2011- All of the Books!

Posted on December 21, 2011 by MJones

You might have heard (snigglesnicker) that I completed the GoodReads challenge that I set for myself this year. I usually consider myself a voracious reader, when in actuality I probably read about 5-10 books a year. Well, I bought an eReader and changed all that! I set my goal at 50 and am right now reading books 52 and 53. It’s been a great year, and since everyone is talking about the books they enjoyed this year, I thought I’d go through my list and mention the ones I truly enjoyed.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Allen, Sarah Addison - This is the first book I ever read by Sarah Addison Allen. After reading this one, I had to go find ALL of her books and read them. The lightest touch of magic, romance and whimsy wrapped around a delightful piece of southern fiction.
Still Alice by Genova, Lisa - A heartbreaking story about a woman who is battling early onset Alzheimer’s.
Columbine by Dave Cullen- One of the few books that actually made me shed tears. A very upfront, detailed account of the events at Columbine High School– from both sides.
The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Durrow, Heidi- This is probably the most beautifully written, almost poetic story I’ve ever read. I think I imitated Heidi’s style, much to my reader’s irritation, for about a month after I read this book. I also listened to the audiobook and it was beautifully done as well.
The Kitchen House by Grissom, Kathleen -This was an audio book that I just could NOT stop listening to! Riveting story, satisfying ending. One of the few books I have ever given five stars to.
Don’t Breathe a Word by McMahon, Jennifer- it’s hard to creep me out with words…..but Oh My. I find this book creepier than any Koontz or King! Really well written tale about a magical place and a Faerie King.
The Peach Keeper by Allen, Sarah Addison- I declined to put ALL of her books on this list, but the Peach Keeper was her most recent release and I really enjoyed it.
Silver Sparrow by Jones, Tayari -I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Tayari several times, if only to hear her read from the first chapter of this book. It is gripping from page one when the narrator reveals that her father is a Bigamist. This is the story of two girls with the same father…but one is a secret.
The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner by Smith, Andrea – This is not a new book at all. I met Andrea Smith when she was leaving full time work to write this novel. In fact, I replaced her! Years later, I realized I’d never read this book and picked it up. An engrossing read about a couple who cannot conceive and are blessed with what seems like a baby from above– but they can’t keep him, so they surreptitiously find a home for him. Nor can they keep the other babies that show up on their doorstep, hoping for the same good fortune.
Thr3e by Dekker, Ted – I read this book as research for a story I was writing about Schizophrenia. This story is more about Multiple Personality Disorder, however it is still a DOOZY. I got an inkling early on of what the outcome might be but it just seemed so IMPOSSIBLE. Believe me when I tell you that Ted Dekker is the king of making a way where there seems to be no way.
When She Woke by Jordan, Hillary – There were some parts of this book I didn’t really understand. For example there is an oddly placed lesbian awakening that just seems unnecessary to me. And as others pointed out, the main character falling on her own sword over a man (an adulterous minister, at that) was eye roll inducing. Overall, though this was a great tale of The Scarlet Letter meets Orwell’s 1984. Enjoyed it!
22 Britannia Road: A Novel by Hodgkinson, Amanda – I generally don’t read historical fiction not set in the US, but this book showed up in the GoodReads Book of the year nominations so I picked it up and I’m happy I did. The story bounces between WWII Poland and England– Silvana’s journey to keep herself and her son alive while her husband Aurek fights in the war, their determination to find each other and build a home together once more… but something is wrong. Something is just… off.
Honorable Mention: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Franklin, Tom – I read this at the end of 2010 but enjoyed it so much I wanted to mention it! This story is set in 1970′s Mississippi, around the cold, unsolved disappearance of a young girl. When another girl can’t be found, old suspicions are raised from the dead and two men who were once friends but grew apart must work together to solve the mystery and confront a decades old, buried past.

Bling Blang Blung… DONE! The 2011 GoodReads challenge is in the bag!

Posted on December 3, 2011 by MJones

I set a goal this year to read 50 books and since I JUST finished book #50, it’s time to celebrate!

I’ve always called myself a voracious reader but in reality I probably read about ten books a year. Then I started writing in earnest and reading a lot helped my writing. So in an effort to feed this symbiotic relationship, I joined the challenge this year.

Looking over the list of the books I’ve read this year, I’m filled with pride and memories. Some were quick reads, some I had to push through. All of them gave me a sense of accomplishment that I’ve been sorely lacking lately.

Next year, I think I’ll add a few more and go for it again! Join me!

#Friday Reads 2/25

Posted on February 25, 2011 by MJones

It’s that time again! Friday Reads is when we talk about what we’re readin’!

My reading has been considerably slower this month than last. I was entirely more productive in January than February, but in my defense, I had a lot of writing I wanted to get done. Since I’ve finished that story (that was hanging over my head), I have more time. I wish I could say I’ve filled it with reading, but that would only be a 1/4 truth. Not even a half truth. *shame*

On with it! Let’s chat about what I’m reading… these are the books most active in my ‘Currently Reading Pile’.

Chocolate and Vicodin: My Quest for Relief from the Headache that Wouldn’t Go Away , by Jennette Fulda p. 74 of 320 (23%)

I’ve been an avid reader of PastaQueen for nearly three years. Back when I was trying to lose some weight (never did manage to outrun those lbs, the suckers) I was looking for inspiration and someone linked her blog and I was hooked, right away. I love a success story, and when Jennette Fulda, the Queen of Pasta herself, announced that she was writing a book, I was ultra excited. Half Assed, her weight loss memoir, was her first. Chocolate and Vicodin is her second, about the headache that is like the Little Engine That Could. Since February 2008, Jennette has had a constant headache. At a time in her life when she should be deliriously happy and celebrating, she is knocked to her knees by debilitating head pain. My father suffers from chronic migraines and back pain on a constant basis, has for as long as I can remember. I have friends who are migraine sufferers. If nothing, Chocolate and Vicodin brings the experience home and puts it into words which are down to earth and even humorous. I don’t know how Jennette does it… if I’d had a headache for 3 years, I would be pretty unbearable right now. Great read so far… very entertaining.

Minding Ben , by Victoria Brown p. 26 of 352 (7%)

I won this book through Goodreads FirstReads program. It took a bit to get into it, but I’m now on my way! This book promises to be The Nanny Diaries meets The Help (have read both and hold both in high regard). It is the story of Grace, a young woman from Trinidad who travels to New York in search of the American Dream. What she finds is work with a family that pays meager wages for demanding work and an underground network of the West Indian babysitting community. I’m interested in digging into this book further.

Daughter of Joy , by Kathleen Morgan p. 46 of 336 (13%)

It’s odd that I am a Christian but I shy away from Christian fiction. I often find it preachy, instead of simply having a book where the characters are believers and not… I dunno… non believers. If I want to read a sermon, I will open my Bible, or tune into the 800million churches here in ATL that broadcast their nightly services. I stumbled upon this book and decided to read it without realizing that it was Christian fiction. I kept reading it because it is also historical fiction, sort of a favorite genre, lately. Abigail Stanton is a widow who’s child recently passed away. She’s looking for an escape from her old life while she heals, and happens upon Culdee Creek’s Conor McKay, a surly-yet-handsome, wifeless man with a wild one of a daughter and a son who’s on the wind. This story seems pretty predictable, but then again a lot of love stories are. That won’t stop anyone from reading them. This one is moving a bit slowly, but I am determined to stick with it.

Slammerkin , by Emma Donoghue p. 50 of 408 (12%)

I haven’t read past my last spot a few weeks ago. This book reads entirely more difficult than Room. I am interested in the story but it is set in London. Which, for no reason, is about my least favorite setting in a book. Slammerkin might join the ranks of Stiff, another book I just haven’t been able to dig into.

Damage , by John Lescroart p. 103 of 416 (24%)

Made a bit of progress in this book this week. Lescroart does a great job of building suspense, piling story elements on top of each other like bricks. It really is just beginning to get good. I’ll probably dig into this over the weekend. Did I mention I miss Dismas Hardy?

#FridayReads February 4th!

Posted on February 4, 2011 by MJones

It’s time yet again for Friday Reads! May be a truncated version today because I’ve got sort of a busy day and an idea bubbling over in my mind. I need to get some things worked out and down on paper.

I am going to simply copy what I wrote from a few titles last week, as I am still reading them:

Damage, by John Lescroart- Another new book I started but have only read a page, so far. I LOVE Lescroart so I’m not worried about this book at all. Hoping to spend most of my weekend buried in this one.

Roseflower Creek, by Jackie Lee Miles -I got this book as a freebie from Amazon/B&N. Just started it, seems interesting and a good read, but I’m not far enough into it to say what I like, don’t like. It’s set in the 1950′s south (so you know I’m all over it) . This book begins, “The morning I died it rained. Poured down so hard it washed the blood off my face.” I’m hooked.

Stiff , by Mary Roach- Still chugging away at this book. I really want to enjoy it, it’s just sort of boring. I am going to try to get it out of the way this weekend so I can stop looking at it on my Currently Reading list.

The Help, by Katherine Stockett- I’m listening to this audio book in the car. I read the book back in 2009, thoroughly enjoyed it and am happy to be revisiting it. Since it’s an old book, I’m not counting it toward my 2011 goal.

I finished Water for Elephants and reviewed it HERE. It was okay, not awful but not awesome.

New Reads:

I’ve got some mailbox love lately!

Slammerkin: I read Ms Donoghue’s Room and LOVED it, so I sought out other books by her that I might enjoy. Slammerkin sort of stuck out to me and I copped a paperback edition from GoodReads Swap. What a GREAT way to get a used book for about $3– take it off someone’s hands! I just started it, I’m on page 30. Gripping and intriguing so far. It is, however, print and it takes me longer to read print books. Sometimes they end up errr… in the bathroom… I’m embarrassed to note how many books I have in there.

The others, I haven’t yet started. I got them either through the Swap or via the FirstReads program which is GREAT for getting your hands on newly released books. It’s always a crap shoot because it’s enter to win, but I’ve won 2 copies of books so far!

I guess you know what *I* will be doing over the weekend!

January Wrap up: GYWO and Goodreads Reading Challenge

Posted on February 1, 2011 by MJones

2011 got off to a great start for me. I’ve heard this is pretty common, as people are still motivated and goals are still fresh. All I want is to keep some momentum. I won’t hit these numbers every month, but it’s a nice place to start. At least I know I can do it.

Get Your Words Out- I clocked in at 30, 534 words for January. Huzzah! I think the goal of 1,000 words per day was really helpful, as was having some shorts to focus on, and a few challenges over at GYWO to pull my head out of AIWD and give me a little break. I’m still writing the last chapter. Maybe two. Slow going.

Goodreads Reading Challenge- I’m set to read 50 books in 2011, of which I have read 10. I think I’ve only reviewed 9… the 10th was a writing book and it was really short and I just didn’t feel like reviewing it. I counted it, though. One of my books per month will be a book on writing, and at least 2 books have to be physical, printed on paper books. I sort of failed on that in January. The books just didn’t show up in time, so in February I’ll be reading Slammerkin and… maybe You Know When The Men Are Gone.

#FridayReads Jan 28

Posted on January 28, 2011 by MJones

It’s Friday again, and time for another #FridayReads! Every Friday, we booklovers chat it up about what we’re reading. Here’s my list:

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen – Sad to say, I’m not enjoying this book. Actually I’m not enjoying the audio book. I have the physical book and I’ll probably switch to that. The audio-book is always a matter of a compelling story that I can get lost in and an excellent narrator. I DO NOT like the narrator for this book and I find I just don’t care about the main character quite yet. I’ll pick up the eBook version this week where I left off.

Stif , by Mary Roach- Still chugging away at this book. I really want to enjoy it, it’s just sort of boring. I am going to try to get it out of the way this weekend so I can stop looking at it on my Currently Reading list.

#FridayReads- January 21, 2011

Posted on January 21, 2011 by MJones

This is my first time participating in #FridayReads, started by The Book Studio’s Bethanne Patrick. We talk about what we’re reading. We tag it on twitter as #FridayReads. Simple as that!

I have a few irons in the fire, as always:

The Kitchen House - I’m “reading” this via audio book. It was a slow start, but I’m becoming completely hooked by it, to the point where I will get home from work and sit in the car for another 10 minutes to get to the end of a chapter. This story is told by 2 narrators– Lavinia, who is an Irish orphan turned indentured servant, and Belle, the biracial daughter of the plantation owner. There is… so much drama in this book and I know I could read it faster than I’m listening to it, but I’m MUCH enjoying the distraction from traffic. Even if I’m just going across the street to St@rbucks, I make sure I bring the iPhone, so I can listen to a few minutes. I love historical fiction and this totally fits the bill.

Glorious- I don’t know what’s with this book. I read McFadden’s Sugar, and the follow up This Bitter Earth. I couldn’t get into the Black Magic theme of This Bitter Earth, but it was still written leaps and bounds better than Glorious. It seems to me like this book was spat out and published, unedited, beta-ed, read for clarity…I’m reading it because I want to know what happens in the story, but I’m disappointed in the book itself.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers- I’m a weirdo, and I watch a lot of shows on forensic science, investigation, things like that. CSI in its early years was a staple on my TiVO, until the stories became more about drama, less about science, and even then it was more science fiction. I watch a lot of Forensic Files, The Investigators, Dr G, Medical Examiner, simply because I am intrigued by such things. I thought I would really dig into this book and it was initially really interesting, talking about how much had changed in how doctors performed surgeries, and then later changes in autopsy and burial. At the point I’ve reached, Roach is droning on and on about the cadavers and human lives and feelings and I find I just don’t care about who the cadavers used to be. Tell me about what the cadavers are doing now, and why, and HOW. Ugh. I’m pushing through, but slowly. I’ll give it a few more chapters before I hang it up.

What are YOU reading? Tell me (us) about it, tweet it and don’t forget to add the hashtag #FridayReads!

The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen [Review]

Posted on January 2, 2011 by MJones

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

I didn’t know anything about this book when I picked it from the stack, other than my fave book blogger WriteMeg! had read it at as well and didn’t hate it. So glad I decided to get it and take a chance on it. I was craving something light and wonderful and this definitely hit the spot.

The town of Mullaby, NC is a small, southeastern town full of polite charm and a little bit of magic. Sixteen year old Emily has been sent there to live with her grandfather after the death of her mother. Right away, she learns that her mother was not always a fine, upstanding citizen. Rather, she had quite the reputation.

Emily meets her grandfather, a giant of a man as harmless as a butterfly. He is shy, avoids people and crowds, has a hard time fitting in– Emily knows how he feels. So does Julia, resident cake baker and owner of the local barbecue restaurant. Her return to Wallaby just a few short years prior dredged up a lot of old memories– namely Sawyer, a boy she once loved and was torn from, with whom she shares a large secret.

And then there is the strangeness. The Mullaby Lights that only glow in the night, the “sweet sense” that Sawyer seems to have, the sparkle that follows Julia around…. there are a lot of mysteries in Mullaby, for such a quiet little town.

View all my reviews

A little bit of a lot of progress

Posted on December 28, 2010 by MJones

Very brief update. I got some writing in at work because boss left early. Yay. And then read and read and READ until I finished Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter. Really great book. Thoughtful review coming soon.

My eyes hurt, though, so it’s time to chillax and enjoy some boob tube before bedtime.

S L O W moving chapter (but at least it’s moving) and a new book!

Posted on December 27, 2010 by MJones

4000 words and I haven’t even got past day one. I’m trying to make sight-seeing seem interesting by interspersing banter and funny, meaningful conversation and not making it obvious that I want to move time along. I suppose it helps that I don’t plan to detail every day of a week long vacation like I’m detailing this first day. My goal for the next 1000 words is going to get them at least to their final destination, the island of Santorini. I should aim for that tonight but I just don’t have the brain capacity, really. It’ll have to be tomorrow.

I also started reading a new book that is way less of a disappointment than my last book.

[Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter is] an atmospheric drama set in rural Mississippi. In the late 1970s, Larry Ott and Silas “32″ Jones were boyhood pals. Their worlds were as different as night and day: Larry, the child of lower-middle-class white parents, and Silas, the son of a poor, single black mother. Yet for a few months the boys stepped outside of their circumstances and shared a special bond. But then tragedy struck: Larry took a girl on a date to a drive-in movie, and she was never heard from again. She was never found and Larry never confessed, but all eyes rested on him as the culprit. The incident shook the county—and perhaps Silas most of all. His friendship with Larry was broken, and then Silas left town.
More than twenty years have passed. Larry, a mechanic, lives a solitary existence, never able to rise above the whispers of suspicion. Silas has returned as a constable. He and Larry have no reason to cross paths until another girl disappears and Larry is blamed again. And now the two men who once called each other friend are forced to confront the past they’ve buried and ignored for decades.

It’s fantastic so far, fast paced and full of questions to be answered and puzzles to solve. I’m on Ch 4 and I expect to finish in the next few days.

These words are my own…

Posted on December 24, 2010 by MJones

I have writted. I got in my 1000 words for the night. Tomorrow I’ll edit the first 1400 and type 1000 more until this chapter is complete. Seems like a nice way to pace myself and not get buried under detail and minutae.

My chapter opens with my characters on a long awaited flight. I’ve spent 3 days with them on the plane… my goal today was to get them off of the plane and I did that.

Now it’s time to settle down and get some reading in. I’m taking a break from Pretty Little Liars and I’ve picked up the Lonely Polygamist. I don’t know why I am drawn to stories about this life, but I am. The MC so far doesn’t seem like a strong enough man to have 4 wives, but whatever. Just getting into it.

Speaking of, my to read pile is kind of scary. I’ve committed to not getting any more books (fingers crossed behind my back) until I’ve made a dent in that list. It’ll get to where I can’t remember why I thought a book would be interesting to read (why did I get a book named BUFFALO???) and then I’ll archive it and I’ll never read it. Thankfully most ebooks are free downloads so it’s not like it’s a waste of money, but… I don’t need to waste space either.

Speaking of x 2… I think I am going to give myself the gift of a Nook Color. I have so many books in .epub format, which the kindle doesn’t read. Also I only have the iPhone app, which doesn’t let you add books to it. I CAN add books to my Nook for PC app but they don’t translate to the Nook app on my iPhone. I’m hoping that is something that will work for the Nook, otherwise I’m still out an eReader that is truly compatible with my iPhone.

Ah well. Seems more research is in order!

Melinda Jones ~ The Sweet Escape

…wouldn't that be sweet?

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