69 out of 101: Julie and Julia
This book was okay, I went into it with pretty low expectations due to all of the negative reviews I had heard of it. Truthfully it wasn't that bad, at least not to me. I thought it was an awesome concept for the book, but it just didn't make for a great read. It had a lot of potential that it just didn't live up to. Also I love food, but mostly everything that she cooked sounded gross to me (maybe it's a good thing I'm not French?!) Especially the crap with the bone marrow! Yuck!
70 out of 101: The Hunger Games
I had heard a lot of great reviews for this book. But after reading the book description it really didn't sound like anything special. But after getting a really good borders coupon, I decided to go ahead and buy it and give it a try. Wow. It was *really* good!!! Since it was young adult it was a short, quick read, but honestly I think the story itself is what made it so hard to put down. And yeah, I gotta say it... I'm team Peeta!!!!
71 out of 101: Catching Fire
This is the sequel to The Hunger Games. I tried to start it while we were on vacation, which didn't work out so well because there really was no free time to read. But as soon as I got back home I picked this book back up and finished it fast. It was amazing, yet frustrating all at once. Which again made it hard to put down. I loved it and can not wait for the next book in the series!!!!
72 out of 101: Shutter Island
I was pretty nervous to start this book, as it is totally out of my reading comfort zone. But I heard it was pretty good, and I've been seeing the previews for the movie (with Leonardo Di Caprio! --- he fits this part perfectly!). This book wasn't really what I thought it'd be (scary) it was more suspense/mysteryish. It was like a rollercoaster though almost the whole way through. It really kept me guessing at what was going on and what was going to happen next. Not the best book I've ever read, but still a good solid read. I can't wait to see the movie!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Lots of reading...little blogging!
So I have been reading *A LOT* lately, mostly thanks to the fact that I discovered the Nest Book Club, and have been participating in the Summer Book Club Challenge. Now while I know I will most likely not be able to complete all of the challenge reading categories, it sure has been fun trying, and it's also enabled me to branch out and read some books that I otherwise might not have thought to pick up. So here goes a list of the books I've read since I last blogged.
63 out of 101: Gone to the Dogs
I found out that goodreads often has book giveaways for advanced copies of books. So one day I was bored and decided to go ahead an enter a few. This was the first (and only) book I've won to date. It was actually a really cute read. The author's writing style was pretty different, even from most other chick lit books I have read. I enjoyed the book pretty much the whole way through, with the exception of the ending which I felt fell a little bit flat. It was a very fast read. I finished it in a day (which rarely happens for me with work and life stuff).
64 out of 101: Chocolat
I wanted to like this book. I mean come on, what is there not to like about a book that has to do with CHOCOLATE! But yeah, not so much. There was just something missing in this book for me, that I can't quite put my finger on. It was very much just ok for me. I think the thing I enjoyed most about this book was Pantoufle. I like the thought of an "imaginary" bunny friend. Not a book I'd read again. I do have the movie, which I never finished watching many years ago (I think I feel asleep?). I'll try that again, and see if I enjoy it more than the book.
65 out of 101: The Sugar Queen
I *really* liked this book. I kind of walked into it blindly by just picking it up at the bookstore. I read the back of the cover, which totally appealed to me. But for whatever reason just kept putting it back. Well one day I had a nice coupon for borders and decided what the heck. I bought it, without ever reading any reviews of it online, and to my surprise I totally enjoyed it. The characters were likeable, with the exception of the mom. It was a cute, fun story. And it was a easy read, partly because I enjoyed it so much. Finished it in like 2 days, and I would actually read it again.
66 out of 101: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Great book! Very heavy though. Which I expected since I had already read the Kite Runner (which also was a heavy, but wonderful book) This is one of those books that will stay with me for a while. Even now I find myself thinking about all that the women of Afghanistan have had to endure. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone. Like I said though, it is a very heavy book, and there are some parts that are very disturbing. But it really is a good, good read!
67 out of 101: Jane Eyre
I wanted to like this book... I really did. But it just really didn't do much for me. It was long, and very wordy, and for almost the first entire half of the book I struggled to get through it. There were times where it really made me sleepy, which actually doesn't happen to me often when I read. I usually get so engrossed in a book, that while it does relax me, it doesn't make me want to crash out. It took me more than halfway through this book to even get into it a little bit. Which still wasn't enough to make me enjoy it. The relationship between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester was just odd to me. If you're looking for a good classic, I'd go with Pride and Prejudice.
68 out of 101: The Princess Diaries
I knew this was a movie (which I haven't seen, but now plan on it) but didn't realize it was a book. I actually enjoyed this book. I wouldn't say it's my favorite YA read, but it was good. The story line was really cute, and while at first I was a little annoyed with the language the character used, and some of her actions/reactions, I tried to remember that Mia is only 14. I'd say 14 year olds are allowed to be annoying to a certain extent. The book grew on me though the more that I read, and I by the end I was pretty pleased with it. I'd probably even read the next book in the series at some point in time.
63 out of 101: Gone to the Dogs
I found out that goodreads often has book giveaways for advanced copies of books. So one day I was bored and decided to go ahead an enter a few. This was the first (and only) book I've won to date. It was actually a really cute read. The author's writing style was pretty different, even from most other chick lit books I have read. I enjoyed the book pretty much the whole way through, with the exception of the ending which I felt fell a little bit flat. It was a very fast read. I finished it in a day (which rarely happens for me with work and life stuff).
64 out of 101: Chocolat
I wanted to like this book. I mean come on, what is there not to like about a book that has to do with CHOCOLATE! But yeah, not so much. There was just something missing in this book for me, that I can't quite put my finger on. It was very much just ok for me. I think the thing I enjoyed most about this book was Pantoufle. I like the thought of an "imaginary" bunny friend. Not a book I'd read again. I do have the movie, which I never finished watching many years ago (I think I feel asleep?). I'll try that again, and see if I enjoy it more than the book.
65 out of 101: The Sugar Queen
I *really* liked this book. I kind of walked into it blindly by just picking it up at the bookstore. I read the back of the cover, which totally appealed to me. But for whatever reason just kept putting it back. Well one day I had a nice coupon for borders and decided what the heck. I bought it, without ever reading any reviews of it online, and to my surprise I totally enjoyed it. The characters were likeable, with the exception of the mom. It was a cute, fun story. And it was a easy read, partly because I enjoyed it so much. Finished it in like 2 days, and I would actually read it again.
66 out of 101: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Great book! Very heavy though. Which I expected since I had already read the Kite Runner (which also was a heavy, but wonderful book) This is one of those books that will stay with me for a while. Even now I find myself thinking about all that the women of Afghanistan have had to endure. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone. Like I said though, it is a very heavy book, and there are some parts that are very disturbing. But it really is a good, good read!
67 out of 101: Jane Eyre
I wanted to like this book... I really did. But it just really didn't do much for me. It was long, and very wordy, and for almost the first entire half of the book I struggled to get through it. There were times where it really made me sleepy, which actually doesn't happen to me often when I read. I usually get so engrossed in a book, that while it does relax me, it doesn't make me want to crash out. It took me more than halfway through this book to even get into it a little bit. Which still wasn't enough to make me enjoy it. The relationship between Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester was just odd to me. If you're looking for a good classic, I'd go with Pride and Prejudice.
68 out of 101: The Princess Diaries
I knew this was a movie (which I haven't seen, but now plan on it) but didn't realize it was a book. I actually enjoyed this book. I wouldn't say it's my favorite YA read, but it was good. The story line was really cute, and while at first I was a little annoyed with the language the character used, and some of her actions/reactions, I tried to remember that Mia is only 14. I'd say 14 year olds are allowed to be annoying to a certain extent. The book grew on me though the more that I read, and I by the end I was pretty pleased with it. I'd probably even read the next book in the series at some point in time.
Monday, August 3, 2009
More books!
60 out of 101: The Time Traveler's Wife
I decided to read this book after seeing the previews for the movie that is coming out this month. The book was good, but not great. I never felt really emotionally involved in the characters. And the whole time traveling was a little confusing at times. Maybe it was the author's writing style? I dunno. But I didn't love this book like I was hoping I would. Still a good book, but nothing I would recommend to anyone as something they had to read. Hopefully this will be one of those rare cases that the movie is actually better than the book.
61 out of 101: The Beach House
This was the first book I checked out with my new library card! I've seen it before, and picked it up at the book stores, but just didn't know if it was worth spending my money on. I enjoyed this book. It was chick lit, so it was light and fluffy, which I was in need of after TTTW. I got sucked into this book quickly, and I like how it was about several main characters, but their stories all intertwined. It was great beach reading material!
62 out of 101: The Pillars of the Earth
Wow! This book was unlike anything I have ever read before. Not only was it a huge book (probably the biggest I've ever read at nearly 1,000 pages!) but it was also a historical fiction book. I don't normally read historical fiction, but this was a great introduction for me. I enjoyed it a lot, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. There were some very frustrating parts, as the characters were either really good, or really evil. Great, great book! Although I will say that this is not a book that you should try to rush through, I tried to get through the last 200+ pages today on my day off, and have a bit of a headache as a result...lol... which actually sucks in a way because it took away from me totally enjoying the last of this great book.
I decided to read this book after seeing the previews for the movie that is coming out this month. The book was good, but not great. I never felt really emotionally involved in the characters. And the whole time traveling was a little confusing at times. Maybe it was the author's writing style? I dunno. But I didn't love this book like I was hoping I would. Still a good book, but nothing I would recommend to anyone as something they had to read. Hopefully this will be one of those rare cases that the movie is actually better than the book.
61 out of 101: The Beach House
This was the first book I checked out with my new library card! I've seen it before, and picked it up at the book stores, but just didn't know if it was worth spending my money on. I enjoyed this book. It was chick lit, so it was light and fluffy, which I was in need of after TTTW. I got sucked into this book quickly, and I like how it was about several main characters, but their stories all intertwined. It was great beach reading material!
62 out of 101: The Pillars of the Earth
Wow! This book was unlike anything I have ever read before. Not only was it a huge book (probably the biggest I've ever read at nearly 1,000 pages!) but it was also a historical fiction book. I don't normally read historical fiction, but this was a great introduction for me. I enjoyed it a lot, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. There were some very frustrating parts, as the characters were either really good, or really evil. Great, great book! Although I will say that this is not a book that you should try to rush through, I tried to get through the last 200+ pages today on my day off, and have a bit of a headache as a result...lol... which actually sucks in a way because it took away from me totally enjoying the last of this great book.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Slacking...still
So I've still been slacking with the blog. I've been reading though, and I'm trying to get myself motivated to pick up the blogging more regularly again. This isn't the only blog of mine that I've been slacking on though, so it looks like I have some work cut out for me.
56 out of 101: No regrets: 101 Fabulous Things to do Before You're too Old, Married, or Pregnant-- This book was okay. It had some fun ideas, and was an easy read, but as usually the case with these sort of books, it wasn't anything that I felt compelled to spend my free time reading.
57 out of 101: The Reader-- I had some friends who read this and or saw the movie and loved it, so I decided to pick it up and read it on our flight to our honeymoon. It was short, and I finished it fast, but it wasn't as great as I thought it'd be. Maybe it was the writing style or something, but I just didn't feel emotionally attached to the characters. Hopefully the movie will be better, I should be getting it on netflix soon.
58 out of 101: The Lovely Bones-- I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't by any means the best book I've ever read. And I don't know that I would go around recommending it to people, but it was good. The story line was crazy, and a lot of action happened right away. I thought the way the story was told was interesting, and I was happy with the ending.
59 out of 101: The Host-- This book is written by Stephanie Myer, who wrote the Twilight Saga (which I loved!) I *really* liked this book! The first chapter was a little rough for me, but I think that had more to do with the fact that I was reading it at work during lunch, and some co-workers were chatting, just made it a little tough for me to concentrate. Also the internal dialogue took me a little bit to get used to. But wow, this book was great! I was completely sucked into the story, and it was one of those rare books that I found myself making time to read when I was at home. This is a book I'd recommend to my friends to read, no doubt about it.
56 out of 101: No regrets: 101 Fabulous Things to do Before You're too Old, Married, or Pregnant-- This book was okay. It had some fun ideas, and was an easy read, but as usually the case with these sort of books, it wasn't anything that I felt compelled to spend my free time reading.
57 out of 101: The Reader-- I had some friends who read this and or saw the movie and loved it, so I decided to pick it up and read it on our flight to our honeymoon. It was short, and I finished it fast, but it wasn't as great as I thought it'd be. Maybe it was the writing style or something, but I just didn't feel emotionally attached to the characters. Hopefully the movie will be better, I should be getting it on netflix soon.
58 out of 101: The Lovely Bones-- I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't by any means the best book I've ever read. And I don't know that I would go around recommending it to people, but it was good. The story line was crazy, and a lot of action happened right away. I thought the way the story was told was interesting, and I was happy with the ending.
59 out of 101: The Host-- This book is written by Stephanie Myer, who wrote the Twilight Saga (which I loved!) I *really* liked this book! The first chapter was a little rough for me, but I think that had more to do with the fact that I was reading it at work during lunch, and some co-workers were chatting, just made it a little tough for me to concentrate. Also the internal dialogue took me a little bit to get used to. But wow, this book was great! I was completely sucked into the story, and it was one of those rare books that I found myself making time to read when I was at home. This is a book I'd recommend to my friends to read, no doubt about it.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Been a little behind...
So I've still been reading, just haven't been that great at updating my blog lately. :( But I figure with a wedding fast approaching, and buying, fixing up, and moving into a new condo...I should be forgiven. LOL. I try to get in most of my reading at work on my lunch breaks, which works great because not only do I get in my reading time, but I save money since I eat my lunch in.
Here's a condensed list/review of the last few books I have read....
53 out of 101: The Next Thing on My List
I had picked this book up and Borders, and the description on the back really caught my attention. It was about a car accident that killed the passenger in the vehicle. The driver felt horrible about the accident, even though it truely was just that- an accident. However she discovered that the girl had complied a list of 25 things to do before she turned 25. So she set out to complete the list for her. Overall the book was ok. It moved a little slow, and was honestly a bit hard for me to get into. The concept was great, but something just lacked in the writing. There were a few great moments in the book, even a couple moments that made me laugh out loud, which is always nice.
54 out of 101: Change of Heart
Another great book by one of my most favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. This was a complex read, which is exactly why I love her books. She always manages to take topics that appear very black and white, and she finds that grey area. And of course there is always that twist. Not my favorite Picoult book (those would definitely be My Sister's Keeper, and The Pact) but still a great book that I enjoyed very much.
55 out of 101: Something Borrowed
This was just a fun, easy read. It was the second book that I read by Emily Giffen, and I totally enjoyed every moment of it. Her writing style is so easy and the whole novel just flowed. I was completely sucked into the story line, and even though it was so bad of Rachel (the main character) to lust after her best friend's fiancee, you still just couldn't help to root for her. It was one of those guilty pleasures... haha like celebrity gossip magazine or reality tv. LOL. I'd definitely reccomend it to someone who was just looking for a fun, quick read (I finished it in less than a week--even with the wedding planning, move, work...etc....)
Here's a condensed list/review of the last few books I have read....
53 out of 101: The Next Thing on My List
I had picked this book up and Borders, and the description on the back really caught my attention. It was about a car accident that killed the passenger in the vehicle. The driver felt horrible about the accident, even though it truely was just that- an accident. However she discovered that the girl had complied a list of 25 things to do before she turned 25. So she set out to complete the list for her. Overall the book was ok. It moved a little slow, and was honestly a bit hard for me to get into. The concept was great, but something just lacked in the writing. There were a few great moments in the book, even a couple moments that made me laugh out loud, which is always nice.
54 out of 101: Change of Heart
Another great book by one of my most favorite authors, Jodi Picoult. This was a complex read, which is exactly why I love her books. She always manages to take topics that appear very black and white, and she finds that grey area. And of course there is always that twist. Not my favorite Picoult book (those would definitely be My Sister's Keeper, and The Pact) but still a great book that I enjoyed very much.
55 out of 101: Something Borrowed
This was just a fun, easy read. It was the second book that I read by Emily Giffen, and I totally enjoyed every moment of it. Her writing style is so easy and the whole novel just flowed. I was completely sucked into the story line, and even though it was so bad of Rachel (the main character) to lust after her best friend's fiancee, you still just couldn't help to root for her. It was one of those guilty pleasures... haha like celebrity gossip magazine or reality tv. LOL. I'd definitely reccomend it to someone who was just looking for a fun, quick read (I finished it in less than a week--even with the wedding planning, move, work...etc....)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
52 out of 101: Time of my Life
So I first heard of this book from people magazine --which I only browse through at work, mostly for the book reviews ;) It sounded interesting enough, what with the theme of the book being about those what-ifs in life that we all seem to have at some point.
I did enjoy this book. It kept me guessing. Which path would she choose once she had a second chance? Could you really change your destiny? Was the grass really greener on the other side? Overall a good read, definitely not my favorite by any means, but still good.
I did enjoy this book. It kept me guessing. Which path would she choose once she had a second chance? Could you really change your destiny? Was the grass really greener on the other side? Overall a good read, definitely not my favorite by any means, but still good.
Monday, January 5, 2009
51 out of 101: Remember Me?
This was another really cute book from one of my favorite authors Sophie Kinsella. It was about a girl named Lexi, who is frustrated with her boring, average life... and one day wakes up after a car accident and finds that everything has suddenly been turned upside down. She looks different, and her entire life has completely changed for the better...or so she thinks.
Its a really fun, light hearted read. I enjoyed it very much.
Its a really fun, light hearted read. I enjoyed it very much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
