Rachel Caine
337 pages

Reason for Reading: What's in a Name Challenge, TBR Challenge '08

Back of the Book:
"Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now, she's trying to outrun another kind of storm: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she's resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life..."

My Thoughts:
I was looking for a book to get lost in this afternoon and this fit the bill perfectly. While it's actually a challenge book for me, it would have been great in the "Justforthehelluvit" category too.

I loved the whole different twist on magical powers in this story. There are three types of Wardens: Earth, Fire and Weather. Each has it's particular benefits but they work best in conjunction with Djinn.

Kristin Hannah
479 pages

Reason for Reading: LT Early Reviewers ARC, Pub '08 Challenge, A-Z Challenge, Chunkster Challenge.

From the Publisher:

Michael Connelly
Audiobook

Jack McEvoy is a crime reporter for a Denver newspaper. He is good writer and a skilled investigator. However, the story hits too close to home when his twin brother, Sean apparently commits suicide. Jack refuses to believe it and begins to find evidence that supports his theory. What follows is a page-turning maze of twists and turns that kept me interested right through the ending.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. Toward the middle of the book I started to suspect that it was going in a certain direction. I was really disappointed when it appeared that I was right. Later on though, the story takes a sharp turn that I didn't even suspect. I love when that happens! It makes me glad that I have more Connelly novels to look forward to. (4.5/5)

After arriving home from a pleasant day of shopping with my family yesterday, I found a package that contained The Shipping News. I won this in a drawing from Michelle over at 1 More Chapter . I was excited to have received it and can't wait to read it! Thanks so much Michelle! I love free books and I really love reading your blog!

Lori Copeland
141 pages
Read "Justforthehelluvit"

Back of the Book:
"It’s that time of year again, and with excitement and high expectations, Rose has planned the perfect Christmas for her family and friends. But when she feels them drifting away during a time that should celebrate togetherness, Rose is forced to slow down in the most unexpected way. In this whimsical, uplifting story, she discovers the true meaning of giving."

My Thoughts:

Colleen Gleason
334 pages
On my Bookshelves

This is my second title for the 2nds Challenge hosted by Thoughts of Joy

But I don't think they will be counting toward my challenge.

About 40 or so pages into my current book, Gate of the Sun, I was still having trouble with feeling like I wanted to avoid reading. I tend to do this if I am not enjoying a book and it takes me a while to figure out why I am playing stupid computer games rather than reading.

Now, I honestly don't feel that there is anything wrong with the book. I am still interested in reading it at some point. It's just not what I am in the mood for right now. However, I have been one that has a hard time setting a book aside and I found myself in the same boat with this title. This is a book I am reading for a challenge as well as for pleasure and I wanted to push through so I could cross it off the list. Not the best way to plan your reading adventures and it certainly doesn't sound pleasurable, does it?

Amal Rifa'i and Odelia Ainbinder
150 pages

Reason for Reading:
Triple 8 Challenge, Book Around the World, Expanding Horizons Challenge.

Amal Rifa'i(a pseudonym used for her protection) and Odelia Ainbinder are teenagers who met through a student exchange program to Switzerland. Amal is Palestinian and Odelia is Israeli. Their first meeting wasn't great but through the mediation of a foreign correspondant, they were able to start a frank discussion about what it is like for each side in the conflict that rages in their homeland.

Susan Gregg Gilmore
293 pages

Reason for Reading: ARC, Pub '08 Challenge

Catherine Grace Cline was 6 years old on the hot summer day that her mama went to pick berries, fell into the river, and died. The indelible influence of growing up in a small town without a mother makes Catherine long for the day that she can leave Ringgold, Georgia behind her.

When I received the ARC of this book I thought I was in for a fun, light-hearted read. It was that. It was charming, humorous and fun but it was also touching. The evolution of Catherine's relationship to her sister, father, Sunday School teacher, and next door neighbor, Gloria Jean made reading the whole book worthwhile. However, I enjoyed getting to know the residents of Ringgold, warts and all, and I enjoyed the way that the author drew the story to a close. (4/5)

Leisha Kelly
Library Book
152 pages

Back of the Book: "It is December of 1932, just one year after the Worthams and the Hammonds lost both a dear mother and a selfless friend in one terrible night. What would certainly be a bittersweet occasion turns to crisis when Goeroge Hammond disappears, leaving his many children worried and alone.
Can Julia Wortham restore hope and joy to so may forlorn children? With too may mouths, too little money, and a mysterious illness taking hold of some the children, she has her doubts that God will pull them through.

Michael Connelly
391 pages
Read for: The Book Awards Challenge

Terry McCaleb used to be a top FBI profiler but the stress has taken it's toll on him. He suffers a heart attack which leaves him him in need of a heart transplant. He receives his heart transplant and is recovering at his boat when Graciela, the sister of his heart donor, shows up and asks him to help her find her sister's killer. Things get twisty from there.

I've been really hard to please lately, so I guess that's why I'm so backlogged with my real reviews. So, here's my critical look at some of the books I've read recently.

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Geraldine Brooks
368 pages

Reason for Reading: Pub'08 Challenge, Interest.

From the Publisher:

I found out this morning that I snagged a copy of "Have You Found Her: A Memoir" by Janice Erlbaum from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program . I am looking forward to reading this!

I have several books competing for my attention lately. A look at my sidebar indicates that I currently have three books going and I am not close to finishing any of them. They are all very good. However, I have decided to feed my latest obsession and finding myself in a bookstore yesterday I purchased two other books that have been consuming my attention.

Dalia Sofer
338 pages

Reason for Reading: Expanding Horizons Challenge, Triple 8 Challenge, Book Around the World, and The Notable Books Challenge.

On the Flap
"In the aftermath of the Iranian revolution, rare-gem dealer Isaac Amin is arrested, wrongly accused of being a spy. Terrified by his disappear-ance, his family must reconcile a new world of cruelty and chaos with the collapse of everything they have known."

My Thoughts:

I didn't know that when I made my TSS post last week that not only would I not finish The Translator last Sunday, I wouldn't even finish it last week. I had such high hopes for my reading schedule last week too but the real world intervened.

I did finally finish today though. What a powerful book this was!

Daoud Hari
200 pages

Reason for Reading: LibraryThing Early Reviewers title, Pub '08 Challenge.

For those of us living in the United States, the suffering that goes on in other parts of the world is unimaginable. Darfur is one of the places where such suffering takes place. Genocide is occurring there and military power is constantly shifting. The reasons for this are complicated. However, this book contains an appendix that helps to explain it.

Michelle from 1 More Chapter was kind enough to add my name to a drawing that she was having for a book giveaway. I won Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather. Since I am participating in the 2008 A-Z Challenge this year, I will use this book for my "X" author. Now, to find my "X" title.

Thanks so much, Michelle!

Barbara Delinsky
317 pages

Reason for Reading: ARC from publisher, Pub '08 Challenge

Back of the Book:
"Deborah Monroe and her daughter, Grace, are driving home from a party when their car hits a man running in the dark. Grace was at the wheel, but Deborah sends her home before the police arrive, determined to shoulder the blame for the accident. Her decision then turns into a deception that takes on a life of its own and threatens the special bond between mother and daughter."

My Thoughts:
I found this to be a very interesting story of the complexity of family relationships. It deftly illustrates how no decision we make is without repercussions for our family members.
Deborah chooses to shoulder the responsibility for Grace's actions and inadvertently touches off a chain reaction of events that leads to family confessions about pressure, expectations and what it means to be accepted and loved in a family.

I opened my mail today and thought I had received a book that I ordered from paperbackswap.com. However, it was my Secret Santa gift from the Blogger Christmas Exchange. My Secret Santa was Melissa from Book Nut. As a gift, I received my very own copy of "More Book Lust" by Nancy Pearl! There couldn't be a better gift for a compulsive list-maker like me.

I really and truly and trying to get back into blogging regularly. As I mentioned in my last post, I'll be posting my lists of books read in 2007 at the beginning of the new year, in the meantime I thought I'd share a bit of what I have been reading lately.

A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber

Lisa Samson
325 pages
Library Book

From Barnes & Noble -"Heather Curridge has it all, and she loves her stuff. But every year she thinks there must be more to life--she must be made for more than this.
Heather is coming unhinged, and people are starting to notice. What's wrong with a woman who has everything, and yet still feels miserable inside?
Yet when Heather wrecks her Suburban and spends the summer with two Quaker spinsters and a crusty nun in a downtown homeless shelter, she suddenly finds herself at a crossroads.

Stars: *****

This is the first audio book I’ve ever heard/read. I listened to it on my ipod mini as I walked to and from playgroups and the library with my kids. I’ve always been wary of audio books for two reasons. 1. I didn’t think they were really reading, that they didn’t count. 2. I didn’t think I could follow it.

This is one of those challenges that I wanted to join but I wasn't sure if I would be in the mood for Christmas reading. While out shopping with my family this weekend I ran across a couple of titles that got me interested so I am going indulge my inner whim-reader and join this one after all.

Here are my titles:

Holidays are Hell - Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie Lui, and Vicki Pettersson. I picked up this one for a little Urban Fantasy escapism.

Khaled Hosseini
372 pages
Library Book

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. I just read "The Kite Runner" a few months ago and I thought that it was an incredible book. Wonderful as engaging fiction, yet with an amazing amount of information packed in there also.

To be honest, I was a little skeptical that I would like this book as well as I liked "The Kite Runner" since the second book by an author, oftentimes, doesn't stand up to the hype generated by the first.

All other things (like price and storage space) being equal, given a choice in a perfect world, would you rather have paperbacks in your library? Or hardcovers? And why?
Paperback. I am not really a book collector. I read books and then trade them away only keeping books that I know I will re-read. I am also not a huge re-reader so a book must be outstanding for me to decide to keep it. Therefore, having hardcover is not of the most importance to me. A simple reading copy is acceptable.

Another aspect is that I find paperbacks much more comfortable to hold while reading.

Finally, portability is also important and I find hardcovers too big and bulky to take with me easily. So, definitely paperback.

MizBooks has posted the Mr.Linky for the 2008 TBR Challenge! I participated last year and had a lot of fun but I didn't clear my TBR shelf much. This year, I am trying to seriously clear the shelves. So, I made my list for the 2008 Challenge weeks ago but I will probably be tweaking it right up until the 31st.