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)

Kim Harrison
416 pages

Reason for Reading: TBR Challenge'08

Back of the Book:
"All the creatures of the night gather in "the Hollows" of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party ... and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining -- and it’s Rachel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized."

My Thoughts:

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.

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.

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.

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!

Kristin Hannah
479 pages

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

From the Publisher:

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 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.

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.

Ok...since the end of the year is quickly approaching, I decided to head over to A Novel Challenge and see if there were any challenges that I could add to my list without adding any more books to my schedule. Sort of a challenge within a challenge. I wanted to join this challenge and it worked out perfectly:

hosted by Annie from Words by Annie

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:

Geraldine Brooks
368 pages

Reason for Reading: Pub'08 Challenge, Interest.

From the Publisher:

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

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!

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)

Colleen Gleason
334 pages
On my Bookshelves

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

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.

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.

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

Loung Ung

238 pages

On My Bookshelves

This was my final book for the Joy's Non-Fiction Five Challenge. I like reading non-fiction so this challenge was right up my alley. Many thanks to Joy for hosting it.

Thomas H. Cook
292 pages

Reason for Reading- Book Awards Challenge, Edgar Award Winner

Henry Griswald is a moody, solitary boy whose father is the Headmaster of Chatham School. He dreams of life beyond his existence in the village of Chatham but has no idea that his life and the lives of those around him will be irrevocably changed by the events that take place in Chatham and at Black Pond in 1927.

I had some difficulty getting into this book. I am not exactly sure why. I enjoyed the author's writing style and I loved how the details of the story are handed out slowly making you want to learn just a little more. I can only attribute it to the fact that I am in a mid-winter funk. I am very glad I persevered though because I did enjoy it in the end.

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.

Margaret Cezair-Thompson
394 pages

Read for: LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program

From the Publisher:

Words for Annie is hosting her first challenge.

For all of 2008 I must read at least one book from each category below.

1. A book with a color in its title. - The Color Purple by Alice Walker (also for 888 and Book Awards)
2. A book with an animal in its title. - Elephant in the Playroom by Denise Brodey (also for 888)
3. A book with a first name in its title. - Lessons from Jacob by Ellen Schwarts (also for In Their Shoes)

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 found links at Joy's Blog to two more challenges that I just couldn't resist!

Both of these challenges are hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog.