Challenge: 50 Books discussion

1. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

2. Gone Girl

Both very enjoyable, though totally different. So nice to have the 2012 best of lists to inspire at the start of a new year.

I'm still waiting for Gone Girl from the library. I've been on the list for months, still #249th in line out of almost 900!

3. Alif the Unseen

Unlike anything I've read before - fantastical story set in the middle east with modern day technology. Easy to keep reading.

4. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
This book managed to tie together so many of my loves - bookstores, books, quests, google, knitting.... I really enjoyed it. I must say that readingwise, I really look forward to the goodreads end of year best of lists, where I found out about this one.

5. The Midwife of Venice
As a good contrast to the book above, this read managed to tie together so many of the things I really don't enjoy - religious studies, detailed birthing scenarios... and I really had to force myself to slog through it. It felt very preachy from a couple different perspective. Lost count of eye-rolls over the do-goodie characters and was not interested in the Sunday school sexy times descriptions.

6. Smokin' Seventeen

I finished this about 5 days ago and I remember it being enjoyable, but not much more than that, so not memorable.

7. Possible Side Effects

I love Augusten Burroughs. He's a never fail laugh for me.

8. Feed

9. This is How You Lose Her

If you want to know what I thought about this book, please join me in the Group Reads folder at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

10. Tiger Hills

It's hard to believe that a epic drama on this scale could have been penned by a first time author. This lady sure knows how to weave a complex tragedy! If you've got some time to invest and don't mind shedding a few tears over family life in India, I highly recommend.

Faye wrote: "3. Alif the Unseen

Unlike anything I've read before - fantastical story set in the middle east with modern day technology. Easy to keep reading."

This has been on my to-read list for a while! Happy to see another good review; reminds me to request it from the library!

11. Dark Lover
12. Dead Ever After
13. Red Velvet Cupcake Murder

Can someone tell me why the library audio-book selections are always so low-brow? I must admit to enjoying yet another Sookie adventure, but Joanne Fluke's series is sooo cliched. Sadly, I there are more in my future since I need some free audiobooks and those are what's available.

14. Devil's Food Cake Murder
15. Duma Key

16. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Finally got my hands on a copy. Worth all the hype.

17. Flight Behavior

Great read.

18. The Case of the Missing Marquess

Totally young, young adult, but fun and a good introduction to English Victorian era customs. Well written for the age group.

19. Wool

20. Broken Harbor

Faye wrote: "19. Wool"

How did you like this book?

Veronica wrote: "How did you like this book?"

I think Wool was pretty good. It had some twists and turns to the plot and the world that was created was imaginative. I wanted to root for a couple of the characters by the end. Unfortunately, I think I read too many glowing reviews beforehand, so it didn't completely live up to expectations as a gripping page-turner, but it seems kind of unfair to compare the book to the reviews, rather than judge it on it's own. Kind hard to do sometimes though, if you know what I mean. I'm going to say 4/5 stars, but I'm not running to the library to get the next in the series just yet.

21. Death Angel

22. Blueberry Muffin Murder

23. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder

24. Sugar Cookie Murder

25. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

I'm only admitting to these because I know I'll need to mark down absolutely every book to make it to 50...

26. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

Faye wrote: "11. Dark Lover
12. Dead Ever After
13. Red Velvet Cupcake Murder

Can someone tell me why the library audio-book selections are always so low-brow? I must admit to enjoying yet another Sookie adven..."
I have the same problem with finding audiobooks at my library. I got the overdrive app for my phone which gives a wider selection of audiobooks from my library that they only have in e-audiobook form. It has helped me get many of the newer books on my to read lists. See if your library is connected with overdrive or another app (there are a few others) and see if you can get a better selection that way.

27. Year of Wonders

Jennifer wrote: "I have the same problem with finding audiobooks at my library. I got the overdrive app for my phone which gives a wider selection of audiobooks from my library..."

Thanks, Jennifer. I'm using Overdrive and when it works, OneClickDigital, both connected to my local library. It's my understanding that the selection can vary by library.

Yeah, I've heard that libray selections vary unfortuntately...here in San Jose, CA I seem to be spoiled as I've heard many people tell me they can't get the books they want...I would go crazy since I get almost all of my books from the library in trying to keep within my goal of not buying any new books...what do you think of oneclickdigital? I have thought about using it because there are many books only available on that format, but I've seen many complaints about the app

I was somewhat enjoying the selection of books on OneClickDigital (that is where I was listening to all the Fluke, though) because there is a different selection than on Overdrive and I'd been listening to Overdrive for quite a while and exhausted most of the books I wanted to "read". However, as you've mentioned, the OneClickDigital App is finicky. I've been using it for about 4 months and seemingly randomly, it logged me out, dropped my books and lost my place. Fine, whatever, it's free. But I haven't actually been able to get it to even open for about a week now, so it currently useless, free or not. Hopefully the library doesn't pay too dearly for the service. I use an iPod, which is not the ideal hardware for Overdrive.

28. An Inquiry Into Love and Death

29. Invisible Monsters Remix

Faye wrote: "14. Devil's Food Cake Murder
15. Duma Key"

How did you like Duma Key? I have been staring at it for months but have not opened it up yet.

Mackenzie wrote: "How did you like Duma Key? I have been staring at it for months but have not opened it up yet."

I'd say it was pretty good. I haven't read mush Steven King, but I read through this quickly, which is saying something because most books I read (as opposed to listen to) these days seem to be frequently set aside and forgotten. However, I probably won't think to go out of my way to recommend it in the future, it just wasn't incredibly memorable. Brain candy that I don't feel embarrassed about owning.

Faye wrote: "Mackenzie wrote: "How did you like Duma Key? I have been staring at it for months but have not opened it up yet."

I'd say it was pretty good. I haven't read mush Steven King, but I read through th..."

So it's nothing I need to feel guilty for not getting around to reading. Good to know.

30. The Haunting of Maddy Clare

31. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie

Book club selection. I like the book club ladies. I'm not so sure about the books.

32. Death Match

Frankenstein of the computer age. Thoroughly entertaining.

33. Ellen Fremedon, Journalist

34. Crashed
35. Little Elvises

Well, I didn't make it this year. Too much knitting, I think.