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Egads, I haven't updated this since February here. My bad!
I was keeping track at the DLC, but I'm hoping now that I've switched it here it will be easier for me to keep track since I'm not hanging out there so much.
26. Miss Misery by Andy Greenwald
I saw Pants mention this book and it sounded kind of interesting. Shock of shocks the local library actually had it! It was different than what I was expecting, but I ended up really liking it.
27. Destiny's Way by Troy Denning
Re-reading one of my all time favorite Star Wars novels to keep me from going crazy waiting for Revelation.
The battle scenes are still totally awesome, the Jedi stuff is very cool, Ackbar being back is just so cool. I totally love this book.
28. Legacy of the Force: Revelation by Karen Traviss
I won't say anything here to avoid spoilers, but I did love this book, and I'm quite ready for Invincible to be here.
29. The Shadow Matrix by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This was a novel of Darkover which I was completely unfamiliar with, but I'm used to starting series in the middle. Very long book! But I did enjoy it quite a bit. It tells the story of forbidden love between Mikhail and Marguerida as they slowly come into their powers and also deals with a lot of the planets political machinations.
I saw Pants mention this book and it sounded kind of interesting. Shock of shocks the local library actually had it! It was different than what I was expecting, but I ended up really liking it.
27. Destiny's Way by Troy Denning
Re-reading one of my all time favorite Star Wars novels to keep me from going crazy waiting for Revelation.
The battle scenes are still totally awesome, the Jedi stuff is very cool, Ackbar being back is just so cool. I totally love this book.28. Legacy of the Force: Revelation by Karen Traviss
I won't say anything here to avoid spoilers, but I did love this book, and I'm quite ready for Invincible to be here.
29. The Shadow Matrix by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This was a novel of Darkover which I was completely unfamiliar with, but I'm used to starting series in the middle. Very long book! But I did enjoy it quite a bit. It tells the story of forbidden love between Mikhail and Marguerida as they slowly come into their powers and also deals with a lot of the planets political machinations.
26. Miss Misery by Andy Greenwald
I saw Pants mention this book and it sounded kind of interesting. Shock of shocks the local library actually had it! It was different than what I was expecting, but I ended up really liking it.
27. Destiny's Way by Troy Denning
Re-reading one of my all time favorite Star Wars novels to keep me from going crazy waiting for Revelation. The battle scenes are still totally awesome, the Jedi stuff is very cool, Ackbar being back is just so cool. I totally love this book.
28. Legacy of the Force: Revelation by Karen Traviss
I won't say anything here to avoid spoilers, but I did love this book, and I'm quite ready for Invincible to be here.
29. The Shadow Matrix by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This was a novel of Darkover which I was completely unfamiliar with, but I'm used to starting series in the middle. Very long book! But I did enjoy it quite a bit. It tells the story of forbidden love between Mikhail and Marguerida as they slowly come into their powers and also deals with a lot of the planets political machinations.
I saw Pants mention this book and it sounded kind of interesting. Shock of shocks the local library actually had it! It was different than what I was expecting, but I ended up really liking it.
27. Destiny's Way by Troy Denning
Re-reading one of my all time favorite Star Wars novels to keep me from going crazy waiting for Revelation.
The battle scenes are still totally awesome, the Jedi stuff is very cool, Ackbar being back is just so cool. I totally love this book.28. Legacy of the Force: Revelation by Karen Traviss
I won't say anything here to avoid spoilers, but I did love this book, and I'm quite ready for Invincible to be here.
29. The Shadow Matrix by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This was a novel of Darkover which I was completely unfamiliar with, but I'm used to starting series in the middle. Very long book! But I did enjoy it quite a bit. It tells the story of forbidden love between Mikhail and Marguerida as they slowly come into their powers and also deals with a lot of the planets political machinations.
32. The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison
So it wasn't everything I could wish for, but then what book ever is, right? But it did surprise the heck out of me and in the end, I did end up really loving it. I will be back for more.
For my spoiler filled thoughts on it - go here.
33. Grave Talent by Laurie R. King
Good mystery. I didn't realize how attached I was getting to the characters until I got to the end and bad things started happening. I'll be reading the next in the series.
34. Dare Truth or Promise by Paula Boock
A lovely love story between Louie and Willa. The actress/comedian and then girl who grew up in a pub. It was sweet and sad and harsh and angsty and bittersweet. I loved it. My only complaint was that I read it in e-book format. It was my first e-book. Hate! Apparently that format and I won't be getting on even though I don't mind spending hours reading fan fic.
Whatever.
35. Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez
The story of six women who have known one another and stuck together since college. It's a well written interesting novel that has a little bit more depth than the average piece of chick lit. I particularly liked how the viewpoint shifted and showed different aspects of the characters.
36. To Play the Fool by Laurie R King
Another Kate Martinelli novel. A little bit less character focused and based more on the man at the center of the mystery. It was an interesting idea, but it was a little bit more technical speak than I like in my fiction. It was more like reading a religious textbook at times than a novel. Not my favorite of the series.
37. With Child by Laurie R King
Kate Martinelli has been abandoned by her partner of many years, Lee and must find a way to cope in her abscence. In the mean time she gets caught up in a missing persons case and the kidnapping of a child of a close friend. Eventually there's a satisfactory resolution. Much more character driven and probably my favorite of the series so far.
38. Orphea Proud by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Orphea a young budding poet and performer experiences several tradgedies in her young life and comes to deal with them as best as she can. It was interesting because of the style of the story. It was told as if the narrator were on a stage and the reader were the audience. I really enjoyed this one. Despite the sad subject matter and was very sweet and almost innocent.
39. Heritage and Exile by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Two books in one, this combines Heritage of the Hasturs and Sharra's Exile. This is the story of Regis Hastur and Lew Alton, two men who wanted nothing to do with the life set out for them and their struggle to make it into something that they could live with. I enjoyed it. Not my favorite, but it did have some very sensitive subject matter in it. It's odd because I think of now (the past ten to twenty years) as a freer time for writer's to write what they want, but it seems sad to me that Bradley's earlier novels seem to take more chances and be far more daring and less commercial than the latter ones.
40. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Oprah practically made this a modern classic and I can definitely see why. It's not a book for the faint hearted, lots of 'adult' subject matter, but I did enjoy reading it, I suppose you could say, and I'm glad that I did because it was a very good book filled with excellent characters.
41. Exile's Song by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The first part of the story of Marguerida Alton and the continuing adventures of Lew Alton. It was an okay addition. Although coming straight out of reading Heritage and Exile it honestly felt a little bland. To me some of MZB's later novels seem to lack the depth of the first ones. I miss that.
42. Night Pleasures by Sherilyn Kenyon
It was okay, but color me not impressed. I was kinda bored to be honest. The baddies weren't very impressive or scary and the magic/supernatural system behind it was kinda shoddy imo, compared to the novels that I've been reading. And after getting used to some kick-ass multi-dimensional characters like Anita Blake, Rachel Morgan and Sookie Stackhouse just to name a few, Amanda kinda fell flat. Her family was kinda interesting, but the author never really got into that so it just kinda felt flat to me. I don't think I'll continue reading the series.
43. Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
The story of a debutante from South Carolina, and her relationship with her former fellow debs and the men in her life, as well as eventually her daughter. It's an interesting story with a fun style. It doesn't try to prove that true love will solve all your issues, it doesn't try to force you to go home and settle down with a good southern man, it just reminds you to value the love and relationships that you have while you have them and to never close your heart to possibilities even if you've been heartbroken.
So it wasn't everything I could wish for, but then what book ever is, right? But it did surprise the heck out of me and in the end, I did end up really loving it. I will be back for more.
For my spoiler filled thoughts on it - go here.
33. Grave Talent by Laurie R. King
Good mystery. I didn't realize how attached I was getting to the characters until I got to the end and bad things started happening. I'll be reading the next in the series.
34. Dare Truth or Promise by Paula Boock
A lovely love story between Louie and Willa. The actress/comedian and then girl who grew up in a pub. It was sweet and sad and harsh and angsty and bittersweet. I loved it. My only complaint was that I read it in e-book format. It was my first e-book. Hate! Apparently that format and I won't be getting on even though I don't mind spending hours reading fan fic.
Whatever.35. Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdez-Rodriguez
The story of six women who have known one another and stuck together since college. It's a well written interesting novel that has a little bit more depth than the average piece of chick lit. I particularly liked how the viewpoint shifted and showed different aspects of the characters.
36. To Play the Fool by Laurie R King
Another Kate Martinelli novel. A little bit less character focused and based more on the man at the center of the mystery. It was an interesting idea, but it was a little bit more technical speak than I like in my fiction. It was more like reading a religious textbook at times than a novel. Not my favorite of the series.
37. With Child by Laurie R King
Kate Martinelli has been abandoned by her partner of many years, Lee and must find a way to cope in her abscence. In the mean time she gets caught up in a missing persons case and the kidnapping of a child of a close friend. Eventually there's a satisfactory resolution. Much more character driven and probably my favorite of the series so far.
38. Orphea Proud by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
Orphea a young budding poet and performer experiences several tradgedies in her young life and comes to deal with them as best as she can. It was interesting because of the style of the story. It was told as if the narrator were on a stage and the reader were the audience. I really enjoyed this one. Despite the sad subject matter and was very sweet and almost innocent.
39. Heritage and Exile by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Two books in one, this combines Heritage of the Hasturs and Sharra's Exile. This is the story of Regis Hastur and Lew Alton, two men who wanted nothing to do with the life set out for them and their struggle to make it into something that they could live with. I enjoyed it. Not my favorite, but it did have some very sensitive subject matter in it. It's odd because I think of now (the past ten to twenty years) as a freer time for writer's to write what they want, but it seems sad to me that Bradley's earlier novels seem to take more chances and be far more daring and less commercial than the latter ones.
40. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Oprah practically made this a modern classic and I can definitely see why. It's not a book for the faint hearted, lots of 'adult' subject matter, but I did enjoy reading it, I suppose you could say, and I'm glad that I did because it was a very good book filled with excellent characters.
41. Exile's Song by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The first part of the story of Marguerida Alton and the continuing adventures of Lew Alton. It was an okay addition. Although coming straight out of reading Heritage and Exile it honestly felt a little bland. To me some of MZB's later novels seem to lack the depth of the first ones. I miss that.
42. Night Pleasures by Sherilyn Kenyon
It was okay, but color me not impressed. I was kinda bored to be honest. The baddies weren't very impressive or scary and the magic/supernatural system behind it was kinda shoddy imo, compared to the novels that I've been reading. And after getting used to some kick-ass multi-dimensional characters like Anita Blake, Rachel Morgan and Sookie Stackhouse just to name a few, Amanda kinda fell flat. Her family was kinda interesting, but the author never really got into that so it just kinda felt flat to me. I don't think I'll continue reading the series.
43. Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch
The story of a debutante from South Carolina, and her relationship with her former fellow debs and the men in her life, as well as eventually her daughter. It's an interesting story with a fun style. It doesn't try to prove that true love will solve all your issues, it doesn't try to force you to go home and settle down with a good southern man, it just reminds you to value the love and relationships that you have while you have them and to never close your heart to possibilities even if you've been heartbroken.
44. Map of Ireland by Stephanie Grant
The story of a young girl in South Boston during the time of desegregation. She falls for an African American teacher and witnesses an act of racial violence against said teacher, but finds herself torn about coming forwards. She's torn not because what she thinks what happened was right, but because she believes it was wrong, but also can't reconcile ratting anyone out to the cops. Despite the fact that the narrator ends up in Juvy for arson by the end of the book it had a very hopeful, optimistic ending.
45. Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson
A very interesting and relevant story about what happens when you screw up the climate of the world beyond all belief and over-populate it. It had beautifully descriptive, lyrical prose that was almost like poetry in places. It was very stylized. But it definitely made me think. On the whole I liked it, but one gaping plot hole (that sorta was, but sorta wasn't a plot hole) irritated me, and it was a little confusing in spots.
46. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
The story of three women sort of linked by Virginia Wolf. Not sure really what to say about this one. It would be kinda interesting I guess to see what the movie was like. It was a'ight.
47. The Rope Walk by Carrie Brown
Over the course of a summer two kids meet and spend time with a man dieing of AIDS. Their gesture of kindness to him is turned tragic when he uses it without their knowledge to commit suicide. It was actually not as dark as it sounds, but a story about growing up and the things that you lose along the way.
48. Dance With the Devil by Sherily Kenyon
Okay, so this one was actually better, Sel. You were right. I did end up liking this one more. It had more plots and twists and turns, and I loved the little demon/dragon. She was awesome!
49. Spell Sword by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This one was so tiny it hardly counts as a full novel. It tells the story of the Terran Andrew Carr as he's drawn into Darkovan society after crashing his plane. The first story of the Forbidden Tower. Not my favorite Darkover story, but an interesting read. I always feel like I'm reading fan fic when I read one of MZB's novels; I haven't quite figured out if that's a good thing or not.
50. Small Favor by Jim Butcher
The latest Harry Dresden novel. I won't say much here for reasons of spoilers, but I thought it was pretty awesome at least!
51. Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines by Karen Traviss
Well, I finally read Bloodlines and I have to say, I wasn't really all that impressed with it. I was hoping that Jaina would have more page space what with getting courtmartialed and all, but not so much. I don't think they ever even came out and specified which squadron she was leading. I didn't even like the Mandalorian stuff as much. Revelation was a far superior novel, imo.
52. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
The most recent Sookie Stackhouse novel. Sookie has a heck of a lot to deal with in this novel, but it doesn't feel too rushed and comes in a nice bit longer than her usual books. I love Harris' novels because they're set in the South and they feel like it. She uses all of the right words and turns of phrase that I don't even think about but make the novel feel all that more right.
53. Belong to Me by Marissa de Los Santos
This is the sequel to her previous novel Love Walked In. It's rare that regular novels like that one have sequels, because you have to have a plot, but this one is great. It introduces new characters and really delivers. It has a warm hopeful ending, but packs an emotional punch.
54. Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn
Not the first time I've read this book, but it's been probably about four years since I read it last. Re-reading it now, I think it's probably my favorite Star Wars book, which you would think is weird given that Jaina's just a fetus, but really. It was the first SW book that I'd ever read and I think it's just about perfect. It's so different in feel than the most recent books. The adventures actually feel harrowing and I care about what happens to the characters. Chewie is awesome with Leia and Mara is being her awesome post-Emperor's Hand self. Plus? Zahn wrote it. It's perfect.
The story of a young girl in South Boston during the time of desegregation. She falls for an African American teacher and witnesses an act of racial violence against said teacher, but finds herself torn about coming forwards. She's torn not because what she thinks what happened was right, but because she believes it was wrong, but also can't reconcile ratting anyone out to the cops. Despite the fact that the narrator ends up in Juvy for arson by the end of the book it had a very hopeful, optimistic ending.
45. Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson
A very interesting and relevant story about what happens when you screw up the climate of the world beyond all belief and over-populate it. It had beautifully descriptive, lyrical prose that was almost like poetry in places. It was very stylized. But it definitely made me think. On the whole I liked it, but one gaping plot hole (that sorta was, but sorta wasn't a plot hole) irritated me, and it was a little confusing in spots.
46. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
The story of three women sort of linked by Virginia Wolf. Not sure really what to say about this one. It would be kinda interesting I guess to see what the movie was like. It was a'ight.
47. The Rope Walk by Carrie Brown
Over the course of a summer two kids meet and spend time with a man dieing of AIDS. Their gesture of kindness to him is turned tragic when he uses it without their knowledge to commit suicide. It was actually not as dark as it sounds, but a story about growing up and the things that you lose along the way.
48. Dance With the Devil by Sherily Kenyon
Okay, so this one was actually better, Sel. You were right. I did end up liking this one more. It had more plots and twists and turns, and I loved the little demon/dragon. She was awesome!
49. Spell Sword by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This one was so tiny it hardly counts as a full novel. It tells the story of the Terran Andrew Carr as he's drawn into Darkovan society after crashing his plane. The first story of the Forbidden Tower. Not my favorite Darkover story, but an interesting read. I always feel like I'm reading fan fic when I read one of MZB's novels; I haven't quite figured out if that's a good thing or not.
50. Small Favor by Jim Butcher
The latest Harry Dresden novel. I won't say much here for reasons of spoilers, but I thought it was pretty awesome at least!
51. Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines by Karen Traviss
Well, I finally read Bloodlines and I have to say, I wasn't really all that impressed with it. I was hoping that Jaina would have more page space what with getting courtmartialed and all, but not so much. I don't think they ever even came out and specified which squadron she was leading. I didn't even like the Mandalorian stuff as much. Revelation was a far superior novel, imo.
52. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
The most recent Sookie Stackhouse novel. Sookie has a heck of a lot to deal with in this novel, but it doesn't feel too rushed and comes in a nice bit longer than her usual books. I love Harris' novels because they're set in the South and they feel like it. She uses all of the right words and turns of phrase that I don't even think about but make the novel feel all that more right.
53. Belong to Me by Marissa de Los Santos
This is the sequel to her previous novel Love Walked In. It's rare that regular novels like that one have sequels, because you have to have a plot, but this one is great. It introduces new characters and really delivers. It has a warm hopeful ending, but packs an emotional punch.
54. Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn
Not the first time I've read this book, but it's been probably about four years since I read it last. Re-reading it now, I think it's probably my favorite Star Wars book, which you would think is weird given that Jaina's just a fetus, but really. It was the first SW book that I'd ever read and I think it's just about perfect. It's so different in feel than the most recent books. The adventures actually feel harrowing and I care about what happens to the characters. Chewie is awesome with Leia and Mara is being her awesome post-Emperor's Hand self. Plus? Zahn wrote it. It's perfect.
55. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
So I saw the movie for the first time last weekend and had no clue what the heck was going on. This prompted me to read the book. I think I liked the book better than the movie because it was a little more complex and filled in some of the gaping plot holes. It was all right I thought.
56. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Okay, so this is the chick that stirred up all of that plagiarism drama in the HP fandom with her fic. I didn't realize that when I got the book. I read it and enjoyed it. It managed to hit pretty much every fandom high point of mine. I will say it was, er, derivative. Lots of magic, and there was a moment in there that was way too much "Luke, I am your father. Together we could rule the galaxy." for me, but hey. Can't be too picky. And I'm always a sucker for Urban fantasy.
57. A Twist of Fate by Jayne Anne Krentz
Naive but savy woman injured in a recent car crash meets the business man that's trying to destroy her brother's dreams and tries to swindle him to save her brother's business. She gets more than she bargained for. Okay, so it was a romance novel and it was actually older than me, but it held up very well. It was a credit to the book that I didn't even realize how old it was until I started noticing little details like no one even having a cell phone.
58. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
For one thing, I never realized Harper Lee was a girl. That was a revelation. My mom was trying to get me to read this book for years, but I'm really glad I waited. I think a lot of it would have gone over my head when I was younger, and living where I do now it really made the story resonate. I know exactly that blend of wonderful welcoming kindness and the absolute prejudiced hatred that can lay underneath it.
59. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
The first in the trilogy about a group of teenage girls in the eighteen hundreds away at boarding school, who discover magic that brings them together and in some ways tears them apart. It was okay...I don't know. There was something about it that I just couldn't really get into.
60. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty. I'm sticking it out for the trilogy. I figured out the 'villain' a bit earlier than the characters, which is rare for me, but it was decent. I do like how the author manages to deal with so many modern issues without taking away from the time period.
61. Legacy of the Force: Invincible by Troy Denning
Okay, dang it, I think I liked it. I wasn't really expecting it to jump into action as quickly as it did, but I appreciated it not dwadling. It made me almost cry several times. Although there were a few things at the end that annoyed, but I won't go into on account of spoilers.
62. Second Chance by Jane Green
A group of friends reunite after twenty years apart, drawn together by the death of the friend who held them together. They are forced to examine their lives and reconnect. They don't necessarily all get what they think will bring them happiness, but in the end they at least accept and appreciate what they do have.
63. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
I'm not a huge fan of Meyer's Twilight series, but I absolutely loved this. At first it was sorta like she'd been hitting her copies of the Animorph's a little too hard, but it ended up being one of the best books I've ever read. It was full of emotion and hard, impossible decisions, and it was all the better for it. I actually almost cried towards the end.
64. Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton
After the sex that started pretty much at the beginning I just kinda rolled my eyes and prepared for another non-stop all sex, no plot novel, but it actually surprised me. For a LKH book it actually had remarkably little sex, and it did a lot of character development for Jason and I think Jean Claude and maybe even Anita. Although I did notice LKH's tendency to transfer character traits from Anita to Merry and vice-versa kind of a lot in this one.
65. Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited by Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein
Identical twins seperated at birth. Truth, not fiction. The story of how these two women found one another as adults and began to reconnect. I liked it because they were honest about the negative emotions that they felt and not just the positive ones after they met. The worry and the doubt they felt.
66. Gonna Take a Homicidal Journey by Sandra Scoppettone
Lauren and her lover Kip take a vacation to get away from work and the issue of Lauren's affair only to find themselves forced to confront those very issues on vacaition while solving a murder or three.
67. White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz
An Arcane Society novel. Woman meets guy. They bond over solving a murder and fall madly in love.
68. Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey
It was a little bit too neat and wrapped up in a bow of happily ever after for me. I think I liked the first trilogy a little better because the happy was sweetened by the underlying hint of sadness, but it was good writing and an exciting plot. I enjoyed reading it and I always love the rich, sensual world that Carey creates even if she's just describing like the drapes or something.
69. Second Sight by Amanda Quick
Another Arcane Society novel. So Amanda Quick and Jayne Krentz are actually the same person one name is just for 'historical' novels while the other is more modern as far as I've been able to tell. Anyway, this novel was about a young woman who pretended to be a widow so that she could be a respectable business woman so that she could support her younger siblings and spinster aunt. She adopted the name of a man she'd had a fling with to do it after she'd heard that the guy died. When he appears alive and well, she's forced to pretend that she's married to him. Fortunately they fall in love and end up together so it all works out.
70. Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz
An Arcane Society Novel. Her father was killed by the Society. Now her aunt has died mysteriously and she's been forced to work with an agent from the very society that has harmed her family so much. What will she do? Why fall in love with him of course!
Better than I'm snarkily making it sound.
71. Crazy School by Cornelia Read
I recommend this book one hundred percent. I loved the voice of the character. She was my kind of funny and snarky, but not to the point where it was depressing and overly cynical. She works in a school for troubled children, but ends up caught in a web of lies and deceit. In the end the teachers are more insane than the children and the ending had a twist that I didn't see coming. It was awesome.
So I saw the movie for the first time last weekend and had no clue what the heck was going on. This prompted me to read the book. I think I liked the book better than the movie because it was a little more complex and filled in some of the gaping plot holes. It was all right I thought.
56. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Okay, so this is the chick that stirred up all of that plagiarism drama in the HP fandom with her fic. I didn't realize that when I got the book. I read it and enjoyed it. It managed to hit pretty much every fandom high point of mine. I will say it was, er, derivative. Lots of magic, and there was a moment in there that was way too much "Luke, I am your father. Together we could rule the galaxy." for me, but hey. Can't be too picky. And I'm always a sucker for Urban fantasy.
57. A Twist of Fate by Jayne Anne Krentz
Naive but savy woman injured in a recent car crash meets the business man that's trying to destroy her brother's dreams and tries to swindle him to save her brother's business. She gets more than she bargained for. Okay, so it was a romance novel and it was actually older than me, but it held up very well. It was a credit to the book that I didn't even realize how old it was until I started noticing little details like no one even having a cell phone.
58. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
For one thing, I never realized Harper Lee was a girl. That was a revelation. My mom was trying to get me to read this book for years, but I'm really glad I waited. I think a lot of it would have gone over my head when I was younger, and living where I do now it really made the story resonate. I know exactly that blend of wonderful welcoming kindness and the absolute prejudiced hatred that can lay underneath it.
59. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
The first in the trilogy about a group of teenage girls in the eighteen hundreds away at boarding school, who discover magic that brings them together and in some ways tears them apart. It was okay...I don't know. There was something about it that I just couldn't really get into.
60. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
Sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty. I'm sticking it out for the trilogy. I figured out the 'villain' a bit earlier than the characters, which is rare for me, but it was decent. I do like how the author manages to deal with so many modern issues without taking away from the time period.
61. Legacy of the Force: Invincible by Troy Denning
Okay, dang it, I think I liked it. I wasn't really expecting it to jump into action as quickly as it did, but I appreciated it not dwadling. It made me almost cry several times. Although there were a few things at the end that annoyed, but I won't go into on account of spoilers.
62. Second Chance by Jane Green
A group of friends reunite after twenty years apart, drawn together by the death of the friend who held them together. They are forced to examine their lives and reconnect. They don't necessarily all get what they think will bring them happiness, but in the end they at least accept and appreciate what they do have.
63. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
I'm not a huge fan of Meyer's Twilight series, but I absolutely loved this. At first it was sorta like she'd been hitting her copies of the Animorph's a little too hard, but it ended up being one of the best books I've ever read. It was full of emotion and hard, impossible decisions, and it was all the better for it. I actually almost cried towards the end.
64. Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton
After the sex that started pretty much at the beginning I just kinda rolled my eyes and prepared for another non-stop all sex, no plot novel, but it actually surprised me. For a LKH book it actually had remarkably little sex, and it did a lot of character development for Jason and I think Jean Claude and maybe even Anita. Although I did notice LKH's tendency to transfer character traits from Anita to Merry and vice-versa kind of a lot in this one.
65. Identical Strangers: A Memoir of Twins Separated and Reunited by Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein
Identical twins seperated at birth. Truth, not fiction. The story of how these two women found one another as adults and began to reconnect. I liked it because they were honest about the negative emotions that they felt and not just the positive ones after they met. The worry and the doubt they felt.
66. Gonna Take a Homicidal Journey by Sandra Scoppettone
Lauren and her lover Kip take a vacation to get away from work and the issue of Lauren's affair only to find themselves forced to confront those very issues on vacaition while solving a murder or three.
67. White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz
An Arcane Society novel. Woman meets guy. They bond over solving a murder and fall madly in love.
68. Kushiel's Mercy by Jacqueline Carey
It was a little bit too neat and wrapped up in a bow of happily ever after for me. I think I liked the first trilogy a little better because the happy was sweetened by the underlying hint of sadness, but it was good writing and an exciting plot. I enjoyed reading it and I always love the rich, sensual world that Carey creates even if she's just describing like the drapes or something.
69. Second Sight by Amanda Quick
Another Arcane Society novel. So Amanda Quick and Jayne Krentz are actually the same person one name is just for 'historical' novels while the other is more modern as far as I've been able to tell. Anyway, this novel was about a young woman who pretended to be a widow so that she could be a respectable business woman so that she could support her younger siblings and spinster aunt. She adopted the name of a man she'd had a fling with to do it after she'd heard that the guy died. When he appears alive and well, she's forced to pretend that she's married to him. Fortunately they fall in love and end up together so it all works out.
70. Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz
An Arcane Society Novel. Her father was killed by the Society. Now her aunt has died mysteriously and she's been forced to work with an agent from the very society that has harmed her family so much. What will she do? Why fall in love with him of course!
Better than I'm snarkily making it sound. 71. Crazy School by Cornelia Read
I recommend this book one hundred percent. I loved the voice of the character. She was my kind of funny and snarky, but not to the point where it was depressing and overly cynical. She works in a school for troubled children, but ends up caught in a web of lies and deceit. In the end the teachers are more insane than the children and the ending had a twist that I didn't see coming. It was awesome.