February 2008 Reads

5. Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman - Rating: 8
[Unread Authors Challenge]

6. Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes - Rating: 2
[Unread Authors Challenge]

7. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - Rating: 8
[Unread Authors Challenge]

8. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - Rating: 7
[Book Awards Challenge]

New Authors Read = 3
Male Authors = 0
Female Authors = 4

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Finished March 12th, 2008

Rating: 6/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #6

Missing In Action

I had my baby about 6 weeks ago so needless to say I haven't had much time to read or blog. I did manage to finish 2 books since he was born and am working on my third and am hoping to continue to read about 2 books a month. I will likely not have much time to write reviews so I am thinking I will just rate the books out of 10on my blog going forward until I have more time on my hands to do reviews.

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants

Finished February 26th, 2008

Rating: 7/10

Book Awards Reading Challenge Book #5


Synopsis

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.


An entertaining book however I was not blown away by it. I did find it difficult at times to read about some of the animal cruelty that takes place in the book. It was a good solid book but not a page turner for me.

Unread Authors Challenge Completed

I completed the Unread Authors Challenge about a month ago but haven't had a chance to update my blog with a summary. I really enjoyed this challenge as I got to read books by new authors. There was only 1 book I really disliked and I ended up finding some new authors to read going forward such as Stephenie Meyer and Anna Quindlen.

I have many books sitting on my shelves by authors I have never read before so this is the perfect challenge for me.

The Challenge will run from September to February 2008. The challenge is being hosted by Sycorax Pine and more details can be found on her blog. The rules are:

1) Read six books by authors you have never read before.

2) You can choose one or two (or 3-5) unread authors and read several of their works, or you can choose six neglected (by you) writers and read a book apiece by them. Authors of fiction, non-fiction, genre fiction, graphic novels/comics, drama, and poetry are all welcome inclusions, although the individual works you choose should be book length.

My list for this challenge is:

Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards [completed Jan. 21st, 2008]
Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes [completed Feb. 7th, 2008]
Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman [completed Feb. 3rd, 2008]
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer [completed Jan. 29th, 2008]
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer [completed Feb. 11th, 2008]
Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen [completed Jan. 7th, 2008]