Friday, July 29, 2011

104:65 Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

The 12th book in the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong.  At the end of the last book, Savannah Levine had just come off of her first case by herself and thought to herself that she would give up all her powers if it would mean that a little girl's grandmother and entire world wouldn't go to jail.  Apparently something took her up on that because now Savannah, daughter of a powerful witch and sorcerer, can't even cast a light spell.  As someone used to using her magic for everything, suddenly being powerless is taking quite a bit of getting used to.
Unfortunately, no powers doesn't mean that there aren't several groups vying for her attention or at least her presence.  A war looks to be coming to the supernatural world and Savannah appears to have a big role to play, with or without her powers.

I liked this one but it's not my favorite of the series.  Savannah just doesn't grip me as much as a character and there is very little of any of the other characters as anything more than plot devices again.  With the lack of her powers and other supernaturals in the book and all her pining for Adam, it really felt more like a YA teen angst drama than a proper Otherworld book.  I know things are leading up to the grand finale of the series with the next book and that these final three are supposed to be all about Savannah but she just doesn't do it for me and I really hope that we see a bit more of the other characters in the last book.

Page count: 325p/19,617p ytd

Thursday, July 28, 2011

104:64 Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

The 5th book in the Kate Daniels series.  Kate and Curran have finally worked things out and are officially mated.  This isn't to say that they don't have things that they are still negotiating tho and things get put seriously to the test when Kate's first case as a private investigator is to find someone who invented something who was stolen by someone.  What she eventually finds out is that the device invented destroys anyone with any magic in their blood which means she and the whole Pack are in serious danger if they can't recover this device before it gets used.  And worst of all for Kate is when Julie is attacked by a were-lynx and infected with the Lyc-V virus in amounts that guarantee she'll go loup if they wake her up.  Kate always wants to save everyone but this time, it will take a lot more than she's got to make that happen.

A fast read as always, gripping and hard to put down.  You know Kate and Curran will make it through but all other characters are up for grabs as always.  The ending note from Hugh has me chomping at the bit for the next one but unfortunately I'm guessing at this point I have almost a year to wait to get it. *pout*

Page count: 308p/19,292p ytd

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

2011 to date - 63 books read

  1. Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher – fun (482p/482p)
  2. Hamlet by William Shakespeare – tragic (131p/613p)
  3. Angelic by Kelley Armstrong – quick (104p/717p)
  4. Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong – fun (141p/858p)
  5. White Night by Jim Butcher – fun (452p/1,310p)
  6. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning – fun (384p/1,694p)
  7. The Ancient American World by William Fash & Mary Lyons – fascinating (160p/1,854p)
  8. The Death of Joan of Arc by Michael Scott – meh
  9. The Passage by Justin Cronin – interesting (766p/2,620p)
  10. Blood Wyne by Yasmine Galenorn – awesome (302p/2,922p)
  11. Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning – awesome (337p/3,259p)
  12. Faefever by Karen Marie Moning – awesome (370p/3,629p)
  13. Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – interesting (112p/3,741p)
  14. Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning – awesome (362p/4,103p)
  15. Small Favor by Jim Butcher – fun (341p/4,444p)
  16. Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning – incredible (594p/5,038p)
  17. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck – intense (103p/5,141p)
  18. Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – interesting (86p/5,227p)
  19. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder – interesting (334p/5,561p)
  20. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher – fun (545p/6,106p)
  21. The European World by Barbara A. Hanawalt – informative (173p/6,279p)
  22. Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green – interesting (230p/6,509p)
  23. Changes by Jim Butcher – interesting (546p/7,055p)
  24. Growing up on the Spectrum by Lynn Kern Koegal, Ph.D, and Claire LaZebnik – fabulous (370p/7,425p)
  25. Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire – fabulous (384p/7,809p)
  26. River Marked by Patricia Briggs – fun (326p/8,135p)
  27. The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals by Ann & Jeff Vandermeer – fun (92p/8,227p)
  28. Our Town by Thornton Wilder – interesting (98p/8,325p)
  29. The Living Dead edited by John Joseph Adams – typical anthology, some good/some not (486p/8,811p)
  30. Agents of Light and Darkenss by Simon R. Green – interesting (233p/9,044p)
  31. Pale Demon by Kim Harrison – fabulous (439p/9,483p)
  32. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – fabulous (374p/9,857p)
  33. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – riveting (391p/10,248p)
  34. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins – good (390p/10,638p)
  35. The African & Middle Eastern World by Randall Pouwels – fascinating (160p/10,798p)
  36. Mercy Burns by Keri Arthur – fabulous (320p/11,118p)
  37. Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris – ok (325p/11,443p)
  38. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin – fascinating (272p/11,715p)
  39. The Warlock by Michael Scott – fun (383p/12,098p)
  40. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk – disturbing (208p/12,306p)
  41. The Asian World by Roger Forges & John Major – interesting (160p/12,466p)
  42. Parenting with Love & Logic by Foster Cline & Jim Fay – must read (255p/12,721p)
  43. Torchwood: Bay of the Dead by Mark Morris – fun (238p/12,959p)
  44. Deadline by Mira Grant – incredible (608p/13,567)
  45. Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder – beautiful (375p/13,942p)
  46. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver – poignant (543p/14,485p)
  47. The Zombie Chasers by John Kloepfer – childish (205p/14,690p)
  48. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe – thought-provoking (209p/14,899p)
  49. An Age of Empires by Marjorie Wall Bingham – interesting (145p/15,044p)
  50. The Zombie Chasers: Undead Ahead by John Kloepfer – childish (204p/15,248p)
  51. Hexed by Andrews, Galenorn, James, & Stein – fabulous (326p/15,574p)
  52. Watership Down by Richard Adams – ok (475p/16,049p)
  53. No One Noticed the Cat by Anne McCaffrey – cute (142p/16,191p)
  54. Kitty’s Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn – fun (307p/16,498p)
  55. The Word for the World is Forest by Ursula K. LeGuin – wonderful (169p/16,667p)
  56. Dragongirl by Todd McCaffrey – interesting (482p/17,149p)
  57. Dragon’s Time by Anne & Todd McCaffrey – interesting (321p/17,470p)
  58. Nightingale’s Lament by Simon R. Green – interesting (217p/17,687p)
  59. The Pearl by John Steinbeck – poignant (118p/17,805p)
  60. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews – interesting (260p/18,065p)
  61. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews – wonderful (260p/18,325p)
  62. Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews – wonderful (310p/18,635p)
  63. Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews – wonderful (349p/18,984p)
I've read 22 new authors so far counting each anthology as 1 as well as only counting 1 for books where authors collaborated. And with that, I'm caught up!

2010 Book List - 120 books read

1. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe – interesting (254p/254p)

2. The Story of O by Pauline Reage – meh (199p/453p)

3. The Key to Midnight by Dean Koontz – typical (419p/872p)

4. Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfield – okay (249p/1,121p)

5. Bone Magic by Yasmine Galenorn – awesome! (281p/1,402p)

6. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum – lovely (256p/1,658p)

7. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder – enjoyable (309p/1,967p)

8. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan – ok (375p/2,342p)

9. Carrie by Stephen King – okay (245p/2,587p)

10. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan – ok (279p/2,866p)

11. The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan – ok (312p/3,178p)

12. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan – ok (361p/3,539p)

13. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan – ok (381p/3,920p)

14. Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling – ok (156p/4,076p)

15. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs – fun (287p/4,363p)

16. The Ancient Near Eastern World by Amanda H. Podany & Marni McGee – interesting (159p/4,522p)

17. The American Indian Story by May McNeer & Lynd Ward – fascinating (95p/4,617)

18. Anthem by Ayn Rand – interesting (68p/4,685p)

19. Archimedes and the Door of Science by Jeanne Bendick – wonderful! (131p/4,816p)

20. Flirt by Laurell K. Hamilton – fun (171p/4,987p)

21. The Green Mile by Stephen King – okay (465p/5,452p)

22. Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S.G. Browne – wrong, but wonderfully so (310p/5,762p)

23. The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson – okay (204p/5,966p)

24. Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson – fun (451p/6,417p)

25. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris – ok (192p/6,609p)

26. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – awesome! (208p/6,817)

27. Pet Semetary by Stephen King – bleh (411p/7,228p)

28. The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald – fun (175p/7,403p)

29. 1984 by George Orwell – disturbing (268p/7,671p)

30. The Spark by Chris Downie – fantastic! (160p/7,831)

31. The Ancient Egyptian World by Eric H. Cline & Jill Rubalcaba – awesome! (172p/8,003p)

32. More Adventures of the Great Brain by John. D. Fitzgerald – fun (142p/8,145p)

33. The World According to Clarkson, vol 2, by Jeremy Clarkson – fun (318p/8,463p)

34. Favorite North American Indian Legends edited by Philip Smith – interesting (90p/8,553p)

35. On the Banks of the Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder – wonderful (358p/8,911p)

36. Me and My Little Brain by John D. Fitzgerald – wonderful (137p/9,048p)

37. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle – wonderful (376p/9,424p)

38. Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris – fun (307p/9,731p)

39. The Great Brain at the Academy by John D. Fitzgerald – wonderful (164p/9,895p)

40. Last Words by George Carlin with Tony Hendra – fabulous (297p10,192p)

41. The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events #13) by Lemony Snicket – miserable (337p/10,529p)

42. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott – fantastic (375p/10,904p)

43. The Magician by Michael Scott – fantastic (464p/11,368p)

44. The Great Brain Reforms by John D. Fitzgerald - fun (165p/11,533p)

45. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed by Alan Alda – interesting (235p/11,768p)

46. The Sorceress by Michael Scott – fantastic (488p/12,256p)

47. The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich – incredibly fantastic (637p/12,893p)

48. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione – wonderful (400p/13,293p)

49. The Ancient South Asian World by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer & Kimberely Heuston – awesome! (159p/13,452p)

50. Desire Unchained by Larissa Ione – wonderful (380p/13,832p)

51. The Return of the Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald – fun (150p/13,982p)

52. Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione – wonderful (460p/14,442p)

53. Ecstasy Unveiled by Larissa Ione – wonderful (410p/14,852p)

54. The Great Brain Does It Again by John D. Fitzgerald – fun (129p/14,981p)

55. Dark Designs by Luisa Prieto – wonderful (437p/15,418p)

56. Thinner by Stephen King – meh (319p/15,736p)

57. American Vision by Glencoe/McGraw/Hill – okay (1,037p/16,773p)

58. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs – fantastic (342p/17,115p)

59. Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong - awesome(387p/17,502p)

60. The Necromancer by Michael Scott – wonderful (389p/17,891p)

61. Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison – fantastic (487p/18,378p)

62. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris – fun (311p/18,689p)

63. The Great Brain is Back by John D. Fitzgerald – fun (120p/18,809p)

64. Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur – wonderful (395p/19,204p)

65. Bullet by Laurell K. Hamilton – ok (356p/19,560p)

66. Eragon by Christopher Paolini – good (509p/20,069p)

67. North by Northwestern by Captain Sig Hansen – interesting (304p/20,373p)

68. The Young Carthaginian by G.A. Henty – interesting (201p/20,574p)

69. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman – must read (201p/20,775p)

70. Eldest by Christopher Paolini – good (681p/21,456p)

71. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams – wonderful (166p/21,622p)

72. Kitty Goes to War by Carrie Vaughn – fun (334p/21,956p)

73. The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke – incredible (84p/22,040p)

74. Storm Front by Jim Butcher – ok (322p/22,362p)

75. Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner – fabulous (307p/22,669p)

76. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher – ok (342p/23,011p)

77. California Demon by Julie Kenner – fabulous (342p/23,353p)

78. Demons are Forever by Julie Kenner – fabulous (292p/23,645p)

79. Brisingr by Christopher Paolini – ok (763p/24,408p)

80. Deja Demon by Julie Kenner – fabulous (326p/24,734p)

81. Demon Ex Machina by Julie Kenner – fabulous (308p/25,042p)

82. Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong – incredible (309p/25,351p)

83. As You Do by Richard Hammond – fun (257p/25,608p)

84. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – fabulous (453p/26,061p)

85. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne – ok (447p/26,508p)

86. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher – ok (378p/26,886p)

87. Dark Lover by JR Ward – fun (393p/27,279p)

88. The Ancient Chinese World by Kleeman & Barrett – interesting (157p/27,436p)

89. The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger – ok (214p/27,650p)

90. By the Shores of the Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder – lovely (290p/27,940p)

91. The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum – enchanting (261p/28,201p)

92. The Truth Machine by James Halperin – thought provoking (416p/28,617p)

93. Lover Eternal by JR Ward – fun (441p/29,058p)

94. Lover Awakened by JR Ward – fun (434p/29,492p)

95. Lover Revealed by JR Ward – fun (455p/29,947p)

96. Lover Unbound by JR Ward – ugh (502p/30,449p)

97. Lover Enshrined by JR Ward – fun (534p/30,983p)

98. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher – fun (371p/31,354p)

99. The Ancient Greek World by Jennifer T. Roberts & Tracy Barrett – interesting (175p/31,529p)

100. Lover Avenged by JR Ward – good (647p/32,176p)

101. Discord’s Apple by Carrie Vaughn – fun (299p/32,475p)

102. Feed by Mira Grant – incredible (599p/33,074p)

103. Death Masks by Jim Butcher – fun (374p/33,448p)

104. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson – wonderful (177p/33,625p)

105. Harvest Hunting by Yasmine Galenorn – wonderful (273p/33,898p)

106. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan – ok (310p/34,208p)

107. The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper – wonderful (430p/34,638p)

108. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan – ok (404p/35,042p)

109. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga – awesome (311p/35,353p)

110. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire – fun (346p/35,699p)

111. The Ancient Roman World by Ronald Mellor & Marni McGee – wonderful (176p/35,875p)

112. Blood Rites by Jim Butcher – fun (372p/36,247p)

113. A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire – fun (377p/36,624p)

114. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire – wonderful ( 354p/36,978p)

115. Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus – wonderful (201p/37,179p)

116. Sin Undone by Larissa Ione – wonderful (400p/37,579p)

117. Lover Mine by JR Ward – good (512p/38,091p)

118. Dead Beat by Jim Butcher – fun (424p/38,515p)

119. Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain – excellent (184p/38,699p)

120. Fated by S.G. Browne – hilarious (352p/39,051p)

2009 Book List - 104 books read

  1. Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong - awesome! (523p)
  2. The Cat Who Went up the Creek by Lillian Jackson Braun – yawn (226p/749p)
  3. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris – okay (291p/1040p)
  4. Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum – lovely (270p/1310p)
  5. Club Dead by Charlaine Harris – shrug (292p/1602p)
  6. Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris – fun (293p/1895p)
  7. Dr. Who: Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner – fun (249p/2144p)
  8. The Cat Who Brought Down the House by Lillian Jackson Braun – yawn (228p/2372p)
  9. Casino Royal by Ian Fleming – good (181p/2553p)
  10. The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting – wonderful (157p/2710p)
  11. Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur – awesome! (321p/3031p)
  12. The Cat Who Talked Turkey by Lillian Jackson Braun - shrug(181p/3212p)
  13. The Private Life of the Cat Who... by Lillian Jackson Braun – shrug (137p/3349p)
  14. Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong – awesome! (372p/3721p)
  15. Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong – awesome! (369p/4090p)
  16. The Cat Who Went Bananas by Lillian Jackson Braun – shrug (223p/4313p)
  17. Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey – very nice (538p/4851p)
  18. The Cat Who Dropped the Bombshell by Lillian Jackson Braun – yawn (187p/5038p)
  19. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien – fabulous! (447p/5485p)
  20. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers by Lillian Jackson Braun (190p/5675p)
  21. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie – wonderful (155p/5830p)
  22. 1984 by George Orwell – disturbing (268p/6098p)
  23. Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card – fun (377p/6475p)
  24. Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris – fun (291p/6766p)
  25. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris – fun (295p/7061p)
  26. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris – fun (324p/7385p)
  27. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris – fun (342p/7727p)
  28. Cooking with Ergot by Luisa Prieto – fun! (200p/7927p)
  29. Witchling by Yasmine Galernorn – fun (276p/8203p)
  30. Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton – very good (135p/8338p)
  31. Deadly Desire by Keri Arthur – awesome (352p/8690p)
  32. Changeling by Yasmine Galenorn – fun (278p/8968p)
  33. Collected Poems of Emily Dickenson – lovely (349p/9317p)
  34. Darkling by Yasmine Galenorn – fun (281p/9598p)
  35. Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn – fun (280p/9878p)
  36. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin – incredible (145p/10,023p)
  37. Night Huntress by Yasmine Galenorn – blech (307p/10,330p)
  38. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – intense (228p/10,558p)
  39. Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. LeGuin – interesting (115p/10,673p)
  40. Your Ten-to-Fourteen-Year-Old by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D, Frances L. Ilg, M.D., & Sidney M. Baker, M.D. – okay (323p/10,996p)
  41. Farthest Shore by Ursula K. LeGuin – wonderful (159p/11,155p)
  42. Tehanu by Ursula K. LeGuin – wonderful (281p/11,436p)
  43. Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons – intense (416p/11,852p)
  44. Animal Farm by George Orwell – very good (139p/11,852p)
  45. Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin - enjoyable (314p/12,305p)
  46. Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks – fun (247p/12,552p)
  47. The Other Wind by Ursula K. LeGuin – good (211p/12,763p)
  48. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris – fun (321p/13,084p)
  49. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad – intense (102p/13,186p)
  50. Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton – Ugh! (486p/13,672p)
  51. Demon Mistress by Yasmine Galenorn – fun (285p/13,957p)
  52. Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn – ok (259p/14,216p)
  53. Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn – fun (339p/14,555p)
  54. Kitty Takes a Holiday by Carrie Vaughn – fun (303p/14,858p)
  55. Kitty and the Silver Bullet by Carrie Vaughn – fun (326p/15,184p)
  56. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs – enjoyable (288p/15,472p)
  57. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs – enjoyable (292p/15,764p)
  58. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs – enjoyable (287p/16,051p)
  59. Mr. Murder by Dean Koontz – ok (481p/16,532p)
  60. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs – enjoyable (294p/16,826p)
  61. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien – fabulous! (520p/17,346p)
  62. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Phillip K. Dick – interesting (244p/17,590p)
  63. Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey – enjoyable (943p/18,533p)
  64. Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey – enjoyable (703p/19,236p)
  65. Kushiel’s Mercy by Jacqueline Carey – enjoyable (653p/19,889p)
  66. Beowulf by Anonymous – incredible (247p/20,136p)
  67. Naamah’s Kiss by Jacqueline Carey – enjoyable (645p/20,781p)
  68. Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand by Carrie Vaughn – fun (282p/21,063p)
  69. Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn – fun (312p/21,375p)
  70. Your Three-Year-Old: Friend or Enemy by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D., & Frances L. Ilg, M.D. – informative but with some awful advice (151p/21,526p)
  71. Homeschooling the Teen Years by Cafi Cohen – informative (318p/21,844p)
  72. Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison – fun (416p/22,260p)
  73. The Good, The Bad, & The Undead by Kim Harrison – fun (453p/22,713p)
  74. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin – incredible! (400p/23,113p)
  75. The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz - typical (369p/23,482p)
  76. Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison – fun (501p/23,983p)
  77. A Separate Peace by John Knowles – quietly intense (204p/24,187p)
  78. A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison – fun (510p/24,697p)
  79. Midnight by Dean Koontz – typical (470p/25,167p)
  80. For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison – fun (536p/25,703p)
  81. California Gold Days by Helen Bauer – informative (110p/25,813p)
  82. Sole Survivor by Dean Koontz – typical (403p/26,216p)
  83. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith – great fun! (320p/26,536p)
  84. Your Eight-Year-Old: Lively and Outgoing by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D & Carold Chase, M.A.- informative (134p/26,670p)
  85. The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison – Wow! (528p/27,198p)
  86. The Tao of Meow by Waldo Japussy – cute (120p/27,318p)
  87. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain – fun (202p/27,520p)
  88. White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison – wonderful (564p/28,084p)
  89. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder – enjoyable (238p/28,322p)
  90. Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong – love it! (339p/28,661p)
  91. Bound to Shadows by Keri Arthur- love it! (346p/29,007p)
  92. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all small stuff by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. (246p/29,253p)
  93. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs – fabulous (286p/29,539p)
  94. Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton – first ½ was good (333p/29,872p)
  95. The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw – nice story (248p/30,120p)
  96. The Early Human World by Peter Robertshaw and Jill Rubalcaba – interesting (160p/30,280p)
  97. Blue Finger by Cheryl Aylward Whitesel – cute (247p/30,527p)
  98. Grayson by Lynne Cox – enchanting (153p/30,680p)
  99. Kitty’s House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn – gripping (292p/30,972p)
  100. Your Four-Year-Old: Wild and Wonderful by Louise Bates Ames – helpful (136p/31,108p)
  101. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow – scary (384p/31,492p)
  102. At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft – intricate & intense (110p/31,602p)
  103. Doctor Who: Winner Takes All by Jacqueline Rayner – meh (245p/31,847p)
  104. Baby’s First Mythos by C.J. Henderson & Erica Henderson – awesome! (40p/31,887p)

2008 Book List - 104 books read

  1. Prescriptions for Parenting by Carolyn Ann Meeks, M.D.(useful quick reference guide)
  2. The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (very good)
  3. First Meetings in Ender’s Universe by Orson Scott Card (good)
  4. Dragon Harper by Anne & Todd McCaffrey (good)
  5. The World of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne (excellent)
  6. Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them by Al Franken (scary)
  7. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (very good)
  8. A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-First Century by Oliver Van DeMille (absolutely brilliant)
  9. How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish (very good)
  10. A Tale of Two Cities (Signet Classics) by Charles Dickens (good but slow to get started)
  11. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, but fun)
  12. Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley - The FLYLady (absolutely fabulous)
  13. Managers of Their Homes by Steve & Teri Maxwell (absolutely fabulous)
  14. The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, but fun)
  15. The Cat Who Turned On and Off by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, but fun)
  16. Managers of Their Chores by Steve & Teri Maxwell (absolutely fabulous)
  17. Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (simply enchanting)
  18. The Cat Who Saw Red by Lillian Jackson Braun (fun but slower than the last few)
  19. Wicked by Gregory Maguire (enjoyable)
  20. The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (excellent)
  21. The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (enchanting)
  22. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis (enjoyable but not spectacular)
  23. Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb (amazing)
  24. The Cat Who Played Brahms by Lillian Jackson Braun (light fun)
  25. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (enjoyable)
  26. The Laptop Lunch User's Guide by Amy Hemmert & Tammy Pelstring (ok, not as informative as I’d hoped)
  27. The Cat Who Played Post Office by Lillian Jackson Braun (light fun)
  28. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (enjoyable)
  29. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (enjoyable)
  30. Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb (excellent)
  31. The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis (enchanting)
  32. The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (good, but lacking some depth)
  33. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (still enchanting)
  34. Bonjour, Babar! The Unabridged Original 6 Tales by Jean De Brunhoff (enchanting)
  35. The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander (fabulous)
  36. The Cat Who Had 14 Tales by Lillian Jackson Braun (light short stories)
  37. The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander (excellent)
  38. Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb (excellent)
  39. Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander (beyond excellent)
  40. The High King by Lloyd Alexander (beyond excellent)
  41. The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  42. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (ok)
  43. Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton (good)
  44. Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Teri Maxwell (excellent)
  45. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (awesome)
  46. Legends of the Dark Crystal (well done)
  47. Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips (entertaining)
  48. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  49. Little House in the Big Wood by Laura Ingalls Wilder (enjoyable)
  50. Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey (wonderful)
  51. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder (enjoyable)
  52. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (enjoyable)
  53. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder (enjoyable)
  54. The Cat Who Went Underground by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  55. 401 Ways to Get Your Kids to Work at Home by Bonnie Runyn McCullough & Susan Walker Monson (okay)
  56. Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey (very good)
  57. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  58. Haiku Mama by Kari Anne Roy (funny)
  59. Kushiel's Avatar by Jacqueline Carey (very good)
  60. Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments by Brenda Smith Myles & Jack Southwick (good information)
  61. Preparing for Adolescence by Dr. James Dobson (very good)
  62. The Cat Who Lived High by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  63. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  64. Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence by Teresa Bolick, Ph. D. (very good, informative)
  65. Your Two-Year-Old: Terrible or Tender by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D. & Frances L. Ilg, M.D. (good information)
  66. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  67. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (good)
  68. Your Seven-Year-Old: Life in a Minor Key by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D. (good information)
  69. The Cat Who Wasn't There by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  70. Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur (wonderful)
  71. The Cat Who Went into the Closet by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  72. Kissing Sin by Keri Arthur (wonderful)
  73. Tempting Evil by Keri Arthur (wonderful)
  74. Dangerous Games by Keri Arthur (wonderful)
  75. Embraced Darkness by Keri Arthur (enjoyable)
  76. Darkest Kiss by Keri Arthur (very good)
  77. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  78. Masque of the Red Death by Wendy Pini (very good)
  79. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  80. The Cat Who Said Cheese by Lillian Jackson Braun (light, fun)
  81. The Incredible 5-Point Scale by Kari Dunn Buron & Mitzi Curtis (quick read, good information)
  82. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief by Lillian Jackson Braun (getting formulaic)
  83. The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum(enchanting)
  84. Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton (enjoyable)
  85. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (fantastic)
  86. The Cat Who Sang for the Birds by Lillian Jackson Braun (formulaic)
  87. Let the Mountains Talk, Let the Rivers Run by David Brower (moving)
  88. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (enjoyed)
  89. Holes by Louis Sachar (fun)
  90. Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow (enjoyable)
  91. World War Z by Max Brooks (educational)
  92. Dr. Who: I am a Dalek by Gareth Roberts (fun)
  93. The Cat Who Saw Stars by Lillian Jackson Braun (boring)
  94. Stolen by Kelley Armstrong (good but not great)
  95. Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong (awesome)
  96. The Cat Who Robbed a Bank by Lillian Jackson Braun (ok)
  97. Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong (awesome)
  98. Haunted by Kelley Armstrong (awesome)
  99. The Latke that Couldn’t Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket (fun)
  100. Broken by Kelley Armstrong (awesome)
  101. No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong (awesome)
  102. The Cat Who Smelled a Rat by Lilian Jackson Braun (fun)
  103. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling (great fun)
  104. Doctor Who: The Clockwise Man by Justin Richards (great fun)

2007 Book List - 1st year, 52 books read

  1. The Lone Drow by R.A. Salvatore (read, ok)
  2. The Two Swords by R.A. Salvatore (read, ok)
  3. Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (read, very good)
  4. Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (read, fun)
  5. Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult (read, very good)
  6. 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult (read, very good)
  7. Your One Year Old by Louse Bates Ames, Frances L Ilg, & Carol Chase Haber (read - useful)
  8. Your Six Year Old by Louise Bates Ames & Frances L Ilg (read - useful)
  9. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (read, very good)
  10. Animal Farm (Signet Classics) - George Orwell (read, okay)
  11. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord (read, cute)
  12. Cold Fire by Dean Koontz (read - enjoyable)
  13. Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz (read - enjoyable but not his best)
  14. The Bad Place by Dean Koontz (read - enjoyable)
  15. The Harlequin by Laurell K Hamilton (read - better than her last book)
  16. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Greggory (read - very good)
  17. Freaks, Geeks, & Asperger's Syndrome by Luke Jackson (read - very good)
  18. Do Penguin's Have Knees? And other imponderables by David Feldman (read - good book for short periods of time)
  19. Otherland by Tad Williams (read - very good)
  20. Fred the Picklepotomus and the Case of the Missing King by Crystal Ruzicka (read - very cute)
  21. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (read - enjoyed)
  22. Your Nine-Year-Old by Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D & Carol Chase Haber, M.A.(read- ok, informative)
  23. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (read - good)
  24. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (read-wonderful)
  25. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle (read-wonderful)
  26. A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle (read-wonderful)
  27. Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle (read-very good)
  28. Long Way Round by Ewan McGregor & Charley Boorman (read - enjoyed)
  29. Return to Labyrinth by Jake T. Forbes & Chris Lie (read, has potential)
  30. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard & Florence Atwater (read-very cute)
  31. Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander (read – enjoyed)
  32. The Starlight Barking by Dodie Smith (read - don't bother)
  33. The Witches by Roald Dahl (read – enjoyed)
  34. The BFG by Roald Dahl (read – ok)
  35. So you are not Wonder Woman? by Melanie Wilson Ph.D. (read – excellent)
  36. Mommy Mantras by Bethany E. Casarjian, Ph.D., & Diane H. Dillon, Ph.D. (read - excellent)
  37. Water for Elephants by Sara Guren (read- very good)
  38. War of Gifts by Orson Scott Card
  39. A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton (read - really enjoyed)
  40. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (read-very cute)
  41. Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (read - enjoyed)
  42. Mistral’s Kiss by Laurell K. Hamilton (read - enjoyed)
  43. Dragon’s Fire by Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey (read - enjoyed)
  44. Li Lun: Lad of Courage by Carolyn Treffinger (read - nice)
  45. The Thousand Orcs Hunter's Blade Trilogy Book 1 by R.A. Salvatore (read - ok)
  46. The Complete Adventures of Curious George by R.A. and Margaret Rey (read - enjoyed)
  47. Mrs. PiggleWiggle by Betty MacDonald (read - cute)
  48. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne (read - loved!)
  49. Bumblebees Can't Fly by Barry Siskind (read - okay, nothing earth shattering)
  50. The One Minute Manager by Kenneth H. Blanchard, Spencer Johnson (read - okay)
  51. An Acceptable Time by Madeleine L'Engle (read - okay, not as good as the other ones)
  52. The Book of General Ignorance by John Mitchinson (read - interesting)

My Book Blog

I finally decided to separate my books from the family blog so that the posts there are more relevant and people who want to read my reviews can but since this is primarily for me, it doesn't detract from the family stuff.

For those who don't know me, I'm Jena. I've been homeschooling my four boys since 2005 (well, there were three at that time LOL). I have loved to read ever since I can remember. For a long time, I reread the same books and authors over and over again and then I started homeschooling and realized just how many wonderful books were out there that I had never read. I reached out not just out of my author comfort zone but out of my genre comfort zone as well. Now I challenge myself each year to read over 100 books and several new authors as well. My goal for 2011 is to read 104 books with 40 new authors and for a total of 35,000 pages.

I won't be transferring my reviews over from my other blog as I'm just too lazy but will be starting from where I am right now. What I will do tho, is put up my book lists for the years since I started keeping track which have the titles read and a one-word review of the book (and page counts for when I started keeping track of that).