Sunday, September 30, 2007

At Risk


At Risk by Patricia Cornwell

Finished September 26th, 2007

Rating: 3/10

Medical Mystery Madness Challenge Book #4




From the Publisher
A Massachusetts state investigator is called home from Knoxville, Tennessee, where he is completing a course at the National Forensic Academy. His boss, the district attorney, an attractive but hard-charging woman, is planning to run for governor, and as a showcase she's planning to use a new crime initiative called At Risk, its motto "Any crime, any time." In particular, she's been looking for a way to employ some cutting-edge DNA technology, and she thinks she's found it in a twenty-year-old murder - in Tennessee. If her office solves the case, they'll all end up looking pretty good, right?" Her investigator is not so sure - not sure about anything to do with this woman, really - but before he can open his mouth, a shocking piece of violence intervenes, an act that shakes up not only their lives but the lives of everyone around them as well. It is not a random event. Is it personal? Is it professional? Whatever it is, the implications are very, very bad indeed ... and they're about to get much worse.

What a disappointment this book was. The plot was non-existent and there was no character development which led me to not care for any of the characters. I read this for the Medical Mystery Challenge as I thought it was part of the Dr. Kay Scarpetta series but it wasn't. It technically wasn't a medical mystery however they did mention DNA a couple of times in the book so I am going to go ahead and count it towards the challenge. I would advise others to skip this one.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Dystopian Challenge Completed

I have successfully completed my 3rd challenge. I really enjoyed this challenge as 4 out of the 5 books I read I rated with an 8 or higher.

I have signed up for my third challenge over at Lisa's blog at Books. Lists. Life called the Dystopian Challenge. The rules are as follows:

  1. Pick any number of books you wish to read that fall into the Utopia/Dystopia genre.
  2. They do not have to be books you've never read, but hopefully they aren't books you read last week.
  3. Challenge opened March 31st and will last until November 6th.

Lisa provides a list of examples of books in her blog that would fall into each genre which makes it easy to pick books for the challenge. I am very excited about this challenge as I love this genre for movies but haven't really read this genre before.

The books I have chosen for this challenge are:

  1. 1984 by George Orwell [completed May 18th, 2007]
  2. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley [completed August 26th, 2007]
  3. The Giver by Lois Lowry [completed April 28th, 2007]
  4. The Road by Cormac McCarthy [completed July 4th, 2007]
  5. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood [completed September 17th, 2007]

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Finished September 22nd, 2007

Rating: 7/10

Decades Challenge Book #8 (1930s)
Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #3

From the Editors
When feeble-minded Lenny Small and his protector George Milton arrive to work on a ranch in the Salinas Valley of California, they dream of the day when they can own their own farm. But when Lenny accidentially kills the ranch owner's daughter-in-law, their lives are changed forever.


The writing flows easily in this well written book. It is a very short book and I didn't want it to end as I wanted to read more about the characters. East of Eden is still my favourite Steinbeck book but this is a close second.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Oryx and Crake

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Finished September 17th, 2007

Rating: 8/10

Dystopian Challenge Book #5


I am ashamed to say I have never read any books by Margaret Atwood before and I am a Canadian. I have to say I really enjoyed her writing style and will definately be reading more from her.

It was difficult to summarize the book but I will try to touch on the main points.

The book is told by Jimmy (aka Snowman) as he unravels the story of how and why the world is as it is as he shifts between flashbacks from the past and the present. He describes his relationships with his two close friends Oryx and Crake. It isn't until the end of the book that the reader finds out what has happened to these two friends of Snowman as it is evident they are not around in the present time.

The only interaction Snowman has in the new world is with the Crakers, a genetically engineered species created by his friend Crake. The Crakers are very different from Snowman as they are programmed to: not be jealous, not have territorial tendencies which would lead to war, die at 30 years old, etc.

Atwood's description of the future is thought provoking and she manages to paint a realistic future in some aspects.

My only disappointment was the abrupt ending as the reader is left to envision the future for Snowman and the Crakers.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Seizure


Seizure by Robin Cook

Finished September 9th, 2007

Rating: 6/10

Medical Mystery Madness Challenge Book #3




This book focuses on the story of two doctors who are attempting to legalize their medical technique which will help cure patients with incurable diseases by injecting them with stem cells. A US Senator opposes the bill however soon strikes a deal with the doctors. He is stricken with Parkinson;s and would like the doctors to test the treatment on him and in return and will support and try to pass legalizing their treatment.

I read the Robin Cook book Shock as one of my other choices for the Medical Mystery Madness Challenge and was very disappointed in the ending. I was pleasantly surprised when I got to find out what happened to the characters from the Wingate Clinic from the book Shock.

There was a little bit too much detail with respect to the medical techniques and my attention started to drift. All in all a better book than Shock but still not great.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Non-Fiction Five Challenge Finished





I successfully completed the Non-Fiction Five challenge. It was an okay challenge for me as 3 out of my 5 reads were average or below average. I will have to do a better job of picking non-fiction books in the future.

UPDATE: I have decided to update one of my picks for this challenge and replace Dreams of my Father by Barack Obama to Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper based on the great review by Lesley in March 2007 at Lesley's Book Nook Blog.

I have decided to participate in Thoughts of Joy's Non-Fiction Five Challenge taking place from May 1st to September 30th, 2007. The Five Non-Fiction Books I have decided to read are:

1. Sidney Poitier - Measure of a Man [completed June 10th, 2007]

2. Jon Krakauer - Eiger Dreams [completed August 8th, 2007]

3. Mireille Guiliano - French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating For Pleasure [completed June 29th, 2007]

4. Sarah Ban Breathnach - Something More - Excavating Your Authentic Self [completed May 5th, 2007]

5. Anderson Cooper - Dispatches from the Edge [completed September 3rd, 2007]


I really enjoy reading memoirs however wanted to try to include other types of non-fiction books into the challenge and I think the above is a good mix.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Dispatches from the Edge


Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper

Finished September 3rd, 2007

Rating: 7/10

Non-Fiction Five Challenge Book #5



This was a very quick and easy read. It isn't so much a biography of Cooper's life although he does touch on some major personal events that has shaped him such as the death of his father and brother. It is more about Cooper's experiences and insights with respect to major events that have shaped and touched the world such as Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq, Hurriance Katrina and the South East Asian Tsunami.

All in all it was an enjoyable read.

Monday, September 3, 2007

Reading the Author Challenge





The Reading the Author challenge is being hosted by Incurable Logophilia.

The premise of the challenge is read at least 3 books by one author from September 1st, 2007 until December 31st, 2007.

This challenge is a great excuse for me to get caught up on books by James Patterson. I have only read 1 book by him this year and have 10 to read to get caught up to his latest book.

My book choices for this challenge are:

Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson

Honeymoon by James Patterson

Lifeguard by James Patterson

Mary Mary by James Patterson

Beach Road by James Patterson

Sunday, September 2, 2007

The Constant Princess


The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

Finished September 2nd, 2007

Rating: 8/10

Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge Book #2




From the Publisher
Daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, Katherine has been fated her whole life to marry Prince Arthur of England. When they meet and are married, the match becomes as passionate as it is politically expedient. The young lovers revel in each other's company and plan the England they will make together. But tragically, aged only fifteen, Arthur falls ill and extracts from his sixteen-year-old bride a deathbed promise to marry his brother, Henry; become Queen; and fulfill their dreams and her destiny.

I was expecting great things from this author as I have read numerous book reviews and all highly recommend her books. It started off a little slow but gradually picked up. I have no real insights to share about this book, just that it was a very enjoyable read.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

August 2007 Reads

42. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - Rating: 8
[Summer Mystery Reading Challenge]

43. Eiger Dreams by Jon Krakauer - Rating: 4
[Non-Fiction Five Challenge]

44. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly - Rating: 8
[Summer Mystery Reading Challenge]

45. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers - Rating: 3
[Decades Challenge]

46. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - Rating: 4
[Dystopian Challenge]


New Authors Read = 4
Male Authors = 3
Female Authors = 2