Sorry I've been absent lately!! I've been reading a ton but haven't been writing any reviews. Why might you ask??? Because like everyone else I've had the flu. YUCK! Add to the fact that it was during my springbreak and well...I was pretty cranky. The good side being I read a bunch of books with reviews coming soon. Promise! The bad side..well that's pretty obvious.
Just a quick update here and then I'm off to read all of my favorite blogs and the two hundred plus emails (these are digest emails mind you) and then I'll start writing my reviews up. Hope to be caught up in a few days. :)
HAPPY SPRING!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs
In this first novel by Reichs, Temperance aka Tempe, is a forensic anthropologist who examines bones. Tempe is called to the seen where some human bones have been found. The situation and way the bones are found reminds her of a previous encounter with bones that were discovered. The problem lies with trying to convince the police detectives working the case that there is a possible serial killer on the loose. Before Tempe knows it she and her family and friends are in danger themselves.
This was the first in the series and a great read find for me because I will definitely be continuing on with the series. I just love finding new to me authors. :) Tempe came across as a very down to earth character that as the reader I cared about. I felt for her and worried about her. There was a lot of technical language relating to forensic anthropology that was heavy in a few parts-but for the most part it enhanced rather than detracted from the story. Overall, good book and I enjoyed reading it.
Challenges: 1st in a Series Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("D" Title)
My Rating: 4 out of 5
This was the first in the series and a great read find for me because I will definitely be continuing on with the series. I just love finding new to me authors. :) Tempe came across as a very down to earth character that as the reader I cared about. I felt for her and worried about her. There was a lot of technical language relating to forensic anthropology that was heavy in a few parts-but for the most part it enhanced rather than detracted from the story. Overall, good book and I enjoyed reading it.
Challenges: 1st in a Series Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("D" Title)
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Saturday, March 15, 2008
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
This is my second alternate for the TBR challenge (seems that I'm liking my alternate list more than my original list) and I've been wanting to read this for some time. It started off slow for me...I couldn't quite warm up to the story that the author was creating and kept wondering where it was going. But I'm SO glad that I continued on with it because I ended up really enjoying this book. The Thirteenth Tale is two stories: the story of Margaret Lea, an amauteur biographer who is battling her own past, and of Vida Winter, a famous writer who has kept her past hidden from anyone and everyone, until now. Because now she has employed Margaret to write her biography ensnaring her by promising to finally tell the "truth" about her past. These two stories will merge together and allow the truth of both of these women's pasts to come out once and for all. Most definitely a worthwhile read!!Challenges: TBR Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("S" Author)
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Spring and Other Musings
Oh my, I can see the sun!! There is hope that spring is actually on its way! After a REALLY long winter that seemed neverending...it's about time. (To all of you who just got dumped on recently with snow I sympathize) I'm ready to take the kids out for walks and fun places like the park. Now on to the point of the post:
I'm student teaching in a 5th grade classroom. It has been a great experience so far! Anyways, the other day we're in the library and one of the girls tells me she's looking for a book to read but doesn't know what to get. She had just finished a 500 page book (huge for her) and wanted something smaller and lighter. I made a few suggestions to no avail and then noticed Beverley Cleary's books. So I asked if she had read Cleary before and she had NEVER heard of her before. I gave her Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and told her to give it a try. A week later and she is on her 3rd Ramona book and has the other girls in the class giving her a try. I can't help but laugh and say my work here is done. (Sidenote: I was horrified that NONE of the kids that I talked to had heard or read any of these books...aack!!) Hope everyone else has had a chance to read these books :)
I'm student teaching in a 5th grade classroom. It has been a great experience so far! Anyways, the other day we're in the library and one of the girls tells me she's looking for a book to read but doesn't know what to get. She had just finished a 500 page book (huge for her) and wanted something smaller and lighter. I made a few suggestions to no avail and then noticed Beverley Cleary's books. So I asked if she had read Cleary before and she had NEVER heard of her before. I gave her Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and told her to give it a try. A week later and she is on her 3rd Ramona book and has the other girls in the class giving her a try. I can't help but laugh and say my work here is done. (Sidenote: I was horrified that NONE of the kids that I talked to had heard or read any of these books...aack!!) Hope everyone else has had a chance to read these books :)
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Loyalty In Death by J.D. Robb
I'm going to make this review short and sweet--I've been raving about this series enough by now :) In this story, Eve and Roarke are up against a terrorist organization that is threatening New York City. Filled with suspense this had me sucked down into Eve's world...I didn't want to come up for air! For an extra benefit we get to see a different side to Peabody that I'm really enjoying.
Challenges: Spring Reading Challenge
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
In other news--I'm over halfway down with student teaching! Woohoo!!!!! Makes me want to dance and sing (out of tune of course..); you wouldn't believe how long it has been to get to this point. The countdown is about to begin!!
Challenges: Spring Reading Challenge
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
In other news--I'm over halfway down with student teaching! Woohoo!!!!! Makes me want to dance and sing (out of tune of course..); you wouldn't believe how long it has been to get to this point. The countdown is about to begin!!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Deadly Intent by Carolyn Keene
This book was part of the Nancy Drew Files (Case 2) which were a series that I read continuously when I was younger. I've been wanting to reread these books as they helped to spark my love for a good mystery! The Heart of a Child reading challenge is giving me a chance to do this...the only problem being that I couldn't find the 1st book in this series and I HATE reading series out of order. I am going to try and find the first one but for now I have to settle for starting at number 2.
The FUN part of rereading is that because it has been SO long-well, it feels like I'm reading them for the 1st time (even though that isn't the case). This was a FUN little mystery for me..fast-paced, not too deep, and familiar characters that you can't help but love. In this case Nancy is trying to find a missing guitarist. Her list of suspects EVEN includes her good friend Bess' new boyfriend. Plus, Ned joins up with Nancy to help solve the case! This MOST DEFINITELY brought me back to my childhood (in a good way)...but don't read these expecting too much out of them..they are on the light side! LOL! But I had fun reading this which is all that matters!
Challenges: Heart of a Child Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("D" Title)
My Rating: 4 out of 5 (for sheer entertainment value!)
The FUN part of rereading is that because it has been SO long-well, it feels like I'm reading them for the 1st time (even though that isn't the case). This was a FUN little mystery for me..fast-paced, not too deep, and familiar characters that you can't help but love. In this case Nancy is trying to find a missing guitarist. Her list of suspects EVEN includes her good friend Bess' new boyfriend. Plus, Ned joins up with Nancy to help solve the case! This MOST DEFINITELY brought me back to my childhood (in a good way)...but don't read these expecting too much out of them..they are on the light side! LOL! But I had fun reading this which is all that matters!
Challenges: Heart of a Child Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("D" Title)
My Rating: 4 out of 5 (for sheer entertainment value!)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Conspiracy In Death by J.D. Robb
For the next story in this series, Eve is up against a serial killer who may also be one of the city's leading surgeons. When she catches the case of a dead sidewalk sleeper, she comes across a mystery with political ties as well as a cop who hates her guts for apparently no reason. For some reason, Eve is coming across multiple crime cases with sloppy police work, political pressure for her to shut down the case, and worst of all smears to her own record. Can she solve the case before someone else stops her???
Another great mystery by this author. (I ALWAYS rave about this series, don't I?) It is a favorite of mine and truth be told I think that I am going to have to break down and buy ALL of the books in this series. I LOVE them that much!! Anyways--this one kept me turning the pages as fast as I could while I worried about Eve. We definitely get to see a side of her that we haven't seen before PLUS we get to see Roarke and Eve's relationship growing even stronger. I'm going to go off on a tangent here BUT I think that what makes these books so good is that Robb (Roberts) has a way of getting the reader emotionally attached to the characters in these stories. I love all of the old characters but also enjoy the new characters that she throws into the mix (an example would be Louise Dimatto for this book). Good book and of course I RECOMMEND this series!!
Challenges: A-Z Challenge ("C" Title)
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Another great mystery by this author. (I ALWAYS rave about this series, don't I?) It is a favorite of mine and truth be told I think that I am going to have to break down and buy ALL of the books in this series. I LOVE them that much!! Anyways--this one kept me turning the pages as fast as I could while I worried about Eve. We definitely get to see a side of her that we haven't seen before PLUS we get to see Roarke and Eve's relationship growing even stronger. I'm going to go off on a tangent here BUT I think that what makes these books so good is that Robb (Roberts) has a way of getting the reader emotionally attached to the characters in these stories. I love all of the old characters but also enjoy the new characters that she throws into the mix (an example would be Louise Dimatto for this book). Good book and of course I RECOMMEND this series!!
Challenges: A-Z Challenge ("C" Title)
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5