183) Dorothy Binkert - She only wore white
184) Julianne MacLean - The Color of Destiny
184) Julianne MacLean - The Color of Destiny
Reading Challenge 2016 (216 in 2016)
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46. number9dream by David Mitchell, audiobook narrated by William Rycroft.
Eiji Miyake is approaching his 20th birthday when he sets off from his home village to Tokyo in search of his father, who he has never met and whose name he does not know. Adventures ensue, some real and some imaginary, all with a dreamlike quality.
I've read all of David Mitchell's books now and I'm afraid that this is the one I've liked the least, probably because I have little in common with 20 year old Japanese males. That's not to say that it's a bad book, but at some points in the story it took a big effort to carry on listening. Other parts, particularly the war diary towards the end of the book, were compelling and I didn't want to stop listening.
Mitchell's writing is beautifully descriptive as usual. Unfortunately, he seems to have been influenced by Haruki Murakami here with references to the Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Beatles songs, introspection and general weirdness. I think that one Haruki Murakami in the world is more than enough!
Overall, slightly disappointing but, with William Rycroft's excellent narration, still a 4/5.
(Happy birthday John Lennon, composer of #9 dream, who would have been 76 today).
Eiji Miyake is approaching his 20th birthday when he sets off from his home village to Tokyo in search of his father, who he has never met and whose name he does not know. Adventures ensue, some real and some imaginary, all with a dreamlike quality.
I've read all of David Mitchell's books now and I'm afraid that this is the one I've liked the least, probably because I have little in common with 20 year old Japanese males. That's not to say that it's a bad book, but at some points in the story it took a big effort to carry on listening. Other parts, particularly the war diary towards the end of the book, were compelling and I didn't want to stop listening.
Mitchell's writing is beautifully descriptive as usual. Unfortunately, he seems to have been influenced by Haruki Murakami here with references to the Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Beatles songs, introspection and general weirdness. I think that one Haruki Murakami in the world is more than enough!
Overall, slightly disappointing but, with William Rycroft's excellent narration, still a 4/5.
(Happy birthday John Lennon, composer of #9 dream, who would have been 76 today).
185) Myrna Erickson - Lost in the Andes
186) Kayla Stollack - Granny is my Wingman
187) Helen Dunmore - Exposure
186) Kayla Stollack - Granny is my Wingman
187) Helen Dunmore - Exposure
47. Daughter of Eden by Chris Beckett.
War has come to the planet Eden in the last book of the Dark Eden trilogy. The story is told from the perspective of Angie Redlantern, who appeared as a minor character in the previous book, as she and her family flee their home and head back towards the place where the landing vehicle touched down 500 years before. A fitting end to the story which ties up loose ends but still leaves room for further books.
I don't think that these books would necessarily appeal to all science fiction fans as they're really more to do with society, family and belief/religion than space and technology. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't more about the planet's indigenous life forms in this book, but overall really enjoyed the trilogy and hope that Chris Beckett decides to write some more about Eden in the future.
War has come to the planet Eden in the last book of the Dark Eden trilogy. The story is told from the perspective of Angie Redlantern, who appeared as a minor character in the previous book, as she and her family flee their home and head back towards the place where the landing vehicle touched down 500 years before. A fitting end to the story which ties up loose ends but still leaves room for further books.
I don't think that these books would necessarily appeal to all science fiction fans as they're really more to do with society, family and belief/religion than space and technology. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn't more about the planet's indigenous life forms in this book, but overall really enjoyed the trilogy and hope that Chris Beckett decides to write some more about Eden in the future.
110/ Argo by Antonio Mendez
Saw the film and wanted to know more of the real story behind it.
The book is interesting but the actual mission to remove the escaped hostages is a bit rushed and without the extra jeopardy injected by Hollywood it is a tad dull.
111/ Psycho-Mania! by various (edited by Stephen Jones)
Collection of crime stories (although quite a few have horror or supernatural elements as well).
The stories are presented as a collection of case studies by the head of an asylum.
Some are great, some not so much. Luckily none are awful with the exception of the framing story which is repetitive and deeply unoriginal.
112/ Don't Tell Alfred by Nancy Mitford
Continuing the story of characters featured in The Pursuit of Love, Love in a Cold Climate and The Blessing.
Much the same as in the previous stories it is mildly amusing but some of the characters are infuriating.
113/ Without Fail by Lee Child
Jack Reacher thriller.
Entertaining and fast paced but ultimately far-fetched. It would help if the characters had a bit more depth to them. The ones we get are more a collection of cliches.
114/ My Word Is My Bond by Roger Moore
Autobiography of the actor.
At times very funny but ultimately rather lightweight look at the actor's life and career.
A pleasant distraction but nothing more to it.
Saw the film and wanted to know more of the real story behind it.
The book is interesting but the actual mission to remove the escaped hostages is a bit rushed and without the extra jeopardy injected by Hollywood it is a tad dull.
111/ Psycho-Mania! by various (edited by Stephen Jones)
Collection of crime stories (although quite a few have horror or supernatural elements as well).
The stories are presented as a collection of case studies by the head of an asylum.
Some are great, some not so much. Luckily none are awful with the exception of the framing story which is repetitive and deeply unoriginal.
112/ Don't Tell Alfred by Nancy Mitford
Continuing the story of characters featured in The Pursuit of Love, Love in a Cold Climate and The Blessing.
Much the same as in the previous stories it is mildly amusing but some of the characters are infuriating.
113/ Without Fail by Lee Child
Jack Reacher thriller.
Entertaining and fast paced but ultimately far-fetched. It would help if the characters had a bit more depth to them. The ones we get are more a collection of cliches.
114/ My Word Is My Bond by Roger Moore
Autobiography of the actor.
At times very funny but ultimately rather lightweight look at the actor's life and career.
A pleasant distraction but nothing more to it.
125) Foreign Affairs by Patricia Scanlan
126) The Armada Boy by Kate Ellis
127) Dark Witch by Nora Roberts
128) It by Stephen King
129) Lightning by Dean Koontz
130) Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts
131) Blood Magick by Nora Roberts
132) The Collector by Nora Roberts
133) The Hollow by Nora Roberts
134) The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts
135) Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts
126) The Armada Boy by Kate Ellis
127) Dark Witch by Nora Roberts
128) It by Stephen King
129) Lightning by Dean Koontz
130) Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts
131) Blood Magick by Nora Roberts
132) The Collector by Nora Roberts
133) The Hollow by Nora Roberts
134) The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts
135) Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts
17. The Koala of Death (Gunn Zoo Mystery #2) by Betty Webb (reread) – Teddy finds the body of a fellow zookeeper in the harbor. At first everyone thinks Koala Kate fell overboard while drunk and it was just an accident, but before long Teddy suspects Kate was murdered. While Teddy investigates, she is forced to take over Kate's PR duties for the zoo. I liked it a lot. Some of the characters are a bit extreme in their reactions to people or events, but there were plenty of funny parts and it was a nice mystery to pass the time.
27. Man at the Helm by Nina Stibbe. Loved It .
28. Nella Last's War. (Housewife 49) by Nella Last (and editors )
28. Nella Last's War. (Housewife 49) by Nella Last (and editors )
48. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, read by Sissy Spacek. A very good book and beautifully narrated.
190) Collette Caddle - From This Moment On
191) Joanna Bolouri - The List
192) Tammy Cohen - When She Was Bad
193) H Y Hanna - All-Butter Short Dead
194) Catherine Alliott - A Crowded Marriage
191) Joanna Bolouri - The List
192) Tammy Cohen - When She Was Bad
193) H Y Hanna - All-Butter Short Dead
194) Catherine Alliott - A Crowded Marriage
Originally Posted by d0lphin:
“38. The Escape Artist - Diane Chamberlain
8/10 - a very readable book by quite a prolific author. This book is about Susannah who loses custody of her one year old son and goes on the run with him. I did guess the twist at the end which is why I didn't give it an even higher mark.”
“38. The Escape Artist - Diane Chamberlain
8/10 - a very readable book by quite a prolific author. This book is about Susannah who loses custody of her one year old son and goes on the run with him. I did guess the twist at the end which is why I didn't give it an even higher mark.”
38. The Trespasser - Tana French
6/10 - book 6 in the Dublin Murder Squad series and I felt it was the weakest and didn't hold my attention as much as the others. The book was written from the point of view of one of the detectives on the case, DCI Antoinette Conway, who wasn't a very likeable character and I felt the middle third of the book dragged, It doesn't put me off reading more of this series if and when they are written but I was disappointed.
30. N is for Noose
31. O is for Outlaw
32. P is for Peril - Sue Grafton
33. Love You Dead- Peter James
However another good novel. Looking forward to the next.
31. O is for Outlaw
32. P is for Peril - Sue Grafton
33. Love You Dead- Peter James
Spoiler
However another good novel. Looking forward to the next.
195) The Stranger in my Home - Adele Parks
196) The Queen of Blogging - Therese Loreskar
197) Treasured by Thursday - Catherine Bybee
196) The Queen of Blogging - Therese Loreskar
197) Treasured by Thursday - Catherine Bybee
115/ Death On The Downs by Simon Brett
Part of the Fethering series of mysteries.
Enjoyable and easy read. Not exactly a complex mystery but a fun way to pass the time and the main characters are very likable.
116/ The Sword of Forever by Jim Mortimore
More Bernice Summerfield.
Mortimore is probably my least liked of all the Who/Summerfield authors writing in the 90s. Some good ideas but written in a style that lacks clarity or resolution.
I really liked some parts of this (Benny being chased by the Templar agents through future London, the character of Patience) but the overall plot was a complete muddle to me.
Part of the Fethering series of mysteries.
Enjoyable and easy read. Not exactly a complex mystery but a fun way to pass the time and the main characters are very likable.
116/ The Sword of Forever by Jim Mortimore
More Bernice Summerfield.
Mortimore is probably my least liked of all the Who/Summerfield authors writing in the 90s. Some good ideas but written in a style that lacks clarity or resolution.
I really liked some parts of this (Benny being chased by the Templar agents through future London, the character of Patience) but the overall plot was a complete muddle to me.
89) - The Cartel, by Don Winslow
90) - The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid, by Craig Russell
91) - Buried, by Graham Masterton
92) - Black Water Rising, by Attica Locke
93) - The Heist, by Daniel Silva
94) - Double Mortice, by Bill Daly
95) - The Hunter, by Tom Wood
96) - Blood Wedding, Pierre Lemaitre
90) - The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid, by Craig Russell
91) - Buried, by Graham Masterton
92) - Black Water Rising, by Attica Locke
93) - The Heist, by Daniel Silva
94) - Double Mortice, by Bill Daly
95) - The Hunter, by Tom Wood
96) - Blood Wedding, Pierre Lemaitre
18. The Case of the Mythical Monkeys (Perry Mason #59) by Erle Stanley Gardner – An author of a sensational hit novel sends her secretary on a ski trip weekend with a reporter instead of going herself, and the secretary ends up the main suspect in a murder. I liked this one a lot. It seemed different from other Mason novels, more action even in the courtroom.
136) Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves
137) Needful Things by Stephen King
138) The Obsidian Chamber by Preston & Child
139) Marked by Kaylea Cross
140) Tribute by Nora Roberts
141) The Santiago Sisters by Victoria Fox
142) The Santangelos by Jackie Collins
137) Needful Things by Stephen King
138) The Obsidian Chamber by Preston & Child
139) Marked by Kaylea Cross
140) Tribute by Nora Roberts
141) The Santiago Sisters by Victoria Fox
142) The Santangelos by Jackie Collins
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