Reading List 2009 discussion

I work a lot of overnights, so sometimes I have hours to read (and other days none at all). I am trying to take advantage of my time. My reviews and ratings will be based on their ability to keep my attention at 3am :) This can make quality score low and fluff score high, but sometimes it's well balanced ;)

I am presently reading Black A Trilogy- Book One The Birth of Evilby Ted Dekker.

The books I have read this year are:
1. The Kite Runner
2. Overcoming Hurts and Anger How to Identify and Cope with Negative Emotions
3. Dark Harbor
4. Cold Feet
5. Power Play
6. Mr. Monk is Miserable
7. Twilight
8. What I Did for Love
9. New Moon
10. Breakneck
11. Emma
12. Eclipse
13. Breaking Dawn
14. Glitter Baby (Revised) (Formerly Titled, "Welcome to the World of the Glitter Baby")
15. Catch 22
16. Beat the Reaper A Novel
17. The Little Sleep A Novel
18. One False Move
19. Lady in Waiting Developing Your Love Relationships
20. Boundaries in Dating Making Dating Work
21. Surrendered Single A Practical Guide to Attracting and Marrying the Man Who's Right for You
22. Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone
23. Inkheart
24. Velvet Elvis Repainting the Christian Faith
25. Searching for God Knows What
26. Just When I Thought I'd Dropped My Last Egg Life and Other Calamities
27. IN SILENCE.

I just completed book 28-He's Just Not That Into You The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys
by Greg Behrendt.

It had some good points but I also am not in a situation where much of the information applies to me. This is probably a good book for women who get involved with men very quickly and wonder why it is not working out. Much of it deals with sex or not being called after sleeping with someone on the first date.

It did discuss that a guy will make time for you if he is interested and if you find yourself saying "he seems interested, but such and such is going on" he probably is not. If he can't find time to call, make plans, see you, etc. he is not as interested as he seems to be. If you have to be the one to put in all the effort, he probably isn't interested. It is a good wake up call.

I finished book 29- Black A Trilogy- Book One The Birth of Evil by Dekker, Ted

This was a well-written suspense book. It was about a man named Tom who lives in one world and whenever he falls asleep he wakes up in another. He cannot tell which is real and which is not or if they are both real. And he needs his sleep.

This book probably had the best explanation of romance to me that I have read. It had a strong female character who was bold, but also gentle and a strong male who was confused but curious. They worked together well. I can't wait to read the next in the series!

Today I finished book 30: Till We Have Faces A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis.

This was a departure from much of Lewis's Christian works and was a retelling of the story of Psyche. I was unfamiliar with the story and it is told from the point of view of the sister. In some ways it reminded me of Cinderella from the sad recalling of the evil step sister.

I am still processing the book and the ending, I may even reread the last few chapters while more awake to make sure I followed it all correctly. It is loaded with imagery and symbolism. The book began a little slowly but certainly picked up as it went along. What i found most interesting was how my view of the narrator changed throughout the book as I learned more and more about her and she revealed more of herself.

There aren't many I would recommend this book to, but I did think it was good.

31. Split Second by Alex Kava

A fun page turner. Not too graphic but it definitely is a bit of a psychological thriller. I always find myself reading Kava's books and thinking "Okay, i'll just read one more chapter" and when I finish it starting the next saying "just one more."

I had thought this was the first in the Maggie O'Dell series, but it turns out it is the second so I will go back and read the first. The first is called "A Perfect Evil" and will make it quickly to the top of the reading list.

Good for anyone who likes a good police mystery

32. Not Becoming My Mother and Other Things She Taught Me Along the Way by Ruth Reichl

This was a very quick read. It was a non-fiction book about a woman who had difficulty with her mother, and tried not to be like her. Over time, she finds letters her mother wrote to different people and learns that there was much more to her mother than she knew and much more reason for her to act the way she did.

It was a fast read, but I did not find it particularly entertaining. I did continue it and was interested in getting back to it whenever I put it down, but I am not sure that I would list it as a recommendation either.

33. A Perfect Evil by Alex Kava

This is the first in the Maggie O'Dell series. It was good, but a little harder for me to get into than the previous ones I read. I would guess that it is not so much the writing itself as that I knew the outcome of it and had to space out my reading over many days.

It was definitely still a page turner and I still found myself saying "oh I can just read one more chapter before I go to bed" and reading about 7 more.

I just finished 34: The Red Sea Rules The Same God Who Led You In Will Lead You Out by Robert J. Morgan

This was a good book. Like many of the 10 principles, 7 rules, etc. books, they seem a little cheesy and contrived but it did have many good things to say. I enjoyed reading excerpts from how God has worked in numerous lives throughout the centuries. It is a quick read and there were certain principles that pertained more to my life at present than others. It would be one I could read again at a different stage in life and might get something completely different out of it.

35. Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Excellent book and super short! It just seemed to speak to me where I am right now. I have had Tozer recommended to me numerous times, but this was the first thing of his I have ever read. He speaks in an honest and genuine way about God and separates our view of god from the actual God. I loved his differentiation of imagination vs. reckoning and having our eyes turned toward God in prayer. It felt honest and not to be an attempt at pop-culture Christianity.

36. Red The Circle Book Two The Heroic Rescue by Ted Dekker

While I would say that I liked Black better than Red, Red was still a very interesting book. I am looking forward to reading White. Red was a continuation of Black, and continued to develop the characters well. There were some logical leaps I struggled with more in this book than the first, but it continued to capture my attention. The first 50 pages were slower but it began to pick up again quickly.

37. Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

I honestly can't remember the details of the last few books of hers I have read but I believe I enjoyed this one more than some of her recent ones. It was good to read something so quick and fluffy. I felt like this one was significantly less about the case at hand and more about her personal life so I found I didn't care much about the murder at all, but it was still fun.

Unfortunately, I really dislike her "Plum" novels (not the numbered ones like One for the Money but the ones with "plum" in the title like Plum Lovin' but she keeps putting details in those books that helps with the flow of the numbered series. I may go back and read them, but I didn't feel like there was that much I was missing.

38. Wild at Heart Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge

This book is aimed at men who are trying to figure out why they feel like failures, why they feel like imposters, and what can be done about it. My friend recommended it to me to show me how to encourage some of my guy friends in their pursuit of being a strong, Christian man.

I found this book interesting though it didn't speak to me the way Captivating had. What was in it was similar to many of the comments I have heard my guy friends make, feeling like they are meant for something more but aren't sure what. It helped me think of the way I relate to guys and how I can encourage them in their growth and what they want to hear (that they are fun and adventurous more than that they are sensitive). It was an interesting read and I will see how it impacts some of the guys.

39. New Tricks by David Rosenfelt

Andy Carpenter returned for his seventh escapade in this book. He was assigned by a judge to be the custody lawyer of a dog whose owner was killed, and ends up being the defense lawyer in that murder trial.

Very fun, quick read. I love the sarcastic humor of Carpenter and the fast pace story that he tells. After reading so many non-fiction books, it was so much fun to get back to reading light-hearted mysteries. I did guess the outcome of this one pretty quickly, but it didn't take away anything from the story. Good for anyone who likes light legal mysteries or dogs.

40. Finding God in Unexpected Placesby Philip Yancey

I listened to the audio version of this book. It started out quite slow to me and picked up as it went, but I still only give it 3.5 stars. This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be vignettes of people experiencing God in different ways, but it seemed to be more about the ways in which God is behind the scenes, and how areas that aren't aimed to prove God might line up more with the Bible than people think. Basically that His principles are proved true. It was interesting, and I will give another Yancey book a try at some point, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for.

41. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris

I listened to the audio version of this book and if I could choose again, I think I would have read the book. Because of how he read it, most of it was monotone and to me, it just took away from some of the humor. While I would still consider it to be dry humor, it doesn't seem intended to be that dry. Then again, the author read it himself so it may be how he intended it.

On the third tape, it suddenly switched to him reading live in front of a crowd. It was an awkward shift, but I found it much more entertaining to hear him read it live and to have audience reactions. I think I laughed more during that time than any other. Then on the 4th tape, it was back to the studio read. While I was disappointed that it had returned, I was able to hear it more as he read during the live version so it was still funnier to me than the previous tapes.

Overall, it was amusing but not amazing.

42. The Unbidden Truth by [author:Kate Wilhelm|48885

I read an old advanced reading copy (arc) of this book so it may have varied slightly from the finished book.

I FINALLY finished this book, it has taken me almost a month. Usually I am quick through mysteries but this one took a while. For some reason many of the characters failed to grab me and I never felt the personal connection that you feel with really well written characters. I found that I wanted to find out what happened, but if I never did, oh well.

This is not the first in her series and again it may have been better to read in order because there were some continuing characters, namely a guy named Derrin. This character must have been in an earlier book where he showed interest because it jumped in with her trying to avoid him but never fully explaining why. In this book, he barely had flaws and was all heart so it left you wondering what had happened without it fully being answered. To me, if it were better written, I would have been able to figure it out by reading this book alone.

I am not sure that I will read any of her other books though I did find something a bit likable about the main character. I honestly can't tell you what it was though. In a while I might try another, but likely not.

43. Weigh Down Diet by Gwen Shamblin

This was my second time reading it and I still got a lot out of it though I disagree with some of the theology in the book. I lost 40-50 lbs with it the first time I read it so I thought the principles might be good to look over once again. It was good to review but I didn't find it as helpful the first time, probably because I knew many of the principles already.

44. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

I remember in 6th grade reading one chapter of this book and putting it down bored out of my mind. Not so in giving it another try. It was recommended to me so I figured it was worth a shot. It was a quick and enjoyable read (I listened to the audio tapes the first few chapters but they were melted and stopped working so I switched to the book). I very much enjoyed it though I found I had no idea what to expect. I think I might try the next one in the series to find out what happens next.

45. White by Ted Dekker

Excellent! I love the way that Ted Dekker writes stories. I have enjoyed his mysteries and suspense books but even more so love this series. There were a few more loose ends I would have loved to have tied together, but the story kept me riveted.

For women who struggle with who they are and feeling beautiful, Ted Dekker seems to write the best explanation of romance I've ever seen in Black and captures the struggle that many women face in wanting to be loved and feeling as if they don't deserve it. Because it struck close it was hard for me to read but was so worth reading.

46. Grace Eventually Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott

To be honest, I got bored near the end of this book and actually didn't read the last 30 pages or so. The first few chapters were a little interesting, but I thought might be better if I read the book as opposed to listening to the audio. It wasn't. After 100 pages or so, she began to get political and every chapter was a Bush bash. I'm not very into politics but it just seemed like "hey i need a comparison, let me complain about the president." It just got old because they were just petty bashes, not so much making an actual point.

Meh. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone really. I would give it 2.5 stars.

47. Friendship Teas to Go 12 Celebrations You Can Take Anywhere by Emilie Barnes

This was a cute book. I don't actually care for tea, but one of my roommates does and we were looking for ideas on teas she could make. I was disappointed that this did not offer suggestions for how to make your own teas from herbs and spices (much harder to find than I was expecting!) but it did have some tasty looking recipes.

When I read the book, I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many nice entertaining ideas she had, especially for thank you gifts, bridal shower ideas, etc.

48. The Charms of Tea Reminiscences & Recipes by Victoria Magazine

This was a nice book to look through, but I was happy to find that more than half of the book was recipes. The book took vignettes from numerous works of literature that discussed tea from Peter Pan by Barrie to Love in the Time of Cholera by Marquez.

I really enjoyed that this book carried a few different recipes that you could use to make your own teas. Though I don't enjoy tea, several sounded like they would be tasty and my roommate is looking forward to trying them, especially the Lavender and Lime, Orange Clove, and Iced Clove Cooler. It also had many tea savories and sweets to enjoy as well!

49. Green by Ted Dekker

Good book! While this wasn't as great to me as Black or White, it was still a great part of the story. I found that I both wanted to keep reading because I enjoyed the story and didn't want to read because I didn't want the story to end. It didn't feel entirely like it tied up loose ends. That may be because it is supposed to be able to be read as a Prequel to Black or as the sequel to White making a circle of the series.

Something to note, there are crossovers I didn't realize in reading this book. Apparently one of the major characters in Showdown is a big player in this one. Finding out all the books are tied together is exciting but driving me nuts! I have so much more reading to do! Next in the series I read will be Showdown I think.

50. Burn Notice The Fix by Tod Goldberg

This was a good fluff read. It is the first book spin-off of the show Burn Notice. I thought that the author did a good job of catching the voices of the main characters. It was a quick read and was a good story. If you like the show, I think you would enjoy the book.

51. The Power of a Praying® Woman Deluxe Edition by Stormie Omartian

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought that it would be another book that was somewhat formulaic and cheesy, and maybe it was, but it seemed that everything I read in it was exactly what I needed to hear at that time.

She covered many of the things that hinder us from being close to God and that can hinder our prayers and our lives. While much of the information was not new, it was good to read.

52. Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop by Lee Goldberg

This is the 8th book in the Monk series that is a tie into the show. If you enjoy the show, you will likely enjoy the books; Goldberg does a good job capturing the voices of the characters. These books are told from Natalie Teeger's point of view.

This was an interesting book as it had Captain Stottlemeyer being accused of a murder. On the jacket it stressed this fact so I thought it would play out more in the book but really didn't even occur until 1/2-2/3 of the way through. While handled well, I would have enjoyed to have that piece happen earlier in the book.

53. The Only Necessary Thing Living a Prayerful Life by Henri J.M. Nouwen

This author was highly recommended to me by numerous people so I thought I would give this book a try because it had excerpts from many of his books. I found that there are a few I might want to read, but I'm not sure how many. This book got better as it went, as I knew his style more and as passages built off each other. I think I would do better to read one of his books as opposed to a compilation of several. I would recommend it to several people though.

54. Burn Notice The End Game by Tod Goldberg

This book was decent. I didn't feel like it captured the voices of the characters as well as the first book based on the series Burn Notice. It was still entertaining, but seemed a little more convoluted than the first one.

55. The Invisible War What Every Believer Needs to Know about Satan, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare by Chip Ingram

This book was written by my previous pastor when I still lived in California. It was a good, practical book on the effects of sin and the spiritual side of good and evil. What I loved was being able to hear his voice as I was reading it. This is a subject that many people write off immediately and I was surprised to see such a down to earth explanation that both discussed the reality and the abuses that are often seen. The book did get repetitive sometimes, but I do believe that it was to really drive points home. Sometimes it was a little overdone in that, but it was still a great book. I would give it 4.5 stars

56. How I Paid for College by Marc Acito

I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator was great. He did a great job with the different voices and gave them life. I laughed out loud several times. While this book went far more into sexual exploration than I typically read, it was comical even when completely inappropriate.

57. Showdown by Ted Dekker

This was another good page-turner by Ted Dekker. Though a separate book and the first in a trilogy, it is connected to his circle series. It involves the books discussed in White and Green and has some of the same characters. If I could have done something different, I would have changed the order in which I read, choosing to read Showdown before I read Green.

58. Autobiography of a Fat Bride True Tales of a Pretend Adulthood by Laurie Notaro

This was a very quick, very fun read. I found that I related to her writing style and thinking well. There were only a few times that I actually laughed out loud, but it definitely happened. I will probably go back and read her first book "Idiot Girls Action Adventure Club" to see if I find that one entertaining as well. This is great for people who just want a light fun read.

59. An Offer You Can't Refuse by Jill Mansell

I took this book from Jackie's list of books and thought it was cute. It was a fun british read about a girl who just can't help but make a fool of herself even when she tries her hardest not to. She was in love with a boy and his mom hated her and sent her away with some money. Years later they find each other again and she wants him to forgive her for leaving and come back. He wants nothing of the sort. Cute read.

60. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon

I have been recommended this series by several people over the years but always hesitated because there were no murders or mystery that I could see. I think it was good I waited because I'm not sure I would have enjoyed these books years ago.

As it was, I did enjoy listening to the audio. I read reviews that considered the books too "Thomas Kinkade" but I thought of it as being quite "Mayberry" which is a classic, fun town that brings joy and fun while being sweet and kind-hearted. It is a good series for when you are just overwhelmed by how many bad or difficult things are going on. It's just a light-hearted book where everyone is good and it is like reading an episode of The Andy Griffith Show.

61. When Food Is Love Exploring the Relationship Between Eating and Intimacy by Geneen Roth

This book was not what I expected it to be about. i bought it years ago in a bargain store and finally decided to read it. I thought it would be about food and diet, etc. Instead, it was discussing the hurts and pain we have faced in our lives and how we cope with it. Weight was secondary. Very little of the book was actually dedicated to that topic and I appreciated that. She encouraged people to get to the root of their issues and to focus on actually experiencing life and not letting themselves be numb with food. Very interesting book. I will probably read one of her others soon.

62. A Penny for Your Thoughts by Mindy Starns Clark

After reading her "Tulip" series, I thought I might enjoy this longer series that Clark wrote. I did enjoy the book quite a bit, but I have found that I would have liked the romance to play into it a little more than it did. I know that it is setting it up for the future books, but it would have been nice for her to at least meet the guy face to face...

63. Experiencing God Knowing And Doing The Will Of God by Henry T. Blackaby

It wasn't until after I began reading this book and talking to friends about it that I realized this is a very popular book. It is about having a love relationship with God and having our faithful actions and obedience flow from that relationship.

The premise of the book was good. There were many wonderful chapters. Nearing the end I was ready to be done with it though, as it seemed to repeat itself several times. There were a few things I am not sure I agree with theologically, but they were minor and not particularly noteworthy.

64. Holly and Homicide by Leslie Caine

This is the seventh book in the domestic bliss series. It was a fun, quick read. There are parts that are a little far-fetched, such as this being the 7th case where the main character has been working on a house and a murder has taken place. I like that the character admits this and is like "what the heck!"

65. Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

I listened to the audio of this book. It was a fun, light-hearted mystery told from the perspective of a private detective's dog. It was an entertaining twist because he finds he can't communicate with his owner and he has a short-term memory so he repeats himself a lot. I didn't find it annoying, but I have read reviews that found it frustrating.

The only thing I would have liked was if the voice of the narrator differed slightly more between Bernie (the P.I.) and Chet (the dog). Sometimes I couldn't tell which was talking and it would have been clearer if I had known.

66. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

This was a decent book. I listened to the audio of it and the voice of the narrator worked for me. There were some issues with the book, just a few things that made no sense and offered little explanation (wiping off fingerprints of a hotel room after a murder as if then no one would know she was there though she talked to the staff and signed the receipt). It was still a quick listen and I will probably try "B" at some point.

67. Praise Habit Finding God In Sunsets And Sushi by David A. Crowder

This was a nice easy read by singer David Crowder. It was his perspective on some of the Psalms and trying to look at them in modern day context. He did a good job and I enjoyed the read. Near the end, I read more than one chapter at once, and I think that was a mistake. I stopped thinking about what he said and read it more as a novel which isn't the way this should be read. It was light and entertaining, but I know that if I had spent more time on certain chapters it would have been more impactful.

68. Tensleep An Em Hansen Mystery by Sarah Andrews

This was the first in a new series. There were parts of this book that were interesting, and parts that got a bit slow. There were a lot of places where I didn't know about some of the technical parts (it deals with oil rigs), but the mystery was fine. This felt like a starter book, often character development that will help me to like the character in the next book. I think I will read the next one in the series, especially because I had accidentally begun with the next book before I found that it wasn't the first in the series. Plus, it has a good opening line. I look forward to reading the next one.

69. Whitewash by Alex Kava

This was my least favorite of the Kava books. Had I not read and loved several of her others, I probably would have given it 4 stars, but it only received 3 by comparison. There were just several plots going on that weren't as able to be well-developed and I was left feeling like there were some ends that weren't tied as well as I would have enjoyed. Still worth listening to, but just not as good as her others.

70. The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Excellent book. Much like The Little Prince, The Chronicles of Narnia, and such others, this is a book that is highly enjoyable for children but great for adults because it speaks to many levels. This is one that can be read simply as a book, or as so much more. I could write a lot, but the plane is about to board :)

71. The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald

I liked this book even more than I enjoyed The Princess and the Goblin. Again, it is a book that can be enjoyed by children for the adventure and the story, but can also speak volumes to adults. There are so many great lines in this book that are hidden in the midst of paragraphs of seemingly inconsequential text.

Great for anyone who loves CS Lewis, Tolkien, or L'Engle as MacDonald inspired each of those writers. I look forward to continuing to read!

72. The Light Princess by George MacDonald

This was a very quick read. It was an easy one to laugh at and enjoy, but also one with a much deeper meaning if you desire to read it for that. There were many quotes in here that i just enoyed and this was the first time I felt like I really read much of MacDonald's humor. Would definitely read again!

oops! I haven't been up to date on some of these recently. So here are the books I've been reading and how I rated them:

73. Attack of the Theater People by Marc Acito 4 stars. Quite entertaining.

74. The Dream Giver by Bruce H. Wilkinson. 2.5 stars. Eh. It was okay, but not nearly as good as I expected with the number of recommendations people gave me.

75. The Knowledge of the Holy The Attributes of God Their Meaning in the Christian Life by A.W. Tozer. 4 stars. It was good, but not nearly as good as the one I read earlier.

76. Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry. 4 stars. Thought it was great! Listened to the audio of it and was highly entertained. It was nice to listen to something light and fun and adventurous!

squeaking in just a few more before the year ends!

77. Mr. Monk in Trouble by Lee Goldberg

This was okay, but to me, the poorest of the Monk books. It would have made a better episode with the attempt at a parallel Mr. Monk from the 1800s. Also, Stottlemeyer and Disher were barely in it, and normally they add to the story so it was rather disappointing. 3 stars.

78. Phantastes by George MacDonald

Excellent book. It got a little long in the poetry to me, but otherwise was an excellent book. Sometimes it was hard to read because it was so convicting. MacDonald has a way of having an incredibly powerful sentence as almost an afterthought in a paragraph. 4.5 stars.