Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Off Topic 50 Book Challenge 2016/What I've Read in 2016

Since it's a new year, I thought I'd start a new book challenge thread.

Here's how it works.

1. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst

My 4-year-old niece handed this to me, climbed into my lap, and asked me to read it. Alexander wakes up having a bad day, and it just gets worse from there, until he wants to move to Australia. Some days are like that ... even in Australia.

What a wonderful book with which to start the thread. It was one of my favourites as a child, and even as an adult decades later, I still think of it when I am having one of *those* days. The thought of it has often brought at least a small smile to my lips when I am feeling too stressed to smile about much.

I've sometimes wondered how it would be re-written if it were ever to be sold in Oz. To my ears, at least, "Some days are like that...Even in the United States" (or Canada, or ...) just doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

Joy,
Lynn

There is an Australian version. I haven't read it, but I understand that it changes Australia to something else.

I figured they would have to change the story's punchline. The original just wouldn't work properly there.

I'm guessing the Australian version might say, "...even in America." The more I think about it, the more it strikes me as having a similar rhythm and feel as the original, and it would keep the faraway place in the story more-or-less antipodal to the audience.

A few years ago, I had asked Corrina about the book, but she hadn't been familiar with it at the time.

Joy,
Lynn

That was one of my kids' favorites. Anyone see the movie version?

Joan

Thanks for starting the new thread, Annie. I would have done, as usual, but we haven't had the happiest start to the new year and I've been distracted elsewhere. It was nagging at the back of my mind, so you saved me one thing to think about!

I have already well started on my haul of Christmas books, so plenty to add - when I get the chance!

LabRat

I saw the movie. It doesn't bear much resemblance to the book, but is nevertheless entertaining (think of it as a fan film).

You're welcome. I hope your new year gets better.

LabRat, I second Annie's good wishes for the new year. I hope whatever difficulties you are having resolve themselves rapidly and favorably.

Joy,
Lynn

Thanks, Lynn and Annie. I've expanded on this in Off Topic. Your good wishes are appreciated.

I hadn’t read as much last year as is my normal habit. Discovering the sheer pleasure of online apps such as crosswords, chess, jigsaws and wordsearch puzzles used up a lot of my free time that normally would have been spent on a book.

But opening up my Christmas day folder of new books has revived my delight in the written adventure. I’ve been reading like a hyperbunny, these past couple of weeks. <G>

So, let’s see...

Halo – Blood & Fire Book 1 – Frankie Rose


I was expecting a rerun of Hunger Games from this YA dystopian novel, but the arena fighting is quickly dispensed with in favour of our heroine finding her way in a new, alien world, trying to make sense of the lies she’s been told all her life. Given the way it ended, I was expecting something action-packed from book two and to be honest, I’ve been struggling with it a little. I may well go back to it though once I’ve exhausted everything else on my list.

Tuesday Falling – S. Williams


The setting and characters of this one were a little more gritty than I would normally enjoy. Despite that, it was intriguing and quirky and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Doctor Sleep – Stephen King

The brief spoilers about Danny Torrence being in a bad place made me a bit wary going into this, but I needn’t have feared. This was King back on top form. My one complaint might be that the True Knot – and particularly Rose - didn’t really seem to live up to their fearsome reputation, being far too easily and quickly stymied. But it was good to be back in Danny’s world.

The Stranger – Harlen Coben

I’ve always enjoyed Coben’s stand alone mystery novels and this was no exception. As always with these, there are plot holes to sink a battleship and some of the character motivations seem strange. But none of that seems to matter to me. <G> The plot was intriguing enough to keep me hooked. These are really the equivalent of the B movie TV Mystery of the Week. But sometimes that’s all you need to have fun.

The Waiting – Joe Hart


I’m always on the lookout for a good supernatural thriller and this one was a freebie. I enjoyed it enough that I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author. He was able to envoke a fine sense of spooky claustrophobia with some genuinely jump out of the skin moments. Added to this was an emotional subplot that tugged at the heartstrings. Definitely a keeper.

Inadvertant Disclosure – Melissa F. Miller


A second outing for what’s becoming one of my favourite heroines. I’m definitely going to be adding this series to my must read list.

For the Memory of Dragons (Dragons of Eternity 2) – Julie Wetzel


As I’ve said in the past, dedicated romance isn’t normally my go to genre, but, hoo boy, do I love dragons. <G> I enjoyed this second outing into the author’s dragon world just as much as the first. The perfect light reading for Christmas Day.
Think that’s it so far.

LabRat

Aside from the dragons, this sounds like a great plot for an L&C fic.

2. The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant

Tells the story of Dinah, daughter of the Biblical Leah and Jacob and sister of Joseph. Dinah is mentioned only briefly in the Bible, but Diamant expands the story to tell of her whole lifetime. (The title itself refers to the tent where women would go during menstruation and during and after childbirth.)

The Cradle of the Gods (Soulstone Prophecy I) - Thomas Quinn Miller

A solid rather than an epic fantasy novel, but containing enough intriguing mysteries and interesting characters that I hugely enjoyed it. To the extent that I'm deeply miffed book two hadn't yet been released.

LabRat

#1 Mudbound by Hillary Jordan


I read this one a few years ago but re-read it for an upcoming book club discusion. This is not a feel good novel. But it does a wonderful job putting you into these characters' lives, seeing the struggles they're dealing with.

Joan

#2 Unwholly by Neal Shusterman


Second book in the Unwind series. We start to learn more about how this situation arrose in the first place.

Joan

#3 What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan


An engaging read. I wasn't entirely sure who did it until the end.

Joan

#1 - The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Thomas awakes inside a dark elevator which opens in the middle of large field -- called the Glade -- surrounded on all sides by several hundred feet high walls. He has no memory of his previous life except his name. He discovers that every month for the past 2 years, a teenage boy has been arrived here in the same manner. None of them know how to leave, but they all suspect the answer lies in the maze that lies just outside the walls. It's the Maze Runner's job to find that way out. With Thomas's arrival, life in the Glade starts to change.


Interesting book. I'm sort-of glad I saw the film first as I fear I would've been as lost as Thomas and the other characters to what in the world was happening. Curious though to know where this whole series is leading.

3. The Church of Dead Girls, by Stephen Dobyns

A serial killer stalks teenage girls in a small town in upstate New York. As more girls disappear, the townspeople start to turn on each other.

4. Big Trouble, by Dave Barry

International weapons smugglers, Miami lowlifes, a corporation that engages in more graft than anything else, and some teenagers collide in Miami. The result is hilarious.

5. Last Act, by Christopher Pike

Melanie Martin, the new girl in town, was looking for acceptance and friendship, and she thought she'd found it when she was invited to audition for a murder mystery play. Then, on opening night, she fires three blanks and a classmate dies for real. Now Melanie must clear her name before the real killer catches up to her.

Blackout (Breakers #8) - Edward W. Robertson

The final book in this post-apocalyptic series which took a sharp turn early on into something even more interesting. Full of excellently rounded characters, action, emotion and heart, I'm really sorry to see it end. I'll miss Ness and Sebastian, Raina, Walt and their friends, allies and enemies.

LabRat

#4 The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

In a future where our economy has collapsed comes the Consilence project where people lived in an isolated gated community where they are guaranteed food, jobs and money. One month they live in a home, then next month in prison, alternating back and forth.

Margaret Atwood has written some thought provoking postapocalyptic fiction - The Handmaiden's Tale, and The MadAddam series. Even though this setup didn't sound as intriguing, I was expecting far more. This story took perverse turns for no apparent reason. I do NOT recommend it.

Joan

Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold.
Lord Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan leaves Barrayar to go to the planet Kibou-daini to investigate a corporate scam, leading to a merry chase involving terrorists, cryopreserved people slumbering in their coffins, and much derring-do. Major events at the very end of the book.

Thief of Hearts by Teresa Medeiros
Regency romance, but too fluffy even for me, a long-time romance reader.

Pines by Blake Crouch.
Secret Service Agent Ethan (forgot his last name) wakes up with no recent memory, no wallet, no phone, no identification in the small town of Pines, Idaho. Why do the local law enforcement seem curiously unwilling to help him? Why can't he leave the town? What about finding the federal agent he was looking for, an agent found dead in a ramshackle house on the edge of town? Very mysterious, with an out-of-the-box ending.

Sword Sworn by Jennifer Roberson.
I was hampered by the fact that this book seems to be about #7 in a series and I had not read the previous six. There was a lot of referring to events in previous books, although the author did make sure one could follow along. It's labeled "The Final Adventure of Tiger and Del", the Southern sword dancer and the Northern Sword Singer. OK but not great.

Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs.
Third in the "Bones" series about Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist practicing in both North Carolina and Quebec. Tempe has to deal with biker gangs, drive-by shootings, and deaths of children. So far I have liked this series and intend to read more.

6. Super Friends: Flying High, by Nick Eliopulos

I read this to my 4-year-old niece, and couldn't resist making comments while reading it. It opens with Batman swinging around Gotham City on a sunny day (and smiling). This is very OOC, and I said so. Later, a bunch of seagulls steal people's food at the beach, and this is supposedly strange behavior (no; that is completely normal for seagulls). I know it's a book for early readers, but I couldn't resist. Later, I heard my niece "reading" the book (repeating verbatim everything I had said/read). If she's anything like me, she'll re-read the book when she learns to read on her own and be very annoyed to find that I added things that weren't in there.

#5 Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

A friendship develops between two very different women: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

This was an enjoyable story. While I didn't always care for Molly, the story gave me insight as to what she was dealing with.

Joan

#6 The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

A girl struggles to cope with her father leaving and her brother's suicide.

What struck me most about this book was that this fictional story's setting was where I live. And the author had all the details right! The streets, the restaurantes, the mall. Turns out the author graduated from the University in my town.

Joan

11.22.63 - Stephen King

I loved this. I was enthralled from start to finish. This is King on top form. Well rounded, believable characters you can root for and a plot with more twists than a twisty, turny thing - as Blackadder would say.

As ever with King, one of his great strengths is to make the ordinary - even the mundane - interesting. And, again, this was about a lot more than just a time travel tale.

I also loved the cameos. Christine up to her usual evil tricks and It being my favourite ever King novel, the cameo from Derry and especially the cute scene with Bev and Ritchie were a delight.

I've just seen this is being turned into a mini series. I'll look forward to that. Although the disaster that was Under the Dome doesn't give me hope. <g>

LabRat

I'm with you, LabRat. I think this was one of King's best works. As to a TV adaptation, if they just stick to the book, it could be good. But if they try to drag it out, I don't have high hopes for it.

Joan

7. The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper

A train full of food and toys for children suffers from a broken engine. After begging several other engines for help and being rejected, a little blue engine volunteers to take the train over the mountain.

Little Black Lies - Sharon Bolton

I've always enjoyed Bolton's thrillers and adore her Lacey Flint series, but this one...hoo, boy! The Falkland Islands setting was interesting, but it didn't help alleviate the unremitting bleakness of the plot. Peopled with characters I couldn't much like and found it hard to care about and the final third was utterly farcical. Not one of her best. Very disappointing.

LabRat

8. The Last Vampire, by Christopher Pike

This YA vampire novel, written over a decade before Twilight, was interesting except for one thing -- the main character is a complete and total Mary Sue. Alisa Perne, aka Sita, is a 5,000-year-old vampire from India. She's Aryan, so she's got blonde hair, blue eyes, and looks to be the same age as she was when the first vampire, Yaksha, transformed her (about 20). She can jump so high she appears to be flying, has the strength of six men, and heals instantly (unless she gets decapitated or staked through the heart, in which case, she will die). She has been hanged twice and crucified four times, but she got over it. She was present for the building of the pyramids, the American Civil War, and the moon launch at Cape Canaveral. She has rubbed elbows with some history's most famous people, including Krishna, Socrates, and Bram Stoker (all of whom she decided not to bite). She meets a high school student named Ray (whose father she killed for getting too close), perceives that he is the reincarnation of her 5,000-years-dead husband, Rama, and transformed him into a vampire. She also meets a high school boy who is dying of AIDS and uses her blood to cure him (but not transform him into a vampire). At the end of the book, she gets staked through the heart when her house explodes, which one might presume would be fatal, but since there are about nine books in this series, I'm guessing she got over it.

At least Alisa/Sita doesn't sparkle.

#7 The Selection by Kiera Cass

I stole this one from my daughter's book shelf. A futuristic dystopia in which women are selected to come to the palace and vie for the Prince's affections. Light but fun.

Joan

#8 The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

A chilling psychological thriller about a marriage, a way of life and how far one woman will go to keep what is rightfully hers.

Initally I was expecting more traditional characters. Both the husband and wife has serious issues. While I didn't like either of them, it was interesting to see how the plot developed.

Joan

#9 Raise a Happy Teenager by Suzie Hayman

What can I say? I've got two teenagers. Nothing new in this book.

Joan

9. The Last Vampire II: Black Blood, by Christopher Pike

Mary Sue Sita, the last vampire, continues her adventures. She made her high-school-age true love into a vampire at the end of the last book, then got staked through the heart. Obviously, though, it didn't kill her, since she's the main character of the sequel. Also, it turns out that she and Ray aren't the last vampires, since somebody is making cruel, vicious vampires in L.A. Sita must stop them, because they're a threat to humanity. As such, she and Ray go to L.A., where Ray promptly gets himself killed. At the end of this one, Sita is slowly dying while she makes an FBI agent into a vampire. Since there are approximately seven more books in the series, I'm guessing she gets over it again. (Seriously, the books are entertaining enough to keep reading them, but Sita is definitely a Mary Sue.)

10. Sooner or Later, by Elizabeth Adler

I just couldn't get into this book, and it took me months to finish it. A mentally ill serial killer stalks his relatives with vengeance and money on his mind.

#10 Saving Grace by Jane Green

Grace seems to have a perfect life. After she hires a new assistant for her novelist husband, things start to fall apart.

I knew this would be in the lighter vein but some of the plot holes were just silly (i.e. she has no income and her credit cards are cancelled yet she has no money worries).

Joan

#11 The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown

Nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Olympics.

I wasn't sure I was going to get through this one. The writing was dense, with lots of little details. It was interesting getting the perspective of life at that time and all the obsticles these men faced. Some of the passages about rowing got a bit long.

Joan

#12 The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain


An entertaining story but it pushed credibility in several instances. I've enjoyed other books by this author more.

Joan

11. Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway, by Dave Barry

Since it's the silly season (aka an election year), I decided to reread this book. It's funny and spot-on.

12. The Last Vampire 3: Red Dice, by Christopher Pike

Sita Sue, having survived her near-death cliffhanger at the end of the last book, continues her reign of awesomeness by getting into a fight with the LAPD, helped by the former FBI agent she made into a vampire at the end of the last book. She wins, of course, steals a helicopter, and flies off toward the mountains/desert in it. Instead of using common sense and going somewhere close enough for the helicopter to make it (in this case Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead), she tries to fly to Lake Mead in Nevada because it's warmer than the mountains. This does not work out well, and it causes the rest of the story to happen (which involves a mad general, a 700-year-old vampire hybrid who was once a priest, and experiments on vampires). The story is pretty decent, but Sita is still a Sue.

#13 The Elite by Kiera Cass


This is the second book in the Selection series. It's definitely light reading - good for doctor's offices. I'm not impressed by the main character.

Joan

#14 The Death and LIfe of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch

A frank discussion of the damage done by No Child Left Behind reforms.

Joan

Among Wolves: Children of the Mountain I - R. A. Hakok



A pretty superior YA PA novel which kept me intrigued all the way through. A likeable hero, lots of small mysteries that kept me wondering...it seems that book 2 hasn't yet been published but I'll definitely be buying it when it is. Although, refreshingly, you could pretty much read this as a stand alone.

The Farseer Trilogy:

Assassin's Apprentice
Royal Assassin
Assassin's Quest

The Tawny Man Trilogy:

Fool's Errand
Golden Fool
Fool's Fate

Robin Hobb has always been in my top five favourite fantasy authors list and my most favourite of her span of linked trilogies known collectively as the In The Realm of the Elderlings series have been the books centring on Fitz and the Fool.

So, I was delighted recently to discover she had embarked on a new trilogy dealing with these characters. As it has been some years since I read the others, I revisited them to get me up to speed with the small details, and they delighted and enthralled me all over again.

LabRat :)

#15 Calamity by Brandon Sanderson

Final book in the Reckoners series.


I noticed this book got mixed reviews on GoodReads. I liked it. My son did too. Lots of action and a very innovative story.

Joan

13. The Last Vampire 4: Phantom, by Christopher Pike

Sita, having undergone a procedure developed by a 700-year-old alchemist, is now human again, and therefore capable of reproduction. She becomes pregnant and gives birth 2 1/2 months later to a fully developed baby who almost kills her. Said baby grows to adulthood in just a few weeks. Amazingly, the baby's name is not Renesmee, because I think Stephanie Meyer borrowed everything else from this book.

14. Exile, by M.J. Friedman

This short novel is based on the LnC show, although I think the author may not have paid as close attention to details as the average fanfic writer. Superman is infected with a virus that doesn't harm him but can kill everyone in the world (and apparently all the non-human mammals, too). The point of this is to keep Superman away from everyone, allowing the mad scientist who created the virus to get his revenge (and make lots of money). Since this reads much like an episode of LnC, you can guess how successful that was.

Fool's Assassin (Fitz and the Fool Trilogy I)- Robin Hobb

After so many years between the rest of the series and this new addition, I approached it with a fair degree of trepidation but I needn't have worried. This was like visiting well loved old friends, with the addition of fascinating new characters to enjoy. I can see this new trilogy will become another well loved and much read chapter in the lives of Fitz and the Fool.

LabRat

15. Bubble Books! The Hippopotamus, by Berengere Motuelle
16. Bubble Books! The Clownfish, by Berengere Motuelle

Very short books designed to be read in the bathtub. My 4-year-old niece dropped them, dripping wet, into my lap and asked me to read them. So, of course, I read them (yes, I'm a pushover). They provide small amounts of information about the habitats of the animals in the title. The books originally came with matching plastic toys, but I threw them out after they got mold inside them. (The books are easier to dry out than the toys, so they're still around.)

#16 All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

A blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

An engaging read. Makes you appreciate life as it is today.

Joan

17. The Last Vampire 5: Evil Thirst, by Christopher Pike
18. The Last Vampire 6: Creatures of Forever, by Christopher Pike

Sita, the last vampire (except not quite) spends the first book hunting her 5-month-old daughter, who looks 20 and acts like Kali, the Dark Mother of Hinduism, in order to keep an ancient prophecy from coming true. Not all is as it seems, however.

In the second book (which was originally the final book in the series, until the vampire craze of the 2000s inspired Pike to write more books), Sita travels back in time to stop a great evil from taking place, then goes back to her origins 5,000 years ago.

Goodness, what have I read this year? *looks up orders on Amazon*

Hmm.

Wings of Fire (part 1 to 8), the first four in German. My daughter got me into it, and in German, only the first 4 novels are available. Of course, the first big story arc ends with part 5. Which means that we both switched language then. I must confess I'm pretty proud of my daughter, since this was the first time she read anything in English and did quite well. Amazing series, even though it's most definitely not adult material.

The Pride Series (book 1 to 9) by Shelly Laurenston. Once again in my native German, as my mother enjoyed those books, too - and she never learned English, so... The first two (or so) books are a bit too much into the nether regions, but the series gets much better afterwards.

Star Wolf by Kathryn Lasky. Another children's book, or maybe for teens. Once again, my daughter got me into the series. I must admit I didn't like this issue much.

Currently re-reading: "Fifty Shades of Grey". If you haven't read it - do it. Can definitely compare to our best writers on the dark side, although I have to admit that it's a bit different due to the BDSM theme chosen.

ETA: That makes 18 books read this year - thus far.

19. Snow on the Bayou, by Sandra Hill

This is the latest book in Sandra Hill's Cajun series, and it also crosses over briefly with her Viking II series. This is also the second book in the Tante Lulu series.

Navy SEAL Justin "Cage" LeBlanc swore that there would be "snow on the bayou" before he returned to Louisiana, but news that his grandmother is dying brings him back. His childhood sweetheart, Emelie Gaudet, had her heart broken by him almost 20 years ago and wants nothing to do with him. Of course, Tante Lulu, matchmaker extraordinaire, has a different idea ...

#17 Unsouled by Neil Schusterman

Third in Unwind series. We learn more about what lead to unwinding. I'm not thrilled with the characters but I'm interested in seeing how this concept plays out.

Joan

#18 The Perfect Mother by Nina Darnton

When an American exchange student is accused of murder, her mother will stop at nothing to save her.

While there are some similariites to the Amanda Knox case, this fictional story focuses on the girl's parents. At first they believe she is competely innocent as she claimes. Then more and more information builds up. I found myself not especially liking the characters but it was an interesting read.

Joan

#19 Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

A story about a boy, a small town and a murder .

Nice coming of age story and so many references to grace.

Joan

"Hamilton: The Revolution" by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter

A hip-hop musical about America's first Secretary of the Treasury? Is this a joke? No! "Hamilton" is EVERYTHING!!!!!

My tickets are for the end of July. Waiting is torture. I listen to at least one song from it in my car every day. Seriously. It's brilliant. Go to Youtube right now and listen to "Wait For It" and "Burn", and it will shatter your preconceived notions. Then download the original cast album and become obsessed like the rest of us. Then cry that you can't get tickets on Broadway, but start checking to see if the tour will come anywhere near where you live or would like to visit.

And then read the book. Because it's the behind the scenes story of the musical that is everything, and you'll appreciate the genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda even more. Feel free to check out the reviews on Amazon...and then notice that it came out yesterday and is already out of stock (just like the Broadway tickets). Yes, a hip-hop musical is encouraging Americans to read! (Gasp!)

For those who might be interested, it's coming to the Pantages Theater in Hollywood between August 11, 2017 and December 30, 2017. Also, never underestimate the quality of musicals performed at colleges -- in SoCal, at least, colleges aren't allowed to perform musicals that are being performed professionally in the region until the professional show is over for fear that the college show will compete with the professional show.

#20 The One by Kierra Cass

Last book in the Selection series. Will Maxon choose America to be his bride. Light and fluffy . Good for reading while waiting for doctors appointments .

Joan

#21 Still Life by Louise Penny

Inspector Gamache investigates a suspicious death in rural Monteal.

OK mystery

Joan

#22 Before I wake by C L Taylor

Susans daughter is in a coma after a suicide attempt . The more she learns, the more she wonders if she knows her daughter at all.

An interesting mystery though Susan continually using poor judgment drove me a little nuts.

Joan

20. Execution of Innocence, by Christopher Pike

A popular but obnoxious young man has been found murdered, while another not-so-popular young man is missing. The prime suspects are the twin sister of the murdered boy and the girlfriend of the missing boy, who cheated on her boyfriend with the murdered boy.

One of the girls is the actual murderer, and the other is being framed by her. The story moves quickly and keeps the reader's attention, though there's a giant plot hole 2/3 of the way through the book and there's a scene where the framee handles the murder weapon with bare hands, only to have this clue go nowhere.

21. Known to Evil, by Walter Mosley

The is the second book in Mosley's Leonid McGill series. I wasn't overly familiar with the author, but I'd read one of the books in his Easy Rawlins series in the past, so when a friend gave me this book, I took it to rehearsal with me and read it backstage, going through it fairly quickly. It's a good, fast-paced novel, and the main character is engaging. It's a good whodunit, and kept me guessing until the end. I am definitely going to look for more books by this author.

22. Tiny Titans, Volume 1: Welcome to the Treehouse!

My 5-year-old niece sat down next to me last week and asked me to read this. She enjoys the superhero adventures, while I like the in-jokes that only a long-time comics fan would understand. Anyway, the Tiny Titans are all students at Sidekick Elementary and get into lots of super-powered elementary-age hijinks (think JL8, except not a webcomic, and using the Teen Titans instead of the JLA). It's pretty funny in parts, and the bad guys aren't so much evil as immature.

23. Superman Family, Volume 1

I bought this for my 5-year-old niece's birthday, and she immediately wanted me to read it to her. It's pretty good, and Lois Lane is in it quite a bit (no romance with Clark/Superman, but this book is aimed at the very young crowd). Some parts are hilarious, such as:


My 7-year-old niece, who usually thinks superheroes are boring, was listening as I read and swiped the book from her sister to read. She thinks Lois Lane is a cool character (but she also thinks Clark/Superman is dumb because he's a boy).

Since my niece likes Lois, I want to introduce her to the LnC show. Tell me something, FoLCs, do you think 7 is too young for the show?

#23 Matilda by Roald Dahl

I'be seen this movie many times and enjoyed it but never read the book . There are minor differences between the book and the movie but both are enjoyable .

Joan

The Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth

I wasn't expecting much from this - I only started it because it came as an Amazon freebie after I bought something else - but I actually enjoyed the first two books. The third was much harder to get through with long stretches of nothing much happening and endlessly repetitive. Given its downer ending I'm not sure it was worth persevering to get to the end.

LabRat

Agreed, LabRat. I read the first one after seeing the movie for free. I enjoyed it, and the second as well, but the third was a real letdown.

I agree with both of you. The story had a lot of potential but I had problems with the concepts. And sometimes the lead character did foolish things. Some of the concepts like the fear landscape were cool in the movie. I haven't seen the second one yet.

Joan



Groobie
_________________________

The Vampire Apocalypse - Derek Gunn

I A World Torn Asunder
II Descent Into Chaos
III Fallout

I was expecting no more from this than schlock pulp horror but the writing was a notch above that and this was an enjoyable PA romp. Civilisation has begun to break down as an energy crisis looms. As societies crumble into anarchy, the vampires emerge to take control. I've already bought book 4.

The Vampire Apocalypse: Book 4 - Trail of Tears

The author seems to improve with each new book in this series. But now we've ended in a cliffhanger and I still don't know who the traitor is! Seems there'll be a wait till book 5 comes out. Hope it's soon!

LabRat

24. Thirst: The Eternal Dawn, by Christopher Pike

This is the third book in the Thirst series (the first two books consist of books 1-3 and 4-6 of The Last Vampire series). The series was originally finished around 1995, but was revived after Twilight made vampires popular again.

Sita is still a Sue, but it's toned down a bit in this book, in which she gets close to one of her descendants (from when she was human 5,000 years ago) and tries to help her in achieving her dreams. She also tracks down Seymour, who didn't die at the end of the last book after all, thanks to the advent of effective HIV drugs. She still deals with powerful forces that threaten the whole world, though, and she still disobeys Krishna's order not to make more vampires (though somehow she still has his grace).

After reading this far in the series, I have concluded that it would make a great series of graphic novels, but I don't think it's ever been done.

25. The Children's Blizzard, by David Laskin

"Thousands of impoverished Northern European immigrants were promised that the prairie offered "land, freedom, and hope." The disastrous blizzard of 1888 revealed that their free homestead was not a paradise but a hard, unforgiving place governed by natural forces they neither understood nor controlled, and America’s heartland would never be the same."

This book tells the story of the "children's blizzard" of January 12, 1888, in which a mild day followed by a fast-moving, devastating storm blew through the Midwest, leaving hundreds dead, many of them children caught by the storm while they were at school. The book gives lots of details on the history and science of weather forecasting, the reasons the homesteaders had for moving to the plains, and what happens to a human body as hypothermia sets in (it isn't pretty).

I've tried to imagine such cold, but I really can't. I've never experienced any temperature colder than 13 degrees Fahrenheit, and that only once. I have gotten the impression that the 1880's were a time of harsh weather, judging from other books I've read like The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder and accounts of the blizzard in New York City in March of 1888, and newspaper accounts from my own town of a tornado that blew down the one and only church here in 1888 (which would not have been terribly notable in the Midwest, but this is California; after that, it was a good 120 years before the town experienced another such storm).

26. The Star Group, by Christopher Pike

Three guys and four girls meet a strange man who offers to give them secret knowledge, an inner journey that will transform them into powerful beings capable of bending the world to their wills. In the midst of this great transformation will emerge a bad seed with a will more evil than a devil.

This book was okay, but the story was kind of rushed, and the author didn't spend much time developing the characters.

#24 Undivided by Neal Shusterman

Final book in the Unwind series


Some interesting developments. Some issues were ressolved nicely. Others I would've done differently.

Joan

The Shattered Sea Trilogy - Joe Abercrombie:

Half A King
Half A World
Half A War

An enjoyable fantasy series. Not GOT deep but full of great characters. I adored Queen Skara and the hints about who the elf kind were. My only negative was the author's propensity - unnecessarily in my view - for giving some of his characters disgusting personal habits. I could have done without the repeated details on those! But I'll be looking into what else he's written.

LabRat

27. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead, by Don Borchert

Mark Twain once said “The rumors of my death were greatly exaggera—BRAINS!!!!!”

Pulled from the undead grip of Mark Twain’s rotting zombie hands, this is Tom Sawyer like you’ve never seen him before, in a swashbuckling, treasure-seeking tale spiked with blood, gore, and zombie madness.

This book was pretty funny. Now I need to re-read the original, which I last read when I was 7 years old.

The Sharani Series - Kevin L. Nielson

I Sands
II Storms

I really loved this series so far. It held a lot of warm echoes for me of the first few books in Anne MacCaffrey's Dragonriders series. In a good way. The clans reminded me of the Wheyrs. And we had aviens instead of dragons. Hopefully the next books will be published soon. Can't wait to see what happens next.

LabRat

#25 Barefoot Season by Susan Mallery


A decent light summer read.



#26 Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight


Interesting psychological thriller.

Joan

#27 Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass


Interesting fantasy world and likeable characters. My daughter adores this series and she's thrilled I finally read started it. I'm planning on reading the rest.

Joan

Indoctrination - John Harrison

This thriller was very much a book of two distinct halves. It began intriguingly enough but the second half was irritatingly rushed, lacking the care and detail lavished on the first. Add on a tacked on final couple of paragraphs there simply to provide a hook to buy the sequel and this one ended disappointingly, squandering the promise it began with.

LabRat

28. Girl in the Arena, by Lise Haines

This YA novel is set in an alternate America, in which gladiatorial combat is a popular sport -- and is completely controlled by a corporation, which hires gladiators (mostly men), encourages "Glad culture", which is celebrity culture taken up to 11, and changes the rules and bylaws to avoid having to pay out what was promised.

This book takes a rather scathing look at corporate corruption and celebrity culture. It's not a dystopian novel, but rather a look at a very plausible alternate reality.

29. Seriously, Snow White Was So Forgetful! The Story of Snow White as Told By the Dwarves, by Nancy Loewen

This children's book tells the story of Snow White from the POV of the dwarves. Snow White comes to live with them, but then proves very forgetful. She makes banana cream pie with no bananas, knits 10-foot scarves (because she forgets to stop knitting), and worst of all, forgets the dwarves warning not to open the door to strangers, thus allowing the evil queen to try to kill her, not once, but three times.

30. Noune: Child of Prehistory, by Michel Vaidis

In this children's book, which was originally written in French, a small boy, Noune, lives in prehistoric France (17,000 years ago) with his parents, Mah and Pah, and his older sister, Malina. Over the course of a year, he asks questions about everything around him, learning the lifeways of his ancient people, including how the caves were painted.

My parents just returned from a trip to France, and they brought this book back with them. They viewed a lot of ancient artwork, including a replica of the rock art of Lascaux. This book helps to explain that artwork, although in reality some of it was painted as long as 37,000 years ago and was rediscovered in the 1940s.

31. Invasion, by Robin Cook

An alien virus comes to Earth and starts infecting people, changing them into shells of their former selves. It reminds me strongly of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, only without the pod-people.

Triggerfinger - Jackson Spencer Bell.

Kevin is a local hero after shooting dead two men who invaded his home. But now strange things are happening. Violent incidents plague him, The Bald Man is harrassing him with claims his story of that night is false....did it really go down as he said?

I found this an intriguing first novel. Although I figured out pretty early on what was going on, it was still a fascinating journey. I read it in one sitting.

LabRat

The Shroud - David W. Moore

A group of priests try to engineer The Second Coming by cloning Jesus from The Shroud of Turin. They get Lucifer instead. Ooops. This one had shades of the Omen, of course, but a lot of it reminded me, too, of watching an episode of Supernatural. Perhaps because of, rather than despite, this, I did enjoy it. Even though the characters were one-dimensional and the ending rushed.

LabRat

#28 the Fate of Ten by Pittacus Lore

Final book in the "I am Number 4" series

The Mogadorian invasion of the Earth has started. Can the Guard take down Sektrakus Ra and save the planet?

An okay ending to the series. I enjoyed the earlier books in the series more.

Joan

Just found out that it's not the last book which makes sense since it ended rather abruptly and left many issues unressolved.

#29 American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Tennagers by Nancy Jo Sales

A rather disturbing look at how girls use social media the impact on their lives.

Joan

Superman: Earth One: Vol. 2 by J. Michael Straczynski & Shane Davis

Finally got vol. 2! Clark adjusts to Metropolis, the Daily Planet, being Superman, and meets his new neighbors. Lois is curious about her odd new co-worker and does some digging into his past. Superman battles an energy-sucking Parasite.



I thought that Earth One, V1 was very similar to the MoS plot, but BvS deviates from this series COMPLETELY, so clearly it's not based on this series. Can't wait to see what's in store for Clark in V3.

#30 Island Girls by Nancy Thayer


Nice light poolside read.

Joan

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner - Sequel to The Maze Runner.

A very simply written book with a very confusing and complex plot. I'm still scratching my head over these trials, this time by "fire". Those who remained after The Maze trials are back, this time they know it's a test and they aren't alone. There's another group just like theirs, only all girls with one guy. The guys group is given a challenge, only it's insane. The girls group is given another challenge, equally insane, but easier to survive. This series will make you paranoid. Can't wait to see what they've done with the film.

EDIT: Saw the film. Just like The Maze Runner, it deviates completely from the book (hardly touching on the Scorch title). Even so, both films are better plotted out than the books.

What Remains - Tim Weaver

David Raker has only recently been added to my list of absolutely can't miss detectives, alongside the limes of Jack Reacher, Charlie Parker and Myron Bolitar - and like them, he's rarely disappointed.

This was the usual rollarcoaster ride, with so many twists and turns, revelations and counter-revelations, I almost got whiplash. A joy to read.

LabRat

Superman: Secret Identity by Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen

A boy named Clark Kent is raised in the small Kansas town of Pickettville. In this universe, Superman is a comic book hero and Clark Kent is tormented for being named the hero's alter-ego. (Thanks, Mom & Dad!) In his teen years, he discovers that he, too, has powers... Superman's powers.

The story goes from Clark having no powers to discovering powers to moving to NYC and to being set up on a blind date with a woman named Lois (who understands the jokes and teasing), and beyond.



I really enjoyed this look into a world where Clark had to create a life for himself with his powers in a world where everyone already gave him grief for having Clark's name. His and Lois's relationship is sweet and everything fans of L&C:NAOS would hope for.

If ANYONE has a copy of this comic, the library's copy had the most important pages (Pg 15-16) torn out... You know the pages where Clark discovers he has powers. Who does that!?!

Virals - by Kathy Reichs

Tory, a 14 y.o. girl, and her three male friends uncover some mysteries taking place on the nature preserve where their families live and work (on an island east of Charleston, SC). They set about to discover the truth and thus change their lives forever.

Kathy Reichs, well known author of the Temperance Brennan mysteries the show Bones was based on, dips her toe into teen novels with this first of a series of books. While this book is grounded in science, it does flirt heavily with science fiction. Tory is very reminiscent of a young Lois Lane, had she been more scientifically minded... especially on the B&E side of things to get at the truth.

#31 The End of Sex: How Hookup Culture is Leaving a Generation Unhappy, Sexually Unfulfilled, and Confused about Intimacy by Donna Frietas

Eye opening book about hookup culture on college campuses.

Joan

#32 No One Knows by J.T. Ellison


This was an interesting set up which kept me reading. However, several aspects were just silly and the 'surprise' ending didn't make sense.

Joan

That's too bad. It does sounds like a tempting set-up for a plot.

Seizure: A Virals Novel - by Kathy Reichs
Code: A Virals Novel - by Kathy Reichs & Brendan Reichs
Exposure: A Virals Novel - by Kathy Reichs & Brendan Reichs

Tori, Hi, Sheldon, and Ben solve more mysteries, including saving their group, dealing with a serial killer, hunting down kidnappers -- with the help or the hindrance of their new-found Viral powers, also while battling being outcasts, trying to stick together through the bad and the worse, (and being grounded - which never seems to stick), and Tori being forced to be something she's not (a debutante). All the while, Chance Claybourne (the quasy-villain from book 1), who knows more than he should, tries to figure out the Virals' secret.

Fun plots, despite Seizure's being the least believable and most fantastic of the three. Time passes slowly in the books, as only a year since book 1 has passed by the end of book 4.

If you're not picking about twist endings making sense, then you might enjoy it. I went to Good Reads and people were equally divided. Many thought the twist ending was pretty cool.

Joan

Homeostasis Lost - Kyle Yauchler

A disparate group of people wake one morning to discover a huge solar flare has knocked out all power and must band together to face the challenges and dangers they face as a result.

Lightweight reading from this PA novel but a good group of characters you can root for made it enjoyable all the same. I've already bought book 2.

LabRat

Wolverine: Origin - by Paul Jenkins, Andy Kubert, & Richard Isanove

The story of how tragedy turns a privileged young man into Logan/Wolverine. The graphic novel differs from the movie adaptation.

A bit confusing at times, as the story is told by an outside observer and several of the characters are depicted/drawn very similarly.

#33 Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

A continuation of the Shadowhunters world following new characters, Emma Carstairs and the Blackthorn family. This author does a nice job of expanding upon the world she created yet introducing new aspects about it and developing intriguing new characters.

Joan