I skipped over one of the "between the numbers" books because they didn't have it at my library at the time, but other than that one book, I'm completely caught up on my Stephanie Plum stories! Fortunately the sixteenth book comes out this summer! I love these novels and I'm so glad I read them, and I'll miss spending so much time with Stephanie Plum and her crazy friends and family.
Finger-Lickin' Fifteen was a great story, like all the others. I can't get enough of this series, seriously!
16 down, 84 to go!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
15) Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Another Stephanie Plum, I'm nearly caught up on the series. I finished Fearless Fourteen last weekend, but didn't have the time to write it up yet. It was really good, I liked this story a lot and it made me laugh out loud.
Katherine Hiegl is apparently signed on to play Stephanie Plum in the first feature film of these books (so, a film version of the first book "One for the Money"). Not sure how I feel about it, but she's already dyed her hair brown to try to win over fans -- her showing a bit of dedication to the role made me feel a little better about her being cast. I'm just not sure she's who I was picturing as Stephanie.
15 down! 85 to go!
Katherine Hiegl is apparently signed on to play Stephanie Plum in the first feature film of these books (so, a film version of the first book "One for the Money"). Not sure how I feel about it, but she's already dyed her hair brown to try to win over fans -- her showing a bit of dedication to the role made me feel a little better about her being cast. I'm just not sure she's who I was picturing as Stephanie.
15 down! 85 to go!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
14) The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
I'm a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, and The Last Song did not disappoint. I was, I will admit, hesitant when it came to starting this one, but once I finally opened it up I read it in a day. I couldn't even get to sleep last night until I turned the final page.
Why was I hesitant? Well. I've been seeing the trailers for the film version, and unfortunately the image of Miley Cyrus as the main character, Ronnie, threw me off. I'm just not a big fan of Miley. Nicholas Sparks actually wrote the screenplay for the film before he wrote this novel, specifically for Miley Cyrus to be in the film. It was just not doing it for me.
Once I got over that though, as I just said - I could. not. put. this. novel. down.
Some people say that Nicholas Sparks is "predictable" -- but I bet those people don't actually read Nicholas Sparks. Sure, he has a bit of a formula with his stories (yes, they will take place in North Carolina, and there will be some sort of love story), but I find that each of his novels has a uniqueness to it as well that makes me love them all for various reasons. His characters are individuals, they aren't cookie-cutter characters. You also never know if his story will have a "and they lived happily ever after" or end in utter tragedy.
I love his writing.
Read The Last Song, especially if you're already a Nicholas Sparks fan. Don't let Miley deter you. ;-)
(Also, I will so see the movie, regardless of Miley. I love Greg Kinnear and I do think the film version will be great).
14 down, 86 to go!
Why was I hesitant? Well. I've been seeing the trailers for the film version, and unfortunately the image of Miley Cyrus as the main character, Ronnie, threw me off. I'm just not a big fan of Miley. Nicholas Sparks actually wrote the screenplay for the film before he wrote this novel, specifically for Miley Cyrus to be in the film. It was just not doing it for me.
Once I got over that though, as I just said - I could. not. put. this. novel. down.
Some people say that Nicholas Sparks is "predictable" -- but I bet those people don't actually read Nicholas Sparks. Sure, he has a bit of a formula with his stories (yes, they will take place in North Carolina, and there will be some sort of love story), but I find that each of his novels has a uniqueness to it as well that makes me love them all for various reasons. His characters are individuals, they aren't cookie-cutter characters. You also never know if his story will have a "and they lived happily ever after" or end in utter tragedy.
I love his writing.
Read The Last Song, especially if you're already a Nicholas Sparks fan. Don't let Miley deter you. ;-)
(Also, I will so see the movie, regardless of Miley. I love Greg Kinnear and I do think the film version will be great).
14 down, 86 to go!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
13) Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
*giggle* *snort* *hardy-har-har*
Sorry, excuse me, I'm just having a little laugh over the fact that my 13th book of 2010 was one called Plum Lucky. I didn't connect those two things before writing my post title. *giggles again*
Oh! AND, I'm adding it to my blog ON St. Patrick's Day, and it's a St. Patrick's Day related novel!
Ahem.
So! 13 down! This was another Stephanie Plum "between-the-numbers" novel, and it was probably my favourite of the between-the-numbers that I've read so far. It had less of the silly supernatural to it, and more of an interesting case. I'm heading off to the library today to pick up the next three books in the series, which should completely catch me up until new Stephanie Plum books are written by the ever-so-great Janet Evanovich (and I do think 16 is coming out this year, very soon, in fact!).
13 down, 87 to go! This "March Break" thing has been great for my reading challenge... I'm going to keep pushing myself this week, see how far I can get! It is only Wednesday after all!
Sorry, excuse me, I'm just having a little laugh over the fact that my 13th book of 2010 was one called Plum Lucky. I didn't connect those two things before writing my post title. *giggles again*
Oh! AND, I'm adding it to my blog ON St. Patrick's Day, and it's a St. Patrick's Day related novel!
Ahem.
So! 13 down! This was another Stephanie Plum "between-the-numbers" novel, and it was probably my favourite of the between-the-numbers that I've read so far. It had less of the silly supernatural to it, and more of an interesting case. I'm heading off to the library today to pick up the next three books in the series, which should completely catch me up until new Stephanie Plum books are written by the ever-so-great Janet Evanovich (and I do think 16 is coming out this year, very soon, in fact!).
13 down, 87 to go! This "March Break" thing has been great for my reading challenge... I'm going to keep pushing myself this week, see how far I can get! It is only Wednesday after all!
12) The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
The Tale of Despereaux is a children's novel, for ages 7-12, but I read it because I'm planning on reading a novel to my grade one class starting after March Break, and this was the novel they voted for.
However, I've decided I'm going to have to overrule their votes, and choose something else.
This story is just a little too "doom and gloom" for grade one kids. It's the story of a little mouse, the only one to survive his litter, to a family who doesn't really believe he'll live long anyway. He can read, and he falls in love with a story of a knight and a princess -- only to later come across Princess Pea who lives in the castle he calls home. He falls in love with Princess Pea, but is banished to the dungeon so the rats can kill him because he broke the number one mouse rule -- do not be seen by the humans.
It continues on gloomily from there. There's a creepy jailer in the dungeon who helps Despereaux, but there are some other characters who are pretty evil -- the rat, Roscuro, and the little girl Miggery Sow with the "cauliflower ears" she developed from years of abuse.
Yeah. So not something I'm going to read to my going-on-seven-years-old students. I thought it was going to be a fun little adventure novel -- nope. It is the winner of the John Newberry Medal for American Literature for Children, but it's just not something I want to read to my class.
I think instead we'll read Charlotte's Web, it has its sad moments but it's a little more appropriate for this grade.
12 down, 88 to go!
However, I've decided I'm going to have to overrule their votes, and choose something else.
This story is just a little too "doom and gloom" for grade one kids. It's the story of a little mouse, the only one to survive his litter, to a family who doesn't really believe he'll live long anyway. He can read, and he falls in love with a story of a knight and a princess -- only to later come across Princess Pea who lives in the castle he calls home. He falls in love with Princess Pea, but is banished to the dungeon so the rats can kill him because he broke the number one mouse rule -- do not be seen by the humans.
It continues on gloomily from there. There's a creepy jailer in the dungeon who helps Despereaux, but there are some other characters who are pretty evil -- the rat, Roscuro, and the little girl Miggery Sow with the "cauliflower ears" she developed from years of abuse.
Yeah. So not something I'm going to read to my going-on-seven-years-old students. I thought it was going to be a fun little adventure novel -- nope. It is the winner of the John Newberry Medal for American Literature for Children, but it's just not something I want to read to my class.
I think instead we'll read Charlotte's Web, it has its sad moments but it's a little more appropriate for this grade.
12 down, 88 to go!
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Classics: Which Ones Are Actually Good Reads?
I've made myself a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days, and as a part of that list I decided that I'd like to read 5 'classic' novels. Novels like Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre etc. The only thing is -- I'm not sure which classic novels I should try! I'm worried that they'll be very tedious and dull and that I'll take ages to get through them.
So tell me! Which "classic" novels do you actually enjoy? Which ones should I read?
Thanks for any suggestions offered!
So tell me! Which "classic" novels do you actually enjoy? Which ones should I read?
Thanks for any suggestions offered!
11) Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
Oh, Stephanie Plum. I will be so sad when I catch up completely and don't have any new adventures of yours to read. Fortunately, Janet Evanovich is still actively writing this series.
Lean Mean Thirteen -- more Stephanie Plum, Bounty Hunter awesomeness. Read this series if you don't already. It. Is. Candy.
11 down, 89 to go!
Lean Mean Thirteen -- more Stephanie Plum, Bounty Hunter awesomeness. Read this series if you don't already. It. Is. Candy.
11 down, 89 to go!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
10) Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
I'm still on my Stephanie Plum kick. I've just finished Plum Lovin', which is one of the "Between-the-Numbers" novels, and follows book 12. The Between-the-Numbers books are very short little stories that all seem to be about a particular holiday (the first one was a Christmas story, this one was at Valentine's Day). They seem to follow the theme of a strange guy named Diesel showing up, needing Stephanie's help on a case -- hilarity and trouble ensues.
I don't like them quite as much as the regular Stephanie Plum mysteries (which are all the 'numbered' titles -- "One for the Money", "Two for the Dough", "Three to Get Deadly", etc etc up to "Finger Lickin' Fifteen" so far). They have a supernatural element to them which I think is supposed to be jokey, but it sort of takes away from the fact that the Stephanie Plum books aren't usually quite so silly as to have any supernatural elements. So, I don't know. That part sort of bothers me, but if you just take them for some mindless entertainment and a little extra time with Stephanie Plum, then they're okay.
10 books in 2010 so far! This is my 'March Break' from school, I'm hoping to be a reading machine, otherwise I'll never make it to 100 in a year! 90 more to go!
I don't like them quite as much as the regular Stephanie Plum mysteries (which are all the 'numbered' titles -- "One for the Money", "Two for the Dough", "Three to Get Deadly", etc etc up to "Finger Lickin' Fifteen" so far). They have a supernatural element to them which I think is supposed to be jokey, but it sort of takes away from the fact that the Stephanie Plum books aren't usually quite so silly as to have any supernatural elements. So, I don't know. That part sort of bothers me, but if you just take them for some mindless entertainment and a little extra time with Stephanie Plum, then they're okay.
10 books in 2010 so far! This is my 'March Break' from school, I'm hoping to be a reading machine, otherwise I'll never make it to 100 in a year! 90 more to go!
9) The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Having enjoyed the young adult novel, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, I've decided to continue to read the series. My 11-year-old brother is reading the books first, then he passes them to me. It's quite an enjoyable series -- I think anyone who likes Harry Potter or similar would enjoy these stories. They're also full of Greek Mythology references, which I enjoy because I love Greek Mythology.
The film version of The Lightning Thief was also pretty good. I took Scooter to see it last week. It was different than the book -- an example being that Percy and Annabeth were clearly high school aged teenagers in the movie, but in the book they`re only in the sixth grade -- but it had enough details to keep the story on track enough that it didn`t feel overly changed. Sure, there were missing characters and a few different locations of some of the events, but mostly it was pretty good. I`d continue to see the films if they continue to make them.
This second story in the series, The Sea of Monsters, finds Percy and Annabeth on another perilous adventure -- this time to the Sea of Monsters to face a Cyclops and attempt to rescue Grover and obtain the Golden Fleece. It`s a good little adventure. I liked the first book just a bit more than this one, but this one has a great twist ending that should make book three pretty interesting.
It`s a good series, definitely check it out if you were a Harry Potter fan or sometimes like reading some of the novels that are written for the younger crowd, but are still entertaining for adults. If you have a kids in your family, ages 10 or so and up, I definitely recommend these books.
9 down, 91 to go!
The film version of The Lightning Thief was also pretty good. I took Scooter to see it last week. It was different than the book -- an example being that Percy and Annabeth were clearly high school aged teenagers in the movie, but in the book they`re only in the sixth grade -- but it had enough details to keep the story on track enough that it didn`t feel overly changed. Sure, there were missing characters and a few different locations of some of the events, but mostly it was pretty good. I`d continue to see the films if they continue to make them.
This second story in the series, The Sea of Monsters, finds Percy and Annabeth on another perilous adventure -- this time to the Sea of Monsters to face a Cyclops and attempt to rescue Grover and obtain the Golden Fleece. It`s a good little adventure. I liked the first book just a bit more than this one, but this one has a great twist ending that should make book three pretty interesting.
It`s a good series, definitely check it out if you were a Harry Potter fan or sometimes like reading some of the novels that are written for the younger crowd, but are still entertaining for adults. If you have a kids in your family, ages 10 or so and up, I definitely recommend these books.
9 down, 91 to go!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
8) Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Oh hai -- that's right, I'm back already! I actually finished this book between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon -- like I just said, these books are like candy.
I think "Twelve Sharp" is one of my favourites in the entire series. It had a great storyline, and just enough of the love triangle (which is a love triangle I actually really enjoy and don't find 'frustrating' like in other novels).
Again: read these novels! They are laugh-out-loud funny, and so quick to read!
8 down, 92 to go!
I think "Twelve Sharp" is one of my favourites in the entire series. It had a great storyline, and just enough of the love triangle (which is a love triangle I actually really enjoy and don't find 'frustrating' like in other novels).
Again: read these novels! They are laugh-out-loud funny, and so quick to read!
8 down, 92 to go!
7) Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich
Book Seven of "The Insane Reading Goal of 2010" was my next book to read in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, "Eleven on Top". I am loving these novels. I practically read each one in one sitting -- and I'm determined to catch up to book 15, the most current book in the series, over the next few weeks. You'll notice the next few books on my list may all include Stephanie Plum, the unlikely awesome bounty hunter.
Since I'm quite far in the series, I don't want to write a synopsis lest I give you spoilers! All I can say is: read these books! They're like candy, so fun and so funny!
7 down, 93 to go!
Since I'm quite far in the series, I don't want to write a synopsis lest I give you spoilers! All I can say is: read these books! They're like candy, so fun and so funny!
7 down, 93 to go!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
6) Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
I love the TV series Sex and the City (I also loved the movie and am looking forward to its sequel). I was never an obessed SaTC fan, I didn't even get really into it until the movie version came out prompting me to borrow a friend's DVD sets. I've also never read the book.
Candace Bushnell, the author and creator of the Sex and the City world, is the author of my sixth finished novel in 2010 -- Lipstick Jungle.
I really liked this book.
The story is of three best friends in New York City, who are all powerful ladies in their respective fields, and who are all in their early 40s. They are each dealing with career and personal life problems, which are the thrust of the story. It's a fun, girly read and I liked the characters. It was a short-lived TV series, starring Brooke Shields, Lindsay Price, and Kim Raver as the title characters. I've downloaded it to give it a try, having liked the book, so I'll see how it compares (although I guess it isn't nearly as good as SaTC was, since it was cancelled after only so many episodes).
I definitely recommend this book if you're into SaTC type of stories, and I know I'll be giving Candace Bushnell's other books a try too.
6 down, 94 to go. I'm so far off of achieving 100 if I'm going statistical on it, but whatever, the challenge is on -- who knows what Reading Miracle I can pull off before the clock strikes 12 on December 31st!
Candace Bushnell, the author and creator of the Sex and the City world, is the author of my sixth finished novel in 2010 -- Lipstick Jungle.
I really liked this book.
The story is of three best friends in New York City, who are all powerful ladies in their respective fields, and who are all in their early 40s. They are each dealing with career and personal life problems, which are the thrust of the story. It's a fun, girly read and I liked the characters. It was a short-lived TV series, starring Brooke Shields, Lindsay Price, and Kim Raver as the title characters. I've downloaded it to give it a try, having liked the book, so I'll see how it compares (although I guess it isn't nearly as good as SaTC was, since it was cancelled after only so many episodes).
I definitely recommend this book if you're into SaTC type of stories, and I know I'll be giving Candace Bushnell's other books a try too.
6 down, 94 to go. I'm so far off of achieving 100 if I'm going statistical on it, but whatever, the challenge is on -- who knows what Reading Miracle I can pull off before the clock strikes 12 on December 31st!
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