Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Title: Rose of Fire (Cemetery of Forgotten Books #0.5)

Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Publisher: HarperCollins 2012

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 20

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Paranormal -- Dragons; Mount TBR; 52 Books -- Week 43; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

Set at the time of the Spanish Inquisition in the fifteenth century, "Rose of Fire" tells the story of the origins of the mysterious labyrinthine library, the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, which lies at the heart of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's novels The Shadow of the Wind, The Angel's Game, and now The Prisoner of Heaven.

This is a super short story and I wish it was longer. But it includes the same beautiful language from Zafon. Plus we get a bit of insight into how the Cemetery of Forgotten Books came to be. Zafon crafts a fantastical story to that's more outright fantasy than the books in the series, but I always suspected that the Cemetery had a fantastical origin. Nice little free story to get me ready to read the latest book The Prisoner of Heaven.

Cemetery of Forgotten Books

0.5 The Rose of Fire
1. The Shadow of the Wind
2. The Angel's Game
3. The Prisoner of Heaven

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Title: The Angel's Game (Cemetery of Forgotten Books #2)

Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Publisher: Anchor 2010

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 544

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Sub-Genre -- Historical Mystery; Mount TBR; Dusty Bookshelf; Fall into Reading; 52 Books -- W42

How I Got It: I own it!

In this powerful, labyrinthian thriller, David Martín is a pulp fiction writer struggling to stay afloat. Holed up in a haunting abandoned mansion in the heart of Barcelona, he furiously taps out story after story, becoming increasingly desperate and frustrated. Thus, when he is approached by a mysterious publisher offering a book deal that seems almost too good to be real, David leaps at the chance. But as he begins the work, and after a visit to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, he realizes that there is a connection between his book and the shadows that surround his dilapidated home and that the publisher may be hiding a few troubling secrets of his own. Once again, Ruiz Zafón takes us into a dark, gothic Barcelona and creates a breathtaking tale of intrigue, romance, and tragedy

The next amazing book in Zafon's series focusing on his love of literature. Just like the first book, this one starts out normal. We assume that the story will progress and the main character will continue on his journey to write the great pieces of literature he has always wanted. And then things start to get weird. I love the little bits of weird. Zafon crafts an intriguing mystery that you don't even realize until you're halfway through the book. It's a great mystery, full of deceitful characters and a city that seems like a character unto itself. It took me forever to read this book due to have a baby in the middle of it, but I enjoyed every page of it. I can't wait to pick up the third book in the series, but first I am going to read the prequel.

Cemetery of Forgotten Books

0.5 The Rose of Fire
1. The Shadow of the Wind
2. The Angel's Game
3. The Prisoner of Heaven

Lady Susan by Jane Austen

Title: Lady Susan

Author: Jane Austen

Genre: Classic 1805

Pages: 95

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Jane Austen; ebook; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad read

The early epistolary novel LADY SUSAN depicts an unscrupulous coquette, toying with the affections of several men.

Right away, I could tell that this was a very early work for Austen. It has glimmers of wit and critique of society, but doesn't live up to her six finished novels. Instead of a main character we can follow through the trials and tribulations of society, we get Lady Susan. She is thoroughly unlikable. Therefore, I didn't care if things worked out for her at all. Having a likable main character helps Austen navigate the rest of society. This early novel just doesn't reach the bar.

Iron's Prophecy by Julie Kagawa

Title: Iron's Prophecy (Iron Fey #4.5)

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen 2012

Genre: Paranormal - Fey

Pages: 66

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Paranormal - Fey; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad Read

Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn't have it any other way.
But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts' gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan's past returns with a dire prophecy: "What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them."
Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey—and her and Ash's unborn child…

Picked this one up as a free Kindle book to continue the Iron Fey series. I wasn't hugely fond of The Iron Knight, but felt like I wanted to continue Meghan Chase's story. This was a nice wrap-up to the cliffhanger after Ash won a human soul. But it did leave me wanting more. I may just have to read The Lost Prince now...

The Iron Fey

#1 The Iron King
#1.5 Winter’s Passage
#2 The Iron Daughter
#3 The Iron Queen
#3.5 Summer’s Crossing
#4 The Iron Knight
#4.5 Iron’s Prophecy
#5 The Lost Prince
#6 The Iron Traitor
#7 The Iron Warrior

Her Ladyship's Companion by Evangeline Collins

Title: Her Ladyship's Companion

Author: Evangeline Collins

Publisher: Berkley 2009

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 330

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romance; Mount TBR; 52 Books -- W41; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it

Condemned to a loveless marriage, Lady Isabella Stirling indulges herself by taking a lover. But even though she knows Gideon Rosedale's passion was for sale, she's fallen in love with him.

All through the 300 pages of this novel, I kept waiting for something more. It wasn't bad, but it just deliver me any more than a stereotypical bodice-ripper style romance. The characters started out interesting, but over the course of the plot, I just didn't like them any more. Isabella's desperation for Gideon started to grate on my nerves. She started out so strong and ended up the damsel in distress. I just grew tired of her. Making Lord Stirling and Lady Isabella's brothers such caricature villains made the novel even more predictable. The sex scenes were generously sprinkled every few pages and overall were decent. But the ending... I think the ending was why I really knocked this one down to 3 stars. The ending and resolution was completely deus ex machina and I just couldn't take it all. Coincidences and perfect timing are the only ways to reconcile the ending. To me it just felt faked and forced. I couldn't get completely behind it.

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Title: Anansi Boys

Author: Neil Gaiman

Publisher: William Morrow 2005

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 416

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Neil Gaiman; Mount TBR; Blogger Recommendations; Fall into Reading; Bingo -- 4 from everyone but me; Fantasy Project

How I Got It: iPad read

When Fat Charlie's dad named something, it stuck. Like calling Fat Charlie "Fat Charlie." Even now, twenty years later, Charlie Nancy can't shake that name, one of the many embarrassing "gifts" his father bestowed -- before he dropped dead on a karaoke stage and ruined Fat Charlie's life.
Mr. Nancy left Fat Charlie things. Things like the tall, good-looking stranger who appears on Charlie's doorstep, who appears to be the brother he never knew. A brother as different from Charlie as night is from day, a brother who's going to show Charlie how to lighten up and have a little fun ... just like Dear Old Dad. And all of a sudden, life starts getting very interesting for Fat Charlie.
Because, you see, Charlie's dad wasn't just any dad. He was Anansi, a trickster god, the spider-god. Anansi is the spirit of rebellion, able to overturn the social order, create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the devil. Some said he could cheat even Death himself.

Overall, I really liked this novel, but it wasn't quite on par with Neverwhere or The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I think it had to do with the fact that I could never truly get behind Fat Charlie. Sure, he's gotten a bit of the short end of the stick in terms of his childhood and family, but the fact that he continues to be a sad sack throughout the novel bugged me a bit. While I don't like Spider's actions, I could completely understand why he did certain things. He was predictable, he was interesting, he was almost charming. I found myself wanting to read more about Spider's journey than Charlie's. For that reason, I took this one down a star. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great Gaiman story. It has the interesting little fantastical twists. It has wonderfully constructed sentences. The narrator (even not being first person) connects to the reader. I really enjoyed this one, just not quite as much as some of Gaiman's other works.

Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine

Title: Total Eclipse (Weather Wardens #9)

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: Roc 2010

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 305

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Seriously Series; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading;

How I Got It: I own it

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin, her husband, the djinn David, and the Earth herself have been poisoned by a substance that destroys the magic that keeps the world alive. The poison is destabilizing the entire balance of power, bestowing magic upon those who have never had it, and removing it form those who need it. It's just a matter of time before the delicate balance of nature explodes into chaos-and doom.

Holy crap! What a way to end the series! I sped through this volume on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to see how Joanne got herself of the end-of-the-world situation she got herself into. The volume did not disappoint. Like most of of the books in the series, this one hits the ground running. The action starts right away and never stops. I loved that! We get a whirlwind of activity and yet we still connect to the characters. I loved seeing some of the side characters reappear, but glad that Caine focused on our main group. I was even satisfied with the ending and epilogue. Usually I hate epilogues, but this one was nice. Overall, I really liked this series. The middle books meander a bit from the main story arc, but everything gets back on track for a couple of explosive books at the end.

Weather Warden:

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Title: Gulliver's Travels

Author: Jonathan Swift

Genre: Classics; Fantasy

Pages: 333

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Classics -- 18th Century; Mount TBR; Dusty Bookshelf; Book to Movie; 1001 Books; Fall into Reading; Fantasy Project

How I Got It: I own it

Jonathan Swift's satirical novel was first published in 1726, yet it is still valid today. Gulliver's Travels describes the four fantastic voyages of Lemuel Gulliver, a kindly ship's surgeon. Swift portrays him as an observer, a reporter, and a victim of circumstance. His travels take him to Lilliput where he is a giant observing tiny people. In Brobdingnag, the tables are reversed and he is the tiny person in a land of giants where he is exhibited as a curiosity at markets and fairs. The flying island of Laputa is the scene of his next voyage. The people plan and plot as their country lies in ruins. It is a world of illusion and distorted values. The fourth and final voyage takes him to the home of the Houyhnhnms, gentle horses who rule the land. He also encounters Yahoos, filthy bestial creatures who resemble humans.

I can't believe that I've never actually read the entirety of this novel. Sure, I've read excerpts. I know most of the storyline. I've seen multiple television and movie adaptations. I've also read basically everything else that Swift has written. But somehow I've never actually read the whole book. Overall, I would say that I enjoyed the book, but the notes really helped me understand the satirical nature of Swift's writing. The problem is that Swift wrote this very specific to a time and place. I love his commentary on the political state of Great Britain. While Gulliver goes on four adventures and meets four basic groups of people, the Lilliputians are still my favorite. I love how Gulliver finds himself a part of this strange land. A good book but because of its very specific nature, it's a hard volume to get into for modern audiences.

Movie:

I had hoped to watch the Ted Danson miniseries version of the book, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Boo! So I settled for the Jack Black version because the library had it in stock and available for loan. I was very disappointed by this adaptations. All of the satire is lost with Jack Black's incessant nonsense. Even the inclusion of Chris O'Dowd and Catherine Tate (two awesome British actors!) could not save the ridiculousness of this movie. Definitely a disappoint. Glad I didn't pay for this one at all...

Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Witches 101: A Witches of East End Primer

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion 2011

Genre: Paranormal; Witches

Pages: 63

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Witches and Witchcraft; Monthly Key Word - October; ebook; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad read

Almost three million copies of The Blue Bloods series in print, Melissa de la Cruz has now written her first paranormal romance for adults, on sale June 21st. The first in the Beauchamp Series, the book features a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites. It’s a page-turning, heart-stopping, magical summer read, fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil.
But before you read the book, meet the Witches! In this primer, you’ll meet the three Beauchamp women – Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya – learn a little bit about their special powers, and even get some tips so you can cast a few spells of your own.

Hmm... This was a free teaser ebook for the new Witches of East End series. I was intrigued by the series concept and the appearance of the Beauchamps in the Blue Bloods series. The ebook itself gives the reader a chapter about each of the Beauchamps. We are teased with a larger mystery and storyline. it definitely doesn't stand on its own, but I am fairly interested in reading the series now. I just kinda wish this was a full story to get us into the series, instead of the opening chapters.

San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats by Mira Grant

Title: San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats (Newsflesh novella)

Author: Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit 2012

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 120

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombies; ebook; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad read

It was the summer of 2014, and the true horrors of the Rising were only just beginning to reveal themselves. Fans from all over the world gathered in San Diego, California for the annual comic book and media convention, planning to forget about the troubling rumors of new diseases and walking dead by immersing themselves in a familiar environment. Over the course of five grueling days and nights, it became clear that the news was very close to home...and that most of the people who picked up their badges would never make it out alive.

Ran across this novella being reviewed on another blogger's site. I loved the original Newsflesh trilogy, so I had to download this one right away. And during the FrightFall Readathon seemed like a great time to read a little zombie story. Those who have read the trilogy know how this story is going to end. We know all about The Rising. But the story is written so well that I kept seeing glimpses of hope and survival until the bitter end. It's a great little short read to introduce you to The Rising or just as an extension of the original trilogy. Love, love, love!

Newsflesh

#0.4 Apocalupse Scenario #683: The Box
#0.5 Countdown
#0.75 San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats
#1 Feed
#2 Deadline
#3 Blackout
#3.5 How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea
#3.6 The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell
#3.7 Please Do Not Taunt the Octopus
#4 Rewind

Cape Storm by Rachel Caine

Title: Cape Storm (Weather Wardens #8)

Author: Rachel Caine

Publisher: Roc 2009

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 308

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin and her new husband, the Djinn David, are running from a malevolent hurricane bent on destroying her. Joined by an army of fellow Wardens and Djinn onboard a hijacked luxury liner, Joanne has lured the storm into furious pursuit. But even their combined magic may not be enough to stop it-nor the power-mad ex-Weather Warden controlling it...

After the whirlwind that was Gale Force, I liked the slightly slower pace of this volume. I liked getting back to being focused on the main characters of the series. Instead of attempting to update everyone, we get more Joanne, David, and Lewis. I really really love Lewis in this volume. He has taken complete responsibility for the Wardens and for the Earth itself. I also love the villain in this volume, very over the top and slightly cartoonish, but in a good way. And I was very excited about where the whole series is going. I'm very excited to read the last volume in the Weather Wardens series.

Weather Warden:

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Publisher: Knopf 2007

Genre: Literature

Pages: 576

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; 52 Books - W40; Book Bingo -- 3 from everyone but me; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad read

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.
Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

This book destroyed me. I was utterly helpless to its pull. I had heard that this was a great book, but usually those popular books escaped me. I just don't pick them up. In this case, The Book Thief was chosen as our book club selection. I started reading it and was intrigued but all a bit off balance. The style of switching from the narrator to a third person point of view took some getting used to. I was also thrown off by the interludes of bolded text. I was a bit confused, but soon everything started falling into place. I easily saw where the story was going (helped along by the narrator), but it was okay. The strength of this book lies in the characters. They are all amazing. They all have such layers. Usually the main characters have layers and the side characters are there solely to push the story forward. In this volume, every character has layers. I loved getting glimpses into the neighbor or the mayor's wife or even the members of the Hitler Youth group. Each one has been crafted to appear as a real person. Even the narrator has layers, something you wouldn't expect. By the last 75 pages, I couldn't put it down. Even as my eyes were dropping from lack of sleep, I had to finish this incredible volume. Absolutely amazing! I can't wait to see what the other book club ladies thought about it.

The Sandman: The Dream Hunters and Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman

Title: The Sandman Vol 11: The Dream Hunters and Vol. 12: Endless Nights

Author: Neil Gaiman, Yoshitaka Amano

Publisher: Vertigo 1999, 2003

Genre: Graphic Novel; Fantasy

Pages: 128, 160

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Neil Gaiman; Seriously Series; 52 Books -- Week 39; Fall into Reading; NPR SciFan

How I Got It: Library Loan

As I read these back-to-back, I thought I would review them together. Plus, I don't have a huge amount to say about these two volumes. Basically: they were good.

Written by Neil Gaiman; Art by Yoshitaka Amano Featuring striking painted artwork, this love story, set in ancient Japan, tells the story of a humble young monk and a magical, shape-changing fox who find themselves romantically drawn together. As their love blooms, the fox learns of a devilish plot by a group of demons to steal the monk's life. With the aid of Morpheus, the King of All Night's Dreamings, the fox must use all of her cunning and creative thinking to foil this evil scheme and save the man that she loves. This book also boasts an eight page section highlighting Yoshitaka Amano's amazing painted art.

This is an interesting volume. Definitely a departure from the rest of the series, but I like it. It has an even more dream quality than the rest. I believe this is due to the beautiful illustrations. I almost felt like I was intruding on someone's personal dream to follow the storyline. Very interesting...

Joined by a dream team of artists from around the world, Neil Gaiman—the Hugo Award-winning, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of AMERICAN GODS and CORALINE—returns to the beloved characters he made famous in THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS. Alternately haunting, bittersweet, erotic and nightmarish, the seven stories in this book—one for each of the Endless siblings, each illustrated by a different artist—reveal strange secrets and surprising truths. In addition to the seven tales of the Endless, THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS includes a biography section in the spirit of the Sandman collections (designed by Dave McKean) and a summary of each volume in the Sandman Library.

This volume was a nice ending to the series. It wrapped up a few of the leftover story lines. It created a few new ones. But overall, I loved seeing all the Endless siblings highlighted throughout the volume. Very enjoyable series if you like the strangeness of Neil Gaiman. I definitely do!

Sandman

Fall into Reading 2013

Better late than never! I completely forgot about this challenge and am excited to find it again. Here are the details from The Musings of a Book Addict:

The Basics:

This is a low key reading challenge anyone can join. It runs fromSeptember 22nd - December 21st.

Here is what you need to do to participate:

Create a list of books you would like to read this fall. This is the only requirement for participating in the challenge. You may also wish to set some other goals (reading to your kids a certain number of hours per day or week. Maybe you have a separate stack of books listed to read to your kids or grandkids. This is not required and is completely optional.

· Write a blog post that includes the list of books you want to read, plus any goals you may have set, and get ready to post it on your blog on September 22nd.

· Visit The Musings of a Book Addict on September 22nd to sign up for the challenge. I’ll have an official launch post up that morning, complete with an area for you to submit a link to your personal Fall Into Reading post, where it will be added to the master list of participants.

If you don’t have a blog but wish to participate in Fall Into Reading 2013, you can. On September 22nd, leave a comment on the official Fall Into Reading launch post with the list of books you’d like to read/or finish this fall. I’ll add you. Please join us for this fun time of reading.

· In December write another blog post to let everyone know how you did. (I’ll post an official wrap-up to the challenge on December 22nd, where you’ll be able to share your results.)

· Finally, have fun. Check in with the other participants to see what they are reading and get book ideas to add to your ever growing book list. Write reviews if you want, but it is not required.

Last year I had a goal of 50 books and just made it, right at the deadline. This year I won't have as much time to read because of the baby. But I still want to participate. The idea is to finish some of the reading challenges I have left over for 2013. Overall, I am shooting for 35 books. Here's the breakdown:

The Book Thief by Markus Zisak -- in progress
The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (SubGenre; Dusty Bookshelf)
The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (Nerdy Nonfiction)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Dystopian; Monthly Key Word)
1984 by George Orwell (Dystopian)
The Children of Men by P.D. James (Dystopian)
Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (Witches and Witchcraft; Monthly Key Word)
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (Witches and Witchcraft)
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (Classics)
Gulliver's Travel's by Jonathan Swift (Classics; Dusty Bookshelf)
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (Classics; Blogger Recommendations)
The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (Romance; Monthly Key Word)
Her Ladyships Companion by Evangeline Collins (Romance)
The Sandman Vol. 11 (Neil Gaiman; Seriously Series)
The Sandman Vol. 12 (Neil Gaiman; Seriously Series)
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (Neil Gaiman; Blogger Recommendations)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (Neil Gaiman)
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (Steampunk)
Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (Steampunk)
Cape Storm by Rachel Caine (Seriously Series)
Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine (Seriously Series)
New Adult Book TBD (Eclectic)
Fairy Tale Book TBD (Telling Tales)
Fairy Tale Book TBD (Telling Tales)
Graphic Novel TBD (GN)
Zombie Book TBD (Zombies)
Zombie Book TBD (Zombies)
Jane Austen Book TBD (JA)
Jane Austen Book TBD (JA)
Jane Austen Book TBD (JA)
Jane Austen Book TBD (JA)
Jane Austen Book TBD (JA)
Nonfiction TBD (Nerdy Nonfiction)
Nonfiction TBD (Nerdy Nonfiction)
Nonfiction TBD (Nerdy Nonfiction)

2012 Reading Challenge Round-Up -- Finishing Edition

I hear 2013 calling my name. I think it's time to call 2012 quits and start my end of the year posts. In total I entered 27 reading challenges this year. Let's see how I did... Completed challenges edition.

I have a few challenges that I am trying to finish by the end of the year.

I won't finish this completely, but I can add four more titles to make a total of 95 TBR books read out of 150 goal.

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein (1/8/12)
Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster (1/29/12)
Zombie Blondes by Brian James (2/4/12)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (2/1/12)
The Magicians by Lev Grossman (1/21/12)
Regency Romance (3/23/12)
Sunshine by Robin McKinley (2/17/12)
Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux (4/26/12)
Night of the Necromancer by Kyle West (2/3/12)
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dance by Katherine Howe (5/7/12)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (1/11/12)
Palace Circle by Rebecca Dean (3/8/12)
The Boys: The Big Ride (1/8/12)
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (1/12/12)
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (1/13/12)
Hatter M Vol. 1 (1/15/12)
Hatter M Vol. 2 (1/17/12)
Hatter M Vol.3 (1/18/12)
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp (1/23/12)
American Vampire by Jennifer Armintrout (2/2/12)
A Gentleman Always Remembers by Candace Camp (2/7/12)
An Affair Without End by Candace Camp (2/10/12)
The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan (3/1/12)
Evermore by Alyson Noel (3/2/12)
Blue Moon by Alyson Noel (3/4/12)
Timeless by Gail Carriger (3/18/12)
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (4/8/12)
The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson (4/18/12)
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (4/26/12)
The Radleys by Matt Haig (4/28/12)
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (5/15/12)
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (5/19/12)
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (5/22/12)
Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein (6/1/12)
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (6/5/12)
The Boys Volume 10 by Garth Ennis (6/7/12)
The Boys Volume 11 by Garth Ennis (6/12/12)
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (6/17/12)
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (6/27/12)
Intentions of the Earl by Rose Gordon (6/29/12)
Adrianna’s Fairy Tales by Adrianna White (7/5/12)
The Maiden’s Hand by Susan Wiggs (9/8/12)
At the Queen’s Summons by Susan Wiggs (9/11/12)
Rebel Angels by Libba Bray (7/6/12)
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville (7/7/12)
12th Night (anthology) (7/11/12)
Carole’s Christmas by Anne Glynn (7/11/12)
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (7/12/12)
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (8/6/12)
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (8/12/12)
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman (8/16/12)
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman (8/20/12)
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (8/23/12)
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (8/29/12)
Cinderella: From Fabletown with Love (9/2/12)
Richard III by Shakespeare (9/1/12)
Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare (9/1/12)
Twelfth Night by Shakespeare (9/1/12)
King Lear by Shakespeare (9/4/12)
Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux (10/2/12)
Persuasion by Jane Austen (10/3/12)
The First Days by Rhiannon Frater (10/4/12)
Fighting to Survive by Rhiannon Frater (10/5/12)
Siege by Rhiannon Frater (10/6/12)
Feed by Mira Grant (10/8/12)
Deadline by Mira Grant (10/14/12)
Blackout by Mira Grant (10/17/12)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (10/91/12)
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (10/30/12)
The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall (11/5/12)
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (11/7/12)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (11/8/12)
The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall (11/11/12)
An Offer You Can’t Refuse by Jill Mansell (11/14/12)
Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott (11/16/12)
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (11/16/12)
As You Like It by William Shakespeare (11/18/12)
Othello by William Shakespeare (11/19/12)
Pericles by William Shakespeare (11/19/12)
Cymbeline by William Shakespeare (11/19/12)
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (11/21/12)
Poems of Emily Dickinson (11/23/12)
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (11/23/12)
Mythology by Edith Hamilton (11/27/12)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick (11/27/12)
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees (12/1/12)
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris (12/2/12)
Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes (12/3/12)
The Boys Vol. 12: The Bloody Doors Off (12/5/12)
The White Pearl by Kate Furnivall (12/13/12)
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (12/14/12)
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (12/19/12)
The Magician King by Lev Grossman (12/19/12)
Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan -- finishing this week
Batman: Earth One (12/19/12)

With my last four books that I am finishing this week, I will be completing this challenge, just in the nick of time.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling (9/28/12)
The First Days by Rhiannon Frater (10/4/12)
Fighting to Survive by Rhiannon Frater (10/5/12)
Siege by Rhiannon Frater (10/6/12)
Feed by Mira Grant (10/8/12)
Deadline by Mira Grant (10/14/12)
Blackout by Mira Grant (10/17/12)
Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux (10/2/12)
The Girl from Junchow by Kate Furnivall (11/5/12)
The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall (11/11/12)
Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott (11/16/12)
Mythology by Edith Hamilton (11/27/12)
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale (11/7/12)
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees (12/1/12)
As You Like It by Shakespeare (11/18/12)
Cymbeline by Shakespeare (11/19/12)
Othello by Shakespeare (11/19/12)
Pericles by Shakespeare (11/19/12)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? by Philip K. Dick (11/27/12)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (11/8/12)
Persuasion by Jane Austen (10/3/12)
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (11/16/12)
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (11/21/12)
Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes (12/3/12)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (10/19/12)
The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison (10/22/12)
The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison (10/24/12)
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (10/30/12)
An Offer You Can’t Refuse by Jill Mansell (11/14/12)
Poems of Emily Dickinson (11/23/12)
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (11/23/12)
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris (12/2/12)
Not Quite What I was Planning (12/3/12)
Chocolate by Shara Aaron and Monica Bearden (12/4/12)
Social Q’s by Philip Galanes (12/4/12)
The Boys Vol 12: The Bloody Doors Off (12/5/12)
Words Words Words by David Crystal (12/6/12)
The Green Book (12/11/12)
Minigami by Gay Merrill Gross (12/11/12)
Sprezzatura by Peter D’Epiro and Mary Desmond Pinkowish (12/6/12)
Click edited by J. Courtney Sullivan and Courtney Martin (12/7/12)
A History of Egypt by Jason Thompson (12/7/12)
Active Liberty by Stephen Breyer (12/10/12)
Blue: 350 Inspiring Ways to Decorate with Blue by Lisa Cregan (12/10/12)
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky (12/14/12)
The White Pearl by Kate Furnivall (12/13/12)
The Magician King by Lev Grossman (12/19/12)
Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan -- finishing this week
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (12/19/12)
Batman: Earth One (12/19/12)

This one will easily be finished this week.

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (5/19/12)
The Subtle Knife — Philip Pullman (8/15/12)
The Amber Spyglass — Philip Pullman (8/20/12)
The Son of Neptune — Rick Riordan
The Magician King — Lev Grossman (12/19/12)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children — Ransom Riggs (2/1/12)
Evermore — Alyson Noel (3/2/12)
Blue Moon — Alyson Noel (3/4/12)
Timeless — Gail Carriger (3/18/12)
Everneath — Brodie Ashton (4/1/12)

Just finished this challenge. Woo hoo!

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott — Kelly O’Connor McNees (12/1/12)
Palace Circle — Rebecca Dean (3/8/12)
The White Pearl — Kate Furnivall (12/13/12)
Suite Francaise — Irene Nemirovsky (12/14/12)
The Bridge of Scarlet Leaves — Kristina McMorris (12/2/12)
Lost in Austen — Emma Campbell Webster(1/29/12)
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane — Katherine Howe (5/7/12)
The Shadow of the Wind — Carlos Ruiz Zafon (4/8/12)
The Girl from Junchow — Kate Furnivall (11/5/12)
The Jewel of St. Petersburg — Kate Furnivall (11/11/12)

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2012

Very excited to add this challenge to my year end push. I have over 50 books to read to complete all the challenges I signed up for. I know all those won't happen, so I'm setting a goal of 50 books total. Here's the breakdown:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

2, 3, 4. The First Days, Fighting to Survive, and Siege by Rhiannon Frater

5, 6, 7. Feed, Deadline, and Blackout by Mira Grant

8. Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux

9, 10. Girl from Junchow and The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall

11. The Magician King by Lev Grossman

12. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

13. Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott

14. Mythology by Edith Hamilton

15. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

16. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees

17. The Firemaster's Mistress by Christie Dickason

18. A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock

19. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

20, 21, 22, 23. As You Like It, Cymbeline, Othello, and Pericles by Shakespeare

24. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? by Philip K. Dick

25. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

26. Persuasion by Jane Austen

27. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins

28. Living History by Hilary Rodham Clinton

29. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

30. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond

31. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

32. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

33. Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes

34-50. TBD

From Callapidder Days:

Here’s a brief recap of how to be a part of Fall Into Reading 2012:

Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this fall. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like.

Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to this post using the Mr. Linky.

Get reading! The challenge goes from September 22nd through December 21st.

Check out other participants’ lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile, if you wish!

Write a post about your challenge experience in December, telling us all about whether you reached your goals and how Fall Into Reading went for you. But remember: this is a low-pressure challenge that should be fun.