November reading
Nov. 30th, 2007 10:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jmc_bksSince I don't expect to get any more reading done this month, here's the break down.
Those I'd recommend are in BLUE; those that I liked but think are not the best of books in GREEN (if I knew you and your reading tastes, I might recommend them, but don't feel comfortable giving a blanket rec); DNFs or books that hit the wall at some point (even if I eventually finished them) in RED.
1. Eternity in Death by J.D. Robb. Novella in the Dead of Night anthology. Futuristic romantic suspense. Eve Dallas and vampires? The idea seems strange, since she’s such a pragmatic person. Not the best of the In Death novellas, but still good. B
2. Sweet Pretender by Virginia Hart. Old Harlequin Romance. Very dated. C-
3. Thirty Days of Night, movie novelization by Tim Lebbon. Horror. Liked it; it filled in some gaps, some things that were edited out of the film. B-
4. Thirty Days of Night: Return to Barrow by Steve Niles. Graphic Novel, Horror. Felt like I was missing a lot, probably because I hadn’t read the first graphic novel. Art work was good, but not my favorite style. C+
5. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid. General fiction. According to the NYT, this is one of the top 100 books of the year. (H/T to Jane for the link.) Eh. I thought the beautiful prose was wasted on the clichéd tale of a Pakistani ex-pat, as I mentioned earlier. C+
6. Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson. Fantasy romance. Incomplete – stops in the middle, must be read with…
7. Lady of Light and Shadow by C.L. Wilson. Fantasy romance. B. I liked it, but didn’t love it as much as other readers did. Mostly because I’m tired of series books. I want to read a book that starts and stops and doesn’t dangle series bait.
8. Naked Soul by Gwynne Forster. Contemporary, AA. DNF. The heroine and hero were both twits.
9. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. YA contemporary. Narration style reminded me a lot of Come Together by Emlyn Rees and Josie Lloyd.
10. Creation in Death by J.D. Robb. Futuristic suspense. Not my favorite In Death book, but I appreciated the procedural aspects. B.
11. Edge of Spring by Helen Bianchin. Another old Harlequin. DNF. That plot device is a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen IMO.
12. Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden. Picked up because of the reviews/mentions at SBTB during Banned Book Week. It didn’t feel dated, which surprised me – last older YA book that I tried (reissued) felt very dated (Forever by Judy Blume). B
13. No Ordinary Love by Angela Weaver. Contemporary, AA/interracial. Had a hard time getting to like the heroine and suspending disbelief about her being in Delta Force. C+
14. Y: The Last Man, volumes 1-4, by Brian K. Vaughan. Graphic Novel. This series rocks. A
15. Shadow of the Past by Robin Donald. Old Harlequin Presents. Very dated. Yet I still enjoyed it. What is wrong with me? B-
16. Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin. Urban fantasy. This did not live up to my expectations based on its shelving…had I begun it without those expectations, I would’ve enjoyed it more. C+
17. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews. Urban fantasy. Liked this one. B+
18. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. More urban fantasy. Not impressed. C-
19. Bill of Wrongs by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose. Nonfiction. I'd highly recommend this book. A
20. One Last Breath by Laura Griffin. Suspense. Some of the stuff that went on in the book required a huge suspension of disbelief and common sense. And the romance felt shoe-horned into the story. C+
21. Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian. Paranormal. First of a series, as I mentioned. B+
22. Kiss of Crimson by Lara Adrian. Paranormal. Second of the series. B
23. Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Chance. General fiction. Knightley has never been my favorite Austen hero, despite being tempted by Jeremy Northam’s performance in the movie Emma; this book made him seem stodgy and dull as dirt. DNF
24. Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn. Historical mystery. Reviewed here. B+
25. Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins. YA contemporary. B
26. Her Christmas Surprise by Kristin Hardy. Category. B-/C+
Twenty-six books...seems like a lot, until I realize that three were DNF, and the remaining 23 were read during a month with two holidays (days off in which I could spend the afternoon reading instead of working), plus four travel days -- I get a lot of reading done while sitting around train stations and airports.
Those I'd recommend are in BLUE; those that I liked but think are not the best of books in GREEN (if I knew you and your reading tastes, I might recommend them, but don't feel comfortable giving a blanket rec); DNFs or books that hit the wall at some point (even if I eventually finished them) in RED.
1. Eternity in Death by J.D. Robb. Novella in the Dead of Night anthology. Futuristic romantic suspense. Eve Dallas and vampires? The idea seems strange, since she’s such a pragmatic person. Not the best of the In Death novellas, but still good. B
2. Sweet Pretender by Virginia Hart. Old Harlequin Romance. Very dated. C-
3. Thirty Days of Night, movie novelization by Tim Lebbon. Horror. Liked it; it filled in some gaps, some things that were edited out of the film. B-
4. Thirty Days of Night: Return to Barrow by Steve Niles. Graphic Novel, Horror. Felt like I was missing a lot, probably because I hadn’t read the first graphic novel. Art work was good, but not my favorite style. C+
5. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid. General fiction. According to the NYT, this is one of the top 100 books of the year. (H/T to Jane for the link.) Eh. I thought the beautiful prose was wasted on the clichéd tale of a Pakistani ex-pat, as I mentioned earlier. C+
6. Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson. Fantasy romance. Incomplete – stops in the middle, must be read with…
7. Lady of Light and Shadow by C.L. Wilson. Fantasy romance. B. I liked it, but didn’t love it as much as other readers did. Mostly because I’m tired of series books. I want to read a book that starts and stops and doesn’t dangle series bait.
8. Naked Soul by Gwynne Forster. Contemporary, AA. DNF. The heroine and hero were both twits.
9. Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. YA contemporary. Narration style reminded me a lot of Come Together by Emlyn Rees and Josie Lloyd.
10. Creation in Death by J.D. Robb. Futuristic suspense. Not my favorite In Death book, but I appreciated the procedural aspects. B.
11. Edge of Spring by Helen Bianchin. Another old Harlequin. DNF. That plot device is a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen IMO.
12. Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden. Picked up because of the reviews/mentions at SBTB during Banned Book Week. It didn’t feel dated, which surprised me – last older YA book that I tried (reissued) felt very dated (Forever by Judy Blume). B
13. No Ordinary Love by Angela Weaver. Contemporary, AA/interracial. Had a hard time getting to like the heroine and suspending disbelief about her being in Delta Force. C+
14. Y: The Last Man, volumes 1-4, by Brian K. Vaughan. Graphic Novel. This series rocks. A
15. Shadow of the Past by Robin Donald. Old Harlequin Presents. Very dated. Yet I still enjoyed it. What is wrong with me? B-
16. Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin. Urban fantasy. This did not live up to my expectations based on its shelving…had I begun it without those expectations, I would’ve enjoyed it more. C+
17. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews. Urban fantasy. Liked this one. B+
18. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. More urban fantasy. Not impressed. C-
19. Bill of Wrongs by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose. Nonfiction. I'd highly recommend this book. A
20. One Last Breath by Laura Griffin. Suspense. Some of the stuff that went on in the book required a huge suspension of disbelief and common sense. And the romance felt shoe-horned into the story. C+
21. Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian. Paranormal. First of a series, as I mentioned. B+
22. Kiss of Crimson by Lara Adrian. Paranormal. Second of the series. B
23. Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Chance. General fiction. Knightley has never been my favorite Austen hero, despite being tempted by Jeremy Northam’s performance in the movie Emma; this book made him seem stodgy and dull as dirt. DNF
24. Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn. Historical mystery. Reviewed here. B+
25. Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins. YA contemporary. B
26. Her Christmas Surprise by Kristin Hardy. Category. B-/C+
Twenty-six books...seems like a lot, until I realize that three were DNF, and the remaining 23 were read during a month with two holidays (days off in which I could spend the afternoon reading instead of working), plus four travel days -- I get a lot of reading done while sitting around train stations and airports.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-11-30 04:15 pm (UTC)I knew there was a reason I liked you!
no subject
Date: 2007-11-30 05:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-30 05:15 pm (UTC)But especially the "reveal" at the end of Return to Barrow requires Dark Days -- or else it's just out of nowhere.
The art took me a long time to get used to. I prefer it now in the 30 Days franchise (cleaner art just makes the gore a little too gratuitous or something) but I passed them by for a long time just because of the art.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-30 06:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-11-30 06:08 pm (UTC)I have noticed the gaggles of !!!! that Meyer gets, on your blog and elsewhere :)
Y: The Last Man
Date: 2007-11-30 06:05 pm (UTC)Re: Y: The Last Man
Date: 2007-11-30 06:24 pm (UTC)I have nearly two hours of reading time built into my daily schedule (commuter train ride to and from work), so I tend to read a lot. If my work schedule or location changed, the number would drop significantly, I'm sure.
I have volumes 5 through 9 reserved at the library -- am looking forward to them!
The rest of the books? The ones I really liked (other than Y) were Bill of Wrongs and Silent in the Grave. I made a conscious effort to read more urban fantasy, because I thought I was missing something -- it is so popular right now! But Magic Bites was the best of that lot.
My goal for December is to finish up all of the books that I've started but not finished (and not completely abandoned) this year. Lot of nonfiction and the Clapton autobiography.
Re: Y: The Last Man
Date: 2007-11-30 07:04 pm (UTC)MONSOON SUMMER MITALI PERKINS
Date: 2007-11-30 07:11 pm (UTC)