Reading Challenges Update: January 2013

Here is where I stand with the challenges I have joined after the month of January (only challenges that I read books for this month are featured here):

E-Book (3/10)
1.  Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
2. Blowing Embers by Lauri J. Owen
3. Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang by April W. Gardner

Audio Book (1/12)
1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Graphic Novels (2/12)
1. The Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
2. The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra

100 Books in a Year (15/100)
1. Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey
2. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
3. The Woman from Paris by Santa Montefiore
4. The Watchman Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
5. The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi
6. Sophomore Campaign by Frank Nappi
7. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
8. The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra
9. Tempestuous by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes
10. Keeping Secrets by Linda Byler
11. Blowing Embers by Lauri J. Owen
12. The Thirteen by Susie Moloney
13. Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke
14. Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang by April W. Gardner
15. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

Book Blogger Recommendation (1/10)
1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Historical Fiction (2/10)
1. The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi
2. Sophomore Campaign by Frank Nappi

YA Contemporary (1/10)
1. Tempestuous by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes

Dystopia (1/15)
1. Cinder by Marissa Marr

New Adult (1/5)
1. Keeping Secrets by Linda Byler

Standalone (1/15)
1. Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey

YA/MG Fantasy (3/10)
1. Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey
2. The Secret of the Stone Frog by David Nytra
3. Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

Immortal (2/12)
1. Blowing Embers by Lauri J. Owen
2. Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

Telling Tales (2/10)
1. Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey
2. Cinder by Marissa Marr

British Books (1/12)
1. The Woman from Paris by Santa Montefiore

Free Reads (3/12)
1. The Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
2. Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang by April W. Gardner
3. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver

A to Z (10/26)
1. Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey
2. Cinder by Marissa Marr
3. The Woman from Paris by Santa Montefiore
4. The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi
5. Sophomore Campaign by Frank Nappi
6. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
7. Tempestuous by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes
8. Keeping Secrets by Linda Byler
9. Blowing Embers by Lauri J. Owen
10. Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

Witches and Witchcraft (1/10)
1. The Thirteen by Susie Moloney

Amish Fiction (1/6)
1. Keeping Secrets by Linda Byler

Paranormal Fiction (1/6)
1. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

A Thousand Mornings

Title: A Thousand Mornings
Author:  Mary Oliver

Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 9781594204777

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is a slim volume of beautiful poetry. Maybe it is because of the title, but all of the works had a misty feel to them, like morning often do. Some of my favorites were “And Bob Dylan Too”, “The First Time Percy Came Back”, “Hum, Hum”, and “I Have Decided”. But my favorite, although it truly made me tear up, was “‘For I Will Consider My Dog Percy’” which was Oliver’s spin on Christopher Smart’s “For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry”. While these were my favorites, every poem in the collection makes for wonderful reading and reflection.

Rating: 4 stars

Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang

Title: Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang
Author:  April W. Gardner

Publisher: Astraea
ISBN: 978-1-936852-71-0

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: eBook, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Not only does Gardner present wonderful life lessons for younger readers, she also brings to life a difficult time in history in a way that preteens can easily understand.  Lizzie and her "Guernsey Gang" are all great, memorable, well-rounded characters who really come to life on the page as they are forced to grow up faster than they should during a time of war.

Rating: 5 stars

Elsewhere Online: January 2013

As you know from my Stacking the Shelves posts, I review for two other websites (bookloons.com and bittenbybooks.com). As I cannot post my reviews there and here, but I would still like to count the books I read for the challenges, I am going to have a post like this at the end of the every month listing the books I reviewed and what challenges the went towards.

Title: The Secret of the Stone Frog

Author: David Nytra

Challenges: Graphic Novel, YA/MG Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Tempestuous

Author: Kim Askew & Amy Helmes

Challenges: YA Contemporary, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Keeping Secrets

Author: Linda Byler

Challenges: New Adult, A to Z, Amish, 100 Books in a Year

Title: The Thirteen
Author: Susie Moloney
Challenges: Witches and Witchcraft, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Blowing Embers

Author: Lauri J. Owen

Challenges: Ebook, Immortal, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Flying Blind

Author: Deborah Cooke

Challenges: YA/MG Fantasy, Immortal, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Heart-Shaped Box

Title: Heart-Shaped Box
Author:  Joe Hill

Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061262852

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: eBook, A to Z, Paranormal Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This was a pretty excellent ghostly horror.  It truly was terrifying in parts, but I wish the dogs were not a part of it.  Otherwise, it was a gripping, fast read.

Rating: 4 stars

Sophomore Campaign

Sophomore Campaign

by Frank Nappi

published by Sky Horse

2012

ISBN 978-1-61608-663-3

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  Historical Fiction, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Frank Nappi has done it again!  Just like The Legend of Mickey Tussler, Sophomore Campaign combines baseball with tough issues to create a home run.

After the rollercoaster ride that was the 1948 season for the minor league Milwaulkee Brewers, Arthur Murphy is not quite sure what is in store for him.  His girlfriend, Molly, has declared that her autistic son Mickey will not be returning to the team, but his contract for the 1949 season hinges on Mickey returning.  Once Molly realizes that baseball is in Mickey's blood, she relents on the condition that if Mickey ever wants to quit, Murph will let him.  Happy to have his team back, Murph starts spring training, only to learn that there is something wrong with his team captain and star player, Boxcar.  Boxcar refuses to admit anything is wrong or see a doctor, but Murph knows that he must find a good back-up, and he does in Lester Sledge.  However, Lester is African-American, and even though Jackie Robinson has made his professional debut, that type of cosmapolitan thinking has not made its way to Wisconsin where Klan activity has recently resurfaced.  Can Murph keep his team together - and keep his job - in the face of all this adversity?

Sophomore Campaign is a wonderful follow-up to The Legend of Mickey Tussler and does not suffer from the dreaded sophomore slump.  Nappi's writing easily transports the reader back to what seems to a be more simpler time until you really get there.  And with adding in issues such as autism, racism, and debilitating illness, Nappi brings to light the real mid-20th century.  Sophomore Campaign is filled with memorable characters and a story that will stay with the reader long after.

Frank Nappi has definitely hit his stride with Sophomore Campaign.  Hopefully, he has more in store for Murph and Mickey.

Rating: 4/5

The Legend of Mickey Tussler

The Legend of Mickey Tussler 

by Frank Nappi

published by Sky Horse

2012

ISBN 978-1-61608-658-9

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  Historical Fiction, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

The Legend of Mickey Tussler is at heart a baseball book.  However, Frank Nappi weaves many tough themes throughout, which makes it so much more.

Arthur Murphy is the manager of the minor league Milwaukee Brewers.  Murph keeps hoping that each season, will be their season, but 1948 is definitely not shaping up to be a winning one.  His luck changes, though, when his car breaks down on a scouting trip and he stumbles across seventeen-year-old Mickey Tussler throwing apples with perfect aim into a barrel.  Murph talks to Mickey’s parents, but his father, Clarence, tells Murph he is just wasting his time as his mother, Molly, explains that Mickey has autism.  Murph is undeterred and wins Carl over with money.  With some creative coaching, Mickey is soon the start pitcher of the Brewers, but some of his teammates cannot accept him, alienating and taunting him at every turn.  When the bullying turns nasty, Mickey is hurt, possibly ending his budding career for good.

The Legend of Mickey Tussler heavily relies on baseball, so those with no understanding of the game may be lost.  However, for those who can at least follow a ball game, there is a story much deeper than a simple fictional Cinderella sporting legend.  Nappi deals with some deep issues that were not really talked about in the mid-20^th century: autism, bullying, and spousal abuse.  Nappi handles these elements so naturally, that the book easily flows from the public life of the team on the field to their private lives at home.  This adds an amazing richness to this historical fiction sports story.  The ending is rather sudden, though, leaving the reader feeling a little let down.

While The Legend of Mickey Tussler may be listed as Young Adult, it actually falls into the category of New Adult and runs over into just plain Adult.  Deep at is core, Frank Nappi has penned a story as exciting as an actual baseball game.

Rating: 4/5

2013 Paranormal Fiction Reading Challenge

Challenge: Paranormal Fiction Challenge
Host: Reading with Martinis
2012 Level:  n/a
2013 Level: Spooked (6 books)

1. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
2. Summer Spirit by G. Jay
3. Hereafter by Tara Hudson
4. Ghostly Summons by John A. Karr
5. ParaNorman by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
6.

The Watchmen

Title: The Watchmen
Author:  Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons

Publisher: DC
ISBN: 978-0-930289-23-1

Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges: Graphic Novel, Free Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I can see why The Watchmen was so groundbreaking when it was released - especially since it came out prior to DC's Vertigo imprint, which is really where it needs to go -  but I am not sure it has aged well.  As I am used to comics from today, the garish coloring immediately threw me out of the story.  Also, I quickly got frustrated with the characters who were unable to see what was really going on. And the ending was on par with It.  

Rating: 2 stars

Stacking the Shelves: 1/20-1/26

For Review:

The Book of Paul by Richard Long

Requested from Paperbackswap:

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff

Devil's Brood by Sharon Kay Penman

Bought on Amazon:

Dying to Tell by Rita Herron

2013 Amish Fiction Reading Challenge

Challenge:  Amish Fiction Challenge
Host:  Amish Fiction Reviews
2012 Level:  n/a
2013 Level: Inspired (6 books)

1. Keeping Secrets by Linda Byler
2. 
3. 
4.
5.
6.

2013 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge

Challenge:  Witches and Witchcraft Challenge
Host:  Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
2012 Level:  Initiate (5 books)  - COMPLETED!
2013 Level:  Maiden (10 books)

1. The Thirteen by Susie Moloney
2. The Thinking Woman's Guide to Magic by Emily Croy Barker
3. ParaNorman by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
4. The Conjuring Glass by Brian Knight
5. Spell Check by Ariella Moon
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

2013 Self-Published Reading Challenge

Challenge:  Self-Published Challenge
Host:  Workaday Reads
2012 Level:  Sentence (5 books)  - COMPLETED!
2013 Level: Paragraph (10 books)

1. Echoes from the Infantry by Frank Nappi
2. Thrift by Phil Church
3. The Circle of Tivedon by Ryan Shorten
4. The Grace Painter by Mark Romang
5. Running into the Darkness by D. A. Bale
6. The Sound and the Echo by Dew Pellucid
7. Chasing Memories by Tia Silverthorne Bach
8.
9.
10.

2013 A to Z Reading Challenge

Challenge:  A to Z Challenge
Host:  Babies, Books, and Signs
2012 Level:  26 books - FAILED!
2013 Level: 26 books

A. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
B. Blowing Embers by Lauri J. Owen
C. Cinder by Marissa Marr
D. The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough
E. Echoes from the Infantry by Frank Nappi
F. Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke
G. The Game of the Gods by E. J. Dabel
H. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
I.  I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
J. Jump Cut by Ted Staunton
K. Keeping Secrets by Linda Byler
L. The Legend of Mickey Tussler by Frank Nappi
M. Many Bloody Returns by Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner, eds.
N. The Namesake by Steven Parlato
O. Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen by Donna Gephart
P.  The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Q.
R.  Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey
S.  Sophomore Campaign by Frank Nappi
T.  Tempestuous by Kim Askew & Amy Helmes
U. Untimed by Andy Gavin
V.  The Visitor by Roert G. Pielke
W. The Woman from Paris by Santa Montefiore
X.
Y.
Z. Zen of Wonder by Frank Beddor

2013 Free Reads Reading Challenge

Challenge:  Free Reads Challenge
Host:  Bookish Ardour
2012 Level:  For Me? (5 books) - COMPLETED!
2013 Level: On the Cheap (15 books)

1. The Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
2. Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang by April W. Gardner
3. A Thousand Mornings by Mary Oliver
4. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
5. The Key to Love by Meg Mims
6. Jump Cut by Ted Staunton
7. Trouble on His Wings by L. Ron Hubbard
8. Legend of the Oceina Dragon by J. F. Jenkins
9. Eve & Adam by Katherine Applegate & Michael Grant
10. Spontaneous Performance by Marsh Cassady
11. Olivia's Journey by B. G. Lashbrooks
12. The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer by Lisa Orchard
13. Cold Colors by Neil Gaiman
14. Shoggoth's Old Familiar by Neil Gaiman
15. Making Waves by Nell Dixon

The Woman from Paris

The Woman from Paris 

by Santa Montefiore

published by Simon & Schuster

February 2013

ISBN 978-1-451607668-6

Why Read?: Review

Challenges:  British Books, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

I hate to admit it, but I had never heard of Santa Montefiore until now.  However, if her latest novel, The Woman from Paris, is any indication, I am now a fan.

When Lord George Frampton, his devoted widow, Antionette, expected her world to change.  What she did not expect is his secret illegitimate daughter to appear at the funeral.  The immensely likable Phaedra quickly turns the life of the Framptons upside down as each member has a different reaction to her.  One of the strongest reactions is from David, the oldest of Antionette's three boys, who fell in love with the mysterious woman at first sight...before finding out she was his half sister.  Another strong reaction comes from the wife of the middle son who sees Phaedra as a threat, especially after the will is read.  How this family comes together makes for a wonderful tale that readers will relish and remember long afterwards.

Montefiore knows how to immediately draw a reader into a character-driven story, which is oftentimes harder than one that relies many on action.  Her characterization is superb, as is her imagery, especially in bringing the lush English countryside to life.  With writing this good, an author is able to really take her time with the story and the reader enjoys just meandering along.

With The Woman from Paris, I have fallen in love with Santa Montefiore's writing.  I will definitely be seeking how more of her works.

Rating: 5/5

2013 British Book Reading Challenge

Challenge:  British Book Challenge
Host:  Feeling Fictional
2012 Level:  12 books - COMPLETED!
2013 Level:  12 books

1.  The Woman from Paris by Santa Montefiore
2. Thrift by Phil Church
3. Ill Met by Moonlight by Sarah A. Hoyt
4. The Map of Time by Feliz J. Palma
5. Cold Colors by Neil Gaiman
6. Shoggoth's Old Peculiar by Neil Gaiman
7. Making Waves by Nell Dixon
8. The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extense
9. The House at the End of Hope Street by Meena van Praag
10. A Bright Particular Star by Elizabeth Hanbury
11. Romance at the Royal Menagerie by Ruth J. Hartman
12. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

2013 Telling Tales Reading Challenge

Challenge:  Telling Tales Challenge
Host:  An Armchair by the Sea
2012 Level:  Mix-n-Match Level 1 (5 books) - COMPLETED!
2013 Level: Princess (10 books)

1. Rennefarre by Tamara Ramsey
2. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
3. Scottish Wonder Tales from Myths and Legends by Donald A. Mackenzie
4. 
5. 
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Stacking the Shelves: 1/13-1/19

For possible review (on Bookloons):

Timekeeper by Alexandra Monir

The Rogue's Princess by Eve Edwards

The Death Cure by James Dashner

Won:

Waste Not, Want Not by Darcy Town

Fall to Grace by Kerry Casey

2013 European Reading Challenge

Challenge:  European Challenge
Host:  Rose City Reader
2012 Level:  1 Star Pensione Weekender (1 book) - COMPLETED!
2013 Level: 2 Star - Adventurer (2 books)

1. The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Alden-Olsen
2. City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte