Goal: 30 | Read so far: 57
List of Books Read in 2013:
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Interspersing biological science with the human story of a daughter who longed to know the mother she lost when she was four, this book lived up to every accolade it received. - Gathering of Waters by Bernice McFadden
There were so many interesting stories in this book, but none of them were told in any kind of satisfying way. Left me wanting more, but glad to be finally finished, all at once. - The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
Yawn! This book went nowhere, with no surprises along the way. The writing was perfectly competent but the story was half-hearted. - Dead To The World by Charlaine Harris
The rollicking book #4 in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Now THIS one is my favorite so far! - House Of The Lost by Sarah Rayne
This book tried to have everything: Ghosts, murder, Romanians, surprise parentage, spies, secret prisons, incest, secret births, lesbians... Ambitious but it just didn't fly for me. - Beyond All Reason by Judith Duncan
The heroine cried and angsted too much, for no reason. I couldn't see her attraction to the hero aside from the physical. And all the supporting characters were stereotypical and annoying. Fail! - Big Fish: A Novel Of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace
I really enjoyed this story of a man's attempt to finally understand his dying father in spite of -- and through -- the tall tales he always told about himself. - Darling Jim by Christian Moerk
The story within a story within a story felt gimmicky. I didn't care for the characters and there was no real sense of mystery. - The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
Mostly forgettable. - Uncle Silas by J S Le Fanu
Although this book is billed as one of the original Gothic/horror novels, I was never horrified and had a hard time even feeling much suspense. The 150 year old language made it difficult to read, and at the end, I did not feel the effort I put in had been worth it. - Whispers Of Heaven by Candice Procotr
Rich upperclass girl, engaged to rich upper class jerk, falls in love with lowly but noble (and sexy) convict. I thought this had potential it did not live up to. Also way too many descriptions of the countryside, when obviously we're reading a romance novel and that's not what we're here for. - Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
Book #3 in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Such a good beach read that when I saw four more books from this series at the thrift store, I bought them specifically for beach trips. This one might have been my favorite so far, as the characters are finally starting to get a little more complex. - The Twelve by Justin Cronin
Sequel to The Passage. I didn't think this one was quite as good as the first, but it was still completely gripping and the characterizations were so good, I felt like I knew everyone in the story. My first reaction upon finishing it was disappointment that the main battles were mostly human against human rather than human against creatures, but upon reflection I think there is a point there that men are equal in cruelty, vanity and barbarism to any monster. - The Hole We're In by Gabrielle Zevin
This book was depressing and the story was mainly pointless. But most striking was the author's obvious animosity for Seventh-day Adventists ("cleverly disguised" as Sabbath-day Adventists -- not sure why she changed the name when it was obvious who she meant?) and since I grew up SDA and the religion she described was not at all the experience I knew, I ended up with as much disdain for this book as she had for my church. - The Woman In Black by Susan Hill
Written in an old-fashioned style, this ghost story unfortunately was not scary. I am not sure why it was billed as such a gothic masterpiece. - A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd
This book started strong, but the suspense died down and the story dragged. It was a passable mystery and easily read, just not anything awesome. - The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley
Fourth in the MacKenzie brothers series. This one was shaping up to be my favorite of the four, but then it just couldn't finish. (Hahaha romance novel pun.) - Pleasure For Pleasure by Eloisa James
Fourth and last of the "Essex Sisters" series. I liked the secondary romance of this book better. The primary, in which 18 year old Josie hooked up with 35 year old Mayne, was a little tough to get behind. - Living Dead In Dallas by Charlaine Harris
#2 in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Entertaining and easy reading. I see this series being my summer guilty pleasure. - Blood Harvest by S.J. Bolton
I don't understand how this book got so many positive reviews. I thought the writing was awful -- trying to build tension with choppy chapters, constantly switching POVs. There was no flow to the story at all. The attempt at a romance was awkward and the final solution to the mystery (which of course was explained in great detail by the villain -- why?) was out of left field. - The Passage by Justin Cronin
I didn't realize this book was going to span decades like it did. I didn't realize there would be SO MANY characters who would get the spotlight, however briefly and however not-as-significant they were. I might not have read it if I knew. These things bothered me as I came across them -- so much backstory for a character who would drop out of the story, so many points of view. But all in all it was an epic story that I got lost in and really enjoyed, and felt great disappointment when it came to an end (even though the stage was set for a sequel). - Silver On The Tree by Susan Cooper
Fifth and last book in the "Dark Is Rising Sequence." Again: This is how children's fantasy should be written. Adventure, peril, bravery, persistence even through failure, but most of all behavior that kids (and adults) can relate to and lessons to be drawn out of the subtlety into your own life. - The Grey King by Susan Cooper
Fourth book in the "Dark Is Rising Sequence." Will Stanton is back, a new character is introduced, and as soon as you finish this one you have to move to the final book. - Greenwitch by Susan Cooper
Third book in the "Dark Is Rising Sequence." This one brought together the different characters from the first two books, which felt like a family reunion even though they didn't get along at first. - The Taming of the Duke by Eloisa James
This third in the "Essex Sisters" series involved Imogen, who I disliked in the first book and then liked in the second book, but it was just kind of creepy to me that she ended up paired with the sisters' guardian. Even if he was supposed to be youngish, I just couldn't get past the creep factor. - The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
I read this as a child and I never forgot the atmosphere of it. Just as good reading it as an adult. Second in the "Dark Is Rising Sequence." - Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
A perfect example of how children's fantasy/adventure should be written. Easy to read, but well written and never condescending. First book in the "Dark Is Rising Sequence." - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This was another that I really thought I would like but didn't. I found the two separate timelines much too annoying, and by the time I realized they were coming together, it was too late to be unannoyed. And there never was a big wow moment like the story seemed to promise all along. I thought it was a bit pretentious. - Little Black Dress by Susan McBride
Meh. Took way too long to unfurl and I guessed everything anyway. I didn't really like the heroine, either. - Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
First the cons: The story was, honestly, a little dull, and even though I was on the author's side, I could feel the preachiness. But the pros: Her writing is just delicious -- it's good to curl up with and savor -- and there were so many different parallels and layers in the story that it kept me thinking about it for a long time. - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
I wanted to like this -- but I couldn't find the right balance between real and unbelievable, and the writing felt a little gimmicky, a little too "look at me" from the author. - Kiss Me, Annabel by Eloisa James
Passable romance, second in the "Essex Sisters" series. It seemed to drag on a little too long, but it was a quick read anyway. - Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach
I love the author, and this book included her trademark witty asides, willingness to ask both silly and difficult questions, and ability to explain complex things in a relatable way. I think this book fell short of the the other three of hers that I read, though. For all its possiblities, I found it kind of dull. - Property Of A Lady by Sarah Rayne
I looked forward to a spooky old (possibly haunted) house story, and this was an easy quick read, but it was easy because all questions were answered by the protagonists finding an increasingly improbable number of diaries and written confessions. As such there was no real tension built. The plot was all right but the style was sophomoric. - Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart
1950s version of the "young governess caught up in sinister doings" plot. The governess in question behaved annoyingly, but I suppose that was a byproduct of the time. I thought a good portion of the description of the manor's grounds could have been cut out as it did nothing to create atmosphere and I skimmed over a lot of it. - A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
This third Flavia de Luce book lacked something, although I'm not sure what. I still find the heroine charming and her family delightful. - The Magician King by Lev Grossman
This picked right up where The Magicians left off -- with all the snark, cockiness, and grit of magic being practiced by regular humans. There were really two storylines going on here, and they met at the end in a way I found satisfying and fitting. - The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
I really loved Ferris's first book, Then We Came To The End. I did not love this one, I didn't really even like it. - A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
This YA book began rather tritely, and I thought the writing might end up being annoying, but over the course of the book its unflinching truth about the sickness of a loved one built into something very powerful. It was unsentimental but compassionate. I was very impressed. - The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
This third book in the "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" grouping didn't match the first two in sheer power of storytelling. The magical weaving of the story was just missing. - Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
This humor book was a little unpolished but that added to its charm. I wish Mindy Kaling was my best friend. - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Seems I felt the same as many others about this book -- it started off gripping and promising, but lost its way at some point before the end. I still enjoyed it, though. I'm sure there will be a movie because it read like it was written for one. - Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach
Mary Roach's science books are brilliant -- packed full of the answers to all the questions you would have asked yourself, and then some. This one focused on the ongoing history of preparing humans to be in the great unknown of space. - Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
The innocence of the Ghanaian protagonist softens the gloominess and despair of his impoverished London surroundings as he plays TV detective and tries to make a pet of a pigeon. - Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason by Helen Fielding
I needed something light and funny, so I re-read The Edge of Reason and was not disappointed. - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Very disappointed. The pacing was completely off, the huge cast of characters interchangable, and the sentence structure bad. I felt the gore was thrown in for shock value and the heroine's characterization fell apart. This third book lived up to none of its potential and it became almost a chore to read. - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The things that bothered me about the first book continued in this one, but it was still un-put-downable. I was a little disappointed at the repetitive plotline but couldn't wait to find out what happened. - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
There's no denying this story is gripping and good. I didn't like the choice of first-person-present-tense though. I thought this book could have been really excellent with less simplistic writing and storytelling. I know it was geared towards preteens and young adults, but why not introduce them to fine writing through such a good story? - A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Excellent portrait of poverty from a child's point of view. The circumstances were so despairing, but there is always hope and beauty to be found. This book was never manipulative, always even-handed and fair. - Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Good literature? No. Good writing? Not really. Entertaining? Absolutely! - The Observations by Jane Harris
I enjoyed the main character very much but the story stuck in some spots and then did not fulfill its potential by the end. - A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving
I LOVED this book. Even the minor characters were well-drawn, and the major characters were unforgettable. The storytelling was masterful and epic. This book catapulted onto my shelf of all-time favorites. - The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
I was not disappointed in this second tale of the precocious child detective Flavia de Luce. I enjoyed her voice and especially the interactions with her distasteful older sisters and the other inhabitants of her home and village. The mystery itself was just background. - Burning Marguerite by Elizabeth Inness-Brown
A quick and compelling read, the story opened up like a flower and revealed much unexpected beneath the surface story. - Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
There was a lot going on in this book, many battles for our aging and indignant hero to face, but as the title insinuates, he has to choose which of these is most important in the end. I loved the cast of characters but especially the Major himself. - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I read this when I was a teenager and loved it, but had forgotten much of the story. Now I remember why this is a classic! I loved it again! - Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper
Every cat owner/lover thinks her cat does funny and amazing things. But that doesn't mean we should all write a book about our cats and try to ascribe wildly meaningful life lessons to them. This book bugged me.
See my previous years' book lists:
39 books in 2012
34 books in 2011
27 books in 2010
13 books in 2009
6 books in 2008
57 books in 2007
34 books in 2006
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