A Poem a Day

Title: A Poem a Day
Author: Karen McCosker & Nicholas Albery, eds.

Publisher: Steer Forth
ISBN: 1-883642-38-8

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I am not much of a poetry reader, so this book was a great way to start.  I definitely discovered some poets whom I never thought I would like.

Rating: 4 stars

100 Books in a Year Recape

Challenge:  100 Books in a Year
Host:  Book Chick City
2014 Level:  100 Books - FAILED
Thoughts:  Hmm, Goodreads says I've read 100, so not sure where the discrepancy is.  There was a lot happening this year, but I know I will be able to read 100 next year.
1. Borrowed Magic by Dave Roman & John Green
2. Love Me If You Must by Nicole Young
3. Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm
4. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
5. Avigon by Che Gilson & Jimmie Robinson
6. The Summer of Love by Debbie Drechsler
7. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolpho Anaya
8. Manhattan Beach 1957 by Hermann & Yves H.
9. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
10. Once by Morris Gleitzman
11. Perfect Nightmare by Norman Stanton
12. Along the Way Home by Christi Corbett
13. Children of the Knight by Michael J. Bowler
14. Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
15. Lexicon by Max Barry
16. The Mage's Daughter by Lynn Kurland
17. Enders by Lissa Price
18. Greystone Valley by Charlie Brooks
19. The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
20. Over the Rainbow by Tom Hutchinson, Alisson Borges, & Kate Finnegan
21. Spell Struck by Ariella Moon
22. Rotters by Daniel Kraus
23. Spellbound by Samantha Combs
24. I Am Abraham by Jerome Charyn
25. The Demon's Wife by Rick Hautala
26. Promise Bound by Anne Greenwood Brown
27. The Mist in the Mirror by Susan Hill
28. Conscientious Inconsistencies by Nancy Jane Moore
29. After the War by Libby Sternberg
30. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
31. Two-Room Flat by Jill Urbach
32. Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford
33. Road Rash by Mark Huntely Parsons
34. The Counselor by Cormac McCarthy
35. Heartless by Sam Shepard
36. The Winner's Circle by Marie Rutkoski
37. The Crone's Jewels by E. J. Dabel
38. Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley
39. Chasing Prophecy by James Moser
40. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
41. The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann
42. Spark by Michael F. Stewart
43. The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson
44. Because It Is My Blood by Gabrielle Zevin
45. A Stormy Knight by Amy Mullen
46. Written for You by Joseph Cognard
47. Dancing Shadows, Tramping Hooves by Dianne Ascroft
48. Out of Picture 2 by Daisuke Tsutsumi & Michael Knapp
49. Get Jiro! by Anthony Bourdain, Joel Rose, & Langdon Foss
50. Stealing the Moon and Stars by Sally J. Smith & Jean Steffens
51. Irenicon by Aidan Harte
52. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
53. The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownley
54. Clan Lord by Joel Babbitt
55. World War Z by Max Brooks
56. The Road to Nyn by Brian G. Michaud
57. Enduring Courage by John F. Ross
58. Running Through a Dark Place by Michael J. Bowler
59. Hexed by Michelle Krys
60. The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson
61. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
62. The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
63. Blood of the Lamb by Sam Cabot
64. Death Cloud by Andrew Lane
65. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
66. Judging a Book by Its Lover by Lauren Leto
67. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
68. Extremities by David Lubar
69. Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little
70. Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland
71. The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke
72. Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King
73. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
74. Plow the Bones by Douglas F. Warwick
75. The Matchmakers by Ruth J. Hartman
76. The Red Sheet by Mia Kerick
77. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
78. The Small Hand and Dolly by Susan Hill
79. The Graveyard Book Vol. 1 by Neil Gaiman & P. Craig Russell
80. The Ghosts of Southwark by O. M. Grey
81. The Serpent Bearer by Frank Say
82. The 100 by Kass Morgan
83. Sold by Patricia McCormick
84. Let Me Stand Alone by Rachel Corrie
85. The Unwanted Earl by Ruth J. Hartman
86. Don't Forget Me, Bro by John Michael Cummings
87. Last Train to Babylon by Charlee Fam
88. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by David Eggers
89. Dragonbait by David McLain
90. The Animal Story Book by Andrew Lang
91. Junky by William S. Burroughs
92. Lark Rising by Sandra Waugh
93. Sets, Lights & Lunacy by Lloyd Burlingame
94. Find Me I'm Yours by Hilary Carlip
95. Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
96. A Courtship for Cecilia by Ruth J. Hartman
97. On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony
98. 
99. 
100.  

On a Pale Horse

Title: On a Pale Horse
Author: Piers Anthony

Publisher: Recorded Books
ISBN: 9781449844493

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

Thoughts: Very fun premise, and manages to tackle some tough subjects without becoming preachy.  A little dated in parts, but that just adds to the fun.

Rating: 5 stars

A Courtship for Cecilia

A Courtship for Cecilia

by Ruth J. Hartman

published by esKape

2014

ISBN n/a

Why read? Review

Challenges: Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

Ruth J. Hartman’s Love Birds series is a lot of fun, and A Courtship for Cecilia is a great addition.  We first met Cecilia in the previous book, An Unwanted Earl, and I was hoping she would get her own story – and she does!

After her father’s accident, Cecilia’s family is moved onto her half-brother’s estate so her father can become the new steward.  Life is pretty good there for Cecilia but becomes even better when her half-brother, Conrad, suggests sponsoring her in a come-out.  Her mother objects, but her father stands behind her heartily, even when he realizes she must take an assumed name to hide her humble background.  The first gentlemen she meets, Barrington Radcliff, is immediately taken with her, and her with him.  Barrington, however, has been lied to in the past, and is having difficulty learning to trust.  What will happen when he learns Cecilia’s secret?

Cecilia is a very accessible protagonist, which makes her a lot of fun to get to know.  Barrington is a nice guy, too, but his uncle Percy is the one who is the most fun.  I really wish Hartman included him even more than she did – eccentric elderly relatives seem to be her forte.  The build-up throughout the story leading to Barrignton discovering Cecilia’s secret was great, but the second to last chapter did not flow as well into the last, and the last chapter seemed rather rushed and too easily wrapped up in a nice neat bow.  However, the rest of the story was a great read with plenty of humor and perfect pacing.

A Courtship for Cecilia is a fun addition to the Love Birds series.  I am not sure if Ruth Hartman is planning this to be more than a trilogy, but whatever she writes next, I will eagerly devour.

Rating 4/5

Blood Meridian

Title: Blood Meridian, or The Evening Redness in the West
Author: Cormac McCarthy

Publisher: Recorded Books
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: The name says it all - blood.  That is pretty much want every minute of this book is filled with.  I am going to assume it does has some modicum of historical accuracy, and if so, I am glad that I was not around during the establishing of the West.  I will say thought that Richard Poe is an excellent narrator and the only reason I finished a book that I could not figure out the plot of.

Rating: 2 stars

Junky

Title: Junky
Author: William S. Burroughs

Publisher: Recorded Books
ISBN: n/a

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This semi-autobiographical narrative was a very interesting read for the fact that it deals in depth with drug culture in a time that I was not even aware there was one.  I also had absolutely no clue that Burroughs was from St. Louis.

Rating: 4 stars

The Animal Story Book

Title: The Animal Story Book
Author: Andrew Lang

Publisher: Dover0-486-42187-2
ISBN: 0-486-42187-2

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Lang is known for compiling the Rainbow Fairy books, and that is what I expected this volume to be like, but all stories involving animals.  Well, all the stories do involve animals, but most are true stories or even zoological observations.  Interesting, but many were too sad or too dry for me.

Rating: 2 stars

Dragonbait

Title: Dragonbait
Author: David McLain

Publisher: Wayman
ISBN: 978-0-9897850-0-6

Why Read?: Early Review
Challenges: 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: If you love some fun with your fairytale fantasies, this is a must!  McLain's story is cute and funny and a very enjoyable read.

Rating: 5 stars

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Title: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Author: David Eggers

Publisher: Recorded Books
ISBN: 978-0-06-232807-6

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Book, Author Alphabet, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: The title of this memoir with fictionalized parts can seem misleading until you get to know the narrator who is given to hyperbole.  This is actually a very entertaining listen which surprised me.

Rating: 4 stars

Last Train to Babylon

Title: Last Train to Babylon
Author: Charlee Fam

Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 978-0-06-232807-6

Why Read?: Book Reporter
Challenges: Author Alphabet, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Fam perfectly captures the Millenial voice.  Audrey may be a tough character to get to know, but she is the epitome of many younger Millenials.  Fam also creates a wonderful blend of suspense, coming-of-age, and dark humor.

Rating: 4 stars

Don't Forget Me, Bro

Don’t Forget Me Bro

by John Michael Cummings

published by Stephen F. Austin State University Press

2015

ISBN n/a

Why read? Review

Challenges: 100 Books in a Year

How does one deal with death?  This is the crux behind John Michael Cummings’s through-provoking novel, Don’t Forget Me, Bro. 

When Mark’s older brother, Steve, dies, Mark must travel home to both mourn his brother.  Home, though, is not the happy place that it should be.  Mark has always blamed his father for Steve’s mental disability as well as for his own problems.  Once home, though, Mark starts to learn some startling truths about Steve, about his family, and, most of all, about himself.

Don’t Forget Me, Bro is a very character-driven story, which is what it needs to be to tackle a topic such as dealing with death.  Mark is very real, even if his personal story is not the easiest to swallow.  And although Steve never appears, Cummings does a good job of making him a central character.  The rest of Mark’s family is also very well-rounded.

If you are looking for a light read, Don’t Forget Me, Bro is not it. But if you are looking for something with a little more depth – and a little despair tinged with hope – the John Michael Cummings’s book is the one for you.

Rating 4/5

The Unwanted Earl

The Unwanted Earl

by Ruth J. Hartman

published by esKape

2014

ISBN 9781940695139

Why read? Review

Challenges: Ebook, Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

In this fast and fun sequel to Love Birds of Regent’s Park, Ruth J. Hartman brings us Lord Conrad Lofton’s story in The Unwanted Earl.  With stunning skill, she manages to turn the villain – and comic relief – from the first book into a charming hero, who still manages some hilarious mishaps.

Amelia Talbot is in a bind.  Her father wants her to marry a disgusting octogenarian, which is not what she wants at all.  The problem is, being the type of woman who is not afraid to speak her mind, she has no other suitors.  Her problem is solved one day when she discovers that Lord Conrad Lofton is really a bastard (and not in the way her drawing partner, Lucy Shipley, thinks).  Using this information, she blackmails Conrad into becoming her betrothed.  Conrad, recently having a rotted tooth pulled and partnering with Oliver Shipley on a way to end his financial woes, finds himself in much better spirits, even if Amelia insists on dragging him to one outdoor adventure after another.  In time, the two find themselves truly falling for each other, but a secret about Conrad’s past soon threatens to tear the two apart.

While Conrad is still Conrad, Hartman has managed to turn him from truly despicable into completely loveable, which is an amazing feat in and of itself.  On top of that, Hartman has crafted an enjoyable Regency with plenty of humor and good clean fun.  The Unwanted Earl might be my favorite Ruth J. Hartman book yet, but I do hope this series continues with Cecilia getting a chance at a happy ending.

Rating 5/5

Let Me Stand Alone

Title: Let Me Stand Alone: The Journals of Rachel Corrie
Author: Rachel Corrie

Publisher: Blackstone Audio
ISBN: 9781482909326

Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Audio Books, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Rachel Corrie was a very gifted writer, even at a young age,  but this book just was not for me.  I have a feeling, she and I could never have been friends if we met, and the parts about Collin made me feel the same way I do whenever I watch the movie version of Caberet (which is not a good thing).

Rating: 3 stars

Sold

Title: Sold
Author: Patricia McCormick

Publisher: Tantor Audio
ISBN: n/a

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

Thoughts: Even though this is a fictionalized account, it is very disheartening to know that a story like this can happen today.  While it is a short listen, it is a very heavy story, and very well-done.

Rating: 5 stars