75 Books...More or Less! discussion

I think 150 books is a steady number and I need to watch less TV. :)

Join the club, my issues is other hobbies!

1. Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) - Victoria Aveyard 4/5

Library E-Book.

"Mare Barrow's blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.
Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?"

Whew. This was a roller coaster of Mare's thoughts and emotions. It was exhausting! You think too much, girl! Some of the book lagged and some was exciting! I don't really like romance in this series. It's weirdly lacking even with stupid love triangles. I loved when the crew finally gets to where they need to go, it's an epic scene once they get in!! Trying to be vague here. And from then on it's pulse-pounding action! I actually liked how bloodthirsty Mare got. I like that she made irreversible mistakes. She's only human and ruled by her emotions so bad things happened. Great way to bring down the "hero." Glad King's Cage is not far off but the last book is not until 2018!

2. The Favorite (The Selection novella) - Kiera Cass 4/5

Library Audiobook.

"While America Singer's heart was torn between Aspen and Prince Maxon, her friend Marlee knew exactly what she wanted—and paid the price.
Revisit the captivating world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series in this digital original novella. Told from Marlee's point of view, this all-new 64-page story returns to the fateful Halloween when Marlee and Carter were discovered, and reveals how that night—and Prince Maxon—changed their lives forever."

I always liked Marlee in the books and I enjoyed hearing firsthand her most certainly disastrous early courtship with Carter and the consequences. I wish the audiobook differentiated between past and present because it was a little confusing with the audiobook. But overall, cute novella and I enjoyed the little snippets at the end, Celeste scenes, a mini novella for Lucy, and a Where Are They Now? Not sure if these were only included in The Selection Stories compilation. I had already read the other novellas (The Queen, The Prince, The Guard) so I just skipped to The Favorite.

3. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) - Marissa Meyer 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl.
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

I liked this right from the beginning. I only started reading it because the other book I was reading was on a different device that I didn't have with me. But then I didn't want to stop reading Cinder! This is a refreshing twist on Cinderella, very modern, and the attention to detail is amazing. I loved the lines from the original Cinderella in between each "book." The world is impressive and I love Cinder being a cyborg! I like that it takes place in Asia instead of America too. I guessed a reveal pretty early on but still enjoyed when the character was confronted with it. I'm not sure how I feel about Kai. We'll see. Onto Scarlet!

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read a debut novel.
** Better World Books Challenge: A young adult novel.
** POPSUGAR Challenge: A book with a title that's a character's name.

4. The Raven King (The Raven Cycle #4) - Maggie Stiefvater 4/5

Audible Audiobook.

"All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore."

"Depending on where you began the book, it's about Cabeswater." It's about Glendower. It's about 300 Fox Way. It's about Blue. Gansey. Adam. Noah. Ronan. Henry. It's about love and youth and adventure. It's about magic. I didn't like the narrator but since I'm familiar with the story, I was able to stick with it and get past it. If this were the first book I probably would've given up on the audiobook. I wish I had read the first 3 again before starting the last one. This is a story that can't be taken piecemeal because there's so much going on. I didn't like the French "triplets" with the same name. Lemogne? I listened to the audiobook, no idea how to spell it. Piper's father. But they were confusing and annoying. Also, Henry Chang's modified robo bees? What? There was a lot of confusing parts in this book or maybe it was just because I read the others and listened to this one. The last line of the book, before the epilogue, gave me a chill. I love these Raven boys though and I'm sad to see this series end.

** Better World Books Challenge: A book that takes place in a forest.

Elyse, you are on a roll with the series :)

Andrea wrote: "Elyse, you are on a roll with the series :)"

haha yeah! I'm definitely going to try finishing series I've started in the past that are now complete. Lots of research must be done first though. lol

I have a couple of series going through my library app. I am so upset though! I just realized my Kindle is at work and I'm working from home tomorrow so I won't have it back until Monday! Guess I'll be using my phone...lol

Andrea wrote: "I have a couple of series going through my library app. I am so upset though! I just realized my Kindle is at work and I'm working from home tomorrow so I won't have it back until Monday! Guess I'l..."

Oh bummer! A weekend without my e-reader would be devastating!! I can only start reading so many books! haha.

I'm using the app on my phone :) It's not worth driving back and forth, it would take over an hour...lol

5. Nemesis - Brendan Reichs 4/5

Penguin First-to-Read ARC.

"It been happening since Min was eight. Every two years, on her birthday, a strange man finds her and murders her in cold blood. But hours later, she wakes up in a clearing just outside her tiny Idaho hometown—alone, unhurt, and with all evidence of the horrifying crime erased.
Across the valley, Noah just wants to be like everyone else. But he’s not. Nightmares of murder and death plague him, though he does his best to hide the signs. But when the world around him begins to spiral toward panic and destruction, Noah discovers that people have been lying to him his whole life. Everything changes in an eye blink.
For the planet has a bigger problem. The Anvil, an enormous asteroid threatening all life on Earth, leaves little room for two troubled teens. Yet on her sixteenth birthday, as she cowers in her bedroom, hoping not to die for the fifth time, Min has had enough. She vows to discover what is happening in Fire Lake and uncovers a lifetime of lies: a vast conspiracy involving the sixty-four students of her sophomore class, one that may be even more sinister than the murders."

"I swore to myself I wouldn't die that day." Wow. What a first sentence! Immediately pulled in with so many questions! So cute that Brendan Reichs thought the commander-in-chief would be a woman in 2017... :( This was a twisty book, you don't really know what's going on. You have suspicions but you're wrong. It's pretty messed up actually. Very interesting and there'd better be more coming!

Elyse wrote: "3. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) - Marissa Meyer 4/5

E-Book Purchase.

"Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the pop..."

The Lunar Chronicles is one of my favourite series! Enjoy!

Shelby wrote: "The Lunar Chronicles is one of my favourite series! Enjoy!"

I liked the first one but haven't started Scarlet yet! I've got books with time constraints that I have to finish first!

6. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz 3/5

Audible Audiobook.

"Things have never been easy for Oscar. A ghetto nerd living with his Dominican family in New Jersey, he's sweet but disastrously overweight. He dreams of becoming the next J R R Tolkien and he keeps falling hopelessly in love. Poor Oscar may never get what he wants, thanks to the Fuku - the curse that has haunted his family for generations.
With dazzling energy and insight Diaz immerses us in the tumultuous lives of Oscar; his runaway sister Lola; their beautiful mother Belicia; and in the family's uproarious journey from the Dominican Republic to the US and back."

I love Lin-Manuel Miranda! His voice is just enjoyable to listen to. I don't speak Spanish and the words aren't defined so I could only get the gist of what they meant from the context but got a site from a friend (Thanks Andrea!) with translations and common words in the book. The Fuku was interesting, the whole superstitious family curse thing. It was interesting to see the different views Oscar and Lola had of their mother. Oscar was younger, didn't see/notice as much. Lola had an all-out war with her mother. I loved the nerdy pop culture references though! When he's comparing the gangster to the Witch of Angmar, orcs, D&D references, etc. They made me laugh. The narrator's identity truly comes out halfway through the book. I think that should have been in the beginning so we would know who was narrating and their relationship with Oscar! I didn't like this whole going back in time thing. We started in the 1970s and went as far back as the 1940s, through the family generations. I would've liked to have just stuck with Oscar's story. There was far too much Dominican Republic history, it got very confusing. I ended up liking the book alright but probably would've skipped over a LOT if I had read it instead of listened to the audiobook.

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative.
** Better World Books Challenge: A book set in a place you want to visit.
** POPSUGAR Challenge: A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you.

7. A is for Alibi (Kinsey Millhone #1) - Sue Grafton 3/5

Audible Audiobook.

"When Laurence Fife was murdered, few mourned his passing. Plenty of people had reason to want him dead. But the police thought his wife Nikki—with motive, access and opportunity—was the #1 suspect. The jury thought so too.
Eight years later and out on parole, Nikki hires Kinsey Millhone, a gutsy P.I., to find the read killer. The trail is cold but Kinsey finds a lead. It brings her face-to-face with the murderer.
This is the first in the popular series featuring California investigator Kinsey Millhone. She's 32, twice divorced, no kids, an ex-cop who likes her work...and who works strictly alone."

I've decided to use the Kinsey Millhone series for my 2017 ABC title challenge. So I can do all the letters but Y and Z! I will most-likely be listening to the audiobooks as it will go quicker but I'm not a huge fan of the narrator, Mary Pieffer. Judy Kaye narrates the abridged audiobooks, only about 3 hours long, but I'm for the unabridged ones, about 8 hours long. The story didn't drive me wild. It was pretty simple, though got complicated as Kinsey figured things out. I didn't see it coming so that's always good. It didn't get exciting until the end. If this is the formula for the other 23 books I might get bored...

** Better World Books Challenge: A book by a female writer.

8. City of Saints and Thieves - Natalie C. Anderson 2/5

Penguin First-to-Read ARC.

"In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.
With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother—and why—keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller."

I don't think this was a "fast-paced nail-biting thriller." It was a bit slow for me actually. I was kind of bored with the whole story, I don't know if it was because I wasn't familiar with the location or couldn't relate to the characters or what. I only liked the last 100 or so pages. Once Tina got to Congo and things finally started happening.

9. Code Name Verity (Code Name Verity #1) - Elizabeth Wein 4/5

Audible Audiobook.

"Oct. 11th, 1943—A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.
When “Verity” is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn’t stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she’s living a spy’s worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.
As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage and failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?"

Verity. Maddie. Queenie. Ava. Julie. Julia. Katerina. How many girls are there really? What are their real names and what are their spy-dentities (spy identities)? This was harrowing. That is a good word for this story. Told in two perspectives through essentially journal entries. One a little more reliable than the other? Who is the spy and whom are they spying for? This is a convoluted story and overwhelming. I listened to most of the book in one day while running errands, cooking, laundry, and writing reviews for other books I'd just finished. I couldn't stop!! Very engrossing.

10. The Lonely Hearts Hotel - Heather O'Neill 2/5

Penguin First-to-Read ARC.

"Two babies are abandoned in a Montreal orphanage in the winter of 1910. One is a girl named Rose; the other, a boy named Pierrot. Each display rare gifts that bring them adoration and hatred. As they are made to travel around the city performing clown routines to raise funds for the orphanage, they make plans for a sensational future. They are separated as teenagers and sent off to work as menial servants, but both soon find themselves escaping into the criminal world, participating in the vicious and absurd and perverted underbelly of Montreal and New York City between the wars. They search for each other, and one night, under the snowflakes, they reunite, and the underworld will never look quite the same."

I didn't like this book and could barely finish it. I generally only give 1 star to books I couldn't finish so this gets a 2 but barely. It was really boring and then it was gross and then it was boring again. Not magical or captivating or engrossing at all. Big disappointment. I thought it would be more exciting bases on the synopsis.

11. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo - Amy Schumer 5/5

Library Audiobook.

"In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy mines her past for stories about her teenage years, her family, relationships, and sex and shares the experiences that have shaped who she is - a woman with the courage to bare her soul to stand up for what she believes in, all while making us laugh.
Ranging from the raucous to the romantic, the heartfelt to the harrowing, this highly entertaining and universally appealing collection is the literary equivalent of a night out with your best friends - an unforgettable and fun adventure that you wish could last forever. Whether she's experiencing lust-at-first-sight while in the airport security line, sharing her own views on love and marriage, admitting to being an introvert, or discovering her cross-fit instructor's secret bad habit, Amy Schumer proves to be a bighearted, brave, and thoughtful storyteller that will leave you nodding your head in recognition, laughing out loud, and sobbing uncontrollably - but only because it's over."

I loved this book. I think Amy is a funny lady and she did not disappoint. Vulgar and hilarious as I expected. Buuut I was surprised as well. I was surprised how openly candid she was about deeply personal things. She allowed herself to be extremely vulnerable and open to ridicule and she is courageous for letting it all hang out. She's been through some real shit and has been able to rise above it and stand tall. She was also so self-deprecating and you can tell through her words that she still has a lot of healing to do before she can truly embrace herself because she doesn't see herself the way she deserves to. I like her even more after listening to this book.

** POPSUGAR Challenge: An audiobook.

12. Waking Gods (Themis Files #2) - Sylvain Neuvel 4/5

NetGalley ARC.

"As a child, Rose Franklin made an astonishing discovery: a giant metallic hand, buried deep within the earth. As an adult, she’s dedicated her brilliant scientific career to solving the mystery that began that fateful day: Why was a titanic robot of unknown origin buried in pieces around the world? Years of investigation have produced intriguing answers—and even more perplexing questions. But the truth is closer now than ever before when a second robot, more massive than the first, materializes and lashes out with deadly force.
Now humankind faces a nightmare invasion scenario made real, as more colossal machines touch down across the globe. But Rose and her team at the Earth Defense Corps refuse to surrender. They can turn the tide if they can unlock the last secrets of an advanced alien technology. The greatest weapon humanity wields is knowledge in a do-or-die battle to inherit the Earth...and maybe even the stars."

This was just as chilling as Sleeping Giants! I love the format, it's really interesting because you're really only told so much. You must infer some and guess some. Keeps you on your toes! 5% in and my jaw dropped! Plenty more surprises come in this book! ARCs are great but man, it's hard when you have to wait even longer for the next book! Such a fascinating series!

13. Hamilton: The Revolution - Lin-Manuel Miranda & Jeremy McCarter 4/5

Library Audiobook.

"Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the best traditions of theater, this once-in-a-generation show broadens the sound of Broadway, reveals the storytelling power of rap, and claims our country's origins for a diverse new generation.
HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION gives readers an unprecedented view of both revolutions, from the only two writers able to provide it. Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages--"since before this was even a show," according to Miranda--traces its development from an improbable perfor­mance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. In addition, Miranda has written more than 200 funny, revealing footnotes for his award-winning libretto, the full text of which is published here."

I thought this was the actual play in novel form. It's not. It's a history of how Hamilton became the play, Lin-Manuel Miranda's journey from some talk to a Broadway hit. And Mariska Hargitay was an odd choice for narrator. I thought and hoped that Lin was going to narrate. He only narrates his annotations on the actual play. Which were confusing. Anyway, it's amazing how exciting he made a crusty old dead guy! He's really created a great thing that will live on. I hope to see it someday when it travels and hits Boston.

14. B is for Burglar (Kinsey Millhone #2) - Sue Grafton 4/5

Audible Audiobook.

"Finding wealthy Elaine Boldt seems like a quickie case to Kinsey Millhone. The flashy widow was last seen wearing a $12,000 lynx coat, leaving her condo in Santa Teresa for her condo in Boca Raton. But somewhere in between, she vanished. Kinsey's case goes from puzzling to sinister when a house is torched, an apartment is burgled of worthless papers, the lynx coat comes back without Elaine, and her bridge partner is found dead. Soon Kinsey's clues begin to form a capital M—not for missing, but for murder: and plenty of it."

I liked the second book a lot more than the first! I thought the mystery was better and Millhone went deeper into her investigation. I enjoyed some characters in Santa Teresa whom I hope will stick around. I didn't guess the suspect at all! I gasped audibly when it was revealed! I hope that surprise continues!

15. Alight (Generations Trilogy #2) - Scott Sigler 4/5

Audible Audiobook.

"Savage—or Em, as she is called—has made a bewildering and ominous discovery. She and the other young people she was chosen to lead awoke in strange coffins with no memory of their names or their pasts. They faced an empty, unknown place of twisting tunnels and human bones. With only one another to depend on, they searched for answers and found the truth about their terrifying fate. Confronted by a monstrous enemy, they vowed never to surrender—and, by any means, to survive.
The planet Omeyocan may be the sanctuary Em and her comrades seek. But the planet for which they were created turns out not to be a pristine, virgin world. Vestiges of a lost civilization testify to a horrifying past that may yet repeat itself. And when a new enemy creeps from the jungle shadows, Em and her young refugees learn there’s nowhere left to run. They face a simple choice: fight or die.
In the midst of this desperate struggle, their unity is compromised from within—and a dangerous zealot devoted to a bloodthirsty god moves to usurp Em’s command, threatening to lead them all down a path to violent doom."

This book answered a lot of questions that Alive left you with. And then created so many more! Sigler has created and interesting new planet and populated it with original creatures. A cross between ancient civilizations (think Maya or Aztec) and The Maze Runner series. Just very engrossing and fascinating! Em, Spingate, and the rest of the crew seem to be some big trouble and even bigger surprises. Luckily Alone comes out in just over a month and hopefully the rest of the questions will be answered!

16. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The First Death - Laurell K. Hamilton 3/5

Hardcover won on Laurell K. Hamilton's website.

"Her fans have been asking for it - now, Laurell K. Hamilton delivers a look into Anita Blake's past! Written by Laurell K. Hamilton herself, along with Jonathon Green, The First Death takes place almost a year before the events being chronicled in Guilty Pleasures. Witness the first meeting of Anita and Jean-Claude, Anita's first time inside Guilty Pleasures, her first serial-killer case, and an early encounter with Edward. Prepare to be thrilled by this original story produced especially for comics!"

I'm not a graphic novel/comic book fan. This is my second one. It was cool to see Anita and Jean-Claude's first meeting but otherwise it wasn't anything special. I'm counting it for my BookRiot challenge because I feel Anita Blake has superpowers!

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read a superhero comic with a female lead.

Elyse wrote: "13. Hamilton: The Revolution - Lin-Manuel Miranda & Jeremy McCarter 4/5

Library Audiobook.

"Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton is a..."

I haven't seen or heard any of the music from Hamilton, but I still have this book on my TBR just to learn about it and how it became such a phenomenon.

Charleen wrote: "I haven't seen or heard any of the music from Hamilton, but I still have this book on my TBR just to learn about it and how it became such a phenomenon..."

The music is PHENOMENAL!

17. Figure Fantasy: The Pop Culture Photography of Daniel Picard 5/5

LootCrate Hardcover Exclusive.

"Figure Fantasy: The Pop Culture Photography of Daniel Picard is a wholly unique collection of meticulously composed images, showcasing a variety of comic book and movie icons in realistic and often hilarious everyday settings. Using fan-favorite figures from Sideshow Collectibles, celebrated photographer Daniel Picard gives these classic heroes and villains a fresh twist, presenting them in a perfectly arranged, to-scale environment that create believable scenes and tongue-in-cheek parodies. Among the gallery of wonderfully conceived images in this coffee-table book are photographs of a Stormtrooper with a desk job, the Joker shopping for a Batman Halloween costume, and Harley Quinn taking a mirror selfie. Featuring a foreword by Kevin Smith, as well as an introduction by Daniel Picard detailing his one-of-a-kind take on pop culture parody, Figure Fantasy is a true treasure for fans, collectors, and photographers alike."

My husband set out some coffee table books and this was one of them. It was hilarious and awesome and left me wanting more! Fantasy figures posed doing mundane tasks, what could be better?! Loved it!

18. The League of Regrettable Superheroes 5/5

LootCrate Hardcover Exclusive.

"You know about Batman, Superman, and Spiderman, but have you heard of Doll Man, Doctor Hormone, or Spider Queen? In The League of Regrettable Superheroes, you’ll meet one hundred of the strangest superheroes ever to see print, complete with backstories, vintage art, and colorful commentary. So prepare yourself for such not-ready-for-prime-time heroes as Bee Man (Batman, but with bees), the Clown (circus-themed crimebuster), the Eye (a giant, floating eyeball; just accept it), and many other oddballs and oddities. Drawing on the entire history of the medium, The League of Regrettable Superheroes will appeal to die-hard comics fans, casual comics readers, and anyone who enjoys peering into the stranger corners of pop culture."

My husband set out some coffee table books and this was one of them. A lot of these superheroes were extremely cringe-worthy and groan-worthy. Some got a little farther in "life" than others, some only lasted one comic and then RIP. haha. Oh the ideas people have!

Elyse wrote: "11. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo - Amy Schumer 5/5

Library Audiobook.

"In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy mines her past f..."

I need to read this one too, she is so funny I just love her!

Andrea wrote: "Elyse wrote: "11. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo - Amy Schumer 5/5

Library Audiobook.

"In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy mi..."

I loved her before and I have so much more respect and a different perspective on her now.

Elyse wrote: "18. The League of Regrettable Superheroes 5/5

LootCrate Hardcover Exclusive.

"You know about ..."


This reminds me of the Great Lakes Avengers. It was a 4-issue series with a bunch of "heroes" who everyone else in the Marvel universe made fun of, and somebody dies in every issue.

Charleen wrote: "This reminds me of the Great Lakes Avengers. It was a 4-issue series with a bunch of "heroes" who everyone else in the Marvel universe made fun of, and somebody dies in every issue..."

lol that sounds funny! I also have The Legion of Regrettable Supervillains: Oddball Criminals from Comic Book History.

19. C is for Corpse (Kinsey Millhone #3) - Sue Grafton 4/5

Audible Audiobook.

"Bobby Callahan was only 20 when an accident left him disfigured for life. The doctors patched up his body but they couldn't fix his mind.
Huge chunks of his memory were lost but he knew someone had tried to kill him and that the "accident" was deliberate. He knew he had the key to something that made him dangerous to the murderer but he didn't know what. No one believed him...so he hired Kinsey Millhone.
Three days later Bobby was dead. But Kinsey never welshed on a deal. She'd been hired to stop a killing, now she'd find the killer instead."

I don't know what it was about the first book but I've liked the next ones more than the first. I liked Bobby and even knowing right from the beginning that he was going to die didn't stop that. This was a cool kind of work backwards story. Bobby was there to help for awhile, lay out some pieces of the puzzle. Not a predictable mystery! The title is kind of funny because each book already involves a corpse so...haha.

20. The Lumberjanes: Beware the Kitten Holy (The Lumberjanes Vol. 1) - Noelle Stevenson 4/5

Kindle Unlimited.

"FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAX!
At Miss Qiunzilla Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's camp for hard-core lady-types, things are not what they seem. Three-eyed foxes. Secret caves. Anagrams. Luckily, Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are five rad, butt-kicking best pals determined to have an awesome summer together... And they're not gonna let a magical quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! The mystery keeps getting bigger, and it all begins here."

I started off reading the first issue and then decided to go for the whole volume, issues 1-4! Haha I loved when Rosie said "What's the story, Wishbone?" Nostalgia! The colors were so vibrant and bright, jumping out of my iPad! Another funny line "Well, I could teach you, but I'd have to charge." Haha! It's funny that the red-haired girl, April, is the only one drawn with real eyes, the rest just have black dots for eyes. This was a cute, fantastical comic and easy to read and follow, not a whole lot of lines to read to take away from the pictures. If the rest of the comics were available on Kindle Unlimited I would keep reading!

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read an all-ages comic.

21. Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) - Sarah J. Maas 4/5

Library E-Book.

"After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.
Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her...but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead...quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined."

I knew I was going to give this a 4 from pretty early on unless something awful and earth-shattering happened. It didn't. This was a great book. Celaena is a kickass assassin who is also just a normal woman. Love triangle, gah, but at least it didn't overwhelm the awesome story. One is quick and one is a slow burn. I know who my pick is! The fight scenes were incredible! When she kicked that guy's ass with no weapon, I read that scene several times! It did take me a long time to read but only because I had it available on one device and didn't always have that device with me. I also really liked the characters' names. Celaena Sardothien is beautiful and awesome sounding! Nehemia Ytger. Chaol (I pronounce it 'Chale' even though it's supposed to be pronounced 'Kay-all') Westfall. In the queue for book 2!

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read a fantasy novel.
** Better World Books Challenge: A fantasy novel.

22. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales - Jon Scieszka 5/5

Bookshelf Hardcover.

"A revisionist storyteller provides his mad, hilarious versions of children's favorite tales in this collection that includes Little Red Running Shorts, The Princess and the Bowling Ball, Cinderumpelstilskin, and others."

Re-read for POPSUGAR Challenge: A book you loved as a child. The stories are so funny and the pictures are awesome. I read this countless times as a child. Still the best!

23. Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future - Ashlee Vance 4/5

Library Audiobook.

"Elon Musk spotlights the technology and vision of Elon Musk, the renowned entrepreneur and innovator behind SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity, who sold one of his internet companies, PayPal, for $1.5 billion. Ashlee Vance captures the full spectacle and arc of the genius’s life and work, from his tumultuous upbringing in South Africa and flight to the United States to his dramatic technical innovations and entrepreneurial pursuits.
Vance uses Musk’s story to explore one of the pressing questions of our age: can the nation of inventors and creators who led the modern world for a century still compete in an age of fierce global competition? He argues that Musk—one of the most unusual and striking figures in American business history—is a contemporary, visionary amalgam of legendary inventors and industrialists including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes, and Steve Jobs. More than any other entrepreneur today, Musk has dedicated his energies and his own vast fortune to inventing a future that is as rich and far-reaching as the visionaries of the golden age of science-fiction fantasy."

This was a very interesting book! Elon Musk is a modern genius and though he does make rich people toys, he's trying to create a better, more long-lasting world. He's trying to save the planet! And if that fails, he's trying to get us to Mars! He's got such a fascinating story and if it hadn't been for that one thing, becoming an owner of Paypal and then selling, he wouldn't have had the money to start any of his companies. He really is a real-life Tony Stark. I didn't realize he had a hand in Solar City as well. My cousin's boyfriend works for them. Now I want my Tesla Model 3! Soon! 2018!

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read a nonfiction book about technology.

24. Quidditch Through the Ages (Hogwarts Library) - J. K. Rowling 5/5

E-Book Purchase.

"From its origins on Queerditch Marsh in the eleventh century to the sophisticated sport played today, discover how ‘Quidditch unites witches and wizards from all walks of life, bringing us together to share moments of exhilaration, triumph and (for those who support the Chudley Cannons) despair’, according to Professor Albus Dumbledore’s foreword.
Do you know why refereeing a Quidditch match was once a task for only the bravest witches and wizards, or how to tell a Transylvanian Tackle from a Woollongong Shimmy? In this enlightening and highly popular Hogwarts library book, Kennilworthy Whisp reveals the daring highs and dangerous lows of the glorious game of Quidditch."

This was a fun little book! I shoul've read it years ago. I should've already owned hard copies of these little Hogwarts Library books. For shame! Now I own the e-books. I liked learning the history of Quidditch, the brooms, the balls, the different teams, moves, etc. I loved that one of the American teams, the Fitchburg Finches, is based in Fitchburg, Massachusetts!! I spent a lot of time there when I was younger, it had the closest movie theater. Ha!

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read a book about sports.
** Better World Books Challenge: A book under 200 pages.

25. Only Time Will Tell (The Clifton Chronicles #1) - Jeffrey Archer 3/5

Won in a Goodreads Giveaway.

"The epic tale of Harry Clifton’s life begins in 1920, with the words “I was told that my father was killed in the war.” A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father and expects to continue on at the shipyard, until a remarkable gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys’ school, and his life will never be the same again...
As Harry enters into adulthood, he finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question: Was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore, or the firstborn son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line? From the ravages of the Great War and the docks of working-class England to the streets of 1940 New York City and the outbreak of the Second World War, this is a powerful journey that will bring to life one hundred years of history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined."

Whew this started off very boring! I wasn't sure if I was going to keep going but I eventually persevered and finished. It didn't really get interesting until more than halfway through the book. I didn't really like the POV-swapping because things I thought were interesting were glossed over going into the next POV and never returned to. I won't be continuing the series and I'm surprised there are so many books! It was just very dull. Though I did read the summary for the final book in the series and discovered who Harry married. Curious but not curious enough to get through any more.

26. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail - Bill Bryson 4/5

Library Audiobook.

"The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in)."

I've had Bill Bryson's books in my TBR for awhile so thanks to doing challenges this year I've gotten around to one of them! I was kind of disappointed that he didn't actually complete the Appalachian Trail. Why do so much to quit or move further along? I can't be too judgy though...I've never done any of it! But anyways, there were a lot of funny parts mixed in with a lot of Trail history. It's always fun to read about places you're familiar with so listening to talk of Massachusetts and New Hampshire was exciting! I also got a couple of book recs from this book, Bear Attacks and Eight Bullets. I'm not an outdoorsy person but I kind of want to do a day trip on the Appalachian Trail. I absolutely hate camping but I think we'll do some hiking this spring/summer. Thanks Bill Bryson!

** Better World Books Challenge: A nonfiction book about nature.
** POPSUGAR Challenge: A book set in the wilderness.

Elyse wrote: "26. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail - Bill Bryson 4/5


I've had this book for years and years, I guess someday I should actually read it!

Andrea wrote: "I've had this book for years and years, I guess someday I should actually read it!..."

Pick it up! It was good! :)

27. The Wonder Trail: True Stories from Los Angeles to the End of the World - Steve Hely 3/5

Won in a Goodreads Giveaway.

"Steve Hely, writer for 30 Rock, The Office and American Dad!, and recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, presents a travel book about his journey through Central and South America.
Part travel book, part pop history, part comic memoir, The Wonder Trail is the story of Steve's riotous journey from Los Angeles to the bottom of South America.
With a trail through Mexico City, ancient Mayan ruins, the jungles and coffee plantations and remote beaches of Central America, across the Panama Canal, by sea to Colombia, to the Amazon rainforest, to the Galápagos Islands, the Atacama Desert of Chile, and down to the jagged and wind-worn land of Patagonia at the very end of the Western Hemisphere, Hely encounters the colourful, the wild and the downright absurd. The Wonder Trail is a gallivant Steve-Hely style – razor-sharp, hilarious and fascinating."

This book had its funny moments. A lot of history which I guess was good since I don't know much about Central and South America. And it was a pretty quick read. Buuut I wasn't over the moon about it. It was fun, it was a bit quirky, and it was an interesting trip. As a travel memoir, I guess I was just expecting more. Not sure what though.

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read a travel memoir.
** POPSUGAR Challenge: A book with a subtitle.

28. Paris Spleen - Charles Baudelaire 2/5

E-Book Purchase.

"First published posthumously in 1869, "Paris Spleen" is a collection of 51 short prose poems by Charles Baudelaire. Inspired by Aloysius Bertrand's "Gaspard de la Nuit — Fantaisies à la manière de Rembrandt et de Callot" or "Gaspard of the Night — Fantasies in the Manner of Rembrandt and Callot", Baudelaire remarked that he had read Bertrand's work at least twenty times for starting "Paris Spleen". A commentary on Parisian contemporary life, Baudelaire remarked on his work that "These are the flowers of evil again, but with more freedom, much more detail, and much more mockery." The themes present in "Paris Spleen" are wide-ranging. In a stream of consciousness style Baudelaire discusses pleasure, intoxication, artistry, women, poverty and social status, city life, religion, and morality. These little snapshots of daily life in the city of Paris capture the tumultuous time in which they were written, the middle of the 19th century, and establish "Paris Spleen" as a classic of the modernist literary movement."

I'm not a poetry person (I've written it but I don't like to read it, ha) so this was solely read to fulfill a task in 2 challenges I'm doing this year. The first two-thirds of this edition were a biography of Charles Baudelaire. I did like the prose poem format better than verse poem format. It was easier to read and understand though still flowery. More like very short stories than poems. I can't say I remember any of them, they didn't really stick out for any reason, not very memorable.

** BookRiot's Read Harder Challenge: Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love.
** Better World Books Challenge: A book of poetry.

29. We Can Be Mended (Divergent epilogue novella) - Veronica Roth 3/5

Free mini-book with Carve the Mark purchase.

"Can Be Mended is a short-story epilogue that focuses on Four and takes place five years after Allegiant, the conclusion of the Divergent series."

I was expecting a full-size novella but this is a small, little paper stapled 25-page novella. Nothing earth-shattering, nothing surprising, nothing good or bad. It was fine. Really not necessary. Very bland, mild, notttt worth it...

30. The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) - Alexandra Bracken 4/5

Audible Audiobook.

"When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living."

Feels like X-Men and Shatter Me and Shatter Me already felt like X-Men. But then it got really cool and I devoured the audiobook! I was sucked in fairly quickly, once I got used to the narrator, and I listened every chance I could. I love Zu!! She's my favorite and she doesn't even say a word. No love triangle, hallelujah! I liked the different abilities the kids had and how even if you're a Blue, you have a different abilities than other Blues. That was pretty cool. Ruby definitely has scary abilities and efff I hated Clancy!!! I'm so glad the series is done being written so I can just bull through it all! <3 Liam! But I do hate the covers, good thing I don't have the physical books and don't have to stare at them. Ha.

31. D is for Deadbeat (Kinsey Millhone #4) - Sue Grafton 3/5

Audible Audiobook.

"Following the successes of her previous "Alphabet" mysteries, Grafton puts Kinsey Millhone back on the case. This time, the feisty female P.I. gets pulled into a former client's suspicious life--and death--and soon discovers an impressive list of potential murderers among the mourners.
He calls himself Alvin Limardo, and the job he has for Kinsey is cut-and-dried: locate a kid who's done him a favor and pass on a check for $25,000. Stiffed for the retainer, Kinsey finds out Limardo's real name is John Daggett...ex-con, ex-liar, ex-alchy, currently dead.
The cops call it an accident but Kinsey differs. Look at his life! A lot of people hated him, from much-abused wives, to drug dealers out big money, to the families of five people he killed driving drunk. In short, Daggett wasn't popular."

I didn't like this one as much as the second and third in the series. This felt more like the first one. I felt more disconnected. Not sure why. I like the reappearance of familiar faces, it's nice to get that repetition in a long series. I wasn't too keen on the ending.

32. Happy Endings - Margaret Atwood 5/5

Online E-Book.

"Atwood's short story includes six different stories, labeled A to F, which each quickly summarize the lives of its characters, eventually culminating in death. The names of characters recur throughout the stories, and the stories reference each other (for example, "everything continues as in 'A'"), challenging narrative conventions. In addition, the story explores themes of domesticity, welfare, and success."

What a trip. Short and sweet and blunt. This is a 3-page short story from a collection that is no longer in print. It just shows you how predictable life is in the end. So make something of it before it ends! We all end the same way. "So much for endings. Beginnings are always more fun."

33. The Mermaid Girl (Book of Speculation Prequel Novella) - Erica Swyler 3/5

Won in a Goodreads Giveaway.

"Before she was a suburban wife and mother, Paulina Watson was the Mermaid Girl of Carnival Lareille. She traveled everywhere with two boxes: the first with red sequins for the dress she wore as a magician’s assistant, the second with green sequins for her mermaid tail. She'd grown up on wild stories told by wild circus people. Books, she hadn’t had books until she’d found Daniel Watson and stopped moving.
The first time Daniel saw her, Paulina was floating in a glass tank, suspended in water that sparkled like it was made from night sky. She has settled down now, living in a house on a cliff on Long Island Sound with Daniel and their young family: six-year-old Simon and his baby sister, Enola. But if you steal the magician’s assistant from a carnival, how can you know if she’ll disappear?"

I guess I'll be rereading this after I've read The Book of Speculation since I'm totally lost. A lot of reviewers said you won't get anything out of it until after you read The Book of Speculation. Then it will make sense. It was a weird little story by itself.