The 104 Book Challenge - 2012 discussion
Lyssa's Reading *What* in 2012??
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Lyssa
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Sep 01, 2012 11:11PM
#109 The Light Between Oceans
I enjoyed the book even if it does seem like the goal is to keep everyone miserable as long as possible. I didn't like Isabel and can't talk about Tom without spoiling the book, so.... 2.5/5. Kept wanting to put it down because Isabel irritated me.
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#110 The Song of Achilles
If you're familiar with the Iliad, you'll be familiar with this book. Told from the POV of Patroclus, Achilles' long-time friend and lover, it's the story of how the two met before the Trojan war and their time on the fields of Troy. Good story if familiar, and not for those who avoid homosexuality. 3/5
#111 Betrayal in Death
I'm enjoying Eve's developing relationships with Peabody and Roarke more than the mysteries in some of these later books. And really, are we just going to keep killing off all of their friends? 3.5/ 5
#112 The Devil in Silver: A Novel
It starts out as a creepy book and turns into I don't know what to call it. The author goes from immersing you in the depression of a mental ward, to a chapter with the POV of a rat. And another chapter that summarizes Van Gogh's biography. And minimal creep factor in the last several chapters even tho it's the climactic part of the book. 2.5/ 5
#113 Reunion in Death
Nice to see Roarke and Dallas starting to work together - this time with a little more compromise, not just sniping at each other after whatever is over. 3.5/5
#114 Purity in Death
3.5/ 5I'd started The Hunger Angel in there, but it's just one of those books that didn't click. She writes in lyrical prose, but so much so that I was losing the story to the words if that makes any sense. Maybe another time...
#115 The Flame Alphabet
Kids' language kills people - how much promise does that have for a book? Should be quite a bit, but this isn't a straightforward narration of how things happened as much as a look at the internal monologue of Sam while things go on around him. Very depressing things. Something about the rhythm of the narration threw me, too. I kept waiting for sentences with substance. 2/ 5
#116 Gone Girl
Nick is just a jackass, and Amy is... wow. What is Amy. I read thru the first half really disliking both of them and wondering why I should care. The second half didn't change my opinion of either of them, but the story picked up a good bit and kept my attention more easily. 3.5/ 5
#117 Portrait in Death
I'm really liking the subplots about friends and family more than the mysteries. 3/5
#118 Some Kind Of Fairy Tale
Not a fairy tale in the traditional sense, and not much about the "fairy" world either. POV shifts each chapter and you have to read to figure out who is talking. Subplots and characters that don't seem to add to the story yet again. 3/5
#119 Blue Asylum
Beautiful descriptions of the island and historically accurate. Too many side stories - while those characters were pertinent to Iris and Ambrose's story, the other details weren't necessary. 2.5/5
#121 Have Mother, Will Travel: A Mother and Daughter Discover Themselves, Each Other, and the World
I liked the first half - different countries, lots of experiences. Once they got to France, Mia's part had some experiences to it, but Claire's just turned into a prolonged bout of what is commonly known now as navel gazing. Took a lot longer to get thru the last half even with lots of skimming. 3/5
#122 Growing Up Amish: A Memoir
Some details about the Amish way of life, but not an expose. And for someone who's left the order, not written in a bitter way. This is Wagler's personal experience with the Amish and the how/why he left. 4/5
#123 The Prospect of My Arrival
I love the premise of this book - if you could choose to be born, would you? Prospect meets 5 very different people to learn about their lives and beliefs so that he can make his decision. Poor editing (basic spelling and grammar errors)throughout. 3/5
#124 Divided in Death
Roarke... Dallas...stop fighting! Not really into the mystery on this one so 3/5
Back from vacation...read most of these on the plane rides or just before bed. Due to jet lag, really can't think of ratings/reasons for any of them at the moment. #125 The Broken Ones
#126
Angels' Flight#127 Pets in a Pickle
#128
The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30)#129 Married to Bhutan
#131 666 Park Avenue
Country girl romanced by NY boy from a famous family, discovers her witchy powers and mother in law's plot to steal them. None of the characters interested me, unfortunately. 2/5#132
The After Wife Young widow discovers she can talk to the dead. Lots of Southern California "image" snark - funny for those of us living near it while avoiding it like the plague. 3.5/5
#133 Archangel's Storm
Takes so long in between books, and they get read so quickly! This book centers around Jason and his past and his meet up with his perfect mate. Singh does a great job of continuing to flesh out characters from the first two books. 4/5
#134 Poison Study
This is a re-read from my bookshelves. One of the more original YA novels that I've read - probably because it was published in 2005 before all the YA authors started trying to copy each other. Moving on to the 2nd in the trilogy...
#136 Origin in Death
Yep, I missed one. It was checked out at the library and I didn't feel like waiting. This is a good installment of the series tho - more futuristic science tech, while keeping up with the growing and evolving relationships of Eve and Roarke. Thought it was interesting that this was set just before Thanksgiving, and right now it's just before Thanksgiving! Yep, when I'm tired it's the little things that tickle me. 3.5/5
#137 Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Aagh! It glows in the dark! Which I discovered when I turned off the light in my bedroom and thought "What the heck is *that*?!?" Nice mystery about a secret society and books and manages to integrate current technology in there as well. My only gripe is that it felt like Sloan was name-dropping on the tech stuff. Ready Player One already did that for the 80s and did it better, so I found myself comparing the two instead of being wrapped up in the story. 3.5/5
#138 Memory in Death
Still slogging my way thru the series. This one gives us Eve and Roarke's second Christmas together between all of the murder mystery solving. I'm liking the evolution of Eve's relationships more than the mysteries for the most part. 4/5
Mr. Penumbra sounds interesting. I'm dying to get Ready Player One, too, so maybe I'll try this first.
Mary wrote: "Mr. Penumbra sounds interesting. I think reading Penumbra first would have worked better for me. It's really not a bad book, I'm just more of an 80s geek (RPO) than a tech geek (Mr. P)so there's probably a bias. :)
#139 Born in Death
Eve has two investigations that end up being related. Mavis is cute as all get out. And extra points added for babies! :) 4.5/5 (Whoops... editing here since I put the wrong title in)
#140 The End of Your Life Book Club
A memoir covering the time Schwalbe spent with his mother after her pancreatic cancer diagnosis. He does a great job weaving together the book discussions with his mom's story. 4/5
#141 River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze
After spending a week in Xi'an teaching an English class, I was particularly interested in Hessler's narrative of a long-term assignment. He captured China well as it made me want to go back *and* stay away from the complications at the same time. Contradiction, thy name is China. 4.5/ 5
#143 Beach House Memories
Sad book makes sad face... :( Also I'm not really comfortable with the justification for the decisions Lovie made. Granted, different era therefore different solutions, but still not sitting right with me. 3/5
#145 Strangers in Death
Eve and Roarke seem a lot more in sync on this one, even while exploring Eve's "Eek, I'm married" thoughts. 4/5
#147 The Toss of a Lemon
Multi-generational look at Sivakami's family in early 20th century India. Lots of detail and interconnecting stories, but so....long.... started losing track of the story wondering when it was going to end. 3/5
#149 Pillow Talk
Kind of a misleading blurb as it's more about the back and forth of Petra and Arlo after reconnecting 17 years down the road. Big deals are made of the mysterious Helen and Petra's sleepwalking, and then quickly given the "oh here's why" treatment toward the end. Kind of glad I got it as a free nook book. 2.5/3
#150 Promises in Death
This one covers the relationship between ME Morris and Eve, tho all the relationships seem to take a backseat to the mystery on this one. 3/5Also, this is the book that meets my self imposed goal of 150 for the year. The In Death series made it a little easier to reach. :)
#151 Kindred in Death
Ok, this one was rough to read. A 16 year old girl is the victim in this one and it just seems that Eve and the team go over and over the circumstances. Seems like there's a shift to focus on the mystery instead of Eve's growing circle of friends (as in past books). 3/5
#152 Home is a Roof Over a Pig: An American Family's Journey in China
The author gets a job teaching English in Tai'an, China and takes her family so that her adopted Chinese daughter can learn about her heritage. She has a theme through each of the chapters where she breaks down and discusses Chinese characters and the chapter generally relates to that. She doesn't shy away from the children's temper tantrums or the bad days she and her husband have, but it just seems a little whitewashed, or like we're just under the surface, but not quite into the "what *really* happened." Not exactly what I was looking for, but not bad at all. 3.5/5
#153 Running with the Kenyans: Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth
And continuing with my non-fiction trend, a book on running. Not an in-depth primer on running or on the state of professional runners in Kenya. This reads more as Finn's personal journal of his time spent training in Africa in order to improve as a runner. Probably not for the avid runner or anyone expecting a history of Kenyan running. It's a basic, easy read... just what my brain needed to get back into gear after the holidays.:) 3.5/5
#154 Visit Sunny Chernobyl: And Other Adventures in the World's Most Polluted Places
There's eco-tourism, and now pollution tourism? The author decides to visit some of the most polluted places in the world - I'm still not clear on why. More often than not, he finds something beautiful in an area most people avoid. Or, as in the case of the Amazon or the Garbage Patch, doesn't find what he's been led to believe will be found.
I'm glad he went these places so that I wouldn't have to. 3.5/5
The 104 Book Challenge - 2012
Books mentioned in this topic
Visit Sunny Chernobyl: And Other Adventures in the World's Most Polluted Places (other topics)Running with the Kenyans: Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth (other topics)
Home is a Roof Over a Pig: An American Family's Journey in China (other topics)
Kindred in Death (other topics)
Kindred in Death (other topics)
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