Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Reading List 2016, part 1


I just realized we're about halfway through the year and I hadn't posted my 6 month reading list yet and that I'm woefully behind in my goal to read 60 books this year (or beat my record of 55 from last year). It's not for lack of options...my ever growing library taunts me, though that's mostly because half of it is located in stacks and a large box, instead of on a bookcase. This situation will soon be rectified - I just bought some new bookcases for my bedroom, which should finally be able to house them all. 

 For now. :)
  1. Sanctuary by Nora Roberts 
  2. Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
    - I don't know that I'd recommend Mary Higgins Clark novels. They're not bad, but they aren't great either. I admittedly judge her a bit harshly because the things I don't like about her writing style are the things that bug me about mine.
  3. Jesus Shock by Peter Kreeft
    - Favorite quote: "We are ontological oxymorons. The very word "oxymoron" is a providential joke, for we are animals like oxen and also spiritual morons, for sin is the stupidest thing imaginable." 
  4. Birthright - Nora Roberts
  5. The Murder House by James Patterson
  6. The Necromancers by Robert Hugh Benson
    - This book was...odd. I can see it being poignant for its time, but it does not hold up as well as Lord of the World, Dawn of All, Come Rack! Come Rope!, etc.
  7. Alert (a Michael Bennet novel) by James Patterson
  8. Now You See Her by Linda Howard
  9. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson
    - I saw the movie first. I would recommend both.
  10. An Independent Wife - Linda Howard
    - Not worth reading. First book I can remember throwing out once I finished it. Independent my...butt. 
  11. Room by Emma Donoghue
    - The book was interesting and I would recommend it. The movie was not a great adaptation or a particularly good movie. I am genuinely surprised it was nominated for so many awards.
  12. Sweet Revenge - Nora Roberts
  13. Burn: A Novel by Linda Howard
  14. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
    - If you like pyschological thrillers, this one had some good twists.  
  15. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
    - This was on a list of books that are being turned into movies or TV shows. I'm very excited to watch the mini-series, starring Nicole Kidman, Reece Witherspoon,     Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott and     Shailene Woodley.
    - I liked the book so much, I ordered everything else Liane Moriarty has written.
  16. Whiskey Beach - Nora Roberts
  17. The Liar by Nora Roberts
    - Not one of Robert's best. Fairly predictable...I guessed the major twist less than halfway through.
  18. The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott
    - The movie adaptation is better than the book!
    - Fun fact: Louisa May Alcott wrote The Interitance when she was 17. The manuscript wasn't discovered until 1988 and was first published in 1997. 
  19. The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty
  20. Zoo 2 (Bookshot) by James Patterson
    - James Patterson started a line of "bookshots," long short stories that are meant to be read in a few hours. Some are standalone, but several are linked to series such as Alex Cross, Michael Bennet or, in this case, as a sequel to Zoo.
    - Zoo was turned into a TV show, which is utter garbage. Not only has it departed almost completely from the book, but it's basically a propaganda piece for the rabidly environmentalist movement. The only reason I finished season one was because of Billy Burke. 
  21.  The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
    - Another good thriller. I'd recommend it.
    - The movie, starring Emily Blunt, Luke Evans, Justin Theroux and Rebecca Ferguson comes out this fall. 
  22. Too Much Too Soon by Jaqueline Briskin (currently reading)
    - I found this in the clearance section of a really cool kitchen store in Kansas City. I've had pretty good luck in the past just judging a book by its cover (that's how I found James Patterson), but I think this is going to be the exception that makes the rule.

Books TBR (to be read) in 2016, in no particular order:
  1. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
  2. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
  3. The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty
  4. Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
  5. Carrie by Stephen King 
  6. Take Me with You by Catherine Ryan Hyde
  7. Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer 
  8. Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles, Book 2) by Marissa Meyer (need to buy)
  9. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer (need to buy)
  10. Winter (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer (need to buy)
  11. Fairest: The Lunar Chronicles: Levana's Story by Marissa Meyer (need to buy)
  12. Stars Above: A Lunar Chronicles Collection by Marissa Meyer (need to buy)
  13. A Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire Series) by George R. R. Martin
  14. A Clash of Kings (Song of Ice and Fire Series) by George R. R. Martin
  15. A Storm of Swords (Song of Ice and Fire Series) by George R. R. Martin
  16. A Feast of Crows (Song of Ice and Fire Series) by George R. R. Martin
  17. A Dance of Dragons (Song of Ice and Fire Series) by George R. R. Martin
  18. The Adventuress (Good Morning, Irene): An Irene Adler Novel by Carole Nelson Douglas
  19. Soul of Steel: An Irene Adler Novel by Carole Nelson Douglas
  20. Another Scandal in Bohemia (Irene's Last Walz): An Irene Adler Novel by Carole Nelson Douglas
  21. Chapel Noir: An Irene Adler Novel by Carole Nelson Douglas
  22. Castle Rouge: An Irene Adler Novel by Carole Nelson Douglas
  23. Femme Fatale: An Irene Adler Novel by Carole Nelson Douglas
  24. Shadow Woman: A Novel by Linda Howard
  25. Patriot Game by Tom Clancy
  26. Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy
  27. The Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy
  28. Villette by Charlotte Bronte  (author of Jane Eyre, one of my all time favorites!)
  29. Spy of Napoleon by Baroness Orczy  (author of The Scarlet Pimpernel)
  30. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
  31. Socrates Meets Freud by Peter Kreeft
  32. NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson (need to buy!)
  33. Private London by James Patterson
  34. Private Games by James Patterson
  35. Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson
  36. Private Berlin by James Patterson
  37. Private Down Under (aka Private Oz) by James Patterson 
  38. Private L.A. by James Patterson
  39. Private India: City on Fire by James Patterson  (need to buy!)
  40. Private Vegas by James Patterson (need to buy!)
  41. River's End - Nora Roberts
  42. Angels Fall - Nora Roberts
  43. Postcard Killers by James Patterson 
  44. Airframe by Michael Crichton
  45. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
  46. Weep No More, My Lady by Mary Higgins Clark
  47. Stillwatch by Mary Higgins Clark
  48. A Cry In The Night by Mary Higgins Clark
  49. The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark
  50. Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Mary Higgins Clark
  51. We'll Meet Again by Mary Higgins Clark 
  52. Jack and Jill (Alex Cross) by James Patterson 
  53. Cradle and All by James Patterson
  54. The Drop (A Harry Bosch Novel) by Michael Connelly
  55. Prey by Michael Crichton
  56. Sail by James Patterson
  57. Swimsuit by James Patteron
  58. The Beach House by James Patterson
  59. Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell
  60. 1st to Die by James Patterson
  61. 2nd Chance by James Patterson
  62. Third Degree by James Patterson
  63. 4th of July by James Patterson
  64. The 5th Horseman by James Patterson
  65. The 6th Target by by James Patterson
  66. 7th Heaven by James Patterson
  67. The 8th Confession by James Patterson
  68. The 9th Judgement by James Patterson
  69. 10th Anniversary by James Patterson
  70. 11th Hour by James Patterson
  71. The 12th of Never by James Patterson
  72. Unlucky 13 by James Patterson
  73. 14th Deadly Sin by James Patterson
  74. 15th Affair by James Patterson (need to  buy!)
  75. The Obsession by Nora Roberts (need to buy!)
  76. Death of a Writer by Michael Collins 
  77. With Intent to Kill by George Harmon Coxe
  78. Error of Judgement by George Harmon Coxe
  79. Slack Tide by George Harmon Coxe
  80. Triple Exposure by George Harmon Coxe
  81. The Reluctant Heiress by George Harmon Coxe
  82. Top Assignment by George Harmon Coxe
  83. The Impetuous Mistress by George Harmon Coxe
  84. The Big Gamble by George Harmon Coxe
  85. Grave Descend by John Lange 

 If any of these books ever catches your eye and you'd like to borrow it, please let me know! 

 I've decided to leave this up for a week, so there will be no new post on Friday. Just fyi! 
~ Katie

P.S. My new claddagh ring arrived! I was painting my nails and thought the Essie bottle would add a nice pop of color. :) 



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2 comments:

  1. LeviJune 23, 2016 at 1:38 PM

    #10 was the only one you were really negative about.

    "Not worth reading. First book I can remember throwing out once I finished it. Independent my...butt. "

    Can you give more detail? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katie Q.June 23, 2016 at 1:59 PM

      Here's the Amazon description for the book:

      "Seven years after her husband walked out on her, Sallie Jerome Baines has finally recovered from her broken heart and picked up the pieces of her life. She’s lost weight, loosened up and turned her talents to news reporting for one of America’s leading magazines. Finally, she has become the independent, self-possessed woman her husband Rhydon always wanted her to be.

      When Rhydon unexpectedly re-enters her life, joining the magazine she works for as the new publisher, Sallie wonders if her former husband will even recognize her. Of course, having obtained her hard-won independence, there’s no way she would ever want Rhy back … or would she?"


      Barf. I will say that pre-Rhydon (who has a name like that?!), Sallie's a decently strong, independent woman. Her husband left when she was very young (19? 20?) and so she had to fend for herself, slowly bettering herself educationally, physically and emotionally.

      Enter Rhy, stage left. He's physically imposing, adventurous (he'd been a reporter with a "no story was too dangerous to cover" attitude), alpha-male, yada yada. He was also extremely manipulative, crazy possessive, emotionally abusive/hugely domineering. Once he found out who Sallie was (he hadn't seen her in...7 years?), he started harassing her, wouldn't let her work outside the office (because something dastardly could happen to her, oh my) and when she leaves the paper (magazine?), he literally forces her to move into his apartment by putting everything in her apartment in storage. It has all the classic signs of abuse, including cutting her off from her friends (he threatens to fire a male friend of hers because they're "too close") and the work she loves and makes her totally dependent on him. She eventually goes all Stockholm syndrome-y, giving in to everything...and they eventually live happily ever after.

      Such a pile of garbage.

      Delete

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