Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Here we go....

1. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Re-read before starting the sequel. Enjoyed it just as much the second time around.

2. The Magician King by Lev Grossman

Started out promising, got a little too religious and weird towards the end. I wonder if there are going to be any more stories about these characters? Love the characters and the author's style of writing.

3. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Reading over and over how breathtakingly beautiful the main characters were got slightly old after awhile, but overall a well-written, fast-paced YA read.

4. The Night Eternal by Guillermo del Toro

Satisfying end to this trilogy.

5. Fury byElizabeth Miles

6. Beastly by Alex Flinn

Struck out again on the teen lit. Just cringe-inducing. Time to go back to big girl books for awhile, i think.

7. The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

8. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Angels, demons, magic, chimeraera, death, resurrection, etc....well-written but too much fantasy for me.

Have not been remembering to update this list....I think I'm probably going to miss some, but I'll try to get back on track.

9. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?: by Mindy Kaling

10. Wild Thing by Josh Bazell

11. The King of Plagues by Jonathan Maberry

12. Dust and Decay by Jonathan Maberry

13. Hilarity Ensues by Tucker Max

14. Sloppy Seconds by Tucker Max

15. Divergent by Veronica Roth

16. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

17. Damned by Chuck Palahniuk

18. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

19. Amped by Daniel H. Wilson

Jessica wrote: "19. Amped by Daniel H. Wilson"
How did you like this book? I read "Robocalyspe" and liked it and was hoping this one would be just as good.

Jennifer wrote: "Jessica wrote: "19. Amped by Daniel H. Wilson"
How did you like this book? I read "Robocalyspe" and liked it and was hoping this one would be just as good."

I liked Robopocalypse, too, so I think you will like this one. In a way, I enjoyed Amped more because although it was just the one main story line, it was less technical and a fast read. I'm always in it for the end of the world, human drama and less for the techy stuff. It was also scary to think about how fast people turn on others who are different....kind of reminded me of reading WWII books about the holocaust and how quickly people lost their rights.

Thanks. I like the human drama stuff more too. I think I'll have to move it up my "To Read" list.

20. Red, White, and Blood by Christopher Farnsworth

21. Ashfall by Mike Mullin

22. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

Despressing and dull, despite having zombies.

23. The Third Gate: A Novel by Lincoln Child

24. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

I'm not sure why I keep reading these. HBO's True Blood Sookie is way cooler than the Sookie that describes in exhausting detail what fast food she's eating and what she's picking up at Walmart. In addition, the last few books have centered on the fairies, my least favorite group of supernatural beings in this series. Hoping that the next one is better.

25. Yes, Chef: A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson

26. The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

Jessica wrote: "25. [bookcover:Yes Chef: A Memoir]Yes, Chef: A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson"

What did you think of this?? I love reading about the food/restaurant industry, but I'm not a fan of Samuelsson, and I realize this is a memoir. How was it??

Amy wrote: "Jessica wrote: "25. [bookcover:Yes Chef: A Memoir]Yes, Chef: A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson"

What did you think of this?? I love reading about the food/restaurant industry, but I'm not a fan of Sa..."

If you are not a fan of him already, you probably won't like this one much. He comes across as quite pretentious. There were two things about the book that I found interesting. One had to do with some of his youthful indiscretions that I had never heard about that made him seem much less of a golden boy. The second had to do with his dealings with Aquavit (the restaurant in NYC where he became head chef) and how they somehow had rights to his name and what he to do to get it back. I've had several discussions with people about the legalities of it and we can't figure out how it actually works, but it was informative. I've liked the other two food industry books I've read recently, The Sorcerer's Apprentices: A Season in the Kitchen at Ferran Adri's elBulli and Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef better.

26. Bloodline: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins

27. 21st Century Dead: A Zombie Anthology by Christopher Golden

This anthology was not nearly as good as The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology. I was quite disappointed. My favorite stories from this collection were:
Reality Bites by S.G. Browne
Antiparallelogram by Amber Benson
A Mother's Love by John McIlveeen
Jack and Jill by Jonathan Maberry
Tender as Teeth by Stephanie Crawford and Duane Swierczynski

28. Lessons from the Miracle Doctors by Jon Barron

Interesting thoughts on using herbals and natural medicine for cleanses and body purification, as well as helpful non-drug remedies, but I cannot trust a source that tells me I can't consume dairy.

No grilled cheese? No yogurt? No ICE CREAM?!!! Fie to them I say.

Donna wrote: "No grilled cheese? No yogurt? No ICE CREAM?!!! Fie to them I say."

I agree....sounds like a miserable existence :)

29. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

30. The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Unrealistic, abrupt, unresolved ending. Nothing special about this quick read.

31. A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1

32. 12.21: A Novel by Dustin Thomason

33. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

34. The Handbuilt Home: 34 Simple Stylish and Budget-Friendly Woodworking Projects for Every Room by Ana White

35. The Cookie Dough Lover's Cookbook: Cookies, Cakes, Candies, and More by Lindsay Landis

36. The Mason Jar Dessert Cookbook: How to Create Mason Jar Dessert Mixes by Lonnette Parks

37. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

38. After the Apocalypse by Maureen F. McHugh

39. Krampus: The Yule Lord by Brom

40. Reached by Ally Condie

41. Your House Is on Fire, Your Children All Gone by Stefan Kiesbye

42. by Alex Adams