110:21 Rise Again by Ben Tripp

Yet another zombie book.  I admit tho, I was excited about reading this one because it had a good review on the cover  by Cory Doctorow who I think is an amazing writer.  As it turns out, I don't think I'll be listening to his reviews again.  The book was long and drawn out.  Character development didn't really start until about 20pages from the end.  Actually, scratch that.  The zombies did develop through the story which was really the only slightly interesting thing about it but since they so rarely showed up, it wasn't enough to save it.  The rest of the story was completely predictable and it was by sheer force of will that I actually finished it because all I could do when I had some free time was groan that I still wasn't done with it.   Maybe if you are a rabid zombie fanatic you can get into it but my recollection of it was "gross out scene"...blahblahblah..."insert pointless Iraq war memory during unconscious period here"...blahblahblah..."insert more pointless moaning about little sister and/or search for sister here"...blahblahblah....repeat endlessly

Page count: 371p/6,839p

110:20 A Hard Day's Knight by Simon R. Green

The 11th book in the Nightside series.  Excalibur has shown up on John's doorstep for him to wield long enough to find King Arthur and return it to him.  Of course, no one knows where Arthur is but everyone wants Excalibur.

A pretty standard romp in the Nightside with the only real surprise being at the end but it's good mindless fluff for when you just want to escape for a bit.

Page count: 294p/6,468p ytd

110:19 Etched in Silver by Yasmine Galenorn

A novella set in the Otherworld universe and is the story of how Trillian and Camille met and ended up soul-mated.  A nice little story that showcased what life had been like for them a bit more clearly back in OW before things opened up and they came earthside.  Not necessary to read to understand anything in the series but a fun little filler as I wait for the next book to come out.  Includes a sneak peak of the new book as well.

Page count: 50p/6,174p ytd

110:18 To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

I picked this one up on the recommendation of a friend saying I absolutely had to read it.  I had it on my kindle for about a year with her asking me every time we got together if I'd read it yet so I finally broke down and read it.  Wow!  It got off to a really slow start and I was thoroughly confused and wondering if perhaps this was a second book in a series or something as there was so much going on.  Turns out no, there wasn't and everything does get explained but it takes a while.  I think I was about a quarter of the way in before it stopped being merely confusing and started getting to the point where I understood what was going on and could follow easily at which point I was totally hooked on the story.  Trying to summerize this one is hard but basically it's a story about time travel that takes place mostly in the story's present day (2057), 1940s Coventry, and Victorian England.  There is love, a missing bird stump, cats, and to say nothing of the dog.

In all, a very fun and entertaining read.

Page count: 493p/6,124p ytd

10:17 The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The last book by Laura in the Little House series, the manuscript of which was found in her possessions after she passed by her daughter Rose and was not printed until Rose's passing.  Similar in style but you can see the detail goes down to more bare bones as it progresses.  The first thing that strikes you is what a run of bad luck that family had after all the problems her Pa had had getting proved up on a homestead and then the first four years for her and Manly were filled with bad weather and the ruination of their crops time and time again, the loss of their son when he was only a few weeks old, and the loss of their home when it burned down shortly afterward.  But what really comes through louder, is their indomitable spirit, their tenacity to make it work, their love for each other and their daughter, their willingness to keep working hard even when it hadn't paid off yet.  That was the pioneer spirit and it was truly remarkable to read.

Page count: 134p/5,631p ytd

110:16 Zombie Chasers: Sludgement Day by John Kloepfer

The 3rd book in the Zombie Chasers series.  This book is rated for 8-12yr olds and I think they may have been very generous in that assessment.  It's predictable, stupid, disgusting, and uses super small words.  My almost 6yr old is ready to start reading them as they definitely appeal to him and the vocabulary is simple enough that he won't need much help.  The downside, I'll have to listen to them.

If you have a child in the marketed age range that is looking for total fluff and is just starting to get into reading and you are trying to encourage that, they are fine.  Otherwise, run the other direction.  I've only read them because my 10yr old was a very reluctant reader and these finally helped him turn that around and I'm being supportive but honestly, I can feel my IQ dropping by several points every time I turn the page.

Page count: 214p/5,497p

110:15 The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien

My review from 2009 which still stands: 


Wow, you know you don't read something for years after reading it as a teenager and it's amazing how something that was good becomes out of this world fantastic. It's not like I can say anything about this that hasn't already been said to death but this book deserves it all and more. But it makes it all the more amazing to be sharing it with my son. To see his enjoyment of it, to share his thoughts after reading it, to see what it is inspiring within him. That is truly without measure.


Page count: 447p/5,283p ytd