Dk_Phoenix Peruses the Shelves in 2012, Part 3

My first thread for 2012 is HERE.
My second thread for 2012 is HERE.

And now for thread #3!

As mentioned in the earlier threads: You can also pop in to visit me at my blog, Literary Coldcuts on Toasty Buns or bother me on Twitter where you're welcome to tell me to get back to work.

I'm currently very behind in reviews, but that's okay... I'll catch up sooner or later. I'm also doing better than expected in the "Read More Than You Buy" Challenge. I'm not necessarily succeeding, but it's been close!

***Books Read in 2012***

January

1) Ender's Game -- Orson Scott Card (5/5)
2) Love on the Line -- Deeanne Gist (4/5)
3) The Hound of the Baskervilles -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (5/5)
4) The Lost City of Z -- David Grann (4.5/5)
5) The Spider Stone (Rogue Angel #3) -- Alex Archer (3/5)
6) Rat: How the World's Most Notorious Rodent Clawed Its Way to the Top -- Jerry Langton (3.5/5)
7) A Game of Thrones -- George R. R. Martin (4/5)
8) Stalker in the Shadows -- Camy Tang (3/5)
9) Naked Heat -- Richard Castle (4/5)
10) The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating -- Elizabeth Tova Bailey (5/5)
11) Kosher Chinese -- Michael Levy (4.5/5)
12) Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings -- Helene Boudreau (3/5)
13) Sunset Val -- Rob St. Martin (3/5)

February

14) Shatter Me -- Tahereh Mafi (2.5/5)
15) Chasing Mona Lisa -- Mike Yorkey & Tricia Goyer (3/5)
16) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) -- Mindy Kaling (3/5)
17) The Last Little Blue Envelope -- Maureen Johnson (4/5)
18) The Espressologist -- Kristina Springer (3.5/5)
19) Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother -- Amy Chua (4/5)
20) Green Heart -- Alice Hoffman (3.5/5)
21) Unlikely Friendships -- Jennifer Holland (5/5)
22) Packing for Mars -- Mary Roach (4/5)
23) Girl, Stolen -- April Henry (3/5)
24) Cradle of Gold -- Hiram Bingham (4/5)
25) Why We Broke Up -- Daniel Handler (4.5/5)
26) The Chosen (Rogue Angel #4) -- Alex Archer (4/5)

March

27) Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator: The Ladies of the Lake (audiobook) -- Jennifer Allison (4.5/5)
28) No Opportunity Wasted -- Phil Keoghan (3.5/5)
29) Ape House -- Sara Gruen (4/5)
30) The Unconquered -- Scott Wallace (4/5)
31) Still Life -- Louise Penny (3.5/5)
32) Across the Universe (audiobook) -- Beth Revis (2/5)
33) XVI -- Julia Kerr (1.5/5)
34) The Future of Us -- Jay Asher (4/5)
35) Cahills vs. Vespers #3: The Dead of Night -- Peter Lerangis (3/5)
36) Dirty Little Secrets -- C.J. Omololu (3.5/5)
37) Garden Spells (audiobook) -- Sarah Addison Allen (4/5)
38) The Heirloom Life Gardener -- Emilee & Jere Gettle (5/5)
39) Chime -- Franny Billingsley (4.5/5)

April

40) Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata (audiobook) -- Jennifer Allison (3/5)
41) Wayfarer -- R.J. Anderson (3.5/5)
42) Anna Dressed in Blood -- Kendare Blake (*TBD/5)
43) A Hero Rising (A New Dawn, #3) -- Aubrie Dionne (*TBD/5)
44) The Darkening Dream -- Andy Gavin (*TBD/5)
45) Tundra 37 (A New Dawn, #2) -- Aubrie Dionne (*TBD/5)
46) Black Blade Blues -- J.A. Pitts (*TBD/5)
47) Where She Went -- Gayle Forman (*TBD/5)
48) Erebos -- Ursula Poznanski (*TBD/5)
49) The Calling -- Kelley Armstrong (*TBD/5)

May

50) The Cupcake Queen -- Heather Hepler (*TBD/5)
51) Witchblade: Vol. 1 Graphic Novel (*TBD/5)
52) Close to Famous -- Joan Bauer (*TBD/5)
53) Cloaked in Red -- Vivian Van Velde (*TBD/5)
54) Chasing Vermeer (audiobook) -- Blue Baillett (*TBD/5)
55) Whatever After #1: Fairest of All -- Sarah Mlynowski (*TBD/5)
56) The Song of Achilles -- Madeline Miller (*TBD/5)
57) Executive Assistant: Iris Graphic Novel (*TBD/5)
58) The Unwanteds (audiobook) -- Lisa McMann (*TBD/5)

June

59) The Good, Good Pig -- Sy Montgomery (*TBD/5)
60) Smiling Bears -- Else Poulson (*TBD/5)
61) 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth -- Matthew Inman ie. "The Oatmeal" (*TBD/5)

July

62) The Baby Matrix -- Laura Carroll (*TBD/5)
63) Mockingbird -- Sean Stewart (2.5/5)
64) The Paleo Solution -- Robb Wolf (5/5)
65) Darkness Becomes Her -- (3/5)
66) Rogue Angel: Forbidden City -- Alex Archer (3.5/5)
67) Freak the Mighty -- Philip Roderick (4/5)

August

68) Wheat Belly -- William Davis (*TBD/5)
69) Jinx -- Meg Cabot (*TBD/5)
70) Let's Pretend This Never Happened -- Jenny Lawson a.k.a "The Bloggess" (*TBD/5)

September

71) Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi #3, Abyss -- Troy Denning (*3.5/5)
72) Skinny -- Donna Cooner (*TBD/5)
73) Midnight Pearls -- Debbie Vigiue (*TBD/5)
74) Siren -- Tricia Rayburn (*TBD/5)

October

75) Lies Beneath -- Anne Greenwood Brown (*TBD/5)
76) Ripple -- Mandy Hubbard (*TBD/5)
77) Forgive My Fins -- Tera Lynn Childs (*TBD/5)
78) Tempest Rising -- Tracy Deebs (*TBD/5)

November

79) The End of Overeating -- David A. Kessler
80) Beauty Queens -- Libba Bray (4/5)
81) Thieftaker -- D.B. Jackson (5/5)
82) Carrier of the Mark --
83) Bird Sense: What It's Like To Be a Bird --
84) Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel -- Karen Marie Moning

December

85) The Selection -- Kiera Cass (3.5/5)
86) Girl of Nightmares -- Kendare Blake (4/5)
87) Her Sky Cowboy -- Beth Ciotta (3/5)
88) The Hobbit -- J.R.R. Tolkien (5/5)
89) Pandemonium -- Lauren Oliver (3.5/5)
90) The Twin's Daughter -- Lauren Baratz-Logstead (3/5)
91) Cahills vs. Vespers #4: Shatterproof (3/5)
92) Heroes of Olympus #3: Mark of Athena -- Rick Riordan (4/5)
93) Anna and the French Kiss -- Stephanie Perkins (5/5)
94) Executive Assistant: The Hit List Graphic Novel (4/5)
95) Executive Assistant: Iris, Volume #2 Graphic Novel (3/5)
96) The Kill Order -- James Dashner
97) The Emperor's Soul -- Brandon Sanderson
98) Real Mermaids Don't Hold Their Breath -- Helene Boudreau
99) Demonglass -- Rachel Hawkins
100) How to Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You -- The Oatmeal
101) Escape from Camp 14 -- Blaine Harden
102) The Alloy of Law -- Brandon Sanderson
103) Regina's Song -- David & Leigh Eddings
104) The Girl with the Silver Eyes -- Willo Davis Roberts

Read More Than You Buy Challenge

January:

READ: 13
PURCHASED: 22
TOTAL READ VS. PURCHASED: 13 -- 22
ACQUIRED BY OTHER MEANS: 8

STATUS: ...currently failing by 9...

February:

READ: 13
PURCHASED: 9
TOTAL READ VS. PURCHASED: 26 -- 31
ACQUIRED BY OTHER MEANS: 1

STATUS: -5 (ooh, progress!)

March:

READ: 13
PURCHASED: 8
TOTAL READ VS. PURCHASED: 39 -- 39
ACQUIRED BY OTHER MEANS: 7

STATUS: Broke even this month!!! That was faster than I'd expected...

April:

READ: 10
PURCHASED: 9
TOTAL READ VS. PURCHASED: 49 -- 48
ACQUIRED BY OTHER MEANS: 5

STATUS: +1

May:

READ:
PURCHASED:
TOTAL READ VS. PURCHASED:
ACQUIRED BY OTHER MEANS:

STATUS:

Update: Yeah, so... I completely lost count... I'm going to try and update below where I think I am in this challenge. Pretty sure I'm failing, though... LOL.

40) Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata -- Jennifer Allison

(I listened to this through Audible Audiobooks.)

First off, I'm very glad that audible kept the same reader for this book as for the previous one in the series. I really do wish that Audible would release them all on audio, as the reader does an excellent job and somehow manages to perfectly capture the tone and cadence of a junior-high student -- not to mention all the accents and quirks of speech for the other characters, many of whom are from countries like India, Russia, China, and Scotland. Much applause for reader Jessica Almasy!

As for the story itself, I'm afraid that I didn't enjoy this installment of the series nearly as much as I'd enjoyed The Ladies of the Lake. In this book, Gilda's friend Wendy is invited to participate in an international piano competition in Oxford, England... and of course, Gilda manages to finagle her way into joining Wendy at the competition as her official "page turner". Once they arrive, Wendy starts hearing and seeing some strange things, and it seems like she's being haunted by a local ghost. Naturally, this is Gilda's area of expertise, and she gets right to work.

That said, there's a different feel to this book than the previous one I'd read, in that this book actually requires you to suspend disbelief and accept that there has been, without question, supernatural influence. In other words (and I'm trying to make this as un-spoilery as possible), there really is a ghost (but you already knew that from the third chapter or so), as opposed to The Ladies of the Lake (though I wonder about the other books in this series?), where there's a perfectly logical explanation for everything.

I like a good ghost story as much as the next person, but part of this series' charm for me was Gilda's unwavering belief in ghosts and her psychic abilities... even though the reader knows that it's not exactly real, and gets to see everything play out with logic and reasoning.

Rating: 3/5
Source: Library



41) Wayfarer (Faery Rebels) -- R.J. Anderson

(For some bizarre reason, the book isn't coming up as a touchstone option... grrrrrr...)

Full disclosure -- one of my good friends is friends with this author, and has been bugging me to read her books for about, oh, forever. Well, I'm glad I did, because not only is it a good story -- faeries! and evil faeries! -- but I also learned that the author is a Christian who writes fantasy for the general market. While that may not be a selling point for many people, it made me cheer and pump my fist in the air, because there's a huge misconception out there that Christians don't read or write fantasy or genre fiction unless it's terribly crappy allegory for the CBA market.

Well, this is not crappy, nor is it allegory, and it's intelligent, fun, and well-written.

The story is about a faery who has been given the enormous task of finding help for her people, who are in danger of extinction. With the help of a fifteen-year-old human boy, the faery must travel through the modern world to find an elusive group of ancient faeries who may have the power to save her people -- but in the process, she discovers a plot to enslave both faeries and humans alike, and has to risk her life to stop it before it's too late.

I had a bit of trouble connecting with the female main character at first, but I assume that's because there's a previous book to this one (though I don't know the name) that features a character or two who show up momentarily in this book. Wayfarer is a stand-alone, but it probably helps to have a bit of familiarity with Anderson's worldbuilding (or maybe not? I honestly don't know). As for the male main character, Timothy, I found him real, relatable, and honest. I really liked the sections within the story where he asked intelligent (but also true to a teenager's perspective) questions about the world around him and his parents' beliefs. I thought this added an extra, realistic dynamic in terms of self-discovery that we don't often get to see in YA novels.

Overall, really enjoyable, and I'll definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Library

Congrats on the new thread!

Wonderful new thread, and congrats on the two reviews! I enjoyed The Ghost Sonata very much, myself, but then again, I believe in ghosts, so that angle didn't bother me much when I read it a while ago. But I do see how your idea is better - Gilda having so much faith in her psychic abilities, but in actuality its her unique detective skills and investigative abilities that save the day!

The first book to "Wayferer" (I can't find keystones for any of her books as well!) was called "Spellhunter." There will be a third book called "Arrow" coming out this year. Here's her website - it's actually very nice: http://www.rj-anderson.com/

Nice new thread and two lovely reviews - congrats, Faith!

Why, hello there, new thread!

Nice reviews!

Lovely new thread! I'm waiting to see what you thought of Chasing Vermeer--I loved it.

Lurking :)

Faith congratulations on your third thread.

I love the story of the baby bird!

I'm so sorry for your loss. Pets mean so much to us.

>4 leahbird:: Thanks, Leah! It's so shiny and clean in here...

>5 ErisofDiscord:: Ah, thanks for the other R.J. Anderson titles! I'm looking forward to reading them. As for ghosts and Gilda Joyce, I think I might believe in ghosts as well (though maybe not in the way popular culture thinks of them), so that's not the aspect I had problems with -- it's more that, as you phrased it very well, that it was her unique detective skills and investigative abilities as opposed to any real psychic activity! I just found that because the other book I'd read presented reality that way, it was a little jarring to have an actual ghost and supernatural influence in this installment. I do want to read another one though, and see whether Allison continued to include real ghosts in the other books or if she went back to ghosts just being Gilda's perceived view of the world.

>6 Crazymamie:: Thanks very much! I was definitely due for some reviews...

>7 beserene:: Thank you, thank you!

>8 ronincats:: Oh boy, unless I start writing these reviews a little faster, you may be waiting awhile! That said, I thought it was okay, but I didn't love it... however, I listened to it on audiobook, and as I was listening I wondered whether it was the kind of book I might have enjoyed reading more than listening to. I might pick up a paper copy at the library and give it another go -- I might see the patterns a little better that way, and enjoy the story a lot more!

>9 Kassilem:: *waves to lurking lurker*

>10 PaulCranswick:: Thanks, Paul! Nice to see you here. :)

>11 Whisper1:: Thank you so much, Linda. It's true -- they really do, big or small. They take a piece of our hearts when they leave us. That said, it's a good thing that our ability to love others is boundless... because while I miss her, I'm starting to look forward to welcoming a new member to the home, whenever that may be. I have my eyes out on a few rescues and SPCA lists... waiting for that special creature to tug relentlessly at my heartstrings until I bring him/her home. :)

Poking my nose in. Nice new digs, Faith.

I can't believe you are already on thread 3.

Stopping by to make sure you're starred. All looks spick and span. Keep up the good work!

Hi Faith! :)

All caught up! What a nice feeling! So, how's the garden? Did you actually plant this year?

Here's a European site for heritage seeds, if anyone is interested: http://kokopelli-semences.fr/?lang=en-us

I'm happy for you that the preponderance of your reads seem to have been ones you enjoyed! Loved the loooong review on the 2/5 LOL

Cheers. xox

Faith I trust everything is fine with you - looking forward to seeing your posts soon.

What Paul said, Faith!

P. S. Forget the reviews and just start afresh now.

Hi Faith! I'm making my way trying to catch up with everyone. :) Looking forward to seeing what you are reading here on out!

Faith - We are missing you on the threads. Hope everything is okay.

I second that. Hope it's something fun and wonderful that keeps you away. (Crossing fingers, in case that helps.)

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for checking in on me... I've missed you!!!

I'm going to try and get back into the routine of coming here with my morning coffee, though things are so busy it's going to be tough for a little while... but last night I was at a bookstore for the first time in months, looked around, and thought... "Gosh, it's been a long time since my poor TBR list increased! I miss getting a zillion recommendations a day!"

So, what's been going on with me... rather than bore you all with the details, let's just say I've been dealing with a health issue since the end of May that has occupied significant chunks of my time, energy, and focus. That said, it is overall a GOOD thing that will result in better health once I make it through the other side... if you're really curious you can ask me via PM, though I may get on a soapbox at some point in the future anyway and begin ranting about certain things... maybe once I'm better. We'll see. In the meantime, I've completely changed how I eat and approach life in order to reduce stress, promote health & healing, and strengthen my immune system (it's autoimmune related), and because of THAT, despite everything else I've been going through, I feel healthier and stronger than I think I've ever been.

So, while things have been bad, in other ways, I've been able to turn it around and make it a good, long-term life investment in health. Also, trying really hard to stay positive, no matter how much things suck (to be blunt). But honestly, I'm doing far, far, FAR better than most people who go through the same thing, so PTL and thank goodness for supportive family and friends. :)

I've also been working like a MAD WOMAN on two manuscripts because I've had a possible bite on one and a serious lead on another... so while I haven't been laid up, I've been writing and editing and trying not to burn out my muse. :P And while nothing is certain (indeed, I expect continuous rejection in this business), it's been a fantastic learning experience so far and I'm absolutely grateful for every insanely stressful second.

And I started taking Hindi lessons.

And helped my brother & sister-in-law move 3 hours away.

And my parents' cat (who was my cat for about a decade) died.

And my cousin with CF, who I am very close to, has gone into the hospital with a possible lung infection (NOT GOOD). She's 30 and therefore has already beaten the odds with CF, so I have to believe she'll get through this as well.

And my husband started a new health & fitness regime (that was in April, I think) and to date has lost 52 lbs (AMAZING).

And my tiny garden has EXPLODED with wonderful things (mostly romaine... I'm going to drown in romaine... LOL), and at least one of everything has grown which I'm THRILLED about since this is my first time trying to grow anything!

And... hmm... what else... well, life slows down a bit for me as of this week, with most of my dance classes ending and me getting "time off" for the next month or so. I'm supposed to use that to reduce stress, focus on myself and do things I want to do, but even after just a few days I'm starting to get cabin fever (terrible, I know). But seeing as how I've barely read a thing for the past couple of months -- I had absolutely no desire to read, which was weird and stressful in itself -- I've found myself missing books terribly and as I said, went to a bookstore last night... sat down and read for a few hours... and came home with some wonderful new volumes: Zoobiquity: What Animals Can Teach Us About Health and the Science of Healing, Cory Doctorow's Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town, and Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey.

...

So there has been good, and bad, and all shades of things in between.

Thanks so much for popping by and thinking about me. I don't think a day goes by that I'm not on here that I don't think of this group... not to get all sentimental or anything, but I love you people and I love this group. REALLY.

...and, umm, I think I might take Roni's advice and just skip all the reviews I "have to do", or else I'll be playing catch-up for the rest of the year. If there's something in my list up there that I haven't reviewed and you're curious about, ask away! I might pop a catch-up review in occasionally if I feel like it, otherwise, heh... I think I'd better start fresh.

Here's to a better, healthier, BOOK FILLED second half of the year. :)

So glad to hear from you again Faith! Sorry to hear about the health issues that took up so much of your time, but we are so glad you are able to pick up right where you left off. Looks like you accomplished so much during the time that you've been away. Will continue to think of you as you slowly ease back into a regular routine.
Roni's advice is a good one. I came back and just started my review from there with no backward glance at all the books I didn't review. Great thing about our group...no guilt! :)

FAITH! So happy to see you again! Gah, I'm sorry about your health problems (an autoimmune disease, yeeks - I hope it's not anything incredibly serious), and I hope that you will be doing better soon. Congratulations on your manuscripts! It's so bloody hard for me to finish any of my writing projects so I am always impressed when I see someone else finish theirs. ^_^

I hope to see more of you. I've missed your thread!

Welcome back :)

It's good to see you here again!

63) Mockingbird -- Sean Stewart

I read this during my bookstore excursion last night... I started reading it to decide whether I wanted to buy it or not, but after 30 pages the story wasn't moving as quickly as I liked but there were a few intriguing bits I wanted to know more about.

So I sat in the nearest chair, and proceeded to read the book in the store from cover to cover. Granted, I speed-read a few parts, but I don't think I missed much, because long-story-short, I'm glad I didn't spend the $5 on it. I don't feel the time reading was wasted, but I just don't think I would recommend it to anyone.

The most unfortunate part of the story is that the best character -- the mother of a pair of sisters -- is gone when the book opens. We get glimpses of her through memories of the main character, but overall, she's the best character of the whole book. And she's dead. Well, that's too bad.

The main character is "gifted" her mother's magic, which mainly consists of Riders who take over one's body for a period of time... like multiple personality disorder, but with fetishes and called magic.

Why is this happening? Well, we're told the mother is a witch of sorts, so her magic costs something... and each Rider is the price of the magic. When the mother dies, not all of her "magic debts" have been paid, and she passes the Riders on to one of her daughters.

If this is all sounding very cheesy, it wasn't that bad, and done rather well in the first third of the book. The problem is, the rest of the book becomes a random mish-mash of family drama, author promises that aren't kept, and strange resolutions. And not in a "this is a quirky little volume, eh?" kind of way. More in a "...say what?" way.

We don't get resolution on the Riders. In fact, they just go away once the main character has a baby. By artificial insemination. Without a partner. She does it "just because", without any forethought. Then two thirds of the way through the novel, the main character's sister pulls out a bunch of porn magazines and demands her sister to tell her whether she's turned on by images of sexual violence "because she might be a repressed lesbian." Which she isn't, so what was the whole point of that scene?!?!

Yeah... that's when I started skimming. Also, the store was going to close in 15m and I had a difference purchase to make, so I wanted to finish it regardless.

In the end, I was disappointed that such an intriguing beginning didn't deliver in the end. I felt that it delved too far into family drama after building the book up as focusing on magical realism (the first 30 pages strongly suggest it will be a large part of the book), rather than incorporate the two together. Honestly, the main character only gets fully possessed by Riders twice. Twice!!! After all that buildup! And then, POOF, they're gone.

Argh. I'd give the author another shot, but those first 30 pages had better be brilliant.

Rating: 2.5/5
Source: Read at the bookstore

Sorry to hear that you've had health issues, but delighted to hear that you are using this as an opportunity to make positive changes that will keep you healthier down the road!

Good to see you posting again!

Welcome back!! Ditto was tymfos said! You'll be better in the long run with those changes.

Yay, thanks for stopping in, ladies!!! Good to "see" you. :)

64) The Paleo Solution -- Robb Wolf

Whether you're a fan or not of Paleo eating, exercise, or self-help books... this is one seriously entertaining read!!! Robb Wolf is hysterical, very tongue-in-cheek, and is not above smacking his readers around a little, but in a good way! He presents Paleo eating & lifestyle with humor, sarcasm, SCIENCE, and a heavy dose of reality.

Honestly, even if I wasn't interested in eating Paleo, I'd probably have enjoyed the book.

I read this one because I'd heard that a Paleo-style way of eating could be highly beneficial to my particular health issue, and my husband had actually been eating this way for several months without realizing that it was an actual well-known way of eating (and he's lost over 50 lbs since going low-carb, high-protein).

As of yesterday, I'm four weeks off grains, legumes, dairy, and refined sugar. I've made a few modifications of my own to the Paleo plan and I'm not one of the paleo police (ie. people who take things waaay too seriously... but you'll find that with any non-traditional way of eating), and aside from the health issues I'm dealing with, I feel amazing. My doctor also approved it and thought I looked great, which was so nice to hear.

...and it's not as hard as you might think when you hear "no grains." Do you eat a piece of chicken, or steak with your dinner? Some steamed veggies? A green salad? That's Paleo! You're probably already doing it some days of the week, and you didn't realize.

The book is hilarious and fantastic, and I've seen the honest, REAL results that eating and living this way (ie. exercising!!!) can have in my own life and my husband's life. Even if you're not interested in Paleo, it's a great read... and for skeptics, Wolf has pages and pages of references so you can check up on all the science points he discusses (which he encourages!).

Loved it.

Rating: 5/5
Source: Recent purchase

My partner is having equal success with a keto/paleo kind of diet - he lost 40 pounds in just two months. I'm glad to hear you're doing so well! And that you enjoyed your latest read.

I've heard similar success stories from others who have cut grain and refined sugars from their diet and have seen some pretty impressive results. What do you do if you are a carb lover like me?? I don't think I can comprehend a life with pasta and rice!

Yay, the Paleo diet! :D My family eats this way most of the time, because my dad has problems with rice (and all of us have that gluten intolerance thang), so it's a lot of vegetables and a lot of meat for us. I'm glad it's catching on with a lot of people, and I'm glad it's helping them.

#35 by jolerie> I'm with you there! I eat a more traditional diet but can't do Paleo because I love pasta and cheese and legumes... If you want to get the health benefits of Paleo without giving up carbs, just try to go lower carb and eat whole grains (REAL whole grains like bakery/homemade bread and fresh pasta that doesn't have a million preservatives and fillers), balance carb eating days with no carb/ high protein days, and basically stay away from processed & packaged foods. I am ~90% processed food free, but I do still buy boxed pasta a lot of the time and can't get by without my cheese. It takes a bit to adjust to the way you have to shop and plan meals but it's really not any more difficult and you actually end up eating much tastier meals a lot of the time because your base ingredients are better.

I don't know if I could do the Paleo thing because of the dairy part. I LIVE on dairy.

38 - My partner does keto and still eats cheeses. He also said that it's easier than one thinks to cut out carbs (which says something, considering how much of a bread lover he was!).

We've switched shared meals - dinners - to better fit his diet, but the boys and I still eat carbs, albeit I switched to making all of our bread myself since I then have a better idea of what goes into it.

Dinners are actually a lot tastier these days.

Hi Faith, I have two sons who follow the paleo diet so we have cut down on a lot of carb intake in our meals in general. They still have dairy products, but only full fat versions of yoghurt and milk, and of course they love their butter.
I started out thinking I couldn't do without bread or pasta, but I'm more of the mind of limiting it to just a couple of times a month so that I get the hit but just not as often and going for quality over quantity.
I've just downloaded the free 30 pg e-book sampler of Well Fed:Paleo Recipes For People Who Love To Eat which looks like an interesting book.

#40 by avatiakh> They still have dairy products, but only full fat versions of yoghurt and milk

That's a great point I forgot: If you want to still have dairy, buy "cream in" or "cream top" varieties, also known as non-homogenized. It's still pasteurized (it has to be most places to be legal) but the proteins aren't blasted into a million pieces to make it "smoother." It's the natural state of milk and way yummier! When you open it, there will be a film on top which most people think means it's spoiled, but the cream rises, so just shake and go or skim the cream and put it in your coffee or spread it on your toast.

Also, butter is ridiculously easy to make at home, if you can find the right milk.

Hi Faith,
Glad to have you back. Sorry to hear about the health issues, but sounds like you have a really good attitude and a positive handle on where you go from here- well done you!
I never heard of the Paleo diet before, but seeing as my husband and I keep saying we want to loose weight, but just LOVE our food, and I think we could handle high protein low carb (the cheese will be a wrench, but I can try.....).
Wish my garden was exploding - we've had so much rain here in the UK that most things are struggling to make a go of it.

Welcome back Faith! Glad to see you online :)
Hope your health issues improve

>34 London_StJ:: Fantastic! I believe that's what El Husbando started with as well, a more-or-less keto diet that's morphed into keto/paleo. Amazing what a little attention to what's on your plate can do!

>35 jolerie:: Honestly, I used to be the carb queen. I literally had pasta or pizza every single night, without fail. Bread every morning, sometimes two or three times a day. Cake or cookies all the time, many times per day. I had a reputation for being obsessed with cake... so if I can do it, anyone can. ;) Plus, there are variations that make it not so difficult. I do a lot of cooking with almond flour and coconut flour, making breads and muffins, crackers and cakes that are grain-free. And kelp noodles make a fantastic option for dinners too. It's more about what you can eat than what you can't!

>36 ErisofDiscord:: Yay! It's so fun to hear of other people doing this! I don't have anyone else in my immediate circle who eats this way, so it's encouraging to know there are others in this group who are similar in what they're doing! Huzzah for veggies!!! LOL.

>37 leahbird:: it's really not any more difficult and you actually end up eating much tastier meals a lot of the time because your base ingredients are better.

That's so true! It's not difficult if you adjust your thinking. A piece of chicken and a salad, some roast veggies = grain-free/carb-free meal! And just as delicious. I think even committing to a few carb-free days a week is a great way to ease into new habits. All told, it's about eating better food, less processed garbage, and obtaining more nutrients as a result! I like the "no deprivation" approach -- it's about what you can have that's delicious and good for you, as opposed to thinking in the negative (ie. "I can't have that").

>38 norabelle414:/39: El Husbando still has dairy as well (cheese and cream in coffee), it's just me that's off for health reasons (aside from full-fat probiotic yogurt). I have Daiya as a replacement maybe once a week, but it's not quite the same! And I do non-dairy homemade ice cream that tastes just as good, because I thought I might die without ice cream. :D I think some Paleo peeps still have dairy (I mean, it's not a hard and fast rule, there are wavering points and you have to listen to your body), but I think it's more about awareness and quality than anything else.

>40 avatiakh:: That's exactly what I'm thinking of doing as well! Once I clear up these initial health issues, I plan to have a once-a-month "treat meal" where I can eat whatever I want... and I'm going to call it a "treat" instead of "cheat meal", because "cheat" implies I should feel guilty about it -- but if I'm eating great, healthy, clean foods the rest of the time, why should I feel guilty for one irregular meal? :) I've heard that Well Fed is a great Paleo cookbook, so I may check it out as well! I've had the full version on my "might buy" list for awhile now. I think she's quite strict about certain things like sugar substitutes (far moreso than the leading names associated with it are, haha) so I imagine I'll take a bit of leeway with things. I'm not cutting out maple syrup, that's for sure! LOL. I have some fantastic Paleo recipes that call for maple syrup, coconut sugar, and stevia, so in moderation I don't have any problem with those. If you find a recipe you like in the book, let me know!

>41 leahbird:: Yes, exactly! I actually bought a yogurt maker as well, so I could control what goes into it, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet (I only have so much counter space!). The full-fat versions of dairy are delicious, and all told, are literally better for you than the fat free stuff. I've had quite a time wrapping my mind around it as well, but the science is solid once you look into it. I haven't thought about homemade butter before! I might look into that as El Husbando cooks hius food with butter a lot.

>42 HanGerg:: Thanks, and thanks for stopping in! I love food too... a lot...!!! But honestly, Paleo isn't that hard once you wrap your mind around purchasing differently than you're used to. Took me a little while to get it right (I think the first time I spent two hours in the grocery store, figuring out meals as I went), but it becomes second nature fairly quickly. I'd recommend grabbing a copy of the book and, if you want, give it a shot for 30 days. Then see where you're at. It's a short commitment and a good way to test out if it works for you! And 30 days without cheese isn't that long... okay, well, it's still hard for me, but maybe you could have a small block a day as a treat just to get over the hurdle. ;) As I've said, it's about what you CAN have as opposed to CAN'T... thinking about it in the positive makes a huge difference in how one mentally approaches dietary changes. Plus, I found it a great way to discover all these flavors I didn't even know existed!!!

>43 ChelleBearss:: *waves* Hi, thank you!!! :) Glad to see you here... hope you're doing well! I'll have to track down your thread and see what you've been up to...

Just peeking in, Faith. Glad to see you around again and wishing you plenty more improvement with your health situation.

>45 MickyFine:: Thanks... and thanks for stopping by! :)

Good to see you around the threads Faith.

Hope your health problems sort out soon.

Good to see you back Faith and echoing others to say that I hope your health problems improve soon.

So happy to see you back -- and so excited about taking control of your health. My sister had a v. strange auto-immune thing, some years back and totally changed her diet and exercise regimen, and it has made all the difference, I think. I'm at about 3/4 of the no grain thing - what we have is either sprouted or gluten-free up to 95% of the time. My daughter's skin has cleared up completely since she went gluten-free, it's quite stunning the difference.

I'm another pleased to see you back Faith. Very interesting review on the Paleo diet and note your enthusiasm here. With the dependency on rice in Malaysia it is well known that a drastic reduction in carbs takes off the inches, it is just so difficult to achieve here as rice goes so nicely with the assortment of dishes. Have a lovely and healthy weekend.

>47 calm: & 48: Thanks... and me too. :)

>49 sibylline:: It's amazing what a little change will do, isn't it? Remarkable. I love hearing stories like that. My mother's sisters have found their arthritis disappearing since going gluten-free, and I think it's just about convinced my own mother to give it a shot. No-grain will take a while longer yet, but baby steps! It's so amazing to see your loved ones get better day by day through simple changes. Very rewarding. :)

>50 PaulCranswick:: Thanks Paul, it really is quite the change and I imagine it would be even moreso in countries like Malaysia where rice is such a crucial staple in the diet. But, there are delightful alternatives... though how accessible that would be in your location is another question entirely. But who knows! It really has made a world of difference.

Glad to see you back! And here's hoping this second half of the year is absolutely awesome. Sounds like you deserve it. :)

#23 Well, I have always been a believer in "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger", and I am not talking of the song, good to see it coming true in a literal sense in your case. And Hindi lessons, well, do you plan on visiting India anytime soon?

Faith - SWMBO has cut out carbs for the last four days and is taking something called alpha lipid. Not noticed any change so far other than her temper is even less stabile than normal!

>52 beserene:: Thanks... I'm hoping it is too! :D

>53 PiyushC:: I'm actually learning Hindi as an extension of my dance training/instructing... as a Bollywood style dance instructor & performer, I currently have to rely on other peoples' song translations for me, and I can never be 100% certain it's correct or that the nuances are captured through a stranger's translation. I'd rather be able to at least have a basic understanding for myself as I believe that will give me a stronger ability to choreograph and better understand what I'm dancing to. And, to be quite honest, I'd love to be able to watch Bollywood films without the subtitles, for the same reasons (missed nuances, bad subtitle translations, etc.). I actually don't have plans to visit India anytime soon, but then again, who knows what life will bring, right? :D

>54 PaulCranswick:: Oh, I'm not surprised!!! It took me almost two weeks to feel normal again after cutting out fast carbs!!! I felt like I'd been hit by a truck, almost like the flu, and I was VERY moody. But that's just the body trying to deal with the lack of stimulants it normally gets from the crazy glucose spikes after ingesting fast carbs like wheat flour, white rice, white potatoes, and white refined sugar. This too shall pass!!! I'm not familiar with Alpha Lipid, is it a nutritional or vitamin supplement? I hope she feels better, whatever the cause. She should feel better soon. :) The good news is, just this weekend I found a dairy-free, grain-free, refined-sugar free "cheesecake" recipe (made from cashews) after trying some at a raw food restaurant, as it was possibly THE BEST CHEESECAKE I've ever had in my life... and it was 100% good-for-your-body nutrition. I said to El Husbando, if I can still eat incredible desserts on this eating plan that taste *exactly* like the delicious carb & sugar-filled junk I used to stuff my face with... but is actually *healthy* for me... well, I've got it made and I won't be sorry for cutting those things out ever again. If you think she might like the recipe, let me know and I'll send it along. I plan to make one of my own ASAP as the restaurant was some distance away. :)

Faith, in the past couple of days I've made this Paleo chocolate snack cake two times and am looking to make it once again in a couple of days. As it's gluten-free, grain free, dairy free, nut free, soy free and sugar-free, it seems to cover all the bases!

Wow, Kerry, that recipe looks really good! I think I'm having a craving... and devious plans. :)

Faith - I have taken note and will sit out patiently until her mood swings pass - 2019 should just about do it! Alpha lipid is a health supplement.

>56 avatiakh:: Oh my goooosh Kerry that looks amazing!!! I'll have to try it this weekend... *om nom nom*

>57 ErisofDiscord:: You might try this carrot cake pudding while you're at it --> Carrot Cake Pudding ...umm yeah it is AMAZING.

>58 PaulCranswick:: Haha! I hope she gets through the withdrawal stage soon, for everyone's sake...

65) Darkness Becomes Her -- Kelly Keaton

Well, that was random. Not necessarily in a bad way, but just... unexpected. There were vampires, witches, shapeshifters, and... Greek mythology. Not something I've seen put together in a modern-day YA paranormal in, well, EVER. And it's not that they don't fit together, because the Ancient Greeks certainly had their own thoughts on vampires, witches, etc, but I found it slightly jarring simply because I hadn't seen these things put together in a slightly futuristic (but mostly contemporary) setting before. And it was really weird to have Athena as the "bad guy"... why Athena?! She's got to be the least bad-tempered of the Greek gods... *huff*

Okay, it wasn't all bad. The story was entertaining, quick, and intriguing enough that I read through it in one go, but I wouldn't say there's a whole lot about the book that sets it apart in the genre. That said, I believe it was the author's first YA novel after writing extensively for adults, so I'm sure she's capable of more... hopefully future volumes in the series will show that. If I see the next book around, I'll pick it up, but I won't be searching for it anytime soon.

Rating: 3/5
Source: Recent discount shelf purchase



66) Rogue Angel #5:Forbidden City -- Alex Archer

Once again, our intrepid hero Annja Creed is confronted with an ancient mystery, this time leading to... the Triads, a mysterious artifact, an old family legend, and a hidden city full of deadly traps and temptations.

Set against the backdrop of Chinese history, this volume once again gets it right with correct archaeological technique and dig terminology (when these things are mentioned), a significant amount of discussion centered around history (particularly for an adventure novel!) and an ongoing sense that our poor heroine hasn't quite figured out what the heck she's gotten herself into with this Joan of Arc sword she possesses.

Pure, unadulterated fun, and a quick read. You can start this series anywhere (it can be hard to find the early books) as there are always recaps of who Annja is and why she has the sword, if you're interested.

Rating: 3.5/5
Source: My bookshelf

And it was really weird to have Athena as the "bad guy"... why Athena?! She's got to be the least bad-tempered of the Greek gods... *huff*

Unless, of course, you are Ovid's version of Medusa, in which case, Athena's a pretty giant bitch for turning you into a monster for being raped. But other than that... ;) (As Greek gods go, Athena is probably my favorite, but this is one of those instances where she needed someone to tell her to take a chill pill)

Well, yes, and that was kind of the point in this book... without giving any spoilers, uh, that's the version the author used for the story, so I understand where she's coming from. But all told isn't my favorite version of the goddess either, as she's one of my favorites as well. LOL.

I had the same experience with the book about Athena, since she is also one of my favorite Greek goddesses. Plus, the romance felt like it was put in there just because the author thought that this book should have one - it didn't really convince me. It's been a while since I finished the book, but I wasn't encouraged enough to pick up the second book.

I've actually read a romance series with the vampire/witch/Greek combination, and Athena was kind of a bad guy in that as well. Hhmmm...

#60: My brother gave me the first dozen or so of the Rogue Angel series, which he'd started enthusiastically but had gotten tired of. Your comments about the solid archaeological descriptions tempt me. Maybe next time I need some fluff ...

Faith, glad to see you back also. I haven't been here as much as usual either,but I still faithfully (ha, ha) check in on your coldcuts. It's a regular stop on my writing bad reading blogs. Good luck with your health challenges. And good luck with your manuscript bites/leads! You're a good storyteller and writer.

>63 ErisofDiscord:: I kind-of felt that way too... I wonder if her publisher told her to put it in. LOL. I have a friend whose publisher did that exact thing, even though she didn't want romance in her story. I can see it coming out awkwardly as a result!!!

>64 London_StJ:: Wha-wha? Huh. Well then. Apparently this wasn't such a bizarre combo, then...!

>65 swynn:: Oh, it's definitely fluff! But with moments of brilliance. Whoever their consultant is for the archaeological process deserves a medal. That said, who knows if it'll continue as I go forward with the series... I can't read more than one at a time though, I can see it getting tedious so I don't blame your brother in that case!

>66 blackdogbooks:: Thanks, Mac. Nice to see you around! Guess I'd better revive the blog one of these days... the hiatus was only meant to last a month, oops!

67) Freak the Mighty -- Rodman Philbrick

Strong, moving, heartwarming story. Perfect for children and adults who feel like "outsiders" or displaced in their lives or situation. Uplifting for those who are struggling, and deeply compassionate for the people around them.

I really don't have much else to say, other than this is a story that will move children and adults alike. It'll make for great discussion with your kids, and a bit of thoughtful reflection for yourself. You might, however, want a box of Kleenex nearby.

Rating: 4/5
Source: My bookshelves

#53 Well, don't want to be a spoilsport, but you will probably still need the subtitles, if only Hindi ones (in English script). Understanding Hindi with the Hindi accent and specially when it comes to songs with the loud background music

Anyways let me know if I can be of any help :)

>69 PiyushC:: Aww, come on, give me some credit! My tutor has a very VERY strong accent, and she's planning to use films to help teach me once I have a firm vocabulary. I'm doing this for fun, so even if I still need the Hindi subtitles, at least that's some improvement! :D ...lol...

Well, I seem to be stuck in some kind of semi-book funk, which is a little frustrating seeing as how I've barely read anything this summer (by my standards) and I'd hoped August would be the month to get back into the swing of things.

Here's what I'm in the middle of right now:

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi -- Abyss -- Troy Denning
The Twin's Daughter -- Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil -- Tom Mueller
a book about orangutans
Daughter of Persia -- Sattareh Farman Farmaian
The Shadow Rising -- Robert Jordan

...there may be one more but I can't remember... arrrrgh why can't I just sit down and finish something?!?! *glares at book pile*

#70 Aww, Faith dear, I am giving you all the credit in the world and I am trying to impress upon the point that learning Hindi (which is in general not too difficult a language to learn) with the proper accent will be a herculean task and any success made on that front would be noteworthy.

I'm stuck in the same rut, Faith. I have about seven or so books that I am reading, but have yet to commit and finish any of them! Why am I so easily distracted? I guess I want to say that you're not the only one. Good luck with the Hindi, by the way. Hindi is such a beautiful language, let alone how wonderful the accents are, and I hope you'll be able to master both.

Sorry to hear about the book funk, Faith! Maybe try reading a really short book or rereading a book you know you'll love to see if that helps crack the slump?

Hi, Faith! How about going back to a favorite comfort read to start rolling again?

Faith - like Eris and yourself I have also too many books on the go at the moment. Making slow progress with all of them, finishing none despite liking some of them more than a little. I don't know how people like Amber constantly juggle between 15 and 20 books at a time.

Sometimes I find a good TV binge helps clear up a book funk. :)

Ha! As soon as I saw Paul's name crop up on a thread about reading several books at once, I suspected that my name would be mentioned! I know I'm in the minority, but I *love* having a multitude of books going at once - I never feel stuck with one particular read!

Me too! Going back to an old favorite you can count on can help too.

Hope the book funk has cleared. Might be the weather (I assume you have nice summery weather where you are?).

Hey everyone!!!!!!!!!!!! The book funk hasn't quite cleared, but it's okay... I'm actually writing like a mad horse, I ended up with a 4-week deadline to finish writing 40,000 words on my novel (details to follow, when I have a second to breathe) and I've been spending just about every waking moment trying to get this thing done as fast as possible.

But it's a good thing!

And I'll get back to normal soon! Er, I hope. At least, back to reading... last night I made a list of 20 books that just came into our public library that I want to read, which I think is a sign that I'm just about out of the book funk and ready to devour other people's words again.

Just another week or so to go.... AHHHHHH!!!!!

*runs away flailing*

Hey, congrats on your progress with your writing!!!

No need to apologize, Faith! Writing is of paramount importance, especially when you have a deadline. I can't wait for details about your writing. ^_^

YAY, novel! I assume the deadline means there's someone waiting to publish it? Looking forward to more details!

Yay, that is great news, Faith!

I probably missed all the conversation while I was away those couple of months but is this a book you are planning on publishing??

Oooh, count me as another eager for news of writing, deadlines, publishers and other such exciting stuff!

Me too!

I decided I wanted to be a novelist, but I got writer's block before I even started, so you have my full admiration.

Hurrah for writing a novel! And color me jealous, since any writing attempts I make stall out somewhere around 10,000 words. Great job! And, like others, I can't wait to hear the details of this exciting project. :)

Good on you writing a novel. This is terrific news indeed.

Helloooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

So I made my official announcement on the blog yesterday, once I got the go-ahead:

So... This Thing Happened Recently

...so while it's not publication, it's one huge step closer. It's still kind of sinking in, to be honest. But, I'm happy and excited and looking forward to a crapload of hard work ahead!!!

And to celebrate, I'm off to the bookstore today. HUZZAH!!!

71) Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi #3, Abyss -- Troy Denning

Another installment in the Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi series... and while I feel like I'd definitely be getting more out of this series if I'd read the series before it (since this one deals with all the repercussions of what happened in the previous series), that's another 9 books to commit to...!!! And fortunately each of these books recaps what we need to know to understand and enjoy what's happening. There's more political intrigue in these books -- this installment in particular -- than I typically like in my novels, but the bonus is it's the Star Wars universe... so I don't mind all that much. :)

Still recommending these ones for Star Wars fans, but I wouldn't say it's the place to start for first-time Star Wars novel readers.

Rating: 3.5
Source: My bookshelves

>90 dk_phoenix:: Oh, very well done!

I've always wanted to write, but I've never managed to get very far, so you have my huge admiration.

#90 -- Oh, congratulations! What an accomplishment!

Congratulations! That's wonderful news.

Congratulations! Amazing news. And your book sounds really interesting too.

Woo hoo! Congratulations, Faith!

>90 dk_phoenix: Congrats! *applauds*

*blush* ...thanks, everyone!!! It's kinda surreal, still.

And to add to the excitement, I hit the bookstore yesterday:

Defiance -- C.J. Redwine
Siren -- Tricia Rayburn
Tempest Rising -- Tracy Deebs
Fury (The Furies, Book One) -- Elizabeth Miles

I'm determined to end the book funk this week. :D

Congratulations!

Congratulations, Faith! I will definitely be looking for your book when it comes out. ^_^

Great work!

Congratulations! I adore your title. I want one!

Congratulations!

(And envy.)

But mostly congratulations!

Hi Faith, belated congratulations! How's the writing going? And the reading?

Congrats!!! You must be so very excited!!

Hey all! Life is so crazy... but I think I'm going to have to accept that this happens about halfway through the year, every year. Fall hits and then I disappear... only to reemerge in January with promises of "I'll be around all year!" only to fail again. Maybe next year I'll promise to only be a part of the challenge for the first 7 months or so, so that if I manage to stick around, it'll be a pleasant surprise... and if I don't, no guilt. :)

Either way, I seem to be out of the book funk (though it took a few months) and my reading has really slowed these past couple of months. I think I'll be lucky to end the year with 100 books read, which is weird for me... I'm usually gunning closer to 150. That's what happens when life gets in the way, I guess!

Anyway, thanks everyone for your comments and for checking in on me... hope everyone is doing well these days! :) I can't believe we're almost into December...

Faith! Good to see you pop up, no matter how briefly.

Hi Faith, good to hear from you and glad to hear that the book funk is over. 100 books is a good number, even if it is less than your usual total.

Nice to see you back again.

Belated congrats on such an awesome achievement, Faith! All your hard work and dedication is beginning to bear fruit and that is exciting stuff!

I read Siren earlier this year as well and I have the second book from the library read to go. :)

106: I failed this year too, but that is okay. LT is always so inviting when you do have time. :)

Wheeeeee, NaNoWriMo is over and I get my life back again! Don't get me wrong, I love it, but as the ML for the region it can get SO consuming as I'm running and attending all the events, cheering everyone on and motivating them, even when I want to crawl under a rock and disappear for a little while... but in the end it's worth it! The rest of my evening classes are coming to a close now for a few weeks too, so I'll have this time to refresh and get back to the books for a bit. Yesterday I even managed about 45m of lurking on other people's threads! Huzzah!

Working on Girl of Nightmares at the moment (sequel to Anna Dressed in Blood)... so creepy, but also so different from the vast majority of the YA on shelves right now. Extremely dark. Worth the read. :D

And since I'm behind in reviews and need to just start with a fresh slate, I think I'll just let you all know about some of the REALLY GOOD ones I've read lately...



Beauty Queens -- Libba Bray

What a weird book... and apparently a weird author, too (if a comment at a recent conference from Laura Anne Gilman means anything), but hey... I like that. This is Lord of the Flies meets America's Next Top Model meets LOST -- an airplane full of pageant competitors crashes on a "deserted" island in the middle of nowhere, and has to struggle for survival by learning about themselves, what's important, and whether they can manage without their favorite hair products. Naturally, there's more to the island (and the pageant they were headed to!) than meets the eye.

There are, surprisingly, some rather deep life lessons in this book about finding one's self, being true to one's self, compromise, friendship, and image. It was funny but not hysterical, and wholly entertaining the whole way through. Yes, it's bizarre -- and the writing style takes a few pages to get used to -- but a fun, touching and worthwhile read overall.

Rating: 4/5
Source: Library



Thieftaker -- D.B. Jackson

Wow. WOW.

It's been a long time since I read such a compelling, cleanly written piece of fantasy... and this is historical fantasy to boot. I honestly don't think I would have picked it up on my own at the bookstore, had I not recognized the cover artist (Chris McGrath, who does incredible cover art), and even the jacket flat description didn't sound all that appealing. But I liked the look of it and I thought I'd give it a shot.

I'm so glad I did. This may be one of the best books I've read this year.

There's history, but it's not overwhelming. There's magic, but it makes perfect sense, and it's subtle. The character's thoughts, actions, and motivations are clear, and though I don't want to give anything away, it was shocking how unmatched the hero and villain were. It's been a long, long, long time since an author made me honestly believe that the hero was going to die at the end of this book and lose, hands down.

Now, apparently the author's name is a pseudonym, and he's actually been writing sci-fi/fantasy for decades, with this as a reinvention recommended by his publisher. His experience shows. This is expertly written historical fiction, where nothing is too much, nothing is overt, and the historical details don't weigh on every scene like an anvil. He sets the stage, then tells the story.

If you read one more book this year? Make it this one.

Rating: 5/5
Source: Library

Thanks for dropping by my thread Faith, and congratulations on getting an agent - I'm sure there are more deadlines in your future.

I'll be keeping my eyes open for Thieftaker as well.

>113 dk_phoenix: I like Libba Bray a lot, but I was skeptical about that one. It sounds like it's worth reading, though!

I've requested Thieftaker from the library -- it sounds great!

Faith, I am so very thankful that you stopped by my thread and left a post because it means that I have found you again. I had lost your thread, and so had missed out on this incredible journey that you have been on. Wow! I'm impressed with your spirit and your attitude. So much to handle all at once, and yet you are thriving here. I enjoyed reading through all of your posts, so thanks so much for sharing. Those are some big changes in your diet - I have a niece that had to go gluten free a few years ago and just that alone is overwhelming because gluten is in so many things that we don't think about. So, I cannot imagine tackling all of those dietary changes at once.

And such wonderful news that you shared in September -congratulations! What an achievement! One giant step closer to your dreams! And it looks like your reading funk is dissipating. Hooray for that - so stressful when the thing that we turn to for comfort is not working. I added a few items to my WL thanks to you - really love the sound of that last book Thieftaker especially. Wishing you a lovely weekend - I will take care not to lose your thread again.

Thieftaker sounds interesting! I always love a good book where I am convinced that the character is truly about to be defeated, so I must read it. I am requesting it from the library and many thanks for writing the review.

You're the ML for your region?! *jaw drops open* Wow. That sounds exhausting. Rewarding, but exhausting! I didn't go to any of the events in my area, but they sound like fun. Huge kudos to you for doing that! How many words do you think your NaNo book will be this year?

I've bee wanting to do NaNoWriMo for a while but I always felt that while I was going to school it would be impossible. Maybe that year before graduate school. :)
I read Anna Dressed in Blood and liked it well enough so I might find Girl of Nightmares too. I'll keep a watch on your review so see how you end up likeing it. Also Thieftaker looks very good as well. I don't think I'll get to it this year but I'll definetly look for it next year :) Haha I even liked the look of Beauty Queen since I'm a fan of ANTM.
Glad you're back. Happy Reading!

Unfortunately, my library does not have Thieftaker, but it has gone on my wish list pronto, Faith! Congratulations on such a successful November, but we are selfishly glad to have you back with US for a change.

Beauty Queens was already in the Someday Swamp; now Thieftaker goes in as well. Thanks for the reviews, and congratulations on a couple of major projects completed!

>114 markon:: Thanks! The good thing is, I love deadlines... it means I actually get stuff done! LOL.

>115 norabelle414:: I actually haven't read anything else of Libba's... I've heard mixed things about her other work, so which would be the best to go to first?

>116 foggidawn:: It is!!! READ READ READ!!! :D

>117 Crazymamie:: Oh, thank you so much! And I'm glad you found me again too... actually, I'm glad I'm back so I can be found! Haha. This year has definitely been quite the ride, and an enormous learning experience in so many ways. But good comes with the bad, always, if we just have the patience to wait and determination to see it when it happens! Though some might just call that being stubborn. ;) I don't mind! LOL. I hope you're able to find a copy of Thieftaker, it's worth it!

>118 ErisofDiscord:: Yes, this was my 4th year as ML! It's more than a little exhausting and I tend to turn into a puddle of mush by the end of November, but it's worth it so I keep doing it! I'd definitely encourage you to try a write-in (or Kick-Off) if you do NaNo next year! Everyone starts off terrified, especially at the Kick-Off and first write-in, but when everyone realizes they're all there for the same reason -- and they all want to write -- it turns into a lovely support group to make it through the month! Plus, your ML should have NaNo stickers for you. STICKERS!!! LOL. I'm thinking this year's will end up 75-80K... problem is, it needs a complete and total ripping apart and rewrite, so I'm currently trying to decide if I should finish as is, or go back to the start right now before it gets any worse... hah!!!

>119 Kassilem:: We had a few uni students this year who found they were finally able to do it now that they weren't in high school... I thought they were crazy! I didn't get my first year in until after graduation, so I don't blame you on that front! If you have a free year though (haha, "free year"), give it a shot! ;) I just finished Girl of Nightmares, and I have to say, Kendare Blake is one twisted lady but in a wonderful, terrible way. The second book is still fantastic and worth every moment. She's upped the stakes in an unexpected way, so keep an eye out for it!

>120 ronincats:: Thanks! I'm glad to be back. :)

>121 swynn:: Bang and bang on the book bullets! Always glad to add a few stones to the swamp. :D Heehee.

>122 dk_phoenix: Libba Bray's debut novel, A Great and Terrible Beauty, is amazing. It's set in a boarding school in Victorian England, and has just the perfect twinge of fantasy without overdoing it. The rest of the trilogy goes a bit downhill, clearly due to poor planning. I read an interview with Libba Bray in which she fully admits that she should have planned the trilogy out better, and perhaps made it a tetralogy.
Then I recently read The Diviners, her latest book, which is set in 1920s NYC and again has just the perfect amount of fantasy. It was even better than A Great and Terrible Beauty, and I have REALLY high hopes for the rest of the series.

I'm taking away a number of suggestions to kick off my winter break! Hhmm, I'll take Anna Dressed in Blood, Beauty Queens, Thieftaker, Girl of Nightmares... Thanks!

Thx for the visit! I picked up one for the TBA on my brief glimpse at your thread. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't read more closely? Nah.

Happy Advent :) xox

>123 norabelle414:: Oh, great! I'll take a look for A Great and Terrible Beauty on my next library trip... and I actually think I have The Diviners around here somewhere. It's just like me to buy something and forget I have it... *facepalm*

>124 London_StJ:: *bows* You're welcome!

>125 suslyn:: Hah! I'll gladly add reams more to your list if you let me... ;)

The Selection -- Kiera Cass

I admit, I picked this one up because of the cover. Gorgeous!!! But the story sounded decent, so I gave it a shot... now, I have to say that honestly, there isn't a whole lot here that we haven't seen before. The story is very similar to a lot of things you've likely read -- for example, any teen book that involves a competition -- with hints of the biblical story of Esther around the edges (not sure if that was intentional, though).

My biggest complaint is that America comes across as a little too mature and straightforward once she gets to meet the prince, particularly when compared with what we see of her before entering the Selection, so I think I would have liked to see more development pre-Selection of her character. I found it a little off-putting at first, not because I wasn't enjoying it -- the banter is great -- but because I didn't see hints of her no-speech-filter in the first part of the book. So, that was more than a little surprising.

HOWEVER... despite that and despite the somewhat redundant plot (and I don't say that in a mean way! it ends up working...), I sat and read the whole thing through in one afternoon. Why? Because ultimately it's a good story with characters you begin to care about, and by the end? You'll yell at the last page because it means you have to wait until next summer for the next installment. I'm really looking forward to the next book, and I'm eager to see where Cass is going with this.

Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Recent purchase

Oh, also forgot to mention! If anyone is interested in writing flash fiction, I have an article on writing it effectively published in the Nov/Dec issue of "The Writer" magazine, but it's only on store newsstands for another few days (as January issue comes out Dec.11th). Being in a print publication with wide circulation makes me feel all official-like! Lol. My contributor copies came in the mail yesterday and I realized I haven't told my mother yet. Guess I'd better send her a copy... tells you how on top of things I've been these days... *facepalm*

Congrats! Telling moms big news is mandatory. :)

Congratulations on getting in print. I didn't make it past the first chapter of Beauty Queens though that was more me than the book I would say. I enjoyed her The Great and Terrible Beauty though gave up on the 3rd in the trilogy, just too big a time gap in reading the other books possibly. I'm also going to try The Diviners though, it sounds really good.
Will also have to take a look at Thieftaker.

Congratulations on getting the article published, Faith!

Girl of Nightmares -- Kendare Blake

If you haven't read Anna Dressed in Blood yet, you might want to skip this quick little review. Go read it first. No, seriously. If you like horror-esque YA with male protagonists (a serious rarity these days), ghosts, or creepy and slightly violent stories, read it. Also, it's set in Thunder Bay, Ontario. HOW FANTASTIC IS THAT?!? Pretty darn fantastic. Thunder Bay is in Northern Ontario and definitely deserving of the setting for these books, because let's be honest, almost no one goes up to the Canadian northwest by choice.

So, the book. If you've read the first one, you're wondering whether to read this one and if it can live up to the first installment. Personally, I wasn't as engaged by this book simply because the shock value of Anna, Cas, and what she's capable of were already established. We know Cas and what he fights, so the surprise of the unveiling isn't part of this book. However, this is the book where we find out what happened to Anna after she (***FIRST BOOK SPOILER***) sacrifices herself to save Cas and gets sucked into Hell. And when Cas starts seeing Anna in his nightmares -- bloodied, tortured, and in pain -- of course he sets out to find out what happened and to save her.

And it's a great ride in the meantime. This book introduces more history about the athame and those who've wielded it throughout time, and Buffy fans will recognize certain elements that show up in the second half of the book... I don't want to spoil it... but I can't be the only one who thought that Gideon seemed a little bit like a Watcher, in a way... and you'll know what I mean about the familiarity when you read this.

Unfortunately, some of the secondary characters do get a downplay in this installment, and come off a little flat. Carmel, though she starts the book with Cas and Thomas, questions her involvement and hence gets little screentime for much of the story. When she returns, we see more of the strong, capable Carmel from the first book, but it takes awhile to get there. And Thomas... well, I'm hoping we get to see some growth in him in the third one, as he did little more than play a sidekick role here. But Gideon, Morfran, and a new girl...? They were interesting secondaries, and I hope we get a whole lot more of them next time around (because you know there's going to be a next time).

Verdict? If you loved the first one, this one is also worth the read. I just wish we didn't have to wait so long for another book, because well-written and actually scary/gruesome YA horror (not to mention a male first-person protagonist) is very hard to come by in these days.

Rating: 4/5
Source: Library

> 132. Can't wait for it. Next year definetly :)

>129 suslyn:: Oh, I know! Oops!!!

>130 avatiakh:: I've heard that Libba is a take-her-or-leave-her kind of author! It's too bad about the 3rd in the series. I had the same experience with Maria Snyder's "Study" series (Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study), in that the third one seemed phoned in and really just all around terrible. Oh well! I guess that happens when you're contracted to write 3 books but hadn't planned on extending it past one or maybe two...

>131 ronincats:: Thank you!!!

>133 Kassilem:: Whoo-hoo!!!

Her Sky Cowboy: The Glorious Victorious Darcys -- Beth Ciotta

Despite the terrible title, this wasn't half bad! The cover was what drew me at first -- show me steampunk and SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY -- and the description decent enough, so despite constant teasing from El Husbando over the title, it was worth the read. The premise is that the daughter of an eccentric inventor heads out on a quest to restore her family's fortune and reputation after her father dies, secretly joining a competition to find an invention of historical importance for the Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

I should mention that this is paranormal romance, so expect some sex scenes (not too many, and they're not too involved, considering the time period the book is set in). Thankfully the story took center stage over the sexual relationship, which I appreciated, and the character development is surprisingly thorough for the genre. While on the one hand, the relationship development happens quickly, the circumstances surrounding Amelia's decision to get involved with someone make sense, consider the trauma she has just gone through.

As for the steampunk aspect, it was certainly relied on throughout the novel, and didn't just become a prop of insignificance (as it tends to do in some bandwagon-jumping steampunk novels). I thought the author's reasoning for technology in Victorian England made sense, added an extra layer of intriguing, and was a little different than how I'd seen it introduced before.

Unfortunately, because this is paranormal romance, it means we won't be following these same characters in the next book, but moving on to someone else in Amelia's family. I do hope we get back to her eventually, but regardless, I do think I'll continue reading these so long as the plot & tech continues to play a pivotal role in the storytelling.

Rating: 3/5
Source: Recent purchase

Hiiiiiiii! *Waves frantically*

Re: 135 -- wow, that is a terrible title. I think we should rename that one.

Ummm... okay, this harder than I thought... All I can think of is "Steam Cowboy" and that's even worse!

(How did they get cowboys in Victorian England, anyway?)

Victorian England was around the same time period as the settling of the west in the United States, so it's actually a fairly reasonable combination. There have been mainstream movies that made the connection too, like Wild Wild West, which starred Will Smith and others. :)

137/8 - The Girl in the Steel Corset plops a cowboy in Victorian England, too.

While I know the history lines up, and I like "Western" steampunk as much as the "Eastern" or English variety, the combination of the two still throws me off. Cowboys. In Victorian England. Dunno.

But at least such things are fun to read. :)

>136 Ape:: *MUPPET FLAIL!!!*

>137 beserene:: I know, right?!? What were they thinking with a title like that? Eeee...

>138 Ape:/139/140: And I'm racking my brain because I'm sure I've either read or seen another very popular book or film that does the same thing... but of course it escapes me. I think I like the combination because the social mores of the two don't always line up, and it provides some interesting conflicts.

and it provides some interesting conflicts. I enjoy culture classes, too, even if I favor Victorian England over the wild west. ;)

The Hobbit -- J.R.R. Tolkien

Uhh, well I don't think I need to "review" this one! Suffice it to say that I hadn't read The Hobbit in 20 years, and I thought it was about time, considering the film opening this weekend. I remembered the basics of the story well enough and that it was a children's book, but I'd forgotten just how much of a children's book it was... and I fell in love with the story all over again. Tolkien's storytelling here is extremely easy to read (I got through this in just two hours) and the humor is absolutely delightful. I'm so happy I decided to "read it again for the first time"!

Pandemonium -- Lauren Oliver

This is a sequel to Delirium, which I believe I reviewed a few years ago. I came away from Delirium feeling "meh" about the whole thing, because I didn't buy the premise (love being eradicated as a disease). The reason I read the sequel is because: a) Delirium ends on an enormous cliffhanger, and b) my sister-in-law had a copy and offered to lend it to me.

On the whole, I found the sequel more compelling and interesting than the first book, because the main character struggles to survive the reality of living in the wild, apart from civilization. It's dangerous, and people die -- and we see this happen in the novel. I did guess the main twist early on, but that didn't lessen the intrigue, and it's a solid sequel... until the ending. The ending is a complete eye roll moment, not that we didn't see it coming far, far off...

If you enjoyed Delirium, it's worth your while to continue onto the sequel. Don't expect any major surprises -- but go along for the ride and enjoy yourself along the way.

Rating: 3.5/5
Source: Borrowed

I've got Delirium on my deak waiting to be read. :) Hoping to enjoy it. Sounds like a 3 star for me but some three stars are worth reading anyways, just for the stroy.

I was also meh about Delirium because the premise didn't really make sense. I had heard from some people that the sequel was better, but it sounds like I should probably skip that one.

Melis, it's worth a shot, I know some people really loved it... but like Zoe, I'm of the mindset that the premise doesn't make sense. But Lauren Oliver's writing is very easy to read, and it's so true -- sometimes a 3-star read is just what's needed. :)

Zoe, I'd say it's worth it if you come across it in passing, but not worth necessarily seeking it out on purpose. I confess that a small part of me also wanted to read it because it means I now have a conversation topic for the next time I see my sister-in-law...!

I need to re-read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings for that matter... I haven't read them since I was a teenager and it is always interesting to see how books hold up. Though I have no doubt those books would be even better.

If you watch the movie, give us a movie review!

I'll post my thoughts tomorrow! I'm seeing the "midnight showing", which is at 10pm tonight. Figure that one out... haha.

Well, I saw The Hobbit on Thursday night, and it was incredible. Honestly, Jackson did the material justice and then some, and seeing it in 3D IMAX (48fps) was an awe-inspiring experience. But, rather than wax on too long about it myself, one of the friends I saw it with wrote a review that echoes my thoughts exactly:

Kate's Review of "The Hobbit"

...and then to make life even more exciting, a pile of books came in for me from the Scholastic book orders:

Real Mermaids Don't Hold Their Breath
Witchlanders
Whatever After: If the Shoe Fits
Middleworld
Notes from an Accidental Band Geek
The Girl with the Silver Eyes

...and last night I finally received the new Nook Touch that my brother's in-laws picked up for me during their Black Friday shopping excursion, which is fantastic because my old Nook freezes every 5 pages and there's no fix for it. So I've had this pile of about 30 ebooks or so lying around (so to speak) that I can't read, which has been quite disappointing. But as of this morning, problem solved with the new ereader! :D

Good to hear about The Hobbit. I was a little concerned about the whole three-movie thing and some early reviews that called it plodding.

I read some reviews that said that too! But then I saw it and realized... the people who said that obviously hadn't read the book or source material... or they'd "read" it, if you know what I mean. ;) For example, I read one review that complained that Gandalf wasn't in most of the major scenes and really only appeared in the "padding". Uhhhhh... yeah. Because Gandalf ISN'T in most of the major scenes of the book, he's off doing stuff elsewhere. And that "padding"? Actually shows us where he went and what he did, which we learned elsewhere in Tolkien's writings.

Silly reviewers. :)

I think it was you, Faith, on another thread who pointed out that The Hobbit film is so long because they filled in the background from other of Tolkien's books, which makes me feel better about seeing it (I intended to, anyway; but it's not out over here yet) after all the reviews complaining about its length. So, when it comes out ....

Yes, it was probably me!!! I'm trying to ease people's minds about it since it made perfect sense once I saw it. :)

The Twin's Daughter -- Lauren Baratz-Logsted

What a strange book. I'm still not sure what I think of it, though I might have enjoyed it? It's hard to say. The premise of the book is that the main character's mother has a twin that no one knew about, who shows up on their doorstep one day unannounced. The family is shocked but gracious about the newly-discovered aunt's situation (she's homeless, has no manners, and obviously has had a rough life up to this point), and they take her in. As time passes, the aunt becomes more and more like the mother, until the daughter begins to mistake one for another by accident. This takes us halfway through the book, when sudden tragedy strikes and throws the main character's world into a tailspin.

...and the second half of the book deals with this unexpected and, admittedly, shocking twist. I was very surprised because what happens is quite brutal, violent, and messy -- very unlike anything we'd seen so far -- and I found myself pulled out of the story and feeling confused about what the point of the book was supposed to be.

And it's a long book. A loooong book. I'm not sure we needed so much time to deal with the mundane, and I think we could have experienced and understood what was going on if it had been somewhat condensed... and that said, I'm still left scratching my head, trying to figure out if I should recommend it or not.

I really have no idea. Go read someone else's review... they might be more helpful!!!

Rating: 3/5
Source: My bookshelves (2012 purchase)

I know I've read a review of this one somewhere (FYA, maybe?) and I feel like it wasn't positive. I didn't add it to my TBR list at any rate. Hope your next read leaves you feeling less ambivalent.

>156 MickyFine:: Thanks! My next few were a little better, thank goodness.

Cahills vs. Vespers #4: Shatterproof -- Roland Smith

The saga continues! This is the fourth installment in the series that follows the 39 Clues books, and while they don't quite compare to the first series (in the sense that we've sort of been here, done this to a degree), they're still compelling enough to keep me reading. In this particular installment, Amy & Dan (and several others they've teamed up with) are still on the run from the Interpol agent that's following them... and Vesper One is demanding they steal the most famous diamond in the entire world. Or he'll kill Uncle Alistair. With the rest of their family still in held captive by Vesper One -- and some of them injured and getting weaker by the minute -- everyone's time is running out.

The violence in this series is definitely more overt, and a warning if you're reading this one with young kids -- there's a death in this book, and it's not pretty. But, I think this series will continue to delight kids (and adults, let's be honest) for as long as they can keep churning out quality material with these characters.

Rating: 3/5
Source: My bookshelves (2012 purchase)

I'm not going to read that last review, as I'm still reading through the first series! I'm really enjoying it, though.

>159 scaifea:: Yes, don't spoil it for yourself! I was really happy with the first series as a whole. I thought it came full circle and ended strong... I'll be interested to hear your thoughts once you get there!

Ohhhh I need to sit and read for awhile... over the past three days (and a bit before, I admit), I've spent probably 11 hours in the kitchen making food for tomorrow night. For the past 5 years, we've been hosting our annual family Christmas Eve gathering, but now that I eat differently, I didn't want to just make a pile of wheat/sugar/milk treats and end up with nothing for me and El Husbando. :) So I've been making regular treats PLUS alternate foods that are grain-free and dairy free (but not completely sugar free, let's be honest, it's Christmas) and now I think I have waaaaaaaaay too much food. But hey, it's Christmas!!! I'm excited because I think it'll be a nice balance of traditional and modified traditional Christmas goodies... but daaang it's been a long couple of days!

And because I spent so long on it and I want to feel accomplished, here's a list of what I made:

Salted Coconut Sugar Caramels
Peppermint Bark
Sunbutter Bark
Chewy Pecan Pie Brittle
Dark & Light Almond Butter Cups
Almond Joy Bars
Skinny Mint Cookies (ie. Mint Girl Guide Cookie replicas)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
Pretzel Bark
Chocolate Walnut Torte
Carrot Sesame Crackers
Raw Chocolate Hazlenut Cheesecake

...and I still planned to make some Candied Coconut Walnuts and Dark Chocolate Brownies tomorrow. But I think I may skip the brownies, as I also wanted to make grain-free cinnamon buns for Christmas morning. Ack, my poor feet!!!

And on top of all that, we have a few frozen food items from M&M Meat Shops (ie. mini quiche, appetizers), hummus & veg, nachos & salsa / cheese, pita & both hot and cold asiago artichoke dip, cheese & crackers, store-bought candies & chocolates, and as if that's not enough... 18 cupcakes from a local shop that we LOVE who closed forever yesterday because the owners are moving away to start a new venture.

Uhhh... I think we may have too much food. There are only going to be 7 of us tomorrow night, not 700 as I apparently prepared for. *facepalm*

And if I don't get on here before tomorrow night? MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!

Wow - that's a lot of cooking! Sounds delicious and I am sure all your hard work will be much appreciated.

Hope you have a great party and a wonderful holiday:)

Merry Christmas Faith!!! Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Glitterfy.com - Christmas Glitter Graphics

I want to wish you a glorious celebration of that time of year when we all try to unite around a desire for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All. Merry Christmas, Faith!

You've had an amazing year, Faith. And your list of homemade Christmas treats made me very hungry! Merry Christmas to you.

Blessings to you!

Merry, merry Christmas, Faith!

Merry Christmas Faith!

Merry Christmas, Faith!

Merry Christmas, Faith!

Just dropping by (and deluring) with some Christmas cheer from me and the Moomins (another great LT find). Hope you enjoy your leftovers!

Merry Christmas, Faith! Hope it was a fabulous one!

Thanks everyone!!!!! I wish I could send you each a plate of leftover treats... there's enough left to feed a whole platoon, and that's after 7 people ate until they had third-trimester food babies. LOL.

Now, onward to prepare for the new year! *contemplates cookies for breakfast*

Heroes of Olympus #3: Mark of Athena -- Rick Riordan

Well, what can I say? This series continues going strong, with plenty of action, character development, and unexpected plot twists along the way. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone else who isn't this far along in the series, but if you liked the Percy Jackson books and haven't managed to pick up this series yet? Do. They are MUCH better, more engaging, and stronger in terms of storyline, characters, and manipulation of the mythology.

Now I have to wait, somewhat impatiently, for book four...!

Rating:4/5
Source: Recent purchase



Anna and the French Kiss -- Stephanie Perkins

I've had this one on the shelves for a few years now, but hadn't got around to reading it... and when four? five? people in the 75'ers group read it around the same time, I figured now was as good a time as any to read it! And... I'm sorry I waited so long to read this one! I don't typically read contemporary romances -- let alone YA rom coms -- but this story is sweet, believable, compelling, and heartwarming at the same time.

The main character is relatable and the romance, slow and sweet. It takes time to develop, and the slowness of its unfolding allows the reader to feel the tension and anticipation along with Anna and cheer for her every step of the way. She makes mistakes, so does the love interest. There's forward motion and two steps back. There's sweetness and sorrow, and a tugging on heart strings until finally... finally... we get what we waited the whole book for.

But there was never any question as to whether it would happen, let's be honest -- but my goodness, what a journey.

Rating: 5/5
Source: My bookshelves



Executive Assistant: The Hit List Agenda TPB

This graphic novel is a collection of the Hit List Agenda comics that fill in the gap between Executive Assistant Iris Volumes 1 & 2. It tells the story of four (I think?) other women who were trained as Executive Assistants, who begin to question the morality of what they do and what the men they're protecting do. And when they go crazy and stop following orders? Well, someone has been following each of them around, and will be there to pick up the pieces... but the "why" comes later (in EA: Iris, Volume #2).

As typical of Aspen publications, the artwork is incredible, the story is compelling, and the whole package fully enjoyable.

Rating: 4/5
Source: Recent purchase



Executive Assistant: Iris, Volume 2

This graphic novel collects series 2 of the Executive Assistant: Iris books, with the timeline coming after the Hit List Agenda books (if you pick this one up right after EA: Iris, Volume #1, you're going to be really, really confused... trust me, I did it by accident at first... figured that one out pretty quickly when I had no idea what was going on).

The story in this series isn't nearly as interesting as in Volume 1 or even The Hit List Agenda, but Iris is still a compelling character, and we see the return of the Hit List ladies as well. I think my issue with this book is that Iris plays a passive role for the majority of the storyline, which is contrary to where we left her at the end of Volume 1. Unfortunately, we don't quite get the whole picture of what happened to bring her to this point (it's hinted at, but I don't really buy the explanation, considering her character), so I was left rather wanting.

That said, I still enjoy stories like this, and I find the Executive Assistant concept fascinating... so, naturally, if Aspen decides to keep the series going with a third run, I'll definitely be picking it up.

Rating: 3/5
Source: Recent purchase

Fun meme time! I suspect I'll finish another book or two before year's end, but that's okay, I'll use what I've got:

Book title meme! Use titles from books you read this year to fill these in:

Describe yourself: The Cupcake Queen

Describe how you feel: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Describe where you currently live: Forbidden City

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Across the Universe

Your favorite form of transportation: Smiling Bears

Your best friend is: Anna Dressed in Blood

You and your friends are: Shatterproof

What’s the weather like: Pandemonium

You fear: The Kill Order

What is the best advice you have to give: Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Thought for the day: Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings

How I would like to die: Jinx

My soul’s present condition: Carrier of the Mark

What is the best advice you have to give: Let's Pretend This Never Happened

this is perfect!

And here are the books I've read this past week... I'm not quite feeling in the mood for full reviews at the moment (frankly, I want to use the time to read before the new year hits with all its ensuing insanity!), but I want to get them down for posterity!



96) The Kill Order -- James Dashner (3.5/5)
97) The Emperor's Soul -- Brandon Sanderson (4/5)
98) Real Mermaids Don't Hold Their Breath -- Helene Boudreau (3/5)
99) Demonglass -- Rachel Hawkins (4/5)
100) How to Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You -- The Oatmeal (3.5/5)

175: Yay, glad you liked Anna and the French Kiss! So dreamy...

178: Ha, I love The Oatmeal web site...

Congratulations on reading 100 books!

Interesting choice for your 100th book, and well, congrats on reaching 3 figures.

>179 RosyLibrarian:: I was skeptical, but I'm so glad I read it!!!

>180 Whisper1:: Thank you, Linda!!!

>181 PiyushC:: Haha, thanks! Trust me, if you knew my cat, it would all make sense... o_O

Hooray for 100 books!

I love The Oatmeal too. Is the book much different than what is on the website?

So, what is next? Self defence classes to guard against your cat?

Congrats on reaching 100!! Told my daughter about Anna and the French Kiss - sounds right up her alley! Saw that you recently read Demon Glass - that's the follow-up to Hex Hall? How was Hex Hall - we have that one on our shelves.

Congratulations on hitting that 100 book mark, Faith! Great accomplishment!

>183 norabelle414:: Whoo-hoo! This book in particular is different, as the whole book is based around the one website post ("how to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you") and thus contains mostly brand new material. The previous book was more like a compilation of posts plus a few new ones (5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth), but all things considered, I'd say the books are for big fans only, and make sure you get them either from the library or on discount. (I think I paid $6 for my copy in a Boxing Day sale, and that was the perfect price point.)

>184 PiyushC:: Some days, I think that might be a good idea... o_O Thankfully, she doesn't hide around corners and then run after me, swiping my legs with her claws anymore (that was REALLY fun, as you might imagine), but she still won't let us pet her unless she's eating. She's such a weirdo.

>185 Crazymamie:: Thank you! I really enjoyed Hex Hall -- I thought it might feel redundant, what with the slew of "unexpectedly magical kid goes to magic school" books out there, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. The author did a great job of making the world her own, rather than having the school come off as some kind of secondary Hogwarts. It's certainly worth the time!

>186 ronincats:: Thanks, Roni!!! In November, I wasn't sure I would make it, but El Husbando pretty much forced me to take a few weeks off this month, so I managed to get a pile of reading done. Though I complained about it at the time, I think being able to cross the 100-book mark makes it worthwhile. :)

Faith - good to see you back and posting more frequently. Happy new year and looking forward to keeping up in 2013.

Happy New Year, Faith!

>188 PaulCranswick:: Thanks, Paul! I'm looking forward to plenty of great reads and more frequent posts on LT in 2013!

>189 phebj:: Happy New Year to you as well!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here's to a great new year ahead, Faith!

Glad to see another convert to the awesomeness that is Anna and the French Kiss. And congrats on reaching 100! And and... Happy New Year, Faith!

>191 The_Hibernator:: Right back atcha!!!

>192 ronincats:: Aww, I wish my kitty was as peaceful as that yesterday... seemed like the new year turning turned her into a little psycho... haha. Happy New Year to you too!

>193 MickyFine:: I resisted, but... it was too good and I'm so glad I read it after all! :)

Well, I managed to read a few more titles before the end of the year in the ReadaThon over the weekend, so here's a quick tally to bring an end to the year's reading:



101) Escape from Camp 14 -- Blaine Harden --> fascinating look at life inside a North Korean prison camp, and the difficulties for North Korean defectors to function and navigate the world as a "normal" human being afterward (4.5/5)
102) The Alloy of Law -- Brandon Sanderson --> absolutely fantastic addition to the Mistborn universe, though perfect as a stand-alone novel; great humor, fantastic characters (5/5)
103) Regina's Song -- David & Leigh Eddings --> sadly disappointing psychological thriller from this normally fantastic fantasy writing dream-team... the final 100 pages draaaaagged and overall, the whole thing was predictable and really just lacking in that something that could have made it sparkle (2/5)
104) The Girl With the Silver Eyes -- Willo Davis Roberts --> A classic middle-grade novel that I'd never read before, a good read that ultimately teaches that it's okay to be different from other people -- to embrace it, even when the world makes fun of you, because you're not alone. (3.5/5)

Ooh, a couple there that I've already been meaning to read for ages: Escape from Camp 14 and The Alloy of Law. I'm glad to hear that they're both good.

Both of those look great, I've added them to my list!

Faith, what a great year of reading you have had. I've added quite a few books to my wishlist. Hope you are enjoying good health!

I have been wanting to try the Mistborn series. I have the first book, and since I LOVED The Way of Kings, I think I'll have to get to that this year.