Sunday, August 29, 2010

Book Challenge: Week 9

Week: August 23 - 29

Book: Spiderman: Power and Responsibility

Author: Marvel

Comments: This was volume 1 in the graphic novel series. I quite enjoyed it and read it quickly. It is the origin of Spiderman.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Book Challenge: Week 8

Week: August 16 - 22

Title: Dead in the Family

Author: Charlaine Harris

Comments: This is the newest of the books in the Sookie Stackhouse series that True Blood is based on. This book was one of the few in the series that deals more with Sookie's daily activities but gets exciting near the end. The series is enjoyable and light fluff. If this is something you enjoy I also suggest the Kim Harrison series with "White Witch, Black Curse" and "Black Magic Sanction". There are several in the series and I started with book 3 because I didn't know it was a series at the time (the first 2 weren't that great).

Book Challenge: Week 7

Week: August 9 - 15

Title: The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower 1

Author: Stephen King

Comments: The Gunslinger was a very early book by Stephen King. He recently rewrote it which I thought greatly improved the story. It felt more smooth and was easier to read. I thought it was slow to start but picked up near the end. I will continue with the series.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

August

August 14: Party

August 15: Feathers


August 13: Lookout

August 12: Frisbee



August 7: Knick Knack
August 6: Almost missed it


August 5: Pattern
August 4: Cat in the garden

England 3

August 3: Sobrero

August 2: Settlers of Catan


August 1: Goodbye Everyone


July 31: Winning at Pool

July 30: Fireworks

England 2


July 29: Pyrography



July 28: 1929 Rolls Royce (we went off roading in it)


July 27: Time in the sun

July 26: Volleyball Fail



July 25: 5 person eucher

England 1


July 23: The "Gals" arrived


July 22: Creating the TUC Shop

July 21: Plague Cottages



July 20: Walking Trail

Mass Posting


July 17


July 16


July 15: Throw It!


July 12: Packing

Friday, August 6, 2010

Book Challenge: Week 6

Week: August 2 - 8

Title: The Blood Doctor
Author: Barbara Vine A.K.A Ruth Rendell

Notes: The main character is attempting to write an autobiography about his Great-Grandfather who was a doctor who specialized in Haemophilia. I actually learned quite a bit about the history of haemophilia, and the disease itself, as I read. While the story can seem kind of slow sometimes it was also quite engaging.

Book Challenge: Week 5

Week: July 26 - August 1

Title: Your Heart Belongs to Me
Author: Dean Koontz

Notes: Another suspense/mystery book by Koontz. I read the back and thought "this could be quite good". The blurb on the back of a book (or in the jacket) is designed to gain interest and attract attention by giving hints at the plot and key events. I began reading with an idea of what to expect but it took halfway through the book for what was presented as the main event to occur. So half of the book was not as advertised and I found myself becoming impatient wanting to get into the action. Once it really "started" the plot advanced quickly with several twists thrown in to keep the reader guessing.

Book Challenge: Week 4

Week: July 19 - 25

Title: Pirate Latitudes
Author: Michael Crichton

Notes: I typically enjoy pirates (though I have never met one). This book was enjoyable and entertaining. It takes a look at Port Royal when the English and Spanish are fighting and the pirates/privateers of the time. I have enjoyed Micheal Crichton books before but this one was published after he died. I am wary of books published posthumously as there is no way to know if it is what the author intended, if it was completed, was it edited and made to the best of his/her intent. While I enjoyed the book I thought it was not quite up to Crichton's standard. The writing style seemed different, which may be attributed to a different audience or just being more staight forward. It was much easier to read than others he wrote.

Book Challenge: Week 3

Week: July 12 - 18

Title: Forty Signs of Rain
Author: Kim Stanley Robinson

Notes: Climate change is frequently discussed in media and this book takes a look at the political process of trying to get legislation passed, through a fictional story, and possible events that could occur. This book has several slower parts when it goes into exposition and explanations that almost seem to stall the plot. It was interesting though and I am going to look up the other books in this series.