Challenge: 50 Books discussion

With victory under my belt from last year, I am back to put forth another 50 book goal out there! This group really helped me keep on track in 2014, so thanks for being here and all that!

Now that I'm a little more comfortable, I might even be more social... maybe. *Cough*

Summer wrote: "With victory under my belt from last year, I am back to put forth another 50 book goal out there! This group really helped me keep on track in 2014, so thanks for being here and all that!

Now tha..."

hehehe....with all the reading and life stuff being socially active on the internet is easier said than done. Good luck in 2015.

Summer wrote: "With victory under my belt from last year, I am back to put forth another 50 book goal out there! This group really helped me keep on track in 2014, so thanks for being here and all that!

Now that I'm a little more comfortable, I might even be more social... maybe. *Cough*"

hehehe. Well, I'm glad we were able to help you meet your goal, and you're welcome to be as social or as anti-social as you want to be :)

Powder River Rose wrote: "hehehe....with all the reading and life stuff being socially active on the internet is easier said than done. Good luck in 2015."

Very true! Thanks for the luck! Good luck to you as well! ^_^

Tiffany wrote: "hehehe. Well, I'm glad we were able to help you meet your goal, and you're welcome to be as social or as anti-social as you want to be :)"

Thanks. ^_^

This year, I've decided to try a fun reading challenged I found over at Goodwill Librarian on Facebook (love them!): https://the100greatestbookschallenge....

So, while I doubt my Facebook friends will care, I thought I would note it here which challenges were checked off for each book I read this year in hopes to get them all checked. And since I just finished reading my first book of 2015 (yay!), here we go:

1) 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success by Amy Morin

Checklist success:

- A book with a number in the title
- A book by a female author
- A nonfiction book
- A book by an author you've never read before

I tend not to read books like this (self improvement and all that), but hey, it's the beginning of a new year. A little outside wisdom never hurt anyone, and I'm working really hard to get out of my rut. This book is a great resource for people trying to get back on their feet, provided they're ready to do acknowledge where they could use some help.

There were a couple of small annoyances here and there, but not enough for me to not keep this book close while I'm trying to make some changes. Whee, nonfiction! Crazy stuff!

I love that "a book with a number in the title" was one of your challenges for the year :) That's awesome.

Tiffany wrote: "I love that "a book with a number in the title" was one of your challenges for the year :) That's awesome."

Yeah, I really like their list. ^_^ It has some that aren't too surprising, but then there are others that are unique and fun, like a book written by an author with your same initials or a book with antonyms in the title.

Summer wrote: "Yeah, I really like their list. ^_^ It has some that aren't too surprising, but then there are others that are unique and fun, like a book written by an author with your same initials or a book with antonyms in the title."

Oh my gosh, I'm *totally* checking out that list! :)

I checked out the list too. Great idea Summer.

I'm glad you two like the list! ^_^

2) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (and Jane Austen)

Checklist success:

- A book with nonhuman characters (zombies!)
- A book set in a different country (England)
- A book a friend recommended

What I'm about to tell you is something that makes many people gasp in horror. I... hate Jane Austen. Not the person, mind. She's actually a rather important female figure of her time and I respect her for that. But as a writer? I think she stinks.

This opinion began due to reading Persuasion many years ago. My friend has frequently persisted that Pride and Prejudice should be attempted despite my disfavor of the author. I have said no on many occasions, but I finally relented upon her offering up this version of the story. (Note: I feel like I'm typing like I've been reading an Austen novel. Dear gods, make it stop!)

You see, I'm a sucker for a good zombie book/movie/game. But the problem with this zombie story is that it completely ruined the novel. I may never have read the original, but as a person who has, uh, lived in America, I know the basics of this story. And nowhere in my recollection is Elizabeth Bennett a bi-polar psychotic. Seriously, she is so... crazy in this version of the book that I just couldn't take her seriously.

In fact, I couldn't take any of the characters seriously... except perhaps Mr. Bennett. Everything was just pushed too far into the ridiculous.

I will say that I appreciated some of the perverted humor in it (Elizabeth noting Mr. Darcy's package as a note of love, for example). I actually have no idea if Austen put that in as a subtle nod or if Grahame-Smith is just a dirty dirty man, but hey, I'm also a 12-year-old boy in many respects, so it worked for me.

Lastly, I can't help but mention that I just don't get Austen romance. The characters are barely around each other and yet BAM looooooooove blooms. (Despite half the book being about misinterpretation and dickishness.) I actually have a soft spot for hate-turned-love romance stories, but there actually needs to be development... you know, beyond a letter that says, "Hey, guess what, I'm not a dick, I just play one so that rumors about me sound more true!"

*Cough* Okay, Austen rant over.

3) Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole

Checklist success:

- A book with magic

I really wanted to like this book. Donna recommended the series to me and for that alone I really wanted to like it! But, well, I think part of the issue was that it was the fifth book in the series. (What can I say, I have a knack for reading books out of order.) I say this because I think I may have enjoyed earlier books in the series based on characters met that were obviously past main characters. (Except for the witch character. If she said the words "ah snap" one more time...)

Spoilers ahead:

I think my biggest issues were that nothing much really happens for a good deal of the book. Both characters are stuck in a house... and hey, we're still stuck here... and yup, still stuck. Which, yay for the reason the leads develop a liking for each other, but I desperately needed a change of pace.

So, when the female lead turns mortal, I thought things would start popping... and they did (sort of), but then things became a bigger mess. I didn't like the main characters together, to be honest. I like possessiveness in books every so often ("MINE" can be sexy when uttered... once or twice), but it felt like it became too... dominating after a while (and one-sided). Also, the female lead never DID anything. I mean, sure, she resurrected herself... I guess there's that. But then she's immediately put in danger and used as a plot device for the male lead. And then she has to be resurrected again and this time due to the male lead saving her. *Sigh*

I will say that I did think the author had a strong skill for writing in and of itself. And, I did appreciate that the male lead was the virgin and the female lead experienced. (That is the second reason I desperately wanted to like this book.) But, erm, that was about it for the yay stuff.

4) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Checklist success:

- A book from your childhood
- A book you can finish in a day (and did!)

I loved this book as a child. It was one of the first doors I had into the world of science fiction and the fantastic. As an adult, I think some of the wonder and excitement has dimmed, but expectations become higher as we become older. And I couldn't help but have high expectations with a beloved book from my past. *Shrug*

The fact is that the book itself is not that greatly written. It's choppy, sometimes off rhythm, and provided unnecessary dialogue here and there. But it's also a book about pushing past the expectations of ourselves and rising higher. It's about pushing past fears and flaws by recognizing them both head-on. It's also a science fiction novel written in the 60's with a female protagonist who rocks at math. (She's also bratty, but hey, that doesn't take the point away.)

I was uneasy with the Christian themes that wove through the novel, but wasn't offended by them. I do find it interesting that I didn't remember there being any religion in it when I was a kid. (Perhaps because it was an accepted part of life when I was a child?)

Anyway, I'm glad I read it again. I didn't fall in love with it like I did decades ago, but it was a thoughtful read nonetheless.

Summer wrote: "3) Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole

Checklist success:

- A book with magic

I really wanted to like this book. Donna recommended the series to me and for t..."

I will admit that this was not one of my favorite books in the series. On the whole, it's one of the most enjoyable series going, but the individual books aren't all on the same level of yum. Every once in a while you get a place holder created for the purposes of a later story.

Donna wrote: "I will admit that this was not one of my favorite books in the series. On the whole, it's one of the most enjoyable series going, but the individual books aren't all on the same level of yum. Every once in a while you get a place holder created for the purposes of a later story."

Yeah, that's fair. I'm not writing Cole off completely. I think I'll read one of the earlier books in the series before I decide anything more concrete. Of course, I should've realized there was a reason why that was the only Cole book at the used book store. *Cough*

Proving that no matter how we progress there is still a market for uber-Alpha males. At least in Cole's case they are happily offset on most occasions by a snarky uber-female.

5) Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Checklist success:

- A book with more than 500 pages
- A book that became a movie
- A book with a color in the title
- A book my mom loves

I bought this book as a white elephant gift this last Christmas (my friends do one every year). One of my friends read it and said, "Summer, this book is terrible... but it's also fascinating and I want to read the next two. What is wrong with me?"

And thus, I decided to read it myself. I mean, come on, there's so much controversy going on with this trilogy, how could I not finally pick it up?

The writing... is bad... really really bad. I don't know if James thinks English majors talk like Anastasia Steele (they don't), but it was awful hearing the main character constantly saying things that just made me pause and shake my head. At the same time, I must admit, the sex scenes (well, most of them), were pretty damn good. *Shrug* I won't apologize for thinking that.

What I don't get about the controversy of this book is that so many people protest that it's not romantic and villainizes S&M. This confuses me. It's NOT a romantic story. It's a story about a man who was abused as a child and the outpourings that occur in his "current" life because of it. And it's a story about a girl who has so little experience with men that she allows herself to be abused in order to be "loved." It's actually a rather sad story. And I appreciate that about it.

So, well, honestly, I think I'll read the other two at some point this year (there's a trilogy to be read on the checklist after all!). I'm curious and intrigued, and hey, like I said, the sex was hot.

But, erm, I do hope James learned to write better overall (the parts without sex, for example). It would make it a much better experience. *Crosses fingers*

6) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Checklist success:

- A mystery or thriller
- A book that scares you
- A book that made you cry
- A book that was originally written in a different language (Swedish)

When it comes to print, I didn't think I could really find a book that would "scare" me. But then, I took that literally, as in "I am literally scared right this moment!" That really doesn't happen to me in literature. But with this book, it was the ideas, the actions, the awfulness that I know lives in this world that I found terrifying. Rape, animal torture/killing... yeah, those scare the hell out of me. (And in this case, made me cry... and at one point I had to have my fiance come in the bedroom and hold me as a horrid scene occurred just before I was about to go to sleep for the night.)

Ahem, anyway. I... liked this book far more than I thought I would. I liked the gritty, raw reality of it. But more than that, I liked the mystery. I'm pretty good at sniffing out a killer before all is revealed (TV/movie/book), and it never gets old for me. Although, amusingly enough, this isn't a genre I normally read.

I did think the book could have been about 150 to 200 pages lighter. There was a lot of fluff and set-up that made me impatient to get to the meat of it all... and the characters could have used a touch more development (a lot happens to them, but I'm not sure I ever felt close to them, if that makes sense).

In either case, I'm glad this book checklist pushed me out of my comfort zone.

7) The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Checklist success:

- A book set in high school
- A book based on or turned into a TV show

I was rather sad when The Lying Game TV show was canceled. At the same time, I was intrigued by eyeing the back of the first book in this series and realizing that the TV show went in a VERY different way than the books did. My curiosity needed to know the differences!

I rather liked the book. It was YA, so it was a light, fast read. The characters were interesting (and in the case of Ethan, I much preferred him this way) as is the mystery behind the main character's murdered sister (I also much preferred Sutton dead as opposed to alive and awful in the TV show).

What I didn't like was how the book was written: 1st and 3rd person simultaneously. It actually gave me a bit of a headache sometimes. So, Sutton is telling us this story in her voice (as some form of ghost following Emma around... or something)... but we also hear from Emma about her thoughts and feelings (in 3rd person). It felt weird and awkward at times. I would've preferred it being 3rd person with Emma only (or heck, 1st person with Emma).

8) Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

Checklist success:

- 2/3 of the way done with a trilogy

There are no words to describe how awful this book was. Sure, the writing was bad in the first book, so I wasn't too surprised by it being bad in this one (although, if possible, I think it may have worsened). But the plots were just... glaringly blase, cliche, and too easy.

And the worst offender of this book: the sex scenes were incredibly dull. And there were dozens, just like the first book. Only this time I began to dread them. And in the case of one sex scene, I actually had a pained wince on my face during the whole thing.

Lastly, if I hear the words "Oh my" or anything at all dealing with an "inner goddess," I will launch toward the sound and strangle it to death.

So, you missed the drinking game wherein you have a shot every time you read the words "Oh my"? I heard it made the whole experience vaguely tolerable, or maybe just vague. If you're going to torture yourself with the third book, perhaps you should give it a try.

Donna wrote: "So, you missed the drinking game wherein you have a shot every time you read the words "Oh my"? I heard it made the whole experience vaguely tolerable, or maybe just vague. If you're going to tortu..."

Well, I've gone down the rabbit hole thus far, I might as well get a checklist point out of the way (trilogy) for my troubles! ... But yes, perhaps a drinking game would help... yeeeees.

9) Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler

Checklist success:

- A Pulitzer Prize-winning book (1989)

While there are exceptions to the rule, I can't help but claim that I despise literary fiction (well, modern literary fiction). Why? Because nothing actually happens! It's all about people just... living. And while I can see how this could appeal to people, it just isn't enough for me.

It's not that Tyler doesn't write well. She does. It's just that I was completely uninterested in the plot of the story. Also, none of the characters in the book were even a lick likable. I'm fine with characters having flaws... but when a reader (me) starts to wonder if this book would've ended better if the car ride turned into a crash when the main female character didn't have her seatbelt on... *Shrug* That tells you something.

9.5) A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde

Checklist success:

- A play

There was a lot of "wit" spewing about in this play. However, it depended on the topic whether I appreciated it or not. There was a lot of "battle of the sexes" chat and some about poor vs. rich. Interesting, sure, but it became a bit tedious after awhile.

The final two acts did help the play immensely, I thought. However, I was a bit annoyed that the "witty bachelor" character was a cardboard cutout of the "witty bachelor" in The Picture of Dorian Grey. Heck, they even say the exact same line! ("Men marry because they are tired; women because they are curious. Both are disappointed.")

Anyway, I love Oscar Wilde. Dorian Grey is one of my favorite books and always will be. But... eh, I could pass on seeing this play unless it fell into my lap.

10) Actors Anonymous by James Franco

Checklist success:

- A book with bad reviews (2.49 Goodreads rating)

I like James Franco, I do... but dear gods, I hate him for this awful AWFUL book. And I hate this checklist for being the cause of me reading this AWFUL AWFUL book.

This book had no point. It's about actors with a twist on AA for actors. Except there's really no cohesion to the chapters. And there's so much vulgarity for no other reason than because Franco clearly just wants to use "naughty" words and situations so he can... I don't know, giggle?

I could say more, but dear gods, it just isn't worth it. Instead, I leave you with a quote from Billy Madison that I think works perfectly here: "At no point in your rambling, incoherent [writing] were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having [read] it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

Summer, you're one of those people I always wish would post their reviews on the books. I know not everyone uses Goodreads in the same way, but almost every time I read your thoughts about a book here in your thread, I want to run over to the review on the book and "like" it.

What Tiffany said.

Tiffany wrote: "Summer, you're one of those people I always wish would post their reviews on the books. I know not everyone uses Goodreads in the same way, but almost every time I read your thoughts about a book h..."

Donna wrote: "What Tiffany said."

*^_^* Thank you both. I used to post reviews years ago, but then I started thinking about how my full name is on this account... and how I want to be a published author someday... and then I started to worry that my reviews might catch up to me one day.

11) Rules for Aging: Resist Normal Impulses, Live Longer, Attain Perfection by Roger Rosenblatt

Checklist success:

- A "funny" book (those are my quotes)

I picked up this book specifically because it was supposed to be funny.

Unfortunately, it was less funny and more... meh. And sometimes sexist. And sometimes contradictory. And oftentimes... I don't know, lecture-like?

There were brief moments when I thought something was mildly funny (and perhaps one time I chortled at the start of it). And there were a couple of bits of "wisdom" that I appreciated. But mostly, I just liked how short and large-fonted this book was. It was a speed-read which is always a plus with a 600-page book on the horizon that will require more time than the average novel.

12) A Christmas Promise by Shelley Bradley

Checklist success:

- A book set during Christmas
- A book based entirely on its cover ("Christmas! I need a Christmas book! Sure, this one!")

I'm starting to get a bit run down by the lack of good storytelling abounding around me. Bradley's prose was redundant, uninspired, and used waaaaay too many similes. The main female character was highly unlikable, partially due to the author trying to force her into a role that I didn't appreciate one iota. The character is INDEPENDENT! Yes! And if you do or say one thing that might be viewed as taking away her INDEPENDENCE then you are a terrible terrible person who should be shot! Of course, this character is also constantly making bad choices. Which means that the people trying to steer her clear of them are less villainous and more... uh, protective and smarter than her? *Shrug* It just started getting embarrassing. And it made her not wanting to be with the male lead so very contrived.

At one point, the male lead gives up and tells her she's done. I knew it wasn't going to end that way, but I still cheered and considered just stopping there as a way to make this story actually have a happy ending in my view.

13) The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

Checklist success:

- A book that came out the year you were born (1980)

There are no words to describe how much I loathed every one of the 599 pages of this horrid novel. The prose was clunky, randomly flowery, and in desperate need of an editing job. Oh, and to repeat myself from an above review, I say: If I hear the words "Cain is for Carlos and Delta is for Cain" one more time I will launch toward the sound and strangle it to death!

Now, here's where I get a little spoilery, so be warned:

In the end, the bad guy, this Carlos (the one that I kept repeatedly hearing about in that bastard phrase, among other long-winded things) *doesn't even get caught/killed.* He gets away! What the hell was the freakin' POINT of this book?

And lastly, and perhaps the worst transgression, is that the author attempted to give this book a romance. This romance "bloomed" through the main character (we'll call him "Jason") kidnapping the woman (Marie), slapping her around, and threatening to kill her over and over for several hours.

She escapes, trusts the wrong persons (due to stupidity), and winds up in an almost rape situation. Who saves her? Jason, of course! And she is oh so grateful! So grateful, in fact, that she wants to help him! And have sex with him! And hey, now that my panties are off, I totally love you 36 hours after you had beaten and threatened me! So sexy!

Basically, the woman becomes a reward for Jason. And that makes me want to tear this book apart with my teeth. If she stayed with him for awhile afterward due to fear for her safety and the man had, in fact, saved her from a bad fate? Sure, fine. If this then developed (OVER TIME) into a romance, after more than just a couple non-threatening conversations, their being together might've actually been interesting. Instead, she's a tool for him to use throughout the book. A reward and a tool. Yay feminism. >_> <_<

Oh, and don't get me started about the other two women who were somewhat highlighted in this book. Just... don't.

14) The Door Into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein

Checklist success:

- A book set in the future

This book started off fantastic. The author's voice was strong and likeable, and the cat was just awesome-sauce. But, alas, the cat moved out of the story until the very end and the main character had to hold his own without his furry friend... and that didn't go well. Dan (the main character) just isn't very interesting, despite all the time travel shenanigans that occur in this book. (The book's main timeline is in the future from the book's publish date, and then goes 30 more years in the future... and then back and forth a bit.)

There's far too much techno-babble for my taste and the villains are rather meh. Oh, and the "romance" (if you can call it that)? Ew. Ew ew ew ew ew. Bordering on pedophelia EW.

At least the cat got a happy ending.

15) Greenfire by Saranne Dawson

Checklist success:

- A book with a one-word title
- A book written by an author with your same initials

I really don't think this book should be classified as a romance novel. The main character (spoiler alert) has sex with a man that isn't really her romantic pairing. Which, hey, is fine with me... provided it's a journey worth waiting for. So, I went with it, and assumed that the lackluster sex scene (it was over practically before it started) was because he was the wrong guy.

The female main doesn't actually meet the "right" guy until there's about 100 pages left of the book. They have sex (if you can call it that, what with it being even MORE vague than the previous sex scene) on the very last page.

So, for the above alone, this book gets a hiss. But worse still, the writing was just... bad. And the female lead is supposed to be the ruler of a nation... but is constantly bullied and betrayed due to her naivety. Which, if it was a plot point that she sucked at being a ruler would be one thing. But I'm constantly told by the author that she's so damn awesome and good at it.

At the very end of the book, she gets one good idea... which she then runs by two men to make sure it's a plan worth doing. *Smashes face against desk*

16) How to Seduce a Duke by Kathryn Caskie

Checklist success:

- A classic romance

This plot might not surprise you, but here we go: there's this rake and he refuses to marry... and there's this virgin girl and she's all proud. And then they have sex. Smitten!

Except, uh, well, that would've been better than the middle which made this story even worse than a cliche. The characters started off hating each other. And while I love those starts to a romance, it never really makes sense why they stop hating each other. *Shrug*

While I could go on about how much I disliked "gel" for girl and "Lud" for Lord, I realize that that's just my personal preferences for writing. What I can go on about is this couple's first sexual encounter... and how it was basically rape. The main female character decides to drink a bunch of wine (and notes to the reader that she's a lightweight) and then falls over mostly unconscious over male main character. He takes her home via his carriage. On the way, the female main attempts to seduce the main male. Well, sort of. She's half-asleep and is completely convinced she's having a dream of seducing him. Despite him knowing she's completely sauced, he has sex with her anyway. >_< >_< >_<

And that's about the time that it took everything in me just to finish the damn book. Oh, and then later the female lead notes to the reader that them having sex was all her fault.

And they lived happily ever after...

17) Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho by Jon Katz

Checklist success:

- A book based on a true story
- A book that takes place in your hometown

I picked up this book for two reasons. First, as a geek, I was instantly enamored at the idea of reading about two fellow geeks that came from the same place I did. Second, it's really hard to find books set in Idaho, so I snatched the hell out of this book!

The problem is that this book just didn't live up to its potential. Granted, it's dated. It was published in 2000, so the idea of what a "geek" is and how they are viewed in society has changed (and become more complicated, I think). At the same time, I was still a geek in 2000, so I think it's fair that I didn't like Katz's definition of who I was (and am) one bit. In fact, according to Katz, I'm not a geek at all. At least, not one that counts.

For him, geeks are actually computer geeks: those that know their way around the inside of a computer and live on the Internet. They're also hella smart and hate authority, blah blah blah.

For a book trying it's best to prove that geeks shouldn't be cast into negative assumed roles... it sure does assume what a geek is that's very (VERY) limited.

It also pretty much ignored women, save for a couple letters written about geeks, one from a goth girl (not a geek, but different than the norm for a point), and one from a mom.

I did appreciate that the book weighed-in on the Columbine shooting and talked about how judging a person based on their clothing or interests does not make someone a killer (unless said interests are hurting animals, etc.). Also, it talks about isolation and how people who are different tend to have a harder road to walk, particularly in high school. I won't disagree with that.

As for the story of the main two boys... eh. I was slightly interested in some parts, but I mostly just didn't feel involved. Their story was so far removed from me that I wound up resenting them in some ways. Not because they were different from me, but because I was told that I am not a geek, because I'm *not* them. And that didn't sit well.

18) The Ruby Circle by Richelle Mead

Checklist success:

- A book published this year
- A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet

This was the last book in the Bloodlines series. Sadly, I'm relieved. Well, mostly I'm just disappointed in how such an awesome series just... dwindled into meh by the end. I never thought I would give a Richelle Mead book two stars. Never! But, well, there it is.

First off, there was a baby... and this baby becomes a major plot point and basically takes over the lives of our two main characters. They're so damn young! It was ridiculous that they married in the last book. And even MORE ridiculous that they're now parents (granted, the baby was plopped on their lap due to other random plots that were rather meh). And if someone called Sydney "Mrs. Ivashkov" one more time, my feminist side was going to go punch someone in the nose.

Also, I found it so damn sad that Sydney (the female lead) basically bullied the male lead into giving up a piece of himself (his spirit power). The end of the story was "happy" because he went on anti-depressants in order to cut off his power so he could be a good husband and daddy? No. NO NO NO NO NO.

And last, but certainly not least... the plot was just so... bland. And I really just didn't care. And when you're six books into a series? That should just not happen.

I did appreciate that Sydney got to do a ton of dangerous and badass things in this book though. So, uh, props for that.

19) I'm the One That I Want by Margaret Cho

Checklist success:

- A memoir

There are parts of this book that I just didn't get, but that's my fault more than Cho's. I think being white is never more present than when I read books written by a person who isn't. I wasn't so much ashamed as perhaps feeling slightly guilty over not being able to empathize.

The rest of the book, however... how to describe this. It wrecked me (in a good way, if that makes sense) and yet entirely lightened my soul. (And I'm not a sappy person, so take that last statement with some major praise for Cho.)

I'm keeping this book to read again. Perhaps a second or third reading will even allow me to listen to her.

20) Nightseer by Laurell K. Hamilton

Checklist success:

- A book written by someone under 30 (she was 29 when this was published)
- A popular author's first book

It took me a month to read this... well, I suppose you can call it a book. Now, I know that sounds mean, but here's the thing: in order to call something a book, it needs a plot, a climax, and a resolution. None of those things were present here.

The writing was clumsy, which, sure it's her first book, so that makes sense. But it was... reeeeally clumsy. And confusing. And Hamilton kept switching from 3rd person omnipotent and 3rd person limited, which drove me crazy. Also, I'm fairly certain no editor read through this. There were so many typos that reading started feeling like trekking through a mine field.

And then, at the very end, when I didn't think this book could get any worse, the main character weds (in a non-wedding way that's exactly like a wedding, but isn't) this guy she doesn't like (and was forced to be with). We find out she's a virgin and I just raise my hands in the air in defeat. This isn't a romance novel! Why must we go to romance novel cliches, Hamilton? Then they fight someone together in their bedchamber, laugh together, and then they're suddenly okay. The end.

*Hits head repeatedly against her desk*

21) The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Checklist success:

- A book you own but have never read (I probably should've noted this one long ago, but hey, any excuse to read this book!)

The last book took me forever to read because it was so terrible that the idea of picking it back up again brought on feelings of sadness. This book too me forever to read because the idea of finishing it and not reading its pages any longer filled me with feelings of sadness.

Ah, what an intense ride!

As I finished the book today, I held it to my chest and weeped two slow tears of both loss and joy. I have never had such an experience with a novel before!

It's hard to describe why this book is so damn awesome (and why, I think, every person in the world should read it). But to put things short, I shall say the obvious first: the author knows his way around words! The writing was so rich, flowing, and GOOD. There were portions that left echoes in my mind, my heart aching over them days after reading them.

It was an experience both universal and yet deeply personal. This one shall be reread again, for sure!

22) The Female Man by Joanna Russ

Checklist success:

- A book with antonyms in the title

I... don't really know how to describe my reaction to this book. It was both awful and terribly insightful. The story itself was badly written, confusing, and jumbled. I also despise fiction where authors place themselves as a character (I find it both arrogant and silly-in-a-bad-way).

But sometimes, often out of nowhere, the prose would clear (or walk away) and say something to me as a woman that would cause me to stop and take a breath and think.

Those moments (while rare) are the only reason I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1.

23) Lair of the Lion by Christine Feehan

Checklist success: N/A

I believe I've mentioned this pet peeve before, but I really (REALLY) hate it when authors present a female character as strong (by telling us), but then spend the rest of the book proving how that's a lie. For example, the "I never cry, except somehow I cry every five seconds in this book, and it shames me, but boo hoo, let me cry a little longer, oh wow, this is so out of character for me!"

Look, crying in itself is not a bad thing. But when a woman is constantly crying and/or fainting when I'm told she neeever does that? Yeah, that's frustrating. And makes her seem unable to handle her emotions in times of need of such things.

She frequently tells the love interest how "unruly" she is, but this becomes more of a flirty game than anything else. "I can leave my room anytime I wanna! Tee hee, you found me! Let's have sex, you rogue!" And when the love interest treats her like crap and as a sex object, she can't help herself. She's overwhelmed by lust, so hey, so what if he's bossing her around and taking all her power away. At least he's still got that awesome cock!

The only plus I can really give this book is that it began with some promise. There seemed to be chemistry between the main characters and an interesting plot brewing... alas, the constant sex starting a hundred or so pages later combined with a rather meh plot ruined all that. It seemed the minute the main couple took off their clothes, the author forgot that there was more to tell of the story (including building on the characters as a couple, because, uh, constant doing it is NOT bonding).

Summer wrote: "23) Lair of the Lion by Christine Feehan

Checklist success: N/A

I believe I've mentioned this pet peeve before, but I really (REALLY) hate it when authors present a fe..."

hehehehe... I love this review :)

Tiffany wrote: "hehehehe... I love this review :)"

Ha, thanks! ^_^

Summer wrote: "23) Lair of the Lion by Christine Feehan

Checklist success: N/A

I believe I've mentioned this pet peeve before, but I really (REALLY) hate it when authors present a fe..."

Preach sister! I feel bad that your challenge books seem to be disappointing you when they're supposed to be expanding your horizons. Well, except The Last Unicorn. I totally envy you that first read experience. It's still awesome after a half dozen reads, but oh, that first one.

Donna wrote: "Preach sister! I feel bad that your challenge books seem to be disappointing you when they're supposed to be expanding your horizons. Well, except The Last Unicorn. I totally envy you that first read experience. It's still awesome after a half dozen reads, but oh, that first one."

It really has been a year filled with mostly meh or ugh! books for me, hasn't it? *Sniffle*

But yes, yay for The Last Unicorn! The bad ones are awful, sure, but then you come across one of those books that you know will be with you for life and, yeah, that makes it all worth it!

24) Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Checklist success:

- A book more than 100 years old (132 years, to be precise!)

This book showed a lot of promise... and delivered on a slim few. I expected action and adventure! Guns and swordplay! Some walking the plank and sleeping with the fishes! Some treasure hunting and perhaps a betrayal or two! Alas, while some of those things did happen... they happen with little or no flourish. Sure, pirates fought and died, but it just... happened. Like Stevenson was like, "Blah blah, yeah, they died, let's get on with the story now!" Problem is, that *was* the story. Seriously, there was nothing else there.

Treasure hunt? Pffft. Don't get me started on that flaccid saw-it-coming twist that lasted about five seconds.

It didn't help that the main character was about as exciting to follow as watching paint dry. And even worse, there was all this betrayal business going on left and right in this story, but it was always discovered before-hand and dealt with in a ho-hum manner.

On the plus side, I didn't have an issue with the writing itself (that is, it had a decent flow and was fast enough to read). I also moved my rating from a 2 to a 3 purely because I loved Long John Silver as a character/villain. If this book would have been taken over from Hawkins by that guy halfway through? It would've saved the book.

25) Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

Checklist Success:

- A trilogy

Somehow, somewhere, this Reading Challenge has become some hideous monster that has led me down some rabbit holes that even Alice would've run away from. I mean, I read the final book of this damn Fifty Shades series purely to finish the trilogy challenge on this list. WHY? WHY WOULD I DO THAT TO MYSELF?

*Cough* Anyway, a review... uh, sure, I guess I have the energy to write one after being utter exhausted from all the awful.

This book was degrading, infuriating, disgusting, and romanticized abuse to a level I have never before seen (yes, even more than the other two books!). The only thing that would've saved this book is if Christian Grey were struck dead by lightning. And then I still would've hated the parts before, but damn, I could've felt a small amount of positive feels.

(Spoilers ahead) I don't think there is anything in the fictional world more depressing than Ana and Christian Grey (I should just call her "Mrs. Grey" as her entire being is pushed away just as much as her name was gobbled up and taken from her) having children. Like, multiple children. Dear gods, the therapy that those kids will endure...

I feel like Count Rugen from the Princess Bride just informed me that this book sucked one year of my life away.

Okay, that's it. That's all I can muster. I'm utterly exhausted by so much ANGER from reading this horrid piece of crap.

In other news, I'm officially halfway through 50 books and it's September... 4 months to read 25 books! Ahhhhhhhhh! *Runs around in circles*

Summer wrote: "25) Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James

Somehow, somewhere, this Reading Challenge has become some hideous monster that has led me down some rabbit holes that even Alice would've run away from. I mean, I read the final book of this damn Fifty Shades series purely to finish the trilogy challenge on this list. WHY? WHY WOULD I DO THAT TO MYSELF?"

hehehehehehe

I'd be more sorry for you, if your adventures haven't given me some good laughs. Maybe you should check with us first to avoid anymore torture sessions.

Donna wrote: "I'd be more sorry for you, if your adventures haven't given me some good laughs. Maybe you should check with us first to avoid anymore torture sessions."

Ha. Well, at least my misery is entertaining! ^_~ To be fair, I knew what I was getting into with that trilogy. But I wanted "read a trilogy" marked off my checklist so bad that I told myself it wouldn't be too awful and would be over soon enough. (I was sooooo wrong.)

I'm currently reading far too many nonfiction books at the same time and one fiction novel that's actually going decently. So, *fingers crossed*