Twilight

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Finished January 29th, 2008

Rating: 7/10

Unread Authors Challenge Book #3



From Barnes and Noble

17-year-old Isabella moves to a small town in Washington State and gets more excitement than she bargained for when she falls for an enigmatic classmate -- who happens to be a vampire.


I was really excited to read this book as my fellow bloggers seem to have nothing but rave reviews for this series. I am also a big fan of the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer so this book was right up my alley. The book was good however I was not blown away by it as I expected to be. I think my expectations were so high I couldn't help but be a little disappointed. The writing was a little weak and I found the interaction between Bella and Edward to be somewhat odd. It just seemed liked all of sudden they were in love with each other. I may be in the minority but I don't think the author did a good job of conveying how the love developed between them as I didn't buy it at times. A good book but I wouldn't say a great book.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

Finished January 21st, 2007

Rating: 6/10

Unread Authors Challenge Book #2




Synopsis from Barnes and Noble
On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's Syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret.

But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that long-ago winter night.


This book was an okay read for me however I don't think I would recommend it to others. I struggled a little bit throughout the book as I found that the book didn't hold my attention for very long. The plot had a lot of potential but unfortunately the characters didn't touch me and I found the story ended up being weak.

Black and Blue

Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen

Finished January 7th, 2008

Rating: 9/10

Unread Authors Challenge Book #1


From the Publisher
With daring and compassion, Anna Quindlen weaves a forceful, harrowing portrait of a woman and a marriage, capturing the profound intricacies of love and rage, passion and violence. At once heartbreaking and utterly riveting, BLACK AND BLUE is an extraordinary work of fiction and a brilliant achievement.

For eighteen years, Fran Benedetto kept her secret, hid her bruises, and stayed with Bobby because she wanted her son to have a father and because, in spite of everything, she loved him. Then one night, when she saw the look on her ten-year-old son's face, Fran finally made a choice--and ran for both their lives.


What a great read for my 2nd read of 2008. The plot wasn't over the top as Quindlen takes such a complex topic and manages to write a simple and realistic story about domestic violence. This was the first time I have read a book by Quindlen and I look forward to reading some more by her.

Mary Mary

Mary Mary by James Patterson

Finished January 3rd, 2008

Rating: 7/10

Reading the Author Challenge Book #4 - DNF before challenge ended

No review for this one either.

Year in Review

Total Reads for 2007 = 64

Challenges

Challenges Signed Up for that ended by Dec. 31st, 2007 = 8

Challenges Completed = 7
2007 Summer Mystery Reading Challenge
Non-Fiction Five Challenge
Dystopian Challenge
Medical Mystery Madness Challenge
Decades Challenge
2nds Challenge
The Armchair Traveler Challenge

Challenges Not Completed = 1
Reading the Author Challenge

New Authors = 28

Female Authors = 30

Male Authors = 34

Favourite Books of 2007 - Rating of 9 or above out of 10:
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Harvest by Tess Gerritsen
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Least Favourite Book of 2007 - lowest rating of 2/10:
Brick Lane by Monica Ali

Least Productive Month:
February, October, November and December with 4 books read

Most Productive Month:
June with 8 books read

Romance Reading Challenge

Naida has sponsored the Romance Reading Challenge over on the Bookworm site.

The rules are to read 5 Romance Novels from January 1st, 2008 to December 31st, 2008.

The books I have chosen for this challenge are:

Lovers & Players by Jackie Collins
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Miracle by Danielle Steel
Toxic Bachelors by Danielle Steel

December 2007 Reads

61. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith - Rating: 4
[Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge]

62. Bloodstream by Tess Gerritsen - Rating: 8
[2nds Challenge]

63. Brick Lane by Monica Ali - Rating: 2
[Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge]

64. Lifeguard by James Patterson - Rating: 8
[Reading the Author Challenge]


New Authors Read = 1
Male Authors = 2
Female Authors = 2

Reading the Author Challenge - Did Not Complete

This is the first challenge that I signed up for that I just wasn't able to finish in time. I was able to finish 3 out of the 5 books I selected for the challenge. I plan on finishing the final 2 books over the next week.

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