Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz

From Goodreads: Jayne Ann Krentz borrows from the legend of the Hatfields and McCoys and throws in a few echoes of Romeo and Juliet in her latest saga of romance and intrigue. Eclipse Bay is the first in what promises to be an exciting new trilogy. Death and desire walk hand in hand in the tiny town of Eclipse Bay, located along the rocky coast of Oregon. The steep cliffs and crashing waves are no less hazardous than the nasty secrets that many in town keep. And at the heart of it all is the generations-long rivalry and hostilities between two families: the Hartes and the Madisons.

I needed an "E" book for the A-Z Reading Challenge and before I had a chance to explore some suggestions, this audiobook fell in my lap and the lazy easy thing to do was just pop it in and listen! Despite being written in 2000, it took me straight back to the early '80's when I read lots of "sweeping sagas" with family feuds and romances. I gave it a 2 on Goodreads because it was fairly easy to tell where things were going with the romance right from the first minute so the convulated path it took just felt contrived. The characters were very soap-opera like - the good girl, the bad boy, the eccentric aunt - no one who I really related to and liked. But, I spend so much time in the car that I am over being picky, it was "listenable" and I enjoyed it for what it was!

The End of 2010

I just finished reading Entertainment Weekly's Best and Worst of 2010 issue. It was an eye opener.
2010 Best Movies….haven't seen one of them.
2010 Best TV shows….don't watch any of those either.
2010 Best Music CD's…don’t own one of them and only recognized one artist name (Kanye West).
2010 Best non-fiction books…haven't read one although four were familiar titles.
2010 Best fiction books….haven't read ANY and only recognized ONE (!) title (Room).
2010 Best Stage shows….oh please, did I even need to type the heading? Zero, zip, nada.
2010 Best games….my best showing, I've played Angry Birds on the iPad.

I didn’t realize how completely unhip I am. I'm socially illiterate.

I may not have fared well compared to the general population but I was pretty happy with just myself for completing the bulk of the challenges I entered this year.

First off, and always a little bit tricky (darn that X!) is the A-Z Reading Challenge - this one I finished.

Next is Women Unbound, I never actually set a goal for this one but I would still call it a success, I think I met the minimum requirements with a few extra.

The Audiobook Challenge is a piece of cake other than my neglecting to add them to the list and link them up! This one is complete with about 25 audiobooks listened to this year.

The Year of the Historical challenge was a wash. The Historical fiction book club lost it's steam and so did I. I only read 4 of the 12.

I ended on an almost bang by completing the Holiday Reading Challenge - but I haven't written any of the posts so although complete it's not a resounding success.

I had in the back of my mind all year to sign up for the What's In a Name? challenge. Of course, it never happened but I still love this challenge and want to see if I could have done it...
1.A book with a food in the title: Yes, Dark Tort
2.A book with a body of water in the title: Yes! Green River Running Red
3.A book with a title (queen, president) in the title: Yes! The Queen's Mistake
4.A book with a plant in the title: Yes, again! The Bean Trees
5.A book with a place name (city, country) in the title: Yes, again! The New York, Regional Mormons ...
6.A book with a music term in the title: Nooooooo! So close! Next year, for sure.

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

Description from Goodreads: In California s central valley, five women and one man join to discuss Jane Austen s novels. Over the six months they get together, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens. With her eye for the frailties of human behaviour and her ear for the absurdities of social intercourse, Karen Joy Fowler has never been wittier nor her characters more appealing. The result is a delicious dissection of modern relationships.


This was a fun read despite the fact that I have only read one (yes, one!) Jane Austen novel. I liked the characters, I liked the format of getting to know them as a group then focusing on them as individuals when it was their turn to host the book club. I didn't like the "teaching moments" - mini lectures on related subjects inserted here and there but they were really well delineated by type and formatting so I could skip right over those. There were synopses of the Jane Austen books in the back but I didn't really need them; she (Austen) has become so popular that I knew enough just from pop culture to get by with the book club discussions. I wonder how real Austen fans felt about this book - may have to go read some reviews and see. This has also been made into a movie so I'll add it to my list of movies that I ought to watch but probably never will.

This wraps up the Reading A-Z Challenge for 2010. (My "J" book was supposed to be Jefferson for the US Presidents Reading Project but I have started and stopped it a dozen times so there is no way I will finish that one by the 31st!) Click on the button to see all the titles I read, not all have posts linked because I have been computerless FOREVER! This is my first post on my new computer so I have high hopes that those issues are behind me!

A Virtuos Woman by Kaye Gibbons and Cancer Update #5

Dad was in the hospital having surgery - that is actually good news. The chemotherapy and radiation were so successful that the only cancer left was the original tumor in the lung so they cut that bad boy out. Spending the day at his bedside during recovery, I knew I would need a book. I plucked this one off the shelves because I am closing in on the end of the A-Z Reading Challenge and I needed a "V" book. Didn't know until I flipped it open that it is the story of "a virtuous woman" who dies from lung cancer. Not sure what the word would be to describe that ..irony, satire, allusion, just plain bad luck? But despite that, the book was a good choice. Dad is still in the hospital, it has been one week now and we are eager for news that he can go home. I'll keep you posted.

From the Amazon product description: The virtuous woman is Ruby Pitt Woodrow, .... The daughter of prosperous farmers, Ruby runs off with a migrant worker who treats her badly, then abandons her far from home. When she meets Jack, a man 20 years her senior, she's working as a cleaning woman in another prosperous farmer's house. Jack is a man women don't look at even once, let alone twice; Ruby is a woman who needs someone to take care of her. Out of this unlikely union grows a quiet kind of love that is no less powerful for being unstated.
I can hardly remember Kaye Gibbon's first novel, Ellen Foster, except that I remember I liked it. This book shares a setting and a few characters with that one but the only name I recognized was Ellen. A Virtuous Woman starts out with the title character already dead and goes back and forth between present and past to tell us the story. It worked for me because it meant short chapters in an already short book for a reader, who at the time, had a pretty short attention span. (Read a chapter, blood pressure check, read a chapter, skin assessment team visits, read a chapter, chaplain drops by, read a chapter, central line check, continue for the entire day and night....hospital are not restful places.) The description reads of a "love unstated"; there was no flowery romantic language. The book was plain spoken like the people it told about and the most beautiful expression of love comes after Ruby has already passed. Even though it hit a little close to home, I enjoyed this one.

This book is my "V" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

Liam Pennywell, who set out to be a philosopher and ended up teaching fifth grade, never much liked the job at that run-down private school, so early retirement doesn’t bother him. But he is troubled by his inability to remember anything about the first night that he moved into his new, spare, and efficient condominium on the outskirts of Baltimore. All he knows when he wakes up the next day in the hospital is that his head is sore and bandaged. His effort to recover the moments of his life that have been stolen from him leads him on an unexpected detour. What he needs is someone who can do the remembering for him. What he gets is — well, something quite different.

I went to read this one with mixed up expectations. I knew I had read other Anne Tyler books and thoroughly enjoyed them. At the same time, I couldn't recall many specific titles or details so they must not have been very memorable. I am usually more attracted to books where the main character is a woman and this is a man, an old man. And, finally, I read several reviews that described this book as slow; I'm not good with slow. So, how did it end up?

It ended up just fine. Liam Pennywell is an old man, things do move pretty slowly, it's not the most memorable story I've ever read but I loved it anyway! There was enough going on to keep me turning the pages but not so much going on that it took me more than a few hours to polish it off. When things got complacent, there was one unexpected twist that made me sit up and read with renewed enthusiasm. Liam was somewhat interesting and he was surrounded by people that added to that in their own unique ways. When all is said and done, Anne Tyler has a gift for just nailing human emotions and interactions. She does family life well and it reads smooth and easy.

This book is my "N" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

And finally, an oops, please forgive me if I spammed you with the product description and a misspelled title the other day - hit post instead of save!

The Hunger Games Trilogy

No need for a description on these, if you haven't heard about them yet, you must be in an isolation unit somewhere! Both Bookworm and Youngest had read the first two when it came time for Mockingjay to come out. I figured if both those kids (not to mention the bulk of the book blogging world) liked the series, I probably would too so I carved out some time this past week and enjoyed all three in a row.

I probably liked the first one best for the usual reason -it was all fresh and new and exciting. The next two had surprises but they couldn't match the wonder of discovering everything for the first time. I had the same response with Harry Potter and Twilight With The Hunger Games, I liked the way the author expanded the scale with each book leading up to such a climatic ending. And I liked that she gave each of the male romantic possibilities a true shot at winning Katniss' heart. (Unlike the Twilight series where the answer was soooo obvious. OK that's a joke just for all the Edward fans out there.)

I know there is a movie coming but can't find any details yet - I'll look forward to seeing who gets picked to be Katniss - although I shouldn't get excited, it will probably be some teenager I have never heard of!

I've been so idle that I've lost track of my challenges but if it is still going on this one would count for Woman Unbound (Katniss is definitely unbinding herself and everyone else!). And, The Hunger Games can be my "H" book and Mockingjay my "M" book for the A-Z Reading challenge.

Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark

From the author's website: Ellie Cavanaugh was seven years old when her older sister was murdered near their home in New York's Westchester County. It was young Ellie's tearful testimony that put Rob Westerfield, the nineteen-year-old scion of a prominent family, in jail despite the existence of two other viable suspects.

Twenty-two years later, Westerfield, who maintains his innocence, is paroled. Determined to thwart his attempts to pin the crime on another, Ellie, an investigative reporter for an Atlanta newspaper, returns home and starts writing a book that will conclusively prove Westerfield's guilt. As she delves deeper into her research, however, she uncovers horrifying facts that shed new light on her sister's murder. With each discovery she comes closer to a confrontation with a desperate killer.

I was clicking through my Google Reader the other day and Beth at Beth's Book Nook had reviewed the newest Mary Higgins Clark book. That reminded me I had an older one sitting in my TBR pile and last night I pulled it out and settled in. There isn't much to a Mary Higgins Clark review, her books follow a formula and if you like her, each one stays pretty true to that formula so you will probably like the book. In the acknowledgements of this one, she mentions that this book was a journey for her because it was written in first person, (long pause), I honestly didn't notice anything different from the other twenty books I have read of hers. Oh well, I did enjoy it though. I hunkered down on the couch and read past my bedtime and was happy with it at the end. It was less complicated than some of her older books - not as many characters to keep track of - so it was an exceptionally easy read and very relaxing!

And it fits as my "D" book! This book is my "D" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

The Elephant in the Playroom

From the Amazon product description: In The Elephant in the Playroom, moms and dads from across the country write intimately and honestly about the joyful highs and disordered lows of raising children who are "not quite normal." Laying bare the emotional, medical, and social challenges they face, their stories address issues ranging from if and when to medicate a child, to how to get a child who is overly sensitive to the texture of food to eat lunch. Eloquent and honest, the voices in this collection will provide solace and support for the millions of parents whose kids struggle with ADD, ADHD, sensory disorders, childhood depression, Asperger’s syndrome, and autism—as well as the many kids who fall between diagnoses.

This compilation of stories written by parents of special needs children has spots of humor and lots of heartwrenching sob fests too. I particularly loved the essay by Leigh Ann Wilson , who searched high and low for treatment for her son and said , "Three years, dozens of occupational therapy sessions, parenting classes, allergy tests, new diet regimes, mercury testing, eye examinations, and every last dime of our money, we ended up before a group of psychiatrists at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. They handed us a prescription for Ritalin." ! That was an affirming statement to read. We weren't the only parents who were so resistant to a diagnosis of ADD that we tried probably way too many things, and let Tween fail at school way too long, before we gave medicine a chance. This was a quick read, the writing flows from one story to the next and I just couldn’t put it down. Working in the world of special needs children - these were my stories, I loved these families. The love and emotion in this book just carried me away.

While this book doesn't focus solely on families of children with autism, they do have a lot of space and voice here! So I think it is a good fit for the Autism Awareness Month reading challenge that was hosted by tokemise at By Hook or By Book. Unfortunately I am so late posting for this APRIL challenge, that the blog is on hiatus and I can't direct you there to check out other autism related books. I've read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and in my TBR pile I have Daniel Isn't Talking.

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume

From the author's website: A move from the city to the suburbs, sixth grade in a different school, a new group of friends. But Margaret handles it...in her own funny, endearing way.




I have finally finished my first book for the Shelf Discovery Reading Challenge - hooray! I remember this one from my childhood but as I saw another participant wrote - in rereading it, I realised there was a lot more to the story than just a girl who wishes she would develop faster. The bust exercises were definitely something me and my friends all tried - I guess that kinesthetic activity cemented that part of the story into my memory. But the other storylines were even more interesting. There was Margaret's search for a religious home with the pressure form the grandparents on either side contrasted with her parents' reluctance to even engage in a discussion about religion with Margaret. Then there is the idea of Margaret becoming aware that all the other children are not necessarily what they seem to be at first; the "bad girl" might be nice and the "good girl" might have some flaws. Middle school is such a hard age and Blume captures it perfectly!

I also enjoyed perusing Judy Blume's website. Reading her stories about this book and others being censored was very interesting. She's a leader in the movement to keep books from being censored and she has a story about her mother "banning a book" for her that was very similar to my own experience!

This was a fun read for the Shelf Discovery Challenge hosted by Booking Mama. I am glad to have a notch on my Shelf Discovery belt and am looking forward to the others on my list. Click on the logo if you'd like to see the rest of my list.





This is one of the books on my list for the Spring Reading Thing 2010 hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days. Click on the logo if you'd like to see the rest of my list.





This book is my "A" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

Memorial Day by Vince Flynn

From the author's website: CIA intelligence has pointed to a major terrorist attack on the United States, just as the nation’s capital prepares for a grand Memorial Day tribute to the veterans of World War II. Racing to Afghanistan, Mitch Rapp leads a commando raid on an al Qaeda stronghold in a remote border village.


This was your basic suspense/thriller of the macho variety. It took me two tries to get started but since I have said that exact same thing so frequently lately (like here and here), I'm beginning to wonder if it is just me! The main character Mitch Rapp is arrogant, impatient, sexist, intolerant; I really did not like him. I enjoyed the plot for the suspense - will they save the day?!- but I did not click with any of the characters. I did not realize until after the fact how timely the subject matter was - the debate about whether suspected terrorists should be read their rights and tried in the courts was on the news very shortly after I finished this one.

Vince Flynn's leading man character, Mitch Rapp, may not be my cup of tea but, boy, does Flynn have a great website! He softened me up by having a page devoted to charities, a page answering questions from readers, another featuring photos of readers with his books. He is either a marketing wizard or he has hired one because that site is impressive and sucks you in with so many varied links.

This book is my "M" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.






This book counts toward the 2010 Audiobook Challenge hosted by the bloggers over at Royal Reviews. Click on the button to see my progress.

The French Mistress by Susan Holloway Scott

From the author's website: 1668: The daughter of a poor nobleman, Louise leaves the French countryside for the glittering court of the legendary King Louis XIV. As a baby-faced maid of honor, the innocent Louise attracts little notice––until she catches the eye of the visiting English king, Charles II. Before long, she is sent by the scheming Louis to London as a royal “gift” for Charles. There she is expected not only to please the tastes of the jaded English king, but to serve as a spy for France.

Meh. It was alright. Take my opinion with a grain of salt because I do believe I am suffering from Historical Fiction exhaustion. I would say "Tudor exhaustion" but I am not sure of that is the correct term for this time period - I'm still fairly HF illiterate. This one was set in the court of Charles II and told the story of one of the important women in his life - you know, the important women in addition to the wife. There are two other "important women" and I saw in the back of the book that Susan Holloway Scott has written their stories as well. So she essentially tells the same tale from three different angles; I find that intriguing. Unfortunately, this viewpoint didn't enthrall me. Neither the romance nor the history were very memorable. I'll probably recollect the more sordid imagery from the first few chapters when she was still in the French court longer than I'd like and the rest not as long!

This book counts toward the Year of the Historical 2010 Reading Challenge hosted by lurv a la mode. Click on the button to see my progress.

This was the Facebook Historical Fiction book club selection for February. Next month we are reading Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran.




This book is my "F" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield

From the back cover: Do you find yourself constantly picking up toys and clothing that clutter your home? Has your desk drawer become your filing cabinet? Do dentist appointments and important events seem to sneak up on you - if you remember them at all? If so, then Confessions of an Organized Homemaker is coming to your rescue!

Learning that I read this book would make half my friends roll their eyes and laugh saying, "She'll never get organized!" and the other half would drop their jaws in surprise and say, "She's the most organized person I know." They'd both be right. I have areas where I rock in organization - I could give seminars on efficiently grocery shopping, doing laundry, and packing lunches. Time management - I can juggle schedules better than most. But my car is always a mess, I have a deep seated phobia that prevents me from going to the post office in a timely fashion, and I am a paper hoarder which leads to lots of other problems! This book didn't solve my problems. I already know what I am supposed to be doing. But it was a nice kick in the rear for a few of my problem areas - menu planning and getting the family to pitch in on chores.

I'm not sure why the title of this book is "confessions" but I do have a few confessions of my own that are the result of my lack of organization. The big one is overdue errands. I am good at the side of errands that is 'picking up what I need', I am bad at the side of errands that is 'returning what I am done with'. I'm taking Lent as a time to make my peace with this world of overdue errands. I have movies from Blockbuster that were never returned (about three months overdue), I have a Play station game from the game store that was rented about four years ago, lost, and never paid for, I have the ball gown destroyed and never returned, and I have the library books from the summer of 2005 that deserve a post all their own. I am tackling each of these neglected chores and doing my penance. In the case of the library books, the penance was fines to the tune of $70.00. See...lack of organization is painfully expensive.

Would I recommend this book? Sure, if it's on a good sale. Most of the organizational/housekeeping tips are very similar to what is to be had for free over at Flylady but sometimes it's nice to hold a book in your hands, curl up under your Snuggie, and imagine what your life could be if you just got organized!

This book is my "C" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

From the Amazon product description: It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.

For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”

I both loved the book and was mildly disappointed at the same time. I think it was a case of inflated expectations; there were so many reviews out there praising the book that I don't believe any book could have met my expectations! It was a fun read. I've seen it compared to Harriet the Spy and I have to agree except that Harriet is definitely written for children and Sweetness is not. As I read, I kept considering it, debating with myself whether or not Youngest would possibly enjoy it. I think he would EXCEPT that there are so many references to literary works that are beyond his years, like Bleak House, that he would have to skim quite a bit and end up losing the storyline. I can imagine this though as a movie that children will enjoy. The scenes described are perfect for film - opening with Flavia being tied up in the closet, the car crashing into the shed, teetering on the rooftop - all great images. I googled but could find no mention of plans to make a movie, there were mentions of the second book - it is due out March 9, 2010. As much as I have vowed NO MORE BOOKS until I read what I've already got....I want this one!

This book is my "S" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

The Overlook by Michael Connelly

From the author's website: Harry Bosch is called out to investigate a murder that may have chilling consequences for national security. A doctor with access to a dangerous radioactive substance is found murdered on the overlook above the Mulholland Dam. Retracing his steps, Harry learns that a large quantity of radioactive cesium was stolen shortly before the doctor's death. With the cesium in unknown hands, Harry fears the murder could be part of a terrorist plot to poison a major American city.

This was a good, basic murder mystery. It is the 13th in a series of 16 so I was missing just a little of the main character, Harry Bosch's history:)! It didn't interfere with my enjoying the plot - there was enough information for me to stay with the story withut any difficulty. But I didn't like him (thought Harry was an arrogant jerk actually) and perhaps that's because I didn't know his history. Nothing really stood out in thsi book making me want to continue the series, however I liked it well enough that if another comes along, I'll listen to it.

This book counts toward the 2010 Audiobook Challenge hosted by the bloggers over at Royal Reviews. Click on the button to see my progress.








This book is my "O" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

Paint it Black by Janet Fitch

From the Amazon product description: Josie Tyrell, art model, teen runaway, and denizen of LA's 1980 punk rock scene, finds a chance at real love with art student Michael Faraday. A Harvard dropout and son of a renowned pianist, Michael introduces her to his spiritual quest and a world of sophistication she had never dreamed existed. But when she receives a call from the Los Angeles County Coroner, asking her to identify her lover's dead body, her bright dreams all turn to black.


Oooh - this one was sooo good; I wish every book I read could just suck me in like this one did! I listened to it on audio but I wished I had a paper copy too because some of the writing was just incredible and I wanted to go back and reread bits and pieces. Fitch doesn't just paint images with her words, she makes you feel the emotions - the shame, the dirt, the longing. One bit I remember is Michael's mother scornfully telling Josie how poor a match she was for Micheal saying that she didn't belong with Michael that she didn't deserve to be near him, that she 'doesn't even deserve to be in the same sentence with him'. I found a spot on goodreads where people place quotes they like and there was this one from Paint It Black, Josie thinking about Micheal's suicide..."Death like a lover, caressing him, promising him peace, running its fingers through his hair, its tongue in his ear. She put her own two fingers in her mouth. Im so sorry. And pulled the trigger" Janet Fitch has one other book besides this oen and White Oleander, it's Kicks a middle grade story; it's on mental wish list now.

This book counts toward the 2010 Audiobook Challenge hosted by the bloggers over at Royal Reviews. Click on the button to see my progress.








This book is my "P" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

From the Amazon product description: Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places.

I absolutely loved it! I have seen Barbara Kingsolver's name floating around recently because she just published a new book, Lacuna. Well, I have some catching up to do if all her books are this good because The Bean Trees was her debut novel and it was great. I had to get past the initial disbelief of - "nobody would ever just hand over a beautiful baby girl to a stranger" - but after accepting that (just say "It's fiction!" really loud), the rest was gritty and bittersweet - exactly the style I like. When I googled to find a cover image, I was surprised to see Sparks notes and other study guides. I didn't click on a one because I knew it would just point out all the pieces that I missed - the foreshadowing, the imagery, the themes...ugh, English 101. If I was reading this for a book group discussion, yes, those things would be important to me but for pleasure, all I need to know is that I liked it!

This book has a wealth of strong women fighting for what is right - a childhood free of abuse, immigrants rights, and marriage that is a partnership.







This book is my "B" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.

The Queen's Mistake by Diane Haeger

From the author's website: When young and beautiful Catherine Howard becomes the fifth wife of fifty year old king Henry VIII, she seems to be on top of the world. Yet her reign is destined to be brief and heartbreaking, as she is forced to do battle with enemies far more powerful and calculating than she could have ever anticipated in a court where one wrong move could mean her destruction. Wanting only love, Catherine is compelled to deny her heart's desire in favor of her family's ambition. But in so doing, she unwittingly gives those who seek to bring her down a most effective weapon, her own romantic past.

I wondered if I would like the book at first, the beginning chapters had more overt sexuality than I had anticipated. But as I went further, the story drew me in. I felt like it moved at a good pace; it never dragged for me and I kept wanting to know what would happen. Because I am new to historical fiction, I really didn't know how it would all turn out as opposed to more experienced historical fiction lovers who would probably know before beginning how it would end! I wanted to know how it turned out more out of curiosity about the events than because I particularly cared for any particular character. I found the characters and the life at court fascinating but not appealing; Catherine was interesting but I didn't like her, same with Henry. I wasn't rooting for any particular ending because I didn't connect with either of the major characters more than any other.

This book is my "Q" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.







This book also counts toward the Year of the Historical 2010 Reading Challenge hosted by lurv a la mode. Click on the button to see my progress.





And, it's the Facebook Historical Fiction Book Club selection. Oh my, I got a lot of mileage out of this one!

A-Z Reading Challenge 2010

I had a great time last year completing the 2009 A-Z Reading Challenge so I am happy to play along again this year. I'm sticking with what worked and just doing the A-Z by titles for a commitment to 26 books. If you want more information about the challenge, click on the button to go visit the challenge sign-up post at the dedicated blog.


Here's what I have read so far in 2010....
A- Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume
B- The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
C- Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield
D- Daddy's Little Girl by Mary Higgins Clark
E- Endless Summer by Rosamunde Pilcher
F- The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
G- Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule
H- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I- I Like You by Amy Sedaris
J- The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
K- Knitting by Anne Bartlett
L- Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza
M- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
N- Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler
O- The Overlook by Michael Connelly
P- Paint it Black by Janet Fitch
Q- The Queen's Mistake by Diane Haeger
R- The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall
S- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
T- Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
U- The Unnamed
V- A Virtuous Woman by Kaye Gibbons
W- World Without End by Ken Follett
X- I, Alex Cross by James Patterson
Y- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Z- The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule

From the author's website: In the most extraordinary book Ann Rule has ever undertaken, America's master of true crime has spent more than two decades researching the story of the Green River Killer, who murdered more than forty-nine young women. The quest to discover the most prolific serial killer in American history has been an intimate part of Ann Rule's life, with some of the corpses found only a mile or so from where she lived and raised her own daughters. She did not know the killer, but he apparently knew her and attended many of her book signings.

This book was a strange combination of boring and fascinating. The narrator was kind of flat, her tone monotonous. The subject matter is gruesome but even that becomes repetitious as he kills again and again and again - 49 times over. The pattern of luring the girls, killing them, and the body being discovered happening over and over had a numbing effect and the sensational became predictable. This series of murders happened around the time I was graduating from high school and going off to college. I assume it is a reflection of the self-absorption of that age that I have no recollection of any of it from the news but certainly it must have made national headlines.

I haven't read much in the "true-crime" genre. I am certain I would never have made it through this one in written form because there weren't any central characters to pull me in and make me want to continue. But I can listen to books I wouldn't have the patience to read because I spend so much time in the car and it entertains me. Listening to this one didn't unsettle me to the point where I was actually nervous or scared but it certainly wasn't pleasant. I won't be looking for any more of this type of story. But I'm an audio book junkie and if that's what I've got, I'll listen to it!

This book counts toward the 2010 Audiobook Challenge hosted by the bloggers over at Royal Reviews. Click on the button to see my progress.


This book is my "G" book for the 2010 A-Z Reading Challenge. Click on the button to see my progress.