book was a huge disappointment. The plot moved along but the author left the main character unconscious during all of the interesting parts. The series as a whole is worth the read, but the ending of this was more of an attempt to make everyone happy than it was to resolve the story in a way that does the characters and series justice. Worth reading, but more for the whole series than this particular book.



5) Homeland by R.A. Salvatore
Tags: Fantasy/ Adventure
Pages: 352
Stars: 3
Comments: Prequel short series about a violent matriarchal religious society governed by high priestesses of Lloth. Set in Underdark and told from the perspective of the Drow [dark elf] ranger Drizzt Do'Urden. Interesting society and world. One of my boyfriend's all-time favorite series, which is why I started it. Will get to the others eventually, but there are TONS of them.


6) Exile by R.A. Salvatore
Tags: Fantasy/ Adventure
Pages: 384
Stars: 3
Comments: Second book in the prequel series mentioned above.



7) Sojourn by R.A. Salvatore
Tags; Fantasy/ Adventure
Pages: 309
Stars: 3
Comments: Third in the Dark Elf Trilogy.



8) The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
Tags: YA/ SciFi/ Fantasy/ Adventure/ Alternate-Realities
Pages: 326
Stars: 3
Comments: Second book in the "Dark Materials" series, after The Golden Compass. Disappointed the world changed from Lyra's to our own.


9) The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Tags: YA/ SciFi/ Fantasy/ Adventure/ Alternate-Realities
Pages: 465
Stars: 2


10) Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass
Tags: Mystery/ Crime
Pages: 453
Stars: 4
Comments: First book in the "Body Farm" series. The story follows an anthropologist's attempt to solve a mysterious murder of a young woman found perfectly preserved in a cave in Cooke county, TN. Bit predictable, but a good read none-the-less. Will eventually finish the series.



11) The King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry
Tags: Thriller/ Mystery/ Disease
Pages: 468
Stars: 4
Comments: Follows Patient Zero and The Dragon Factory as the third novel in the "Joe Ledger" series. The Department of Military Sciences (DMS) is once again under attack from a secret organization said to be older than the Skulls and Bones. Their intent is straight forward, destabilize the world economy through the Ten Plagues of Egypt and remake it as they wish. This book ties the first and second books together nicely and expands on the background of the mysterious Mr Church.



12) A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Tags: Fantasy/Politics/Medieval-Times
Pages: 835
Stars: 5
Comments: Great start to the "Song of Ice and Fire" series! Changes perspectives with each new chapter, which isn't as distracting as it sounds. Great story of the struggle for political power and the many perspectives allows a greater understanding of the rational characters have for their actions.



13) A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
Tags: Fantasy/Politics/Medieval-Times
Pages: 761
Stars: 3
Comments: Picks up where the previous book left off. Introduces new characters at the beginning, which is slightly confusing because it takes a few chapters to figure out how they fit into the world and story we already know.



14-20) Harry Potter Boxset by J.K. Rowling
No explanation needed. One of my favorites.

[Babbs]

July 2011
bolded book titles are currently being read, and then crossed through when finished:



21) A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Tags: Fantasy/Politics/Medieval-Times
Pages: 1128
Stars: 4
Comments: Martin never allows the reader solace in knowing their favorite characters are safe and this book is no exception. Starts slightly slower, then picks up like mad near the last half.



22) A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Tags: Fantasy/Politics/Medieval-Times
Pages: 1060
Stars: 2
Comments: Much slower pace book than the previous three in the series. Originally this was a larger book and was sectioned into this book and A Dance with Dragons. Ends without much resolve so take that into consideration before starting, and have the next book in the series on hand and ready to go!



23) Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Tags: Vampires/Supernatural/Mystery-ish
Pages: 327
Stars: 1
Comments: This book was the eleventh book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and was a huge disappointment. The author repeats herself constantly throughout the book, nothing new really happens and the big fight scene was completely stagnant. Goodbye Sookie, this will be the last book from this series that I'll read.



24) Feed by Mira Grant
Tags: Zombie/Virus/Dystopia/GroupRead
Pages: 571
Stars: 3
Comments: Story takes a little while to get used to because at the end of each chapter is a kind of quote section set to mimic an afterword of sorts, but there is no separation between the body of the chapter and this "exerpt" section. Interesting spin on typical zombie lit in that it set around a political base.



25) Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Tags: Disease/Biography-with-liberties
Pages: 292
Stars: 5
Comments: This is likely to move into my all-time favorite books list. Incredibly powerful story of early onset Alzheimer's disease told from the prospective of the patient, a college professor in her early 50s. This perspective didn't make an impact during the beginning, but once Alice starts to lose herself to the disease this perspective MAKES the book.


26) I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
Tags: Humor/Memoir
Pages: 228
Stars: 2
Comments:Crosley is compared to David Sedaris but I just didn't see it. A friend recommended this collection of short stories because she knows I love Sedaris and she thought it was hilarious. My boyfriend thought it was moderately humorous, so I upped the star rating from 1 to 2.


27) The Gunslinger The Dark Tower I by Stephen King
Tags: SciFi/ Western/ Apocalyptic/ Fantasy
Pages: 264
Stars: 3
Comments:The gunslinger tracks the Man in Black across the wasteland of what used to be the US. Glimpses of how our civilization crumbled and what it means to the sparse population that's left as well as what it's like to grow up a gunslinger (think Spartan from the 300 and you're close). It's obvious this is one of King's earlier works, and from other reviews the series gets much better after this book. Good enough to keep reading the series, not good enough for book 2 to be the next thing I read.


28) Deadline by Mira Grant
Tags: Zombie/Virus/Dystopia/GroupRead
Pages: 581
Stars: 4
Comments: Picks up with Shaun about a year after the end of the first book (Feed). Good read and I will definently pick up the next book (Blackout) which is listed as due in May of 2012. The story continues with many of the characters from the previous book, and opens a few new doors for the rest of the series. Definitely a "second book," which to me means it is more meant to set up the plot for at least the next book, maybe even the next two, so don't expect much resolve in this one.

[Babbs]

Prospective Books for August 2011
Currently being read is bolded, finished books will have a strikethrough



29) The World Set Free by H.G. Wells
Tags: Dystopia/ SciFi/ War
Pages:140
Stars:
Comments:

[Babbs]

Prospective Books for September 2011


A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
Tags: Fantasy/Politics/Medieval-Times
Pages: 1056
Stars:
Comments:


The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
Tags: Classic/Mystery/Noir/Crime
Pages: 217
Stars:
Comments:


Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Tags: Autobiography-with-liberties/memoir
Pages: 305
Stars:
Comments:


The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Tags: Classic
Pages: ~352 (with short stories)
Stars:
Comments:


Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
Tags: Disease/ Drama/ Trauma
Pages: 324
Stars:
Comments:

[Babbs]

Prospective Books for October 2011



The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Tags: Historical-Fiction/Mystery/Crime
Pages: 536
Stars:
Comments:


The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Tags: Historical Fiction/ Chick Lit/ Cultural
Pages: 451
Stars:
Comments:

[Babbs]

The Passage by Justin Cronin
Tags: SciFi/ Dystopia/ Horror
Pages:766
Stars:
Comments:


The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Tags: Historical-Fiction/ YA/ War / Cultural-German
Pages: 550
Stars:
Comments:


Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Tags: Classic
Pages: 192
Stars:
Comments:


Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Tags: Classic
Pages:107
Stars:
Comments:


One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Tags: Classic
Pages: 272
Stars:
Comments:


For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
Tags: Classic
Pages: 471
Stars:
Comments: