Books and Reading - Journal

Currently reading

View my GoodReads page

  • Dewey, The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
  • Eragon, by Christopher Paolini

Recent Reads

Title Author Comments (2008)
To Ride Pegasus Anne McCaffrey Precursor to the Damia/Rowan series. November 2008.
Double Identity Margaret Peterson Haddix October 2008
The Keepsake Tess Gerritson October 2008
Found (book 1 of The Missing) Margaret Peterson Haddix September 2008
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J. K. Rowling August 2008. Once I started listening to book 6, I couldn't stop and had to listen to book 7 again.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J. K. Rowling August 2008. I wanted to re-listed to this before the movie was to be released in November (before it was moved back to July 2009).
Invasive Procedures Orson Scott Card This one reads kind of like a Michael Crichton or Robin Cook novel. July 2008
Ender's Shadow Orson Scott Card June 2008
Lightning Dean Koontz As good the second time reading it as it was the first (and it was the first Dean Koontz book I ever read). Fascinating concept and one of my favorite sub-genres. May 2008
Ender's Game Orson Scott Card EXCELLENT book! I didn't see the ending coming at all. I want to read MORE of his books now. April 2008.
Lady Killer Lisa Scottoline Decent mystery. I haven't read any of her other books, so I didn't realize this was one in a series. I didn't feel that I missed anything by not having read the others first. April 2008
I Am Legend Richard Matheson Watched the movie, then read the book - very interesting the differences between the two. This one is much darker...
Golden Threads Kay Hooper Decent romantic suspense / thriller. This book is worth it just for what the Siamese cat, Ching, brings to it March 2008
Opening Atlantis Harry Turtledove NOT my cup of tea at all. I was expecting more sci-fi, less history in this alternate history novel. February 2008
The Haunting of Josie Kay Hooper Romantic suspense, pretty good, loved the cat too. February 2008.
The Naked Sun Isaac Asimov I completely forgot how this story went, so it was good to listen to the unabridged audiobook. Just as good as I remember. February 2008
Coraline Neil Gaiman Very strange and very creepy, but enjoyable - more so than A Study in Emerald. January 2008
A Study in Emerald Neil Gaiman Eh, not a big Sherlock Holmes fan, so most of this was lost on me. January 2008
Title Author Comments (2007)
T is for Trespass Sue Grafton Really good, but seriously, there is too much time between Kinsey Millhone novels - come on "U"!!! December 2007.
The Caves of Steel Isaac Asimov I have read the robot mysteries before, and have the paperbacks, but saw that Audible.com had the unabridged audiobooks, so I just HAD to have them. I'd forgotten a lot of how this story went. November 2007.
Jurassic Park Michael Crichton Re-read November 2007.
Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony Eoin Colfer Excellent series! October 2007.
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception Eoin Colfer Excellent series! October 2007.
Aremis Fowl: The Eternity Code Eoin Colfer Excellent series! October 2007.
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident Eoin Colfer Excellent series! October 2007.
Friday Robert Heinlein My first book downloaded from audible.com - I read it a long time ago, but couldn't remember the plot at all. I really enjoyed listening to it this time. October 2007.
Artemis Fowl Eoin Colfer I picked this one up in the library the other day, and it looked interesting. I think I've seen it recommended as one of those "If you liked Harry Potter..." Of course, it's not a Harry Potter clone, and that's a good thing! It's actually quite engaging. Fantasy, a good read. September 2007.
Critical Robin Cook August 2007. Another in the Laurie Montgomery/Jack Stapleton series.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J. K. Rowling Wow, wow, wow, wow. It was everything I hoped for and more. I don't want to say anything more, so as not to give anything away in case you haven't read it yet. I loved this entire series. July 2007.
One for the Money Janet Evanovich April 2007
To Die For Linda Howard I didn't finish this one - I got distracted by a million other things. I'd like to try reading it again sometime.
The Taking Dean Koontz I didn't really enjoy this book and the ending was trite.
Velocity Dean Koontz On the recommendation of a co-worker, I picked up Velocity. It was a pretty good ride.
Title Author Comments (2006)
Next Michael Crichton December 2006. Interesting concept.
Shadowfires Dean Koontz "Remember the mice..." I listened to this book again (on CD) while piecing CC's Blankie #2 (Flannel 4-patch) and Allison's Jewel Box quilts. The story is a good example of why we might really need to be careful with genetic engineering and searching for immortality.
Crisis Robin Cook August 2006.
Forever Jude Deveraux A mostly good book with likeable characters. Darci was almost irritating in her naivete, but she turned out to be a quite interesting. My biggest complaint is in how she wrote the book's ending. Essentially, it seemed as if she ran short on time or number of pages that she was allowed to write. Everything was leading up to one particular conclusion, and we never got to see (read) it happen - only as a "one year later..." or something like that summary. That part was VERY disappointing. I probably won't read parts two and three of the trilogy. July 2006
Sense of Evil Kay Hooper I may be getting a little burned out on Kay's books, but this one just didn't seem to have the zing or sizzle I've come to expect from her. As in most of her books, I had no idea whodunit, and the ending had a bit of a twist, but I didn't get the feeling with the main characters (Isabel and Rafe) that I usually do when reading her books. Meh. I'll probably read the next ones, hopeful that they'll do better. July 2006
Deep Wizardry Diane Duane UBOT - I got bored with this second book in her young wizards series, so I turned it back in to the library before I had finished listening to it. July 2006
Dean Koontz' Frankenstein, Book 2: City of Night Dean Koontz and Ed Gorman Okay, I liked this book as well as the first. It leaves off with a whopper of a cliffhanger though! I think it was good for Dean to collaborate, because it seems so much more like his earlier writing style. Now I hear he won't be collaborating for the last book in the trilogy, and I'm kind of sad, because I really hope it is nothing like his latest books, which I find trite and over the top. Also, the last book won't be out until... late 2007? I also hope the last book in the Frankenstein trilogy doesn't go the way of the last book in the Christopher Snow trilogy - apparently never to be written... June 2006
Whisper of Evil Kay Hooper Reluctant psychic Nell Gallagher never planned to return home to Silence, especially not to settle the affairs of her father, whom she hated, or to help solve a string of murders that has the local sheriff scratching his head. But before long, she teams up with her old high school flame, Max Tanner, to root out the killer.

Entertaining read, another twist at the end (she does that a lot, so I should start expecting it!)
Touching Evil Kay Hooper Seattle police sketch-artist Maggie Barnes listens as crime victims describe their ordeals, and then draws dead-on sketches of their assailants. Maggie is asked to help the police find a madman abducts women and blinds them, leaving them barely alive. Maggie has her own dark connection to the monster--an eerie link that may stretch back to a string of unsolved murders.

I enjoyed this one, yet another of Kay Hooper's paranormal mysteries / thrillers, with Maggie and her brother both being able to paint or sketch in almost a fugue state - and there's another interesting twist at the end.
Embroidered Truths Monica Ferris Godwin's lover turns up murdered, and when Godwin is arrested, Betsy sets out to prove him innocent. The Monday Bunch pitches in to help run the shop while Betsy and Godwin are mostly indisposed throughout the book. It was an enjoyable listen (unabridged), but I think I was distracted by wanting to start Touching Evil by Kay Hooper, so I might not have enjoyed it as much as I could have in another frame of mind.
Cell Stephen King I started to read it, but didn't care for the beginning pages, skipped to the end (which I never do), found out that there isn't really a resolution to the storyline, and turned it back in to the library. May 2006
Out of the Shadows Kay Hooper I'm glad that the story doesn't end here. This was the first book where I really got to dig in to Bishop's character. He was in the first two books, but more tangentially than anything else. I felt this story was a little more graphic (gore) than the first two, but it's not as much as I remember the Patricia Cornwell books being. I like the Miranda character, and her sister, and I'm looking forward to starting the 'Evil' series.
Hiding in the Shadows Kay Hooper Actually read, not listened to... :) even better than the first Shadows book. Amnesia story, with a paranormal twist - very good!
Stealing Shadows Kay Hooper UBOT - really good paranormal suspense thriller.
So You Want To Be a Wizard Diane Duane UBOT - nice fantasy / young wizard story. I liked how the writing was not 'dumbed-down' just because it's YA fiction.
Acorna's Quest Anne McCaffrey Not as interesting as the first novel, but I listened to it all the way through - I think these were written on a Juvenile / YA level. April 2006.
Acorna, the Unicorn Girl Anne McCaffrey Pretty interesting introduction to a new series for me. Not necessarily as strong as the Pern novels, but good enough to make me want to read the next one in line.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis I was impressed by how closely the movie followed the book. January 2006
Title Author Comments (2005)
The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown Fascinating, absolutely fascinating.... good thriller with a thought-provoking storyline. December 2005
Deception Point Dan Brown Very good thriller! I listened to this book on tape, and thoroughly enjoyed it - I found myself rooting for one side, then the other, then back and forth a bit until the conclusion. December 2005
S is for Silence Sue Grafton Pretty good, interesting back and forth between 1953 and some point in the 1980's. Ending was a bit abrupt, and there were a lot of characters (I kept mixing up who was who and who had done or said what), but an enjoyable read. December 2005
Angels & Demons Dan Brown Twists and turns all the way to the end - an interesting thriller, mostly listened with a UBOT, but the last few chapters I ended up reading because I had to return the UBOT to the library. November 2005
Killing Time Linda Howard Her most recent book, with a sci-fi bent (time-travel). Not as much romance as some of her others, but enjoyable. November 2005
Dying to Please Linda Howard I listened to the UBOT and enjoyed it, although the way she read Cahill, I was constantly having to remind myself that he was a mid-30's hottie detective, not some mid-50's guy with a paunch (sorry, that's just the way he sounded!). October 2005
Marker Robin Cook Once again, medical examiners Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery have some mysterious deaths to solve, this time without any clues as to the cause of death. And Laurie may become a victim herself. A good, fast read, even with the tension between the two of them.
Finding Laura Kay Hooper August 2005.
Once a Thief Kay Hooper First in the thief series, and pretty good. She wrapped up a couple of stories, but the main one is to be continued... in Always a Thief.
Airframe Michael Crichton I finally got around to listening (UBOT) to this book, and I actually liked it better than I thought I would. It came out around the same time as Dean Koontz' Sole Survivor, which I read at the time and did not enjoy. I realize now that, although they were both "airplane stories," they weren't even close to having similar plots. So I got over my prejudice, read it, and enjoyed it.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J. K. Rowling Sigh. More answers. More questions. And a long wait ahead for book 7. July 2005
4th of July James Patterson June 2005. Ended my relationship with this series.
Digital Fortress Dan Brown June 2005.
Revenge of the Sith Matthew Stover This is what it's like to be Melissa, reading the book: The first battle of the movie, where they rescue Chancellor Palpatine, encompasses fully the first third of this book. Some parts of the movie were not even included (Yoda on Kashyyyk???). Enjoyable, but not one of the best of the "based on" books I've read. It didn't even have as much extra background story as the first two. Personally, I thought Terry Brooks' Phantom Menace was much a much better novelization. June 2005
Cry No More Linda Howard I really enjoy Linda Howard books. I listened to this one on unabridged CD, and it was great. It had some twists I didn't expect, but turned out the way I thought it should have. May 2005
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J. K. Rowling So much happened in book 5 that I had forgotten about. I may have to re-re-read it. :) May 2005
Dean Koontz' Frankenstein, Book 1: Prodigal Son Dean Koontz Quite good - reminiscent of some of Dean's earlier books. It was quite fast-paced, and an interesting twist on the Frankenstein story. I'm looking forward to reading Book 2. May 2005
Born To Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture Juliet B. Schur This is a SCARY book. As I read this book, I'm much more aware as I move through each day of the marketing techniques she describes. February 2005
The Simple Living Guide Janet Luhrs I think I just need to purchase this one. It's a pretty good book to reference, and one needs more than a checkout period at the library to delve into it. February 2005
Just a Geek Wil Wheaton Autobiographical, and a very interesting read. There's a lot more to him than just "Wesley Crusher."
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling Working my way towards July 16 and book 6!!!
Among Friends Caroline B. Cooney Interesting little diversion - six high school juniors have to keep journals as a class assignment, and the book is basically written in that format. This is classified as a Young Adult book.
State of Fear Michael Crichton Excellent! January 2005
Crewel Yule Monica Ferris Once she stopped going back and forth in time, the book got a little better. For the first half of the book, it was very hard to keep up with where and when I was, but I finally got past that. It was fun to have a "behind the scenes" look at part of Nashville Market.
Title Author Comments (2004)
The Coming Generational Storm: What You Need To Know About America's Economic Future Laurence Kotlikoff What I've read in this book scares me, and I don't scare easily.

I found a sort of capsule article at USAToday.com covering some of what is covered in the book. The looming national benefit crisis November 2004
Home Comforts Cheryl Mendelson recommended by a friend
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J. K. Rowling Re-read after having watched the DVD, and it's just so wonderful - there is so much going on in these books, and the world gets more and more interesting and complex every time I read them. November 2004
Wish You Were Here Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown Didn't make it past the first chapter or two of this book - too many characters to remember and try to keep up with learning all at once. October 2004
A Murderous Yarn Monica Ferris I love this series, but I can't say that I loved this book. For me, it just really focused too much on antique cars and not enough on the shop. September 2004
Messenger Lois Lowry Excellent companion to The Giver and Gathering Blue. I guessed a few things before the end, but enjoyed it nonetheless. August 2004
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling Rolling along, right through this one again. It's funny how much one forgets what was in the book after watching the movie again. August 2004
R Is for Ricochet Sue Grafton another wonderful romp in her alphabet series. July 2004
The Taking Dean Koontz I turned this one back in to the library after getting about 1/3 of the way into it. It started off pretty interesting, but it just didn't keep my interest. Besides, it was due the day I turned it in, and had holds on it, so I couldn't renew it. July 2004
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J. K. Rowling (UBOT) by J. K. Rowling (again) - having recently watched all 3 of the movies, I have decided to re-read the entire series. I forgot how much more was in the books, and I look forward to rediscovering them all again. July 2004
Caves of Steel Isaac Asimov the first of his robot novels/mysteries (a re-read) June 2004
Remember Me Sharon Sala this was actually pretty good. Not your usual "amnesia story." June 2004
Twilight Phantasies Maggie Shayne the first of her vampire romances, one of my Silhouette Shadows paperbacks read in May 2004
The Dolphins of Pern Anne McCaffrey I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, one which I hadn't read before. It fills in some of the stories mentioned in other books. read in May 2004
Link Walt Becker another recommendation from Melanie read in May 2004
Another Fine Myth Robert Asprin (UBOT) eh, this one was okay; it was also recommended by Melanie. I can't think of anything really to say about it - it was humorous, just not something I'd read again (or to make me want to read others in the series). read in April 2004
All the Weyrs of Pern Anne McCaffrey (UBOT) by Anne McCaffrey (re-read) - I had forgotten so much of this book, and I'm glad I re-read it. I'm also glad that I read the Renegades of Pern before diving into this one, as I understand a bit more about some of the characters. read in April 2004
3rd Degree James Patterson (3rd in the series - I'd read the first 2 and liked them so far) - this one, like the others, has a bit of a shocker in it. read in April 2004
Charmed Life Diana Wynne Jones (recommended by Melanie) - excellent little UBOT! I may have to read some more in this series now, as it was very interesting. read in April 2004
Gathering Blue Lois Lowry (UBOT) Another interesting book. This one did not seem quite as sad as the first. Now I am really intrigued to read The Messenger when it becomes available. read in April 2004
The Renegades of Pern Anne McCaffrey It took a while to get into this one, simply because I was having to learn a lot of new characters, but I really liked reading this one because it spanned a time period from just before Dragonflight to just beyond The White Dragon, so it filled in some of the characters and plots that the other books just glanced over (or didn't mention at all). Now I am really looking forward to reading All the Weyrs of Pern, which picks up right after TRoP. read in April 2004
The Giver Lois Lowry (UBOT) A very interesting book. The ending left me feeling ambivalent. Now I have discovered there is a companion book (Gathering Blue) and a "sequel" bringing them both together (Messenger), so I shall have to read them both! read in March 2004
The Masterharper of Pern Anne McCaffrey I've also read two biographies on Anne McCaffrey (one was Dragonholder by her son Todd) - I got to meet her September 15, 2003, and she was such a delight! re-read February 2004
Dragonsdawn Anne McCaffrey re-read January 2004
Title Author Comments (2003 and before ... somewhere in here)
The White Dragon Anne McCaffrey re-read December 2003
Dragondrums Anne McCaffrey re-read December 2003
Dragonsinger Anne McCaffrey re-read November 2003
Dragonsong Anne McCaffrey re-read November 2003
Dragonquest Anne McCaffrey re-read Novemer 2003
Dragonflight Anne McCaffrey Wow, I forgot all that happens in the first book alone! Anne McCaffrey is just awesome - I laughed, I cried, I was awed, all over again.
Open Season Linda Howard (UBOT) A hoot and a half! The reader had a VERY Southern accent, but it just ended up enhancing the humor of this book. Very funny, very sensual romantic suspense that takes place in Alabama (hence the Southern accent), about a prim and proper librarian (old maid at 34) who decides she's going to turn over a new leaf, and find herself a man to marry and have a family with.
Cold Fire Dean Koontz (UBOT) Pretty good re-read, though a tiny bit anti-climactic. Among my favorites, but not in the top 3 (which would be, in order, Lightning, Watchers, and Dark Rivers of the Heart.
Get Your Act Together Pam Young (subtitled "a 7-day get-organized program for the overworked, overbooked, and overwhelmed")
Sidetracked Home Executives Pam Young (and while I do work full-time, this has some ideas I can implement)
More Than Enough Dave Ramsey the ten keys to changing your financial destiny by Dave Ramsey
Debt Proof Living Mary Hunt (excellent information on creating "Freedom Accounts")
Looking Great Linda Dano shows you how to trim your wardrobe down and purchase clothes in "capsules" so that you'll never be without something to wear, and still have plenty of closet space.
Anne McCaffrey: Science Fiction Storyteller Martha P. Trachtenberg read because I wanted to know more about one of my favorite authors
The Turquoise Mask Phyllis Whitney (UBOT). I had never read this author before, and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Amanda Austin, whose mother had died tragically in a fall when Amanda was 5 years old, travels to Santa Fe when her father passes away (Amanda is about 25 now), to meet her mother's family, and to find out what really happened and why her father refused to have any contact with that family after her mother's death.
Mr. Perfect Linda Howard (UBOT). A very sensual romantic mystery by an author I've come to thoroughly enjoy (I've also read her Kill and Tell and Dream Man). I really liked the main character, Jaine Bright, and the leading male, Sam Donovan, was definitely "Mr. Perfect", though it might not seem so at the very beginning of the book...
2nd Chance James Patterson (UBOT), the second in a new series. Definitely liked it, and am looking forward to additional outings in this series. The women are good, strong characters - with great relationships with each other. And I think they are realistically portrayed by the author. The mystery was really good this time too. Mid 2002.
The Amber Spyglass Phillip Pullman (UBOT) by Philip Pullman, part 3 of the His Dark Materials trilogy. This trilogy is fascinating, gripping, and each new revelation kept my jaw dropping. Fantastic speculative, theological, fantasy.
The Golden Compass
The Subtle Knife		 Phillip Pullman (UBOT) Both (Parts 1 and 2 of a trilogy) were excellent reads! The pace is swift and the story is incredibly interesting, combining sf/fantasy and theology.
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler E. L. Konigsburg I read this once when I was a child, but had completely forgotten the story. It was great to listen to (UBOT).
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J. K. Rowling Wow. Answered a few questions, brought up some more. I could really feel Harry's frustration. I disagree with reviews I've read who think his frustration was over the top. I think he was very typical of that age, and even more so with everything being kept from him, and everything being done to him at the same time. It was a very sad book. Reminded me, in a way, of the mood of The Empire Strikes Back.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling Anticipating the release of HP5, I just re-read it. I forgot quite a bit of it, and really needed to read it again. I started HP5 before I was finished re-reading HP4, and had to stop 5, finish 4, because of some of the events mentioned in the first chapter of 5, referring to events in the 4th book that I had forgotten.
Darwin's Children Greg Bear Interesting sequel to Darwin's Radio - didn't go in the direction I expected. I doubt there will be another sequel, based on the way the book ends.
1st To Die James Patterson pretty good, a pretty quick UBOT. Some twists and turns, you think you've got it figured out, then you're not sure. I have a nit-pick with something that happens near the end of the book, but other than that (no spoilers here), it was a pretty good book. I've picked up the second book on UBOT.
The Street Lawyer John Grisham actually didn't finish this UBOT. It was interesting in the beginning, but failed to keep my attention, so I returned it to the library without finishing it.
The Hobbit J. R. R. Tolkien I got bogged down in all of the detail in this UBOT, and just didn't feel like finishing it either.
Darwin's Radio Greg Bear re-read the UBOT in anticipation of reading the sequel, Darwin's Children.
Prey Michael Crichton interesting thriller involving nanotechnology. Kind of a freaky idea.
By the Light of the Moon Dean Koontz good book! After having been extremely disappointed with his last one (One Door Away From Heaven), this was almost like reading the Dean of old.
Crystal Singer Anne McCaffrey a re-read, and wow, it was like reading it for the first time - just as good, if not better!
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, #1-4 Carolyn Keene Secret of the Old Clock, The Hidden Staircase, The Bungalow Mystery, and The Mystery of Lilac Inn - a friend gave me books 1-41 (which had been given to her), because she knew how much I love them. I am re-reading them in order. A shame though, that they're not UBOTs, so I could stitch and read them at the same time!

My Favorite Authors and Series

*UBOT=Unabridged Book On Tape, an awesome way to read and stitch at the same time!