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This page updated on 7.24.05

Books Read

April 04:

Some like it lethal      

Author: Nancy Martin Finished: 4.20.04 Rate: 9 out of 10 Date Published:4.06.04 Where Obtained:Bookstore Pages:310 Genre:Mystery Did I like it?:Yes! Would I read this author again?:Yes! What purpose for reading this book?:I enjoy reading Nancy's characters as they are soo alive. I also find that as much as I don't enjoy Romanace I look forward to reading this author and waiting for the romance in the book to be soo much fun. My thoughts:This author is a romance writer by profession but has turned he sights on Mystery Genre. She is making a great entrance in this series of books called the Blackbird Mysteries. I love the plots, characters and Clothes involved in these books and I look forward to 2005 when the next one comes out.

Book # 17:The Fencing Master Author:Arturo Perez-Reverte Finished:4.27.04 Rate:6 out 0f 10 Date Published:1988 translated 1998 Where Obtained:Library for a Buck Pages:244 Genre:Mstery, Fiction Did I like it?: Yes Would I read this author again?:Yes What purpose for reading this book?:Enjoyment and wanting to look into this author. My thoughts:I did like this book but I have reservations about the ending. The ending left me feeling cheated. Spoiler-----Did Don Jamie live to publish his Signature Move or not... Also I feel lucky because my son has fenced for 3 years but the novice to the sport will find some of the words difficult be prepared to read this book with a dictionary in hand.

Book # 18: Ella Minnow Pea Author:Mark Dunn Finished:4.27.04 Rate:6 out of 10 Date Published:2001, my edition I think is 2002 1sted. TPB Where Obtained:Barnes and Noble used section Pages:208 Genre:Literary Fiction, definite play on letters themselves Did I like it?:Yes Would I read this author again?: Probably What purpose for reading this book?:Enjoyment. My thoughts:I read this book in under 2 hours. I did get somewhat put out towards the end of the book to the lack of letters and did my best to decode what was being said in the letters. It truely is something I've never read before and I did enjoy the book but I was left with the feeling of "how quaint" it was. The story is interesting and the author does do a great job with developement and progression of the story but some how towards the end I kept wishing it would just end....But I am going to keep the book as it was an interesting play on words and a testament to creativity of the authors writing style.

Book # 19: Kidnapped Author: Robert Louis Stevenson Finished: 4.28.04 Rate:6 out of 10 Date Published:My copy 1963 Sholastic version Where Obtained: At a used book store Pages:276 Genre:Mystery Books and old literature Did I like it?: So far it is well not doing well with the old English Language pronunciations (and I know Latin) Would I read this author again?: Probably What purpose for reading this book?:This book is being read outloud for the purpose of exposing my 14 yr old to College Reading list other then new fiction or "new classics" My thoughts: So far this book is rough with wording and frankly as my son states Boring for him. But the object is not to have him like it just to be able to understand it and show that it has been read in a College Portfolio. The score I gave it is because it really is a good story just in need of verbage for the modern age- would that ruin the story.... I'm soo thankful we finished this book! I wish there was a classic that didn't have soo much Old English, I relish the fact that the outloud reading next is by Dumas - The Three Musketeers. As long as he and me can get past all the Old English to the meaning of the story everything should be fine. I love new classics, if there is such a thing.... 

May 

Book # 20: Angels and Demons Author: Dan Brown Finished:5.4.04 Rate:8 or 9 out of 10 Date Published:2000 Where Obtained:Borders Pages:587 pages Genre:Myster fiction Did I like it?:Yes Would I read this author again?:Yes What purpose for reading this book?:Just for fun and it looked good. My thoughts:I found most of this book entertaining and found that it was a good book that I could get into except again towards the end, I found that there where a few wholes and to me seemed confusing. I also didn't like one of the central characters ( I found to be just to pompous I was almost glad that he was killed-off). I did enjoy the main character Robert Langdon and found that I wanted to see more of him on the page instead of more going on around him. But all in all I'll read more of Brown I just liked what he wrote. I'm still trying to decide if this book is an 8 or a 9. 

Book # 21: Airborn Author:Kenneth Oppel Finished:5.8.04 Rate:8 out of 10 Date Published:5.11.04 Where Obtained:ARC Harper Collins Pages:355 Genre:Mystery Did I like it?:Yes Would I read this author again?:Yes What purpose for reading this book?:ARC Harper Collins Teen My thoughts: An Okay read but towards the end it had a death that I felt was unneeded and could have been better written or not written at all. I didn't like the way it ended either leaving things frankly just hanging but on a good not I did like the authors writing style and the authors interesting overall sense of his characters wants and needs. My picky 14 old son enjoyed the book as well so I guess that counts for something. 

Book # 22: After the Rain Author: Chuck Logan Finished:5.17.04 Rate:6 out of 10 Date Published:7.1.04 Where Obtained:Harper Collins ARC Pages:403 Genre:Mystery Did I like it?:It was Okay. Would I read this author again?:Maybe What purpose for reading this book?:ARC My thoughts:The author did a great job at writing this book but the story I had issues with. The main character of the book -Nina is my age and I just had issues identifing with her carrer and her placing her own daughter in danger. I also thought that the other characters where a bit strained in character developement and lacking something..but my review with Harper will be a little less honest and a little more sugary....oh well. 

Book # 23: Guardian of the Horizon Author: Elizabeth Peters Finished:5.30.04 Rate:9 out of 10 Date Published:2004 Where Obtained:Library Pages:399 Genre:Mystery Did I like it?:Yes Would I read this author again?:Yes I only have 3 books to read and I've read all 15 or 16 in the series... What purpose for reading this book?:Fun My thoughts on this book is even though I thougt it was a good book it just seemed to lack in some details and the moodieness of Ramses and Nefret kind of bummed me. But I loved the story and am looking forward to reading the other 3 books that I've not read in the series. Currently reading Dancing with Einstein....it's ok but not my normal read. 

June

Book # 24: Dancing with Einstein Author: Kate Wenner Finished:6.5.04 Rate:5 out of 10 Date Published:2004 Where Obtained:Library Pages:223 Genre:Fiction Did I like it?:NO Would I read this author again?:Probably not. What purpose for reading this book?:It looked interesting. My thoughts:I just didn't like this book at all. I didn't like the main character she seemed shallow and schizophrenic. I feel very generous about giving it a 5 out of 10. In fact the 5 is really for the author who wrote the book. Any author who can write such a weird story deserves something more then a 1. 

Book # 25: Bloodstream Author: Tess Gerritson Finished:6.9.04 Rate:9 out of 10 Date Published:H.C. 98 my edition PB 99 Where Obtained:Library used. Pages:464 Genre:Mystery Medical Did I like it?:Very Much Would I read this author again?: I'm stockpiling her books so I can read them all! What purpose for reading this book?:Reading club My thoughts:I enjoyed a medical thriller, something I didn't think I would but I did. To be honest I found the characters well thought out and her mystery plotted well as well. The only reason why it's not a 10 is because I felt that the ending was just too abrupt. 

Book # 26: The Hound in the Left Hand Corner Author: Giles Waterfield Finished:6.13.04 Rate:5 out of 10 Date Published:U.K. 2002 Where Obtained:Library Pages:270 Genre:Mystery Did I like it?:It was so-so. Would I read this author again?:Maybe/Maybe not What purpose for reading this book?:Someone suggested it. My thoughts:Well at least I finished it but I'll admit to skimming the book at times. I was bored and it seemed well in the end just ok for reading. I fell asleep at one point...ugh. No real main characters to speak of and in the end a couple of the characters lives where ruined. This book just didn't do it for me. 

Book # 27: Queens Fool Author: Phillipa Gregory Finished:6.18.04 Rate:7 maybe 8 out of 10 Date Published:unsure Where Obtained:Library Pages:500 Genre:Historical Fiction with a splash of Mystery Did I like it?:Somewhat Would I read this author again?:Yes What purpose for reading this book?:Reading Group My thoughts:Not a bad book but it just left me with a hum kind of feeling. The fact that ---spoiler- Daniel had an affair really didn't do anything for me. Authors always write about how men are unfaithful and women as in Hannah is faithful. Just seemed formulaic. I did like however the portrayal of Queen Mary and Elizabeth they seemed more to what I've read about both. There where several things I didn't like but it seems rather shalow to pick on it seeing as though I was able to finish and I did like the authors writing style. 

Book # 28: Midnight for Charlie Bone Author: Jenny Nimo Finished:6.24.04 Rate:9 out of 10 Date Published:U.K. edition 2002, my edition 2003 U.S. HC Where Obtained:Borders new Pages:401 Genre:Juvenile Mystery and Fantasy Did I like it?:Very Much Would I read this author again?:Definitely What purpose for reading this book?:Fun and read outloud My thoughts:A interesting story and very different in many respects to the Harry Potter series. I didn't like the characters I wasn't supposed to like and I like the characters that where written to be liked. Not bad when you think about it. In fact when was the last time you read an adult book that did what it was supposed to do? Anyway I liked the book and the Hardcover really makes it nice to hold and read. I plan on reading the entire series.

Book # 29: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time Author: Mark Haddon 

Finished:6.04 Rate:8 out of 10 Date Published:July 03 Where Obtained:Library Pages:221 Genre:Mystery Did I like it?:Somewhat Would I read this author again?:Yes What purpose for reading this book?:Book Club My thoughts:I liked this book especially the way the chapters are titled and numbered. I also liked that writing style of the author it seemed to flow nicely. Quick read and yet just enough for a nice summer day. I didn't like that the ---spoiler--- father did the act of the murder or that the mother was soooo awful to the main character. I also didn't care much for the father telling his son his mom was dead because she left him....but I did like the story overall and understood why things happened the way the did. 

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