nursenblack

Your favourite read of the year? Room by Emma Donoghue (difficult to choose among many favs) Your favourite author of the year? Laura Whitcomb author of A Certain Slant of Light Your most read author of the year? Ann Brashares author of the Traveling Pants series & Agatha Christie Your favourite book cover of the year? Illyria by Elizabeth Hand The book you abandoned (if there was more than one, the one you read least of)? The Secret Country by Pamela Dean The book that most disappointed you? A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan The funniest book of the year? Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris Your favourite literary character this year? Lillian Arrington from The Girl in the Lighthouse by Roxane Tepher Sanford Your favourite children's book this year? Darkwood by M. E. Breen Your favourite classic of the year? Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (my favorite novel) Your favourite non-fiction book this year? din't read any Your favourite biography this year? didn't read Your favourite collection of short stories this year? Everythings Eventual by Stephen King Your favourite poetry collection this year?didn't read any Your favourite illustrated book of the year? My new copy of Wuthering Heights is illustrated Your favourite publisher of the year? I have no idea Your favourite audiobook of the year? didn't listen to any

Finished Dec. 8th #44 Darkwood by M. E. Breen synopsis from amazon.com Darkness falls so quickly in Howland that the people there have no word for evening. But for thirteen-yearold Annie, the dark is almost soothing compared to the misery of her cruel aunt and uncle's house. When Annie finally escapes, she finds herself on a journey that will take her deep into the forest—where fearsome creatures lurk—and to the glittering halls of a palace. Hints of the Brothers Grimm add magic to this spellbinding and beautifully told story. Darkwood, a coming-of-age adventure, kept me entertained from beginning to end. Thirteen year old Annie is everything a protaganist should be, flawed, but brave and loyal to those she loves. There could easily be a sequel to Darkwood, but I'd be happy with anything else from this author. (4/5)

Finished Dec. 2nd #43 Crossed by Ally Condie In Crossed, the second book of the Matched trilogy, Cassia makes it to the Outer Proviences to find Ky, the Abberration she fell in love with in the Society. When Cassia arrives, she finds that Ky has already escaped to The Carving, an area of dangerous rock cliffs and caves, that she must navigate to search for clues of Ky's journey. Once they are reuinted their romance is strained by secrets and jealously...and The Rising. Despite being a fast read, Crossed was all about character building on a long, tedious journey. The chapters alternate between Ky's and Cassia's POV, which was an interesting change, but I prefer first person by one character only. For me, something was lacking in this sequel that the first book had, some wow factor that says "Yes. I'm the middle of this story, but I can stand alone." Crossed just didn't have that. However, I'm still looking forward to the last book of the trilogy. (3/5)

Finished Novemeber 24th #42 A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie synopsis from goodreads.com A handful of grain is found in the pocket of a murdered businessman! Rex Fortescue, king of a financial empire, was sipping tea in his 'counting house' when he suffered an agonising and sudden death. On later inspection, the pockets of the deceased were found to contain traces of cereals. Yet, it was the incident in the parlour which confirmed Jane Marple's suspicion that here she was looking at a case of crime by rhyme! Murders are tied to a nursery rhyme in A Pocket Full Rye, a Miss Marple Mystery. I found the story interesting, but the ending, surprising as it was, lacked meaning. Definitely not a favorite from the Queen of Crime. (3/5) Now reading Crossed by Ally Condie

#41 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (via library) synopsis from amazon.com "A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together. Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell. Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism." I had A Discovery of Witches on my wishlist for a while and am so glad that I finally read it. I didn't know what to expect from this chunky novel about witches and vampires, but what I found was an intelligent, forbidden love story, filled with history, suspense, and (of course) plenty of romance. The ending screams sequel, which I read is in the works. A must read for fantasy/supernatural lovers.(4/5)

Finished Novemember 6th #40 (goal met!) Sleeping Murder: A Miss Marple Mystery by Agatha Christie synopsis from amaazon.com Soon after Gwenda moved into her new home, odd things started to happen. Despite her best efforts to modernize the house, she only succeeded in dredging up its past. Worse, she felt an irrational sense of terror every time she climbed the stairs. In fear, Gwenda turned to Miss Marple to exorcise her ghosts. Between them, they were to solve a “perfect” crime committed many years before. Sleeping Murder, the last of the Miss Marple series -the first for me- was a bit slow, but interesting. I already had a hunch as to who the killer was pretty early on, unlike the other couple of Agatha Christie novels I've read. (3/5)

They’re a couple. Same day next year… Wait! No, they’re just friends. Wait! No, they are a couple. Wait! What the…? One Day by David Nicholls

I read Before I Go To Sleep this summer and couldn't hardly put it down. This is definitely a mystery/thriller for those readers that don't normally read the genre, like me. I love reading about characters that are flawed by no fault of their own. As far as pace and "the unknown" goes, it is reminiscent of Room for me.

I just love the Little House books. It's been many years since I read them though. These Happy Golden Years was my favorite because of the bit of romance. Happy reading!

I was just on LibraryThing and I stumbled upon Heathcliff: Vampire of Wuthering Heights by Amanda Paris. I'm not so prudish to yell blasphemy because it could be fun if it's done pretty well. I could definitely image Heathcliff as a vamprire. Has anyone read or heard anything about it?

Finished November 1st #39 Jane-Emily and Witches' Children by Patricia Clapp (via Kindle per library) This is two bite-size novels in one book. The first, Jane-Emily is about a little girl who is haunted by the ghost of her dead aunt, also a child, the summer she goes to visit her grandmother. (4/5) The second, Witches' Children, is a novelization of the Salem Witch Trials, told from the pov of John Procter's bound girl. (3/5) Now reading: Agatha Christie's Sleeping Murder

Finished on Oct 25th #38 Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie (via Kindle) When a thirteen year old girl is murdered at a Halloween party, mystery writer, Ariadne Oliver calls on her old friend Hercule Poirot to help solve the crime. Not much to do with Halloween but a fast and interesting mystery that kept me guessing till the end. (4/5) Now reading: Jane-Emily and Witches' Children by Patricia Clapp

This has been a shameful reading month. It was supposed to be my month of thrills and chills and I am disappointed. My first attempt, Ghost Story by Peter Straub, was so boring that I abandoned it half-way through. I did, however, read some of Everything's Eventual by Stephen King. I skipped around quiet a bit, so here are the stories I read: 1408 ~ A skeptic writer experiences the terrors of room 1408 at the Hotel Dolphin. (4/5) All That You Love Will Be Carried Away ~ A traveling salesman decides to kill himself in a hotel, but not before figuring out how to destroy his notebook of bathroom stall quotes. (4/5) L.T.'s Theory of Pets ~ A man tells the story of how his wife left him and took the dog she bought for him. Oh, and she was probably murdered by the Axe Man. (3/5) Autopsy Room Four ~ A man wakes up on a gurney, but no matter how hard he tries he can't get the doctor to see that he's alive... (4/5) That Feeling, You Can Only Say What It Is in French ~ A woman has deja vu about her and her husbands death, over and over again. (4/5) Now I'm reading Hallowe'en Party by Agagtha Christie (not creepy, but at least takes place at Halloween).

I'm so distraught after learning that Goodreads will no longer have Bookswap after Oct. 31st. I can't find that great of books for so cheap anywhere!

I'm half-way through Ghost Story by Peter Straub and I cannot finish it. It is so slow and most of it seems unnecessary. If every chapter would have read like the prologue and some of the other chapters I could have devoured it, but, as it is, I just can't. Don't get me wrong, the creepy parts are great, but they are too few and far between. I may abandon it.

Since you enjoy magic and romance you may want to try Illyria, a hauntingly beautiful novella by Elizabeth Hand.

When I was a kid I loved R.L Stine's Goosebumps series, Ann M. Martin's Baby-sitters Club books, and, of course, Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley series. Also, when I was pretty young my mom read The Little House books to me and I read them myself when I got older. I read the Anne of Green Gables books as a teen. Harry Potter became a favorite as an adult. Some of my favorite picture books: Tawny Scrawny Lion by Gustaf Tenggren Hiram's Red Shirt by Mabel Watts What Was That by Geda Bradley Mathews and Normand Chartier Berenstein Bears books by Stan and Jan Berenstein (my two-year old loves these too)

Finished Oct 4th #37 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights, a dark, powerful, gothic novel, set on the moors of Yorkshire, tells the story of Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, an orphan adopted by Catherine's father. Heathcliff is a dark and quiet boy, but full of passionate love and hate. As Cathy and Heatcliff grow, so does their love, but the choices made by both threathens to separate them forever. Heathcliff's enemies, including Catherine's older, abusive brother Hindley, are hated so deeply that even their children come to feel his wrath. His love for Cathy, however, goes beyond the grave.... It's been many years since I've read Wuthering Heights and it still holds it's power over me. Beautiful and brooding, Wuthering Heights, remains my favorite novel. (5/5) Now reading: Ghost Story by Peter Straub

Thanks Kell! I'll definitely check into your suggestions. I'm hoping I can find some of them at the library.

In celebration of Halloween, I plan to read nothing but scary, creepy, spooky novels in October. The only problem is: which books? I only have Ghost Story by Peter Straub lined up. I don't read alot of horror except the occassional Stephen King. Last year for Halloween I read Interview with a Vampire and The Halloween Tree (neither were scary, just a little creepy). I thought about Agatha Christie's Halloween Party, but not sure if it would be scary enough. Maybe The Stand by King? I would love a good novel that takes place during Halloween, but can't seem to think of any. Something offbeat and not too mainstream would be great. Anyone who reads my list knows what I like, but I'm not afraid to try something different. So, can anyone recommend some books that will give me chills and make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up?

I can't believe how long it's taken me to jump on The Vampire Diaries bandwagon! I have saved the new shows from season 3 on my dvr and am catching up from the very start through Netflix. So far, I'm about halfway through the first season. It is great! I can't wait to get the next disc in the mail.

Finished Sept 23rd #36 And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (via Kindle) Ten little soliders.... Ten people, who seem like a mixed lot, are invited to Indian Island, which has a mulit-million dollar home on it, by a Mr. or Ms. Owen. Though none of them have ever met or heard of of their host, they all agree to go to the much talked about island. Their host is nowhere to be found when they arrive. But when a disembodied voice accuses them all of murder, their adventure turns into a nightmare. This is my first Christie novel and it really had me guessing all the way to the end. I will definitely read more of her work. (5/5) Now rereading my favorite novel Wuthering Heights

#35 All That Is Beautiful by Roxane Tepher Sanford All That is Beautiful picks up right where the first book, The Girl in the Lighthouse, left off. After being tortured and abused, Lillian Arrington, beautiful and naive, clings to the only hope she can of getting back to her beloved Jasper Island, where she met and grew up with two brothers Ayden and Heath, who she still cares for. With the help of Richard Parker, an artist who promises Lillian she can earn enough money if she allows him to draw her, she would be able to get back home. But instead, Richard only leads her down a dangerous path that takes her further from home, and deeper into his clutches. Great second novel by Sanford that is full of heartbreaking twists and turns. No matter what her mistakes, I root for Lillian all the way. (4/5)

Heist Society is definitely going on my wishlist. I haven't read any Agatha Christie yet, but would really like to soon. Was And Then There Were None at all creepy? If so, I might save it for October, for my month of all thrills and chills.

#34 Matched by Ally Condie There is nothing as absorbing as a romantic, dystopian world novel, and Matched is no exception. Matched, the first of a trilogy, tells the story of Cassia, a regular Society teenager about to be "matched" for life and have her future planned, entirely. Luckily, Cassia's match turns out to be her best friend, Xander, but when she watches the Match microchip Xander's image is not the only one that appears. This becomes the catalyst that sends Cassia down a dangerous path toward true love... and rebellion. I can't wait to find out what happens in Crossed. (4/5)