Read 100+ Books in 2016 discussion

Wow! I've been reading a lot in January. I love being retired and not having to go out into the cold and snow early in the morning. I've also had the time to read every morning for 2-3 hours or more. Not getting much cleaning done but I'm enjoying it. So now for February's challenge.

1. Read a book whose author's last name begins with L.
2. With Mardi Gras happening soon, read a book set in New Orleans.
3. Chinese New Year is happening this month, read a book set in China or about people from China.
4. Read a book that was recommended to you by family or friend.
5. Read a book whose movie will be released this year.
6. Read a graphic novel, comic, manga, or anime.
7. Read a book written by someone born the same year as you.
8. Read a book about government or politics.
9. Your choice.

-Julie Lessman 2-1-16
This was for a Christian romance novel a little steamy, but since characters who weren't married only exchanged intense kisses, I didn't have an issue with this. That being said though, I didn't like how Faith behaved in the novel even though she is touted as being a truly moral, steadfast woman of faith; her actions on several occasions just didn't show me that. (view spoiler)[I definitely didn't like how Faith let herself be in compromising situations with her sister's beau/fiance several times where they ended up in each other's embrace and how, later on, when she herself is engaged to someone else, she ends up kissing the other man again! (hide spoiler)] The only redeemable factor in those scenarios is that it does deal seriously with how strong sexual desire can be and how hard staying "pure" can really be. I also don't understand why Faith loves Collin so much, especially before he turns to God. I also had an issue with how throughout the whole book, the men are stereotyped as being total slaves to their lusts and incapable of keeping their hands off of a flirtatious woman. Anyhow, the plot was interesting, and the book sends the readers on a roller coaster of emotions, so in that way, I would say that it was well written. However, my favorite characters were actually the parents of the family because in them the author did a fabulous job of showing both a solid Christian marriage and good Christian parents. But my biggest pet peeve in this novel is the fact that the parents don't seem to realize that the beautiful Charity is out-of-control and far too interested in men and far too good at manipulating men with her sensuality. Also, Charity is horrible to her older sister, and no one seems to have truly noticed. Regardless, I give the novel 3 stars, and I might read more of the series later on.

Rachel wrote: "-Julie Lessman 2-1-16
This was for a Christian romance novel a little steamy, but since characters who weren't married only exchanged intense kisses, I didn't..."

This is a excellent review of this book. I don't know if I would want to read it but you've laid out what you liked and what you felt was lacking. I hope you put it on your Goodreads page. These are the kind of reviews authors like. It's positive and constructive.

Well, on to my list of books for February:

4/9, 22 books

1. Read a book whose author's last name begins with L--The Final Quarter by Anne Lange--finished 2/2/16.
2. With Mardi Gras happening soon, read a book set in New Orleans.
3. Chinese New Year is happening this month, read a book set in China or about people from China.
4. Read a book that was recommended to you by family or friend.
5. Read a book whose movie will be released this year--Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith--finished 2/3/16.
6. Read a graphic novel, comic, manga, or anime--Nimona by Noelle Stevenson--finished 2/16/16.
7. Read a book written by someone born the same year as you.
8. Read a book about government or politics.
9. Your choice--Texas Mail Order Bride by Linda Broday--finished 2/5/16.

Bonus reads:
Bless Her Dead Little Heart by Miranda James--finished 2/7/16
The Wonder Cats Mysteries Books 1-3 by Harper Lin--finished 2/8/16
The Beautiful Struggle by Ta'Nehisi Coates--finished 2/9/16
To Brew or Not to Brew by Joyce Tremal--finished 2/10/16
Talisman/Sage by Colleen Charles--finished 2/11/16
The Little Paris Bookshop--Nina George--finished 2/12/16
The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco by Laura DiSilverio--finished 2/14/16
Curing Doctor Vincent by Renea Mason--finished 2/15/16
The Lion by Cerise DeLand--finished 2/16/16
Baked 3: Chocolate Decadence by Colleen Charles--finished 2/17/16
Divided in Death by J. D. Robb--finished 2/18/16
Hook, Line, and Sinker--Becca Fanning--finished 2/19/16
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs--finished 2/21/16
Otto the Owl Who Loved Poetry by Vern Kousky--finished 2/21/16
What a Wonderful World by Tim Hopgood--finished 2/21/16
Benched 1 by Colleen Charles--finished 2/22/16
Finding the Dragon Lady by Monique Brinson Demery--finished 2/28/16
Her Cowboy Dom by Bliss Brant--finished 2/29/15

Wow, January is long gone and here we are in February. Amazing! On to February's challenge.

1. Read a book whose author's last name begins with L.
2. With Mardi Gras happening soon, read a book set in New Orleans.
3. Chinese New Year is happening this month, read a book set in China or about people from China.
4. Read a book that was recommended to you by family or friend.
"The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom
5. Read a book whose movie will be released this year.
6. Read a graphic novel, comic, manga, or anime.
7. Read a book written by someone born the same year as you.
8. Read a book about government or politics.
9. Your choice.
"Trigger Warning" by Neil Gaiman

Just finished reading "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom.

I am huge fan of Mitch Albom and have read all of stories - All are excellent reads. But "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" is by far my favorite, even a few notches above "The Five People you meet in Heaven."

"Mitch Albom creates his most unforgettable fictional character Frankie Presto, the greatest guitarist to ever walk the earth in this magical novel about the bands we join in life and the power of talent to change our lives. A epic story of the greatest guitar player to ever live, and the six lives he changed with his magical blue strings.In the story the voice of Music narrates the tale of its most beloved disciple, young Frankie Presto, a war orphan raised by a blind music teacher in a small Spanish town. At nine years old, Frankie is sent to America in the bottom of a boat .His only possession is an old guitar and six precious strings. But Frankie s talent is touched by the gods, and his amazing journey weaves him through the musical landscape of the 20th century, from classical to jazz to rock and roll, with his stunning talent affecting numerous stars along the way, including Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carole King, Wynton Marsalis and even KISS. Frankie becomes a pop star himself. He makes records. He is adored. But his gift is also his burden, as he realizes, through his music, he can actually affect people s futures with one string turning blue whenever a life is altered. At the height of his popularity, Frankie Presto vanishes. His legend grows. Only decades later, does he reappear just before his spectacular death to change one last life. With its Forest Gump-like romp through the music world, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is a classic in the making. A lifelong musician himself, Mitch Albom delivers a remarkable novel, infused with the message that everyone joins a band in this life and those connections change us all."

And now I'm read collect of short stories by Neil Gaiman, "Trigger Warning."

'We are all wearing masks. That is what makes us interesting. These are stories about those masks, and the people we are underneath them.' Neil Gaiman, writing from a cabin in the dark woods.

Make sure you secure your own mask before reading. Before being transported to worlds filled with witches, watchers and big black bees, with deathless Kin and pirate girls, with things that prowl in the darkness beyond the circle fire, to find the Shadder lurking at your journey's end. But then what happens? There's always something waiting for you. There's always more. Just keep turning the pages.

'We each have our little triggers.'

Interesting stories so far . . .

Just finished Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It's very tongue-in-cheek. This is one to just enjoy. It has the lines and characters you know and love from Pride and Prejudice but some twists and turns. It made me chuckle. I'm looking forward to the movie.

Wow, January is long gone and here we are in February. Amazing! On to February's challenge.

1. Read a book whose author's last name begins with L.
2. With Mardi Gras happening soon, read a book set in New Orleans.
3. Chinese New Year is happening this month, read a book set in China or about people from China.
4. Read a book that was recommended to you by family or friend.
"The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom
5. Read a book whose movie will be released this year.
6. Read a graphic novel, comic, manga, or anime.
7. Read a book written by someone born the same year as you.
8. Read a book about government or politics.
"Iron River" by T. Jefferson Parker
9. Your choice.
"Trigger Warning" by Neil Gaiman

Just started reading "Iron River" by T. Jefferson Park, Book 3 of the Charlie Hood Series.

"This time around, Hood is running the California-Mexico border with the ATF, searching for the iron river - the massive and illegal flow of handguns and automatic weapons that fuels the bloody cartel wars south of the border. Gunrunners by nature aren't exactly ethical, but the lengths they'll go to, and the innocent lives they'll risk, are shocking even to Hood. Most shocking of all is the close personal connection Hood finds wrapped up in events south of the border - a connection that shakes him to his core."

So I finished reading "Kenobi", another fun Star Wars book. That book filled in some of what Obi-Wan was doing after taking Luke to the Lars family as an infant. It was a fun and read and had likable characters that I enjoyed. Good, fast, fun story. I also finished "Diary of a Parent Trainer", that my daughter left around in the bathroom. It was a cute story of a teenage girl's guide to operating grown ups. The plot was inventive and had a neat family at the center. It dealt well with the many things that happen to people in real life and had a great teen narrator. I really enjoyed that book. I also read "Ghost Rider" by Neil Peart, the drummer and lyricist for Rush. It was the story of how he coped with the loss of his teenage daughter and his wife within months of each other by riding his motorcycle. It is a fantastic travel book with vivid writing that made the places so vibrant and interesting. He also shares some raw emotions that he experienced. It was a great book. I also got "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" from the library. Yes, it truly is "Pride and Prejudice" with zombie attacks thrown in. The book had a great, twisted fun appeal and is great for anyone with a sense of humor. Now I am starting "Pieces of White Shell A Journey to Navaholand" by Terry Tempest Williams. I found it at the library and the book jacket sucked me in to it. It should be interesting.

-Susan Vreeland 2-6-16
As usual for Susan Vreeland's novels, this one was well written and had a lot to say about art and artists. A few of the paintings she describes are actually from her imagination but most of them are real, and all of the artists were real individuals plus some of the stories she told about them are historically accurate. Anyhow, along with all the focus on art and artists, the story takes place in a village in the French countryside both during and shortly after World War II, and it deals with grief, survival, and falling in love again. I did like the novel, but I didn't like it enough to grant it more than 3 stars.

-Deanne Gist 2-7-16
This was a fun historical Christian romance novel with some quite amusing scenes as well as some somewhat predictable plot twists, but I really liked it a lot, and it was one of those books that sucked me in and that I found hard to put down, which is why I went to bed after midnight when I'd finished the book. Anyhow, it is a well-written book for its genre, and it has earned a place on my favorites' list.

-Laura Esquivel 2-7-16
This book was strange. In the first place, it was originally published as monthly installments, which means that the chapters don't flow together all that well, so I found that to be a little irritating. Then, each chapter is built around a recipe as it also reveals whatever the new scenario is in Tita's life, which I found to be weird. Third, there was inexplicable instances of magical and unnatural things happening in what wasn't a fantasy world; I believe that this is called magical realism, and I suppose that I have to conclude that I just don't like the genre too much because it was just too unbelievable. An otherwise normal girl can apparently cry rivers of tears--the author had her flood a room and send a stream down the staircase at one point--and create food that causes people who eat to feel whatever she had been feeling when she cooked it. Finally, I really couldn't stand the ending.

-Victoria Bylin 2-8-16
This was a well-written historical Christian romance novel that I really enjoyed even though it's quite simple in its writing style. I really liked how well the author developed the two main characters within a short period of time; I liked learning their history and personalities through how they communicated and acted. Even though this book is the fourth in a series, it works very well as a stand-alone novel, as I really didn't feel as though I had missed a whole lot of backstory. Overall, I found it to be a very sweet story.

-Graeme Simsion 2-9-16
I loved this novel about how a socially inept professor goes about trying to find a wife only to discover at the end that he's fallen in love with a woman who doesn't meet any of the qualifications he'd laid out in his questionnaire. I found it particularly hilarious when the man gives a lecture about Asperger's syndrome near the beginning of the novel and then finally realizes towards the end of the novel that he, like those with Asperger's, also lacks empathy. Anyway, the book was brilliantly written and was often quite humorous as well; in addition, its characters are very well drawn. I really loved the book, and it has earned its place on my favorites' list.

-Lori Wick 2-10-16
This was such a wonderful book. It is a well written and truly sweet Christian novel about both romance and family. I really loved the characters and their development throughout the book, which has definitely earned a place on my favorites' list.

-Adriana Trigiani 10-14-16
First off, let me say that I found it rather funny that I finished this book, Very Valentine, on February 14th, i.e., Valentine's Day. Regardless of that ironic moment, however, I really enjoyed this novel about Valentine, about her struggles with relationships and her concerns with keeping the family's traditional business, which is making custom wedding shoes. I even liked all the details included about how custom handmade shoes are designed and crafted. I also really liked learning about the subculture of the Italian American family. I really enjoyed this rather fun novel and look forward to reading more of the trilogy.

Rachel wrote: "-Lori Wick 2-10-16
This was such a wonderful book. It is a well written and truly sweet Christian novel about both romance and family. I really loved the characters..."

Adriana Trigiani is funny. I went to a book signing with her and she had everyone rolling on the floor. Very funny!

Rachel wrote: "-Susan Vreeland 2-6-16
As usual for Susan Vreeland's novels, this one was well written and had a lot to say about art and artists. A few of the paintings she desc..."

I loved The Rosie Project. When I posted my review, the author retweeted it on Twitter.

Rachel wrote: "-Susan Vreeland 2-6-16
As usual for Susan Vreeland's novels, this one was well written and had a lot to say about art and artists. A few of the paintings she desc..."

I agree with you about Like Water for Chocolate. It was weird but I did like it.

I finished the most wonderful book this past week. It's The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. I hate to say much about it because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I laughed. I cried. I fell in love. This is a book that will stay will me forever and I'll think of it with fondness. Basic premise is a man must make peace with his past so he can have a future. It is so beautifully written though. Nina George's prose is gorgeous. If you are only going to read one book this year, this is the book. I loved it!

If you like cozy mysteries, I recommend two that I read this past week. The first is The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco by Laura DiSilverio. It's a book club who is reading The Maltese Falcon and murder of one of their members occurs. I liked how they summoned up what The Maltese Falcon is about. The second is To Brew or Not to Brew by Joyce Tremal. It is set in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. She is from Pittsburgh and has captured the flavor of it very well. The main character is a brew master setting up her own brewpub. Murder occurs and it is very well done. She has done her research well into the history of Pittsburgh.

-Laura Frantz 2-17-16
This was a really good historical Christian romance novel. The characters are well drawn, and I really liked the way the main characters were revealed throughout the course of the book, and how the main man grew to have faith in God and how he learned to be his own man and not to kowtow to his father's expectations. So, I really enjoyed this novel although considering how the first book in the novel had concluded, I was expecting a different focus in this book than there was; however, I still looked forward to finishing up this series and to reading more by this author, as I've thoroughly enjoyed all the books I've read by her so far.

-Laura Frantz 2-20-16
This was a really good historical Christian romance novel. I liked the main woman a lot, and I thought her character was developed well throughout the story, but I thought the main man was not developed nearly as well. However, I still enjoyed the plot and found it entertaining, and I still look to reading more by this author, as I've thoroughly enjoyed all the books I've read by her so far.

-Robin Jones Gunn 2-21-16
I haven't read very many books in the Love Finds You series, but the few that I have read, I have liked. However, I particularly liked this one because it almost finishes the story of Sierra Jensen whom I had already read about in the Sierra Jensen books written earlier by the author, Robin Jones Gunn. The book can stand well on its own though if the reader is new to Sierra Jensen's story. Anyway though, I thought the book was well written and sweetly entertaining, and I really liked how both Sierra and Jordan are both truly concerned with what God wants them to do and how they both learned that God also wants them to be happy in life. Overall, I really liked it, (view spoiler)[ but I didn't like how they ended up trapped alone together in an apartment overnight; even though the author made it known that nothing happened, I just thought the scenario left out the temptations involved when two people who are attracted to each other are alone for a long period of time even if they are Christians. (hide spoiler)]

-Kristin Hannah 2-22-16
I really liked this book; it's a contemporary novel about a variety of life's issues and how they affect the two protagonists. It deals with the pain of infertility and failed adoption, with grief, and with divorce and its aftermath, but it also shows the determination of seeking life and happiness after severe grief and disappointment, the reconciliation and remarriage of a couple, and the fact that families are made by more than one method. There are a number of unexpected twists and turns within the plot, but, ultimately, the end is redemptive and happy.

-Annie Wang 2-25-16
I've read several historical novels set in China that were wonderfully written and that had brilliantly portrayed characters, but, unfortunately, this was not one of them. The main character has very low self-esteem due to having been traumatized as a young teen, and, believing that she has been ruined and is unworthy of experiencing true love, she throws herself into a lifestyle that her country calls "hooliganism," i.e., being a part of gang culture, consuming alcohol and partying, and being extremely promiscuous. Even though Lili does meet a man who truly loves her despite her past, she has difficulty believing this and doesn't feel worthy of him, and the book ends with him having been required to return to the United States and with her in China believing that she has no place other than in China and that she is unworthy of going to him in order to be his bride even though she does love him and had lived with him when he had been living in China. I found it sad that Lili never truly grows as a person or recovers from her past and that she is so passive in life; she lets life happen to her and is unwilling to do anything to change it. The book also has a really slow pace to it and far too much focus on politics for my taste; however, I will grant that it is decently written for a book written in a second language. Overall though, I just didn't like it much.

-Lois Lowry 2-27-16
In this story of the series, I could finally see a better connection between The Giver and Gathering Blue; however, every book of this series that I've read so far can be read as stand-alone books because they really are quite different and the characters don't overlap very much. Anyway though, as is the case for the first two books of the series, Messenger is very well written and thought-provoking and has a well-developed and interesting protagonist as well. I was annoyed and saddened by the ending, however, but at least it doesn't leave the reader wondering what has happened to the protagonist as the ending of The Giver does. Overall, I liked the book quite a lot.

-Romina Russell 2-28-16
I don't read much sci-fi, as I'm not very scientifically or technologically minded, and so, I prefer to watch sci-fi rather than read it, since the books are often too detailed for my mind to tolerate. However, this particular YA sci-fi novel was different because despite the fact that it took place in space ships and in other galaxies than our own, I was not bombarded by lots of scientific and technological detail that I don't understand nor did the book require me to read about a long, drawn out space battle with the author assuming that I know how to think spatially (to do 3-D geometry in my head) even though I can't. Anyhow, having said what this book isn't, let's talk about what it is. This book is well written and describes the places and people in physical terms that can be easily understood; the characters in the book are well portrayed, and the plot is interesting. I liked the psychological communication and battles in this book and found the interactions between the characters to be truly interesting even though there was a love triangle, which is a plot cliche. Overall, I really loved the book and look forward to reading more of the series.