A Girl's Guide to Vampires by Katie MacAlister

Title: A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Dark Ones #1)

Author: Katie MacAlister

Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins) 2003

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 374

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Authors: M; 2011: Will Power, What Will Power?; January New Books

All Joy Randall wants is a little old-fashioned romance, but when she participates in a "Goddess evoking" ceremony with her friend, Roxy, Joy finds out her future true love is a man with the potential to put her immortal soul in danger. At first the ever-practical Joy is ready to dismiss her vision as a product of too much gin and too many vampire romances, but while traveling through the Czech Republic with Roxy, Joy begins to have some second thoughts about her mystery lover because she is suddenly plagued by visions of a lethally handsome stranger. Then, when she and Roxy attend a local GothFaire, Joy meets Raphael Griffin St. John, head of security, and she becomes even more bewildered because the dark and dangerous Raphael seems too close to her dreams for comfort. Readers will gladly give in to the wickedly sharp bite of MacAlister's wit in this temptingly toothsome romance. With its superb characterization and writing that manages to be both sexy and humorous, this contemporary paranormal love story is an absolute delight.

I wasn't looking to start another series (since I have am in the process of reading about 4 series) but this caught my eye at Target last week. I had a few gift cards left over from Christmas and decided to pick this up along with a new pair of Chucks and the first season of Glee on DVD. Oh happy day! Dancing, singing, shoes, and a book!

The book pleasantly surprised me. I initially thought, "Ok a vampire romance. Is it going to be completely cheesy or just sex scenes or really bad writing?" I find that like it. A nice mix of story, myth, and romance. I won't go into the mythology (lots of intricacies; two types of vampires) but it was refreshing to read a mythology different from the Twilight model.

I liked the main female character, Joy, but felt like she was a little too trusting when she jumped into bed with Raphael. It was very forward and sudden. What really got me was how she complained that he wasn't telling her his secrets. My thought was "well, you've only known him for two days; most people do not reveal everything about themselves within two days of meeting." Otherwise, I liked Joy's fearlessness when it came to speaking her mind. Some days I really wish I could tell people what I really thought, but then I would be the big meany in the room. Oh well, I will just have to live vicarious through characters in books.

As to the big mystery of the novel, it wasn't much of a mystery. But that doesn't necessarily mean that I didn't enjoy it. I did enjoy watching the characters figure out the mystery. The red herrings were a nice touch. The ending was a little bit of a cliffhanger and I hope they visit some of the characters in the subsequent novels. Thankfully it wasn't too much of a cliffhanger, so I'm okay with the ending.

I went to the library and got the next couple in the Dark Ones series in case I get in the mood for vampires in the next month. However, I think I need a bit of zombie therapy for the next book selection.

Dark Ones

#1 A Girl's Guide to Vampires
#2 Sex and the Single Vampire
#3 Sex, Lies, and Vampires
#4 Even Vampires Get the Blues
#4.5 Bring Out Your Dead
#5 The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires
#5.5 Cat Got Your Tongue
#6 Zen and the Art of Vampires
#7 Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang
#7.5 Unleashed
#7.8 Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend
#8 In the Company of Vampires
#9 Much Ado About Vampires
#10 A Tale of Two Vampires
#10.5 Shades of Gray
#11 Lifestyles of the Rich and Undead

Music Monday -- Relient K "Who I am Hates Who I've Been"

I have a huge love for Relient K. Their music is peppy. catchy, and radio friendly, but underneath they have such interesting songs. The lyrics contain such pain, despair, joy, love, and so much more. They pack the songs with a universe full of emotion. I have so many favorites that I can't just pick one song. However, this song has been stuck in my head lately. Specifically the 2nd chorus (below) and prechorus. The words speak to me. The words don't exactly describe me and my life, but they give connect to the essence of my life. It's a sad song, but one that ends in hope. (I've been picking a lot of said music lately, but that's only because it's so beautiful) I talk to absolutely no one. Couldn't keep to myself enough. And the things bottled inside have finally begun To create so much pressure that I'll soon blow up.

I heard the reverberating footsteps Synching up to the beating of my heart, And I was positive that unless I got myself together, I would watch me fall apart.

And I can't let that happen again 'cause then you'll see my heart In the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

2011 Outlander Series Reading Challenge

From The Lit Bitch:

Welcome to The Outlander Series Reading Challenge 2011! I know I am about two days late on this posting but let’s just say it took a fair amount of trial and error to figure out how to make a button and link everything back so my apologies for the late info and post!!

My sister and my mom have been reading the Outlander Series and raving about it for the last few months and I have yet to read the series! My biggest fear is that I will love it so much I will probably not do anything else once I start reading them–so I figured why not have some fun and involve others in my reading journey–and what better way than through a reading challenge. So here you have it, after some painstaking HTML research and a crash course in programming here you have it–the Outlander Series Reading Challenge 2011!

I had to, I just had to join one more reading challenge. I read the first book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series and have been meaning to read the rest. I started Drums of Autumn a few months ago, but put it down, then lost it in the jumble, and have found it again, but should really start over. So I am committing myself to reading the entire series this year. A friend has joined me in the challenge on an unofficial basis. Now to re-find all my books...

The Book List

Look at the list and bold those you have read. Italicize those you intend to read. Underline the books you LOVE. Strike out the books you have no intention of ever reading, or were forced to read and hated. Reprint this in your journal and share.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
The Harry Potter Series – JK Rowling
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
The Bible
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
Middlemarch – George Eliot
Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
Bleak House – Charles Dickens
War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
Emma – Jane Austen
Persuasion – Jane Austen
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – CS Lewi
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne
Animal Farm – George Orwell
he Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies – William Golding
Atonement – Ian McEwan
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Dune - Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
The Secret History – Donna Tartt
The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
On The Road – Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
Bridget Jones’ Diary – Helen Fielding
Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick – Herman Melville
Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
Dracula – Bram Stoker
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
Ulysses – James Joyce
The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
Germinal – Emile Zola
Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
Possession – AS Byatt
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web – EB White
The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
Watership Down – Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
Hamlet – William Shakespeare
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

Some Comments: I know the instructions said to strike out any book you don't have any intention of reading, but I just can't. I would never say never when it comes to books. I do read according to my mood. For example, right now I am reading a lot of contemporary fiction. Two years ago it was all nonfiction history books. Five years ago, it was all the American classics. And so on... I will keep some of these books on my TBR list, possibly for years, but they're stay there until I get around to reading them.

How many have you read?

Highlight of the Week -- Books, books, and more books!

I've haven't done one of these in the last couple of weeks, so I thought I would get back into the swing of things this week. So... what was my highlight of the week? Lately, I have been thinking a lot about books. I signed up for many reading challenges for the year, have been reading blogs about books, added to my "To Be Read" list, and went to the library multiple times. I love wandering the stacks finding interesting books. Sometimes I have a list, sometimes i just choose an aisle and look at the shelves, and sometimes I let covers catch my eye. On Friday afternoon, I had the urge to go book shopping. I don't have much extra money lying around, but I thought I would just go look at the used book stores. I went to Half Price Books and what did I find? A whole ton of awesome $1 clearance books. I love it when I find bargains. So I went a little crazy. I bought 13 books and it cost me a total of $20 (two books were a bit more than $1, but they are on my reading challenges list). I got up to the register and the clerk had a surprised look on her face when I plopped them all down. But she just rang of my books and then said, "I bet you want a bag today." Yes, yes I did. Usually I request no bag if it's just a few books, but 13 was pushing the limit. Add my ridiculous clumsiness and snow on the ground, and I got a bag. As I hauled my loot out of the store, I started thinking, which one am I going to read first? Very difficult question... but as it turns out I chose to read a library book instead of my new treasures. They will have to wait until next week.

2011 Local Library Reading Challenge

This one's easy... Since I am fairly low on the socio-economic ladder at the moment, I get almost all my books from the library. I found it at The Book Junkie's Bookshelf:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Just create a post for the challenge and link to your challenge post in the linky below. --Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. 2. There are four levels to this challenge...Pick your poison: --The Mini – Check out and read 30 library books. --"Fun" Size – Check out and read 40 library books. --Jumbo Size – Check out and read 50 library books. --Mega Size – Check out and read 51+ library books. (Aim high. As long as you read 30 by the end of 2011, you are a winner.) 3. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader – basically any book counts just as long as it is checked out from the library. Books MUST be checked out like with a library card, books purchased at a library DO NOT count. 4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed. 5. Crossovers from other reading challenges count. 6. Challenge begins January 1st 2011 and goes thru December 31 2011.

I'm going for Jumbo Size as a goal. I'll be listing my choice as I go, although I already have one to start the challenge:

The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble

The Royal Pain by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: The Royal Pain (Alaskan Royal Family #2)

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Brava (Kensington Publishing Corp.) 2005

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 252

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Contemporary Romance; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Titles: R

Marine biologist Dr. Shel (“Never Sheldon”) Rivers has a problem. Some princess expects him to wait on her, hand and dimpled foot. His boss is taken with the royal redhead—brunette, whatever, it's not like he keeps track of that stuff—and nobody realizes that he just wants to be left alone in his lab. All alone. All the time. Weekends, holidays…it's all good.
Now here's Miss Royalpants, insisting that he escort her around the marine institute, explain what he's doing, kiss her until her toes curl…no, wait, that was his idea. She's not even apologetic about being born into a royal family! Says it's his problem to overcome, not hers. Which leaves him with one option: to kiss her again. And again. And…
So she's nothing like he expected. In fact, Dr. Rivers can see that this fantastic, exasperating woman has problems no princess should ever have to deal with. And he has an idea to help her get some much-needed sleep. Of course, it involves getting very, very tired beforehand, but if she's up to it, then so is he…

Kinda disappointed in this one. I read the first book in the series and absolutely loved it. The second book felt a little flat. I think I just couldn't connect to the two main characters. Princess Alex is very unlikable. I know the character is supposed to be complicated, but it seems like she has too many problems. I found myself wanting to reach into the book and smack her. Get a grip, woman! As for the male interest, Dr. Sheldon Rivers is an arrogant ass and never changed through the whole book. The one scene that sticks out is where they start arguing and as they argue they undress to have sex. Ugh! The entire scene was so fake and orchestrated. I wanted to like the book. Really I did... but I just couldn't. I read to the end hoping the characters would come to their senses, but nothing really changed. I saw that there's a third one in the series. I got it from the library. but have put it at the bottom of the stack for right now. I am changing gears and going to go for some paranormal book.

Alaskan Royal Family

2011 Page to Screen Reading Challenge

I love movies, so why not? This challenge is taken from Reading Extensively:

:After all the fun I had with participating in reading challenges, I have decided to host my own for 2011! I love watching movies that are based on books and I've even decided to read books after seeing movie trailers that looked promising like The Lord of the Rings and Atonement.

I decided to hold The Page to Screen Reading Challenge to encourage people to read books and watch movies that are based on books.

Prizes:

One participant will win their choice of book worth up to $15 from Amazon.com or The Book Depository (for international participants in countries that Book Depository ships to).
Participants must reach reading level one (5 books) by December 31, 2011 to be entered in the drawing.

Rules:

Read books that were made into movies or T.V. shows
Books must be read between January 1-December 31, 2011
Rereads count!
You can also watch the movies/T.V. shows as part of the challenge but it is not a requirement
If you watch T.V. shows, you should watch 2 hours of the show to be equal to one movie
Books that are currently being made into movies also count as long as the movie will be released sometime in 2011
Make a post about the challenge using my challenge logo and link your post below to sign up
Make a wrap up post at the end of the challenge and link it to my wrap up post

Reading Levels:

Level one-Read 5 books that were made into movies/T.V. shows
Level two-Read 10 books that were made into movies/T.V. shows
Level three-Read 15 books that were made into movies/T.V. shows
Level four-Read 20 books that were made into movies/T.V. shows

Reading and Watching Levels:

Level one-Read 5 books made into movies/T.V. shows and watch the movies/shows
Level two-Read 10 books made into movies/T.V. shows and watch the movies/shows
Level three-Read 15 books made into movies/T.V. shows and watch the movies/shows
Level four-Read 20 books made into movies/T.V. shows and watch the movies/shows

I've decided to keep it simple and work on Level one with 5 books. Here's my tentative list (with any crossovers):

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Science Fiction; TwentyEleven: Back in the Day; A to Z: A)
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (Historical Fiction; TwentyEleven: Way Back When)
The Children of Men by P.D. James (Science Fiction)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore (Steampunk)
The Prestige by Christopher Priest (Fantasy)

The Fortune Teller

Do you see that girl over there? No, not the leggy blonde. The one in the corner quietly reading drinking black coffee. She wants to be a writer when she grows up. But one day, she will become the head of a Fortune 500 company. What about the thin guy at the counter drinking water and furiously typing on his laptop? He's working on his doctorate in physics. In ten years, he will become a stay-at-home dad to six beautiful children.

Grandma ove there is going to school to get a medical degree. but she'll be dead within the year.

Junior just learning to walk will dream of being an astronaut, but will end up being an electrician.

What about you? Listening to me tell about others' futures. Bet you want to know yours. I could tell you. I could save you the pain of surprise. I could describe your house, your family, your job, your appearance. I could tell you everything that's coming... but I won't.

I won't take away the growing pains, the tear-filled moments, the minutes of utter despair. What would your life be if you knew all that was to come? I'll tell you--it wouldn't be anything to live for. It would be a plan set in stone... one that could never change for better or worse. There would be no moments of pure surprise and unabashed joy. Nothing would touch your heart and make you feel alive. It would be like eating cardboard, tasteless and completely unenjoyable.

I will tell you this--it's not going to be what you planned for when you were little. There are surprises around every corner, changing the course of your life. There are people waiting for you to come into their lives and they don't even know it.

So get ready for the ride, it's going to be very bumpy but great.

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge

YA is a great genre: short, quick, but entertaining. I thought I would start a new YA challenge for the year. As a bonus, a lot of the books I am choosing can be cross listed for other reading challenges I've joined for the next year.

Found this great challenge at For the Love of YA:

Last year I participated in the Young Adult Challenge that J. Kaye's book blog was hosting. But from what I can see J. Kaye isn't blogging anymore and I really wanted to do this challenge again. So here it is...with a wonky button to start off with...but it's here.
Here are the rules:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below. --Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. 2. There are four levels: --The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels. --The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels. --The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels. --The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels. 3. Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count. 4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed. 5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2011 and goes until December 31, 2011.

I decided not to overload myself and just shoot for the Mini YA Reading Challenge by reading 12 books. Currently my choices for this challenge are (with any cross listing):

Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare (Steampunk)
Inkheart - Cornelia Funke (Fantasy; A to Z: F)
Archenemy - Frank Beddor (Fantasy; TwentyEleven: Mind the Gap)
The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan (TwentyEleven: Mind the Gap)
Blue Bloods - Melissa de la Cruz (A to Z: D)
Hush Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick (TwentyEleven: YA)
The Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Groff (TwentyEleven: YA)
Fallen - Lauren Kate (A to Z: K)
The Dark Divine - Bree Despain (Fantasy)
The Golden Compass - Phillip Pullman
Have Spacesuit Will Travel - Robert Heinlein (Science Fiction)
Artemis Fowl - Eoin Cowlfer

Happy reading!

The Royal Treatment by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: The Royal Treatment (Alaskan Royal Family #!)

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Brava (Kensington Publishing Corp.) 2004

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 268

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Contemporary Romance; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Authors: D

In a world nearly identical to ours, the North won the Civil War, Ben Affleck is the sexiest man alive, and Russia never sold Alaska to the U.S. Instead, Alaska is a rough, beautiful country ruled by a famously eccentric royal family, and urgently in need of a bride for the Crown Prince. But they have no idea what they're in for when they offer the job to a feisty commoner...a girl who's going to need...
The Royal TreatmentThe Princess-To-Be Primer,
Or, Things I've Learned Really Quick, As Compiled by Her Future Royal Highness--Yeah, Whatever--Christina. That's me.
1. Telling jokes you picked up from the guys on the fishing boat doesn't go over really well at a fancy ball.
2. Must learn to curtsy, stifle burps, and tell the difference between a salad fork and a fruit knife.
3. Must not keep thinking about Prince David's amazing eyes, lips, hands, shoulders, uh...wait, can I start over?
4. Becoming a princess is a lot harder than it looks.
5. Falling in love is a whole lot easier...

I've not read much contemporary romance that didn't have an paranormal aspect to it, so this is definitely new to me. If the rest are like this book, I am going to love the genre!

I found the characters likable and real. Each had faults, but that made them more likable. There's nothing worse than a character who's seemingly perfect. How is the reader supposed to connect with someone who doesn't have any problems? They can't and it usually makes the book boring. Davidson allows her characters (even the love interests) to be interesting. And because of that interestingness (I know not a word, but I like it) the reader connects to them.

The story itself is fun: an adventure in romance and royalty. The universe Davidson created does differ from our own in that Alaska is a separate country ruled by a royal family. But that's more of a plot device instaed of an aspect of fantasy. The plot is classic: lost girl, seemingly stuffy guy, meddling family, aspects of danger, and a romance all thrown into one.

I really like this book and saw that Davidson made a trilogy all set in this slightly alternative universe. I picked up the other two books: The Royal Pain and The Royal Kiss and plan on reading them next! Then I think it's time to move to real fantasy or science fiction or maybe even zombies for a change of pace.

Alaskan Royal Family

The Royal Treatment
The Royal Pain
The Royal Mess

2011 Steampunk Reading Challenge

Another challenge for 2011. I've recently become aware of this huge great genre of steampunk. Elements of action adventure, science fiction, fantasy, and romance? I am so there. And so I joined the Steampunk Challenge from

Book Soulmates.

According to the website:

ALL ABOARD!! FULL STEAMPUNK AHEAD! This year we thought we'd do something a little different. Seeing as Steampunk is pretty new to us we thought it'd be fun to challenge ourselves as well as you guys! I'm adding my GoodReads LIST of Steampunk books as a guide. There are close to 200 books!

There will be prizes throughout the year. The months of the prizes will be chosen at random - you know, to keep things interesting, hehe. The prizes won't just be books… they can be anything from Bookmarks, to Giftcards, and possibly, if we're feeling frisky, maybe even a book tote! Who knows what the year may bring!
Challenge Rules & Info:
Challenge STARTS January 1, 2011 and ENDS December 31, 2011
Sign up by filling your info in the Mr. Linky below {If you don't have a blog, you can use your FB, Goodreads, etc}
Read at least 10 Steampunk books this year. Remember, the more the merrier!
The books can be print, ebooks, and audio books.
Reread books ARE allowed, BUT, the review must be rewritten. You cannot use old reviews.
I'll have a post up each month with the Mr. Linky to have the reviews posted.
Challenges are open to non-bloggers. A review must be written and posted on a literary site, such as GoodReads, Amazon, etc.
Grab a button to show your Challenge spirit!
Lastly, have fun reading!

And so I present my tentative list for the Steampunk Challenge (with crossovers from other challenges):

The Affinity Bridge -- George Mann
Boneshaker -- Cherie Priest
Clockwork Heart -- Dru Pagliassotti (A to Z: P)
Leviathan -- Scott Westerfeld
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen -- Alan Moore (Pages to Screen)
Souless -- Gail Carriger (A to Z: C)
Steampunk -- Ann VanderMeer (A to Z: V)
Whitechapel -- S.M. Peters
City of Golden Shadows -- Tad Williams
Idoru -- William Gibson
Clockwork Angel -- Cassandra Clare (YA)
Steamed -- Kate MacAlister (A to Z: M)

Like all my other reading challenges, I will write a review for each book I read. Stay tuned for some great reads!

Challenged List

I’ve copied the list of the most-challenged books of the 1990s straight from the ALA website. I’ve highlighted the ones I’ve read.

Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth’s Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
The Goats by Brock Cole
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Blubber by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
Final Exit by Derek Humphry
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
Deenie by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
What’s Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Fade by Robert Cormier
Guess What? by Mem Fox
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women’s Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Jack by A.M. Homes
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Carrie by Stephen King
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education by Jenny Davis
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

In the future, I want to read all the books on this list. I'm sure I'll get to them at some point. Just need to start plugging away. For my take on censorship, specifically in relation to literature, check out the entry on my education blog, The New Athenian Academy.

Quote Wednesday -- Emily

"The mere sense of living is joy enough." -- Emily Dickinson

I've decided to make this my unofficial New Year's Resolution. I am going to try to remember the joy in living. I'm sure I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I am a pessimist by nature. But for the sake of all those around me, I am going to try hard to be more of an optimist. Find the joy in living everyday. Look for something that made me happy, or inspired me, or made me cry (in a good way), or made me laugh. I want to take all these in and try to remember them on the days I'm feeling down or sick or bored or just plain blah! Starting today, I am going to try and become a better person and embrace life all around me.

2011 A to Z Reading Challenge

Another Great Challenge. This one from A to Z Challenge.

January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...

Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.

Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.

Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books

How strict is the 26 or 52? I know it isn't always easy to find those difficult letters. The thought of finding the X's (for example) might scare folks away. It shouldn't! I'm a merciful host! (Ask anyone!)

If you want to give the X's a go... For authors, try to find an X in the first name, middle name, or last name. For titles, it doesn't have to be the starting word. Try to find an X somewhere in a title, and it'd count in my book.

Still can't find a book for the letter you need? I'll take your word for it. I've been there. I know. If your library doesn't see the need to order books just because it starts with an X, then I don't blame you for not wanting to special order a book that you may or may not enjoy. You gave it your best, don't feel bad. You can still make this challenge work for you.

I've decided to do this challenge with author last names. Here are my tentative choices (with any cross listings):

A -- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galazy by Douglas Adams (Science Fiction; TwentyEleven: Back in the Day; Pages to Screen)

B -- The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (Science Fiction)

C -- Souless by Gail Carriger (Steampunk)

D -- Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz (YA)

E -- The Girl with the Mermaid Hair by Ephron

F -- Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (Fantasy; YA)

G -- Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia (Fantasy)

H -- The First Princess of Wales by Kathleen Harper (Historical Fiction)

I -- Which Witch by Eva Ibboston

J -- We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (TwentyEleven: Slim Pickings)

K -- Fallen by Lauren Kate (YA)

L -- Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov (Amazon's Best of 2010: Customer Favorites)

M -- Steamed by Kate MacAlister (Steampunk)

N -- One Day by David Nicholls (Amazon's Best of 2010: Editor Picks)

O -- The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell (Amazon's Best of 2010: Editor Picks)

P -- Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti (Steampunk)

Q -- Personal Reserach by Cari Quinn (Contemporary Romance)

R -- The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch (Amazon's Best of 2010: Customer Favorites)

S -- Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris (Amazon's Best of 2010: Customer Favorites)

T -- Shaken by Dee Tenorio (Contemporary Romance)

U -- Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

V -- Steampunk by Ann VanderMeer (Steampunk)

W -- The White Mare by Jules Watson (Historical Fiction)

X -- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (TwentyEleven: Back in the Day)

Y -- Love Me If You Must by Nicole Young

Z -- Keeping Katherine by Susan Zimmerman

With every book read, I will definitely post reviews.

The Lightkeeper's Bride by Colleen Coble

Title: The Lightkeeper's Bride (Mercy Falls #2)

Author: Colleen Coble

Publisher: Thomas Nelson 2010

Genre: Historical Fiction; Christian; Romance

Pages: 284

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Historical Fiction; Support Your Local Library; A to Z Titles: L

Katie Russell loves working as a telephone operator in Mercy Falls, California. But since childhood she has been expected to marry well. Her family presses for an engagement to wealthy bachelor Bartholomew Foster and though he doesn't stir her heart, their engagement promises a secure financial future.
Working the phone lines one evening, Katie overhears a chilling exchange between her friend Eliza and a familiar male voice. Katie soon learns that Eliza has disappeared, and the crime may be linked to another investigation by handsome new lighthouse keeper, Will Jesperson. Katie and Will soon form an alliance. An alliance that slowly blossoms into something more.
Despite the danger surrounding her, Katie is powerfully drawn to Will. But she is not at liberty to marry for love. And though society forbids their growing affection, Katie can't help but notice Will's sense of peace. It's a peace that rests on his trust in God—a trust that Katie has never had to depend on, with her future so clearly mapped out before her.
But the more Katie uncovers of the mystery, the more she discovers about herself, her past, and the brilliant future that could be hers if only she has the courage to trust in God and follow where her heart so fearlessly leads.

The second book in Coble's Mercy Falls series reads just as well as the first. I find that I am really enjoying the mix of Christian romance and mystery/thriller. The second novel's heroine makes a brief appearance in the first novel as Addie's new friend. Katie Russell is a great character, full of stubbornness but a caretaker's heart. I really connected with this character. of course, the male interest is also intriguing. I could exactly picture Will Jesperson in my mind throughout the story. His quiet strength and determination are a perfect match for Katie.

Of course, Coble packs the novel with red herrings and obvious suspicions, leading the reading on a twisting and turning ride to the truth. The revelations of the villains didn't fail to satisfy and surprise. I enjoyed the ride. And I heard there's a third Mercy Falls novel coming out this year. I look forward to it!

Mercy Falls

TwentyEleven Reading Challenge

From Bart's Bookshelf:
So, the challenge becomes TwentyEleven and therefore the requirement will be a total of 20 books from 11 categories, this means there will be a slight changes to the rules though.
Rather than read 2 books in every category, you will need to read a minimum of 1 and a max of 2 in each. (Essentially meaning you can choose two categories where you only need to read one book.)
I’ve also decided to mix the categories up a little bit this time around, keeping some of the popular ones and throwing a few new ones in there to keep it fresh.
As always though, the categories are intended to be loose guidelines only, if you decide it fits, then it fits!
The only other things I think you need to know are:
Each book can only qualify for one category.
Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
Books read from 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2011 are eligible.
And the categories for TwentyEleven are:
To YA or not YA… Okay, this one works like this… Tend to read more Young Adult than Adult Fiction books then read one or two adult fiction titles, vice-versa if you don’t tend to read much Young Adult.
…With a Twist. This one focuses on sub-genres, read a lot of chick-lit, then try a paranormal romance! Fantasy? Why not give some Steampunk a go, like a bit of Space-Opera in your Sci-Fi then pick up a military Sci-fi book. Like your Contemporary Literature, give a Young Adult Contemporary a chance. Well hopefully you get the idea!
Hot off the Presses. Read a book published (in your country) in 2011? Then it counts for this category.
It Wasn’t Me! Books in this category, should be ones you’ve picked up purely on the recommendation of another blogger count for this category (any reviews you post should also link to the post that convinced you give the book ago).
Show it Who is Boss! Tackle that overflowing T.B.R. pile! Books for this category must be already residents of your bookshelves as of 1/12/10.
Bablefish. Read books that are translated from a language that is not your own.
Will-Power? What Will-Power? (aka: The Henry Ward Beecher Memorial.) Bought a book NEW during 2011? Then it counts for this category.
Mind the Gap. Need just one more book to compete that duology/trilogy/series then read it for this one! (Obviously as this is for that final book you need to complete it, then you can’t read two books from the same series! And it clearly can’t be your first or penultimate read!)
Back in the Day. Re-read an old favourite or two for this category.
Way Back When. Read books that were published before you were born for this one, whether that be the day before or 100 years prior!
Slim-Pickings Got a novella you want to read? Then this one is the one for you! Any books between 90-150 pages count.
From, January 1st, I’ll also have pages up for each of the categories so you can post your review links and check out what others are reading!

This took a lot of thinking and cross listing with other challenges, but here are my choices (with any cross listings for other challenges):

To YA or Not YA (I went with YA for this one)

The Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Groff (YA)
Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick (YA)

...With a Twist (I don't read much Science Fiction, so J recommended a couple)

Ringworld - Larry Niven (Science Fiction)
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card (Science Fiction)

Hot Off the Presses

Flip This Zombie -- Jesse Petersen (Zombies)
Generation Dead - Daniel Waters (Zombies)

It Wasn't Me!

Evermore by Alyson Noel (review from The Infinite Shelf) (Fantasy)
Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Justine Larbalestier (review from The Compulsive Reader) (Zombies)

Show it Who is Boss!

The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula Le Guin (Science Fiction)
The Black Moth - Georgette Heyer (Georgette Heyer)

Bablefish

TBD

Will-Power? What Will-Power?

TBD
TBD

Mind the Gap

The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan (YA)
Archenemy - Frank Beddor (YA; Fantasy)

Back in the Day

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams (Science Fiction; A to Z: A; Pages to Screen)
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Way Back When

These Old Shades - Georgette Heyer (Georgette Heyer)
North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell (Historical Fiction; Pages to Screen)

Slim-Pickings

We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson (A to Z: J)

Looking forward to crossing some of these off!

Music Monday - Mumford & Sons "White Blank Page"

About three months ago, a FB friend put up the video for "Little Lion Man" and I instantly went out and bought their cd. I love their sound: a mix of Flogging Molly, Damien Rice, Jamie Cullum, and traditional Irish/bluegrass. Love, love, love it! It's different from the other crap I keep hearing (looking at you Justin Beiber). My local coffeehouse has put Mumford on permanent rotation and I welcome the addition. Besides the beautiful music, their lyrics are absolutely to die for. Lately I have been stuck on "White Blank Page." The lyrics are pretty dark, but so hauntingly beautiful: a relationship gone wrong. I feel for the man singing it... Don't worry, my relationship is not in any way in danger. But such a beautiful song. Just wanted to share a bit this morning.

Lyrics :

Can you lie next to her and give her your heart, your heart?
As well as your body, and can you lie next to her and confess your love, your love?
As well as your folly and can you kneel before the king and say ‘I’m clean’, ‘I’m Clean’?
But tell me now where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart?
But tell me now where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart?
Her white blank page & a swelling rage, rage
You did not think when you sent me to the brink, the brink
You desired my attention but denied my affections, affections
But tell me now where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart.
But tell me now where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart
AhhhAhh(s)
Lead my to the truth and I will follow you with my whole life
Lead my to the truth and I will follow you with my whole life
AhhhAhh(s)

Great video from YouTube.com of their bookstore acoustic set!

Amazon's Best of 2010 Reading Challenge

This seems like a great Challenge to encompass a lot of my reading. Some of my choices are cross listed with other reading challenges. I think I can use this as a great wrap up for the previous year's publications. I found this particular challenge at Reading with Martinis:

Reading With Martinis is super excited to be hosting its first book challenge! Yesterday, Amazon.com released its list(s) of the best books published in 2010. I love lists and awards, so I am always thrilled when Amazon declares their “best of” books. Amazon breaks the list down into to categories: Editor Picks and Customer Favorites.
Rules of the Challenge
So, here’s how the challenge works. Pick 10 books from the Editor’s list and 10 books from the Customer Favorites list, and read all 20 books by November 30, 2011.
The books from the two lists cannot overlap. It must be 20 unique books.
Books you’ve already read cannot be counted.
Books you read for this challenge can be included in your count for other challenges and vice versa, as long as the book(s) is(are) part of the 20 you have selected.
You do not have to tell me which books you pick, but if you keep a list somewhere, I would love to drop by and see it!
Please use Mr. Linky down at the bottom to let me know you are participating!
Please use the image below to link back to this post, so that other readers can find their way here and join in the challenge.

My choices this year (with any cross listing):

Editor's List

Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green
Operation Mincemeat - Ben Macintyre
The Passage - Justin Cronin
The Hand that First Held Mine - Maggie O'Farrell (A to Z: O)
One Day - David Nicholls (A to Z: N)
The Devil and Sherlock Holmes - David Grann
Room - Emma Donoghue
Packing for Mars - Mary Roach
The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan
Stuff - Gail Steketee

Customers Favorites

Dead in the Family - Charlaine Harris
The Short Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer
The Red Pyramid - Rick Riordan
Teach Like a Champion - Doug Lemov (A to Z: L)
Earth - Jon Stewart
The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin
Twilight: the Graphic Novel - Stephenie Meyer
The Death and Life of the Great American School System - Diane Ravitch (A to Z: R)
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris (A to Z: S)
Heart of the Matter - Emily Giffin

January 2011 New Books Month Reading Challenge

From Book Geek:

So, who all got new books and/or gift cards to book stores for Christmas (or the holiday you celebrate?) I myself got two $25 gift cards to Borders. And so that's the purpose of January New Books Month- to read those new books you received as gifts or buy with gift cards (don't worry, they also count if you buy them with cash or a credit card. I'm not too picky.) Only rules are... the books must be purchased or received in December 2010 or sometime during January 2011, and they do not count if you do not finish reading them on or by January 31st, 2011. There is no minimum of books you have to read- even just one is fine. And although you're welcome to, you do not have to review the books.

My choices for this month:

1. A Girl's Guide to Vampires - Katie MacAlister

2. TBD (I'm sure I'll uncover another once I clean my room)