TBR Pile Challenge Recap

The TBR Pile Challenge proved much harder than I thought. I guess the biggest challenge was that I had to create a list for it. If I would have stuck to the list, maybe I would have finished, but sometimes I had to read a book farther down in my TBR pile in order to review the next in the series or, as happened a few times, my book club read it. Even with a month of 2011 left, I highly doubt I will finish this challenge. Here is what I have read so far (I have 8 out of the required 12):

1. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

2. Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cronwell

3. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

4. Honolulu by Alan Bennert

5. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

6. Primal Desires by Susan Sizemore

7. Most Wanted by Michele Martinez

8. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

9. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

10. The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

11. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

12. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Primal Desires

Title: Primal Desires

Author: Susan Sizemore
Publisher: Pocket Star
ISBN: 978-1-4165-1336-0
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: TBR Pile, iChallenge, Vampires, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I like Sizemore's writing style. However, I really have no clue what this book was about. It was easy to read, but I think I started too late in the series although paranormal romance series tend to work as standalones. I was a little confused as to the relationships between all of the characters.
Rating: 2 stars

Outlander

Title: Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Publisher: eBook
No ISBN
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: E-Book, TBR Pile, Book Blogger Recommendation, Show Me the Free (Borders), Vacation Reads, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: Outlander is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and after reading it, I can see why it has lasted so long. I have never read a romantic time-travel before, but I can see that Gabaldon really knows this genre. The story as well as the characters were highly engaging, although it did drag a little in a few parts, but I honestly think that was due to the fact I was reading an ebook and couldn't really see how much of the story was left. I now what to pick up the rest of the series.
Rating: 5 stars

Vacation Reads Challenge: I have always wanted to visit the Scottish countryside. I think it would be just beautiful. I think, though, I would prefer to visit it now a days, rather than in the time of the clans.

Hornet's Nest

Title: Hornet's Nest
Author: Patricia Cornwell
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 0-425-16098-X
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, TBR Pile, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: For a suspense novel, the crime in Hornet's Nest really takes a back seat to the main characters' everyday problems. This reads more as a bad TV drama than a crime novel. Cornwell jumps between characters way too often and goes into too much depth for minor players. By the time the climax arrives, it seems rather anti-climatic, and the deus-ex-machina ending is very abrupt.
Rating: 1 stars

The Book of Three

Title: The Book of Three
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Publisher: Dell
ISBN: 0-440-90702-0
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges: TBR Pile, YA Series, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I love epic fantasy and I love YA fantasy, so I thought I was going to love The Book of Three, but I was wrong. I just could not get into it. The only character I cared about was Gurgi with his fun speech pattern. The plot was very much what my friend calls an "and then" story - very linear with a whole of bunch of little incidents and meetings that never fully seem to click together. Also, the title just alluded me. I know The Book of Three is mentioned, but I cannot figure out how it tied into the story.
Rating: 1 stars

Most Wanted

Title: Most Wanted

Author: Michele Martinez

Publisher: Harper Torch

ISBN: 978-0-06-072399-6

Why Read?: For Fun

Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, TBR Pile, People of Color, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This is a fast-paced novel that will keep the reader guessing. Martinez expertly draws the reader in and keeps them frantically turning the pages until the end with a tightly plotted suspense storyline. I really can't say more except go pick this gem up today!

Rating: 3 stars

Over Sea, Under Stone

Title: Over Sea, Under Stone

Author: Susan Cooper

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 978-1-4169-4964-0

Why Read?: For fun

Challenges: TBR Pile, 1st in a Series, YA Series, Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I had forgotten how much I love older - British - fantasies until I started reading this. The mood set with the twisty, secretive Grey House is just right for a fantasy adventure, especially when you through in the enigma of a great-uncle and the mysterious strangers. An excellent read, but slower than more modern YA fantasies.

Rating: 4 stars

Shutter Island

Title: Shutter Island

Author: Dennis Lehane

Publisher: Harper Perennial

ISBN: 9780061807404

Why Read?: For fun

Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, TBR Pile, Borrowed Books, International, Mini-Challenge, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: A superb psychological thriller. Lehane really warps your perception of reality as the plot twists and turns. Chapter 24 ends with a great ending, but then the last chapter, Chapter 25, opens it up to so many possibilities. I have not seen the movie, but I really want to (hopefully it will make the ending clearer).

Rating: 5 stars

TBR Pile Challenge

Roof Beam Reader's 2011 TBR Pile Challenge seemed a little harder than most because I have to create my read list ahead of time, but I am going to do it. Here's my list of 12 with 2 alternates:

1. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

2. Hornet's Nest by Patricia Cronwell

3. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

4. Honolulu by Alan Bennert

5. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

6. Primal Desires by Susan Sizemore

7. Most Wanted by Michele Martinez

8. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

9. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

10. The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

11. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

12. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Alternates:

1. Why do Men Have Nipples? by Mark Leyner & Billy Goldberg, M. D.

2. False Memory by Dean Koontz