Wednesday, August 29, 2012

WoW: Let the Sky Fall

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Here is my pick for the week:


Summary from Goodreads:

Vane Weston should have died in the category five tornado that killed his parents. Instead, he woke up in a pile of rubble with no memories of his past—except one: a beautiful, dark-haired girl standing in the winds. She's swept through his dreams ever since, and he clings to the hope that she's real.

Audra is real, but she isn't human. She's a sylph, an air elemental who can walk on the wind, translate its alluring songs, even twist it into a weapon. She's also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect him at all costs.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra has just days to help Vane unlock his memories. And as the storm winds gather, they start to realize the greatest danger might not be the warriors coming to destroy them, but the forbidden romance growing between them.

Set amongst the desert airstreams of Coachella Valley in California, LET THE SKY FALL is about two teenagers broken by their pasts, divided by their futures, and bound by love.


This comes out March 5th and boy is that a pretty cover.  I love it! Happy Reading! 

Friday, August 24, 2012

Review: Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh

Publisher: Atheneum/Simon & Schuster
Publishing Date: August 31st, 2012
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 560 pgs
ISBN: 9781442402041
Source: ARC given to me by publisher for an honest review

Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Goodreads:
True love takes a twisted turn in the second book of this modern gothic romance trilogy channeling the dark brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe.While Varen remains a prisoner in a perilous dream world where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life, Isobel travels to Baltimore to confront the dark figure known throughout the world as the Poe Toaster. This man, the same man who once appeared to Isobel in her dreams and abandoned her in Varen’s nightmare world, holds the key to saving Varen.

     But when Isobel discovers a way to return to this dream world, she finds herself swept up in a realm that not only holds remnants of Edgar Allan Poe’s presence, but has also now taken on the characteristics of Varen’s innermost self. It is a dark world of fear, terror, and anger.
 

When Isobel once more encounters Varen, she finds him changed. And now Isobel must face a new adversary—one who also happens to be her greatest love.

My Review: 
I have waited to write this review because I'm not entirely sure what I think about this book. It is the second book in a series and I think it is extremely difficult to write these books because they have to act as a bridge between the first book and the third book. When doing this you have to keep readers interested but you can't give everything away.
What I liked most about the first book, Nevermore, was the interaction between Varen and Isobel and this was seriously lacking in Enshadowed. I have to admit that this book reminded me a little of the second book in the Twilight series when Edward is absent for the majority of the novel. I know, I know, how could I ever compare the Nevermore series with Twilight? I just call it how I see it.
Anyhow, there were some things I liked about this book. I did like seeing Isobel's relationships with her best friend and her relationship with her family. I love how her brother is always looking for a way to make some extra money but you can totally tell that he looks up to his sister and loves her. He always has her back even if he tries to profit off it. I also like how the mystery of the underworld is starting to become a little more clear.
That being said, I still feel like I don't know what in the world is going on and I can be quite impatient. I just want to know what is happening and I don't want to have to wait for it. I have to say that while this book was not my favorite, I also didn't hate it. I am a bit indifferent at this point if I'm being honest. That being said, I don't think that I am in the majority for this. I think that if you really enjoyed the first book you will enjoy the second book. Please don't take my word for it, go and pick up the book and give it a try. As I said before I think my impatience won out in the end on my opinion of the book and this is no fault of the author. Overall I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

WoW: Out of the Easy

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Here is my pick this week:


Summary from Goodreads:

Known amongst locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than The Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan to get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld, New Orleans lures Josie in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as her international bestselling novel, "Between Shades of Gray," Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.


This book comes out February 13th, 2012.  I loved Between Shades of Gray and this summary sounds just as good.  Can't wait!  

Monday, August 20, 2012

Review: Over You by Emma McLaughin and Nicola Krauss

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publishing Date: August 21st, 2012
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 304 pgs
ISBN:  9780061720444
Source: ARC given to me by publisher for an honest review

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.

Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even.


My Review:

I loved the Nannie Diaries by both these authors and when I heard they were writing a YA novel I knew I had to read it.  I want to thank Harper Canada for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book centers around Max Scott, who lives in New York City and is trying to get over her ex.  In an attempt to prove that she's over him, she starts her own company helping other girls who have been dumped.  Her company is a growing success and all is well until Max's ex shows up in her city. 

I have to say that it took me a little while to get into this book.  I can't blame the authors for this though.  It is written with a teen audience in mind and I, my friends, have entered the 30s club this year and I am no longer the target audience.  I think that this book will definitely appeal to teen girls, especially ones who have been through tough breakups.  So, like I said, I had a difficult time getting into this book but once I did I flew through it.  I couldn't put it down and I really grew to like Max's character.  She is like so many girls of that age, outwardly put together with strong convictions, but inwardly questioning or denying her feelings and insecurities.  I have to say that Max is a strong character, one that had ambitions and applies what she is doing to her future.  I think she is a good role model for younger girls. 

I loved the idea of this book and I really enjoyed it's fast paced plot and unforgettable characters.  Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.  As I say, I think I would have preferred reading this while I was a teen.  I will recommend this book to others and I suggest you pick it up for a nice summer read.  

A copy of this book can be purchased through Chapters Canada, if you're interested just click the link.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Publishing Date: June 5th, 2012
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 415 pgs
ISBN: 9780307588364
Source: Bought

Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:
Marriage can be a real killer.
   One of the most critically acclaimed suspense writers of our time, New York Times bestseller Gillian Flynn takes that statement to its darkest place in this unputdownable masterpiece about a marriage gone terribly, terribly wrong. The Chicago Tribune proclaimed that her work “draws you in and keeps you reading with the force of a pure but nasty addiction.” Gone Girl’s toxic mix of sharp-edged wit and deliciously chilling prose creates a nerve-fraying thriller that confounds you at every turn.
   On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 

   As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
   With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.


My Review:
WTF?  This is how I felt while I read the majority of this book.  It took me a bit of time to get into it because of the writing style but once I did I had a difficult time putting this book down.  I was even up until 2am a few times reading this book.  This book is about Nick and Amy, a married couple.  One day, Amy goes missing and Nick becomes the prime suspect.  I do not want to give too much away but I will say there are some twists and not all is as it seems. 
While the book is a bit like a murder mystery it is not super high on action.  It is mostly character driven.  Flynn is a master of words and while it takes a bit of time to really get into her writing style, once you do you appreciate it so much.  It makes you feel as if you are right there with all the characters.  She also weaves different story lines together quite well.  While you read one thing and it may not seem all that significant, about a hundred pages later it ends up being a pivotal part of the story. 
I have to say though that the ending of the book was a bit depressing.  I found that I questioned whether Nick was doing the right thing or not.  
I don't have a lot to say because I really don't want to give too much away but I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone.  Overall, I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.  Excellent writing and an excellent story. 

Friday, August 17, 2012

Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Publisher: Mariner Books
Publishing Date: April 4th, 2005
Genre: Adult Contemporary, Literature
Pages: 326 pgs
ISBN: 9780618711659
Source: Bought

Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads:
Nine-year-old Oskar Schell has embarked on an urgent, secret mission that will take him through the five boroughs of New York. His goal is to find the lock that matches a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11. This seemingly impossible task will bring Oskar into contact with survivors of all sorts on an exhilarating, affecting, often hilarious, and ultimately healing journey.

My Review:
I picked this book up for book club and it has been one that I have wanted to read for quite some time.  When I saw that there was a movie out based on this book I suggested it to my book club and they were excited about it.  I have to say that this book is nothing like anything I've ever read before.  It is a novel but it also includes some pages with pictures and other pages with only one sentence on it.   There is even a few pages where the text seems to be written on top of each other and it kind of bleeds together.  It is done to put us into the mindset of the main character, Oskar, a young boy who lost his father in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Oskar is quite a different individual and at times I had to question whether or not he was autistic.  That was my intial reaction to him but then he did some things that led me to believe that perhaps not, but he is definitely socially awkward.  Oskar is trying to deal with his sorrow by trying to solve his father's last scavenger hunt.  He finds a key in an envelope marked Black, and he is determined to find out what the key opens.  Along the way he meets many different people in New York City.
There is also another storyline happening in this novel and that is the story of his grandfather and grandmother.  I found this part of the story to be a bit confusing at times because the narration jumps without any real indication of who is speaking.  You also get little snippets of time and you have to try to piece it together.
When I first started this book I really liked how eclectic it was and how different it was from anything that I had ever read.  As I kept reading a part of me got a bit confused and I really wished at those times that things were a little more clear.  Then I started to get some answers and it got good again.  At times I just wanted to take Oskar and squeeze him with love and at other times I wanted to yell at him for having no filter.  The book was incredible sad at times and I didn't feel like it got uplifting in the end.  I still felt like there was this sad bubble around the whole family that wasn't going to leave anytime soon.  I think that is the point though. Life is constantly throwing things at you and you are constantly trying to wade through your emotions.  I have to say that I quite enjoyed this novel and overall I give it 4 out of 5 stars.  I can't wait to discuss this book at book club tomorrow night. 

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publishing Date: July 31st, 2012
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 385 pgs
ISBN: 9780373210497
Source: ARC received from NetGalley for honest review

Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.


My Review:
Wow! What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said. This book is AWESOME! The book is told from the perspective of two different people: Echo and Noah. These two just take your heart and rip it out as you read the book. I have to say that I was crying throughout a good portion of this book.
Echo is a teen girl who has just been through a traumatic experience with her mother and she can't remember it. On top of that she is living with her overprotective father and her pregnant former babysitter turned step-mother. Noah is a young man whose parents died and he was separated from his brothers when they were all put into foster care. He struggles with his sense of responsibility to his brother and also trying to take care of himself. The story revolves around both Echo and Noah and how they eventually begin to fall for each other.
This book is not for the faint of heart. It is raw and emotional and this is the reason why I gave it 5 stars. It is difficult for people to write about these kind of struggles while trying to find a balance. You don't want it to be too intense and you also don't want to make it too light. I think this is especially difficult when writing a teen book. Kudos to you McGarry because you have written a thought-provoking and well-written book.
I have to say the parts that were the most difficult to deal with were the ones where Noah is interacting with his brothers. I just can't fathom how brothers can be separated and then made to visit with a social worker present. It was so sad and I thank my lucky stars that nothing like that has happened to my 5 siblings and I.
I am not going to lie, I am having a really difficult time putting into words what I loved about this book. I seem to be rambling and all I really want to tell you is to go out and buy this book right now!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

WoW: Requiem

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Here is my pick this week:


Summary from Goodreads:

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight. Of Pandemonium, ALA Booklist noted that “like all successful second volumes, this expands the world and ups the stakes, setting us up for the big finale.”

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

  
Wow, Lauren Oliver!  I can't wait to see what happens next in this series but if you leave me with another excrutiating cliff hanger I may have to scream!  This book comes out March 5th, 2012.  Can't wait! Happy Reading! 

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

WoW: Love Anthony

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Here is my pick for this week:


Summary from Goodreads:

From the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice and Left Neglected, comes a heartfelt novel about an accidental friendship that gives a grieving mother a priceless gift: the ability to understand the thoughts of her eight-year-old autistic son and make sense of his brief life.

Two women, each cast adrift by unforseen events in their lives, meet by accident on a Nantucket beach and are drawn into a friendship.
Olivia is a young mother whose eight-year-old severely autistic son has recently died. Her marriage badly frayed by years of stress, she comes to the island in a trial separation to try and make sense of the tragedy of her Anthony’s short life.
Beth, a stay-at-home mother of three, is also recently separated after discovering her husband’s long-term infidelity. In an attempt to recapture a sense of her pre-married life, she rekindles her passion for writing, determined to find her own voice again. But surprisingly, as she does so, Beth also find herself channeling the voice of an unknown boy, exuberant in his perceptions of the world around him if autistic in his expression—a voice she can share with Olivia—(is it Anthony?)—that brings comfort and meaning to them both.


This book comes out September 25th, 2012.  I have loved both Lisa Genova books and this one seems to be right up my alley as well.  I can't wait! Happy Reading! 

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Top Sellers Meme

I saw this over at Angela's Reading Angel.  I guess that S. Krishna's Books decided to take the top 150 selling books in the last 15 years and make it a meme. 

Here's what you do:  bold the books you've read and italicize the books you own on your TBR list. 

Here it is:

1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
2 Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution - Robert C. Atkins
3 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
6 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
8 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
9 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling, art by Mary GrandPre
10 Who Moved My Cheese? - Spencer Johnson
11 The South Beach Diet - Arthur Agatston
12 Tuesdays With Morrie - Mitch Albom
13 Angels & Demons - Dan Brown
14 What to Expect When You're Expecting - Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee Hathaway
15 The Purpose-Driven Life - Rick Warren
16 The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom
17 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey
18 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
19 Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - John Gray
20 The Secret - Rhonda Byrne
21 Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter
22 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
23 Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... And It's All Small Stuff - Richard Carlson
24 The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
25 Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
26 Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
27 The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
28 The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards
29 The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
30 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
31 A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
32 Oh, the Places You'll Go! - Dr. Seuss
33 The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz
34 Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
35 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
36 Body-for-Life - Bill Phillips, Michael D’Orso
37 New Moon - Stephenie Meyer
38 Night - Elie Wiesel, translations by Marion Wiesel and Stella Rodway
39 Chicken Soup for the Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen
40 The Greatest Generation - Tom Brokaw
41 Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
42 The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield
43 Wicked - Gregory Maguire
44 Good to Great - Jim Collins
45 Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
46 Eragon - Christopher Paolini
47 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - Rebecca Wells
48 Your Best Life Now - Joel Osteen
49 In the Kitchen With Rosie - Rosie Daley
50 Simple Abundance - Sarah Ban Breathnach
51 A Child Called It - Dave Pelzer
52 A Million Little Pieces - James Frey
53 The Testament - John Grisham
54 Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger
55 Deception Point - Dan Brown
56 The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
57 Marley & Me - John Grogan
58 Dr. Atkins' New Carbohydrate Gram Counter - Robert C. Atkins
59 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
60 The Brethren - John Grisham
61 The South Beach Diet Good Fats Good Carbs Guide - Arthur Agatston
62 The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town - John Grisham
63 For One More Day - Mitch Albom
64 The Polar Express - Chris Van Allsburg
65 The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
66 The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow
67 What to Expect the First Year - Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff, Sandee Hathaway
68 Love You Forever - Robert Munsch, art by Sheila McGraw
69 Green Eggs and Ham - Dr. Seuss
70 A Painted House - John Grisham
71 The Rainmaker - John Grisham
72 Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
73 Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier
74 The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
75 Life Strategies - Phillip C. McGraw
76 Seabiscuit: An American Legend - Laura Hillenbrand
77 The Summons - John Grisham
78 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt
79 The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
80 The Runaway Jury - John Grisham
81 Goodnight Moon Board Book - Margaret Wise Brown, art by Clement Hurd
82 The Perfect Storm - Sebastian Junger
83 Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
84 The Giver - Lois Lowry
85 Embraced by the Light - Betty J. Eadie
86 The Chamber - John Grisham
87 You: On A Diet - Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet C. Oz
88 The Prayer of Jabez - Bruce Wilkinson
89 Holes - Louis Sachar
90 Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
91 The Shack - William P. Young
92 The Devil Wears Prada - Lauren Weisberger
93 Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
94 A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
95 The Seat of the Soul - Gary Zukav
96 Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, Marci Shimoff
97 The Partner - John Grisham
98 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
99 Eldest: Inheritance, Book II - Christopher Paolini
100 The Broker - John Grisham
101 The Street Lawyer - John Grisham
102 A Series of Unfortunate Events No. 1: The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket
103 The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
104 Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer
105 The King of Torts - John Grisham
106 The Tipping Point - Malcolm Gladwell
107 The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Evans
108 Hannibal - Thomas Harris
109 The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama
110 Running With Scissors - Augusten Burroughs
111 The Glass Castle: A Memoir - Jeannette Walls
112 My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
113 The Last Juror - John Grisham
114 The Devil in the White City - Erik Larson
115 Left Behind - Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins
116 America (The Book) - Jon Stewart and The Writers of The Daily Show
117 The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
118 John Adams - David McCullough
119 The Christmas Box - Richard Paul Evans
120 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares
121 Sugar Busters! - H. Leighton Steward, Sam S. Andrews, Morrison C. Bethea, Luis A. Balart
122 Blink - Malcolm Gladwell
123 The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle
124 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life - Don Piper, Cecil Murphey
125 The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien
126 1776 - David McCullough
127 The Bridges of Madison County - Robert James Waller
128 Where the Heart Is - Billie Letts
129 The Ultimate Weight Solution - Phillip C. McGraw
130 Protein Power - Michael R. Eades, Mary Dan Eades
131 Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul - Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, Marci Shimoff
132 Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer
133 Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
134 Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin
135 You: The Owner's Manual - Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet C. Oz
136 1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List - Patricia Schultz
137 Self Matters - Phillip C. McGraw
138 She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
139 1984 - George Orwell
140 The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
141 The Millionaire Next Door - Thomas J. Stanley, William D. Danko
142 The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory
143 The Zone - Barry Sears, Bill Lawren
144 The Pilot's Wife - Anita Shreve
145 The Lost World Michael Crichton
146 Atonement - Ian McEwan
147 He's Just Not That Into You - Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo
148 Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
149 The World Is Flat - Thomas L. Friedman
150 Cross - James Patterson






Total Read: 60  (Not too bad.  There are so many John Grisham books on this list)


How many have you read?

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

WoW: The Lives We Lost

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and it is a weekly feature where bloggers share what they are excited to read next.

Here is my pick:


Here is a summary from Goodreads:

First, the virus took Kaelyn’s friends. Then, her family. Now it’s taken away her home.

But she can't look back—the life she once had is gone forever.


A deadly virus has destroyed Kaelyn’s small island community and spread beyond the quarantine. No one is safe. But when Kaelyn finds samples of a vaccine in her father's abandoned lab, she knows there must be someone, somewhere, who can replicate it. As Kaelyn and her friends head to the mainland, they encounter a world beyond recognition. It’s not only the “friendly flu” that’s a killer—there are people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the vaccine. How much will Kaelyn risk for an unproven cure, when the search could either destroy those she loves or save the human race?

Megan Crewe's second volume in the Fallen World trilogy is an action-packed journey that explores the resilience of friendship, the ache of lost love, and Kaelyn’s enduring hope in the face of the sacrifices she must make to stay alive.


This comes out February 12th, 2013.  I read the first book in this series and I quite enjoyed Megan Crewe's writing style so I'm looking forward to this one.  Happy Reading!