January Reads

* On the Rocks (Konrath) ~ 4/5


* Whelp Wanted (Konrath) ~ 3/5


* Street Music (Konrath) ~ 4/5


* The One That Got Away (Konrath) ~ 4/5


* With A Twist (Konrath) ~ 4.25/5


1. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Foer) ~ 3/5


* Epitaph (Konrath) ~ 2.5/5


* Taken to the Cleaners (Konrath) ~ 3.5/5


* Body Shots (Konrath) ~ 3.5/5


2. Mini Shopaholic (Kinsella) ~ 4/5


3. These Hidden Things (Gudenkauf) ~ 3.75/5


* Suffer (Konrath) ~ 4/5


* School Daze (Konrath) ~ 3.75/5


* Overproof (Konrath) ~ 3.25/5


* Bereavement (Konrath) ~ 3.5/5


* Pot Shot (Konrath) ~ 3.5/5


* Last Request (Konrath) ~ 3.5/5


* The Necro File (Konrath) ~ 1/5


4. Jack Daniels Stories (Konrath) ~ 3.5/5


5. The Reversal (Connelly) ~ 3.5/5


6. Delirium (Oliver) ~ 3.75/5


7. Mockingjay (Collins) ~ 2/5


8. The Rules of Survival (Werlin) ~ 3.5/5


Short Story (not counted)
Bold Titles made Best Reads of 2011 list


~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~


Monthly - Yearly Stats:

Audiobooks:  5

Best Reads:  0

Books:  0

DNF:  0

eBooks:  3

New-to-Me Authors:  4

Off My Shelf:  1

Published in 2011:  2

Short Stories: 15

YA:  3



Ratings
Monthly - Yearly Stats:

5 - 0

4.75 - 0

4.5 - 0

4.25 - 0

4 - 1

3.75 - 1

3.5 - 4

3.25 - 0

3 - 1

2.75 - 0

2.5 - 0

2.25 - 0

2 - 1

1.75 - 0

1.5 - 0

1.25 - 0

1 - 0
_________

average = 3.34

THE RULES OF SURVIVAL

Author:  Nancy Werlin

Genre: YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2008  

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)
Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count:  8

Seventeen-year-old Matt narrates a letter to his 5-year-old step-sister Emmy about the trials and tribulations that they experienced as a family living with their psychotic mother, Nikki.

The characters are very realistic, and I loved the voice that Nancy Werlin gave Matt.  At times, he was wise beyond his years.  I experienced a host of emotions during this read, but the greatest was sympathy for the children.  Wanting to reach out and help them was foremost in my mind.  I really enjoyed the way in which the story was told.

MOCKINGJAY

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: YA Dystopian, Trilogy #3

Published:  2010

Personal Rating: 2/5 (not enjoyable)
Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count:  7

Katniss and The Capitol continue to be on opposing sides.

The Hunger Games - 4.5/5 (excellent)

Catching Fire - 3.5/5 (good)

Mockingjay - 2/5 (not enjoyable)

I think my rating speaks for itself.

DELIRIUM

Author: Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA Dystopian, Trilogy #1

Published: 2011

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)
Format:  eBook - iPad

Yearly Count: 6

From the Publisher:

Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.

With all the rave reviews of Before I Fall, I couldn't wait to read this one.  A dystopian world setting is a big draw for me, and this did not disappoint.  The origins of the world could have been more developed, but I still bought in.  The story line was suspenseful, but it was very drawn out - I was clicking those pages to get to something, more so than clicking to get to more.

The dialog made me roll my eyes at times, making it feel very YA-like.  I didn't like that.  Yes, it's YA, but once again, many YA novels I read do not feel like YA.  Also, the opening of every chapter has a quote or statement from various sources, and that didn't appeal to me either, but it didn't hurt the book.    

While I didn't find it to be stellar in writing or plot, I did enjoy reading it, and that's a good thing. My rating is a reflection of my desire to read the second in this trilogy. I definitely want to know what is going to happen next.  The very, very last scene was a great way to create curiosity; however, I thought how they got to the very, very last scene was somewhat silly or corny.

My thanks go to HarperCollins & NetGalley for sending me this eGalley.  It will be published on February 1, 2011. 

THE REVERSAL

Author: Michael Connelly

Genre: Legal Mystery,
Mickey Haller Series #3

Published:  2010

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Format:  Audiobook
Yearly Count: 5

From the Author's Website:

Defense attorney Mickey Haller changes sides to prosecute the high-profile retrial of a
     child murderer, with LAPD Detective Bosch as lead investigator.

I really enjoyed the mixture of the law and police procedural, but overall it wasn't riveting.  I loved the premise, which was based on Mickey's law profession; however, that may have caused a lack of suspense.  There just wasn't anything that surprised me or kept me on the edge of my seat.  The depth of individualized characterization was hampered even with the intertwining of both their personal lives.  I didn't feel like they showed enough of their character, in general.  Ultimately, I did enjoy it, because I like legal mysteries, but was a little let down.  I'm still looking forward to the next installment, though.  :)

My thanks go to Miriam from Hachette Book Group for sending me this audiobook.

JACK DANIELS STORIES

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)
Format:  eBook - iPad

Yearly Count: 4

Jack Daniels Stories is based on the characters in the Jack Daniels series.  There are four main characters:

1.  Jack (Jacqueline) Daniels - Lieutenant in a Chicago police department 

2.  Herb Benedict - Jack's partner

3.  Phineas (Phin) Troutt - Jack's street connection who is dying of cancer

4.  Harry McGlade - Jack's former partner, now a PI

Each character has a very distinct personality, and I'm still uncertain as to how I feel about them.  I can say that I am more curious about getting to the second in the series, though.  And, I will read more short stories written by Konrath that are already housed on my Kindle.

The following are the individual titles and links to my thoughts:

On the Rocks


Whelp Wanted


Street Music


The One That Got Away


With a Twist


Epitaph


Taken to the Cleaners


Body Shots


Suffer


School Daze


Overproof


Bereavement


Pot Shot


Last Request


The Necro File

THE NECRO FILE (15 of 15)

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  1/5 (don't bother)
Format:  eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 15

Harry is hired by a wife to get some pictures of her husband "acting crazy," which ultimately can assist her in a divorce.

Where do I start?  This was awful.  I do have to give Konrath credit for the forewarning, though.  He does make it very clear that this is the most offensive thing he has ever written.  Well, I don't know about the rest of his work, but he was right on regarding this piece.  It was definitely offensive.

In general, it contained: repulsive, childish bathroom humor; disgusting, adult behavior; offensive conversations, as well as actions; and it was just plain stupid.  Ugh.

I feel like I need to scour my mind of all the gross and appalling images that crept in through my eyes.  I think the look of sheer repugnance is still on my face.  I need to read something else quick to wash away the awful remnants. 

LAST REQUEST (14 of 15)

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)
Format:  eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 14

Phineas, once again, is hired to kill someone.

I really don't like the "hire-to-kill" profession of this guy.  It's cold, brutal action. However, what keeps me reading are the twists in each story. I love Konrath's twists.

POT SHOT (13 of 15)

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)
Format:  eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 13

Herb's wife, Bernice, wants him to retire from the police force.  

This was a good little peek into Herb and Bernice's relationship.  I liked it.

BEREAVEMENT (12 of 15)

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)
Format:  eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 12

Phineas is offered another "kill-my-spouse" job.

I don't known how to respond to this type of story. There's obviously no morality to it - more like a get you before you get me mentality, but Konrath makes you feel like its due and part of the job. However, the job is illegal and dead wrong (pun intended) in the first place. What I like is the twist, not the execution of the twist.

OVERPROOF (11 of 15)

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  3.25/5 (just okay +)
Format:  eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 11

Jack comes out of a store to find the people and flow of cars halted. She discovers someone in the middle of the street.

This was a decent story. I was interested in where it was going, but wasn't wowed.

SCHOOL DAZE (10 of 15)

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)
Format:  eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 10

A disgruntled father hires Harry McGlade to find some dirt on the headmaster of a pre-school for blackmail purposes because his child's application to attend the school was denied.

This Harry McGlade is an odd duck.  His sense of humor creates more groans than laughs, and he doesn't seem to have a warm side to him - yet anyway.  He also has that anti-hero thing going on.  In general, Konrath's characters are filled with character.  It's been interesting getting to know them through these short stories.
  

SUFFER (9 of 15)

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)
Format:  eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 9


Phineas is asked to kill a man's wife.  He accepts the job.

Phineas is classified by Konrath as an anti-hero, which is certainly apropos. Like him? I'm slowly, but surely getting my head wrapped around this type of character, but I'm not to where I can say "like." He has some hold over me, though.

THESE HIDDEN THINGS

Author:  Heather Gudenkauf

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2011

Personal Rating:  3.75/5 (good +)

Format:  eBook - iPad
Yearly Count:  3

From the Author's Website:

Allison Glenn tried to hide what happened that night...and failed. The consequence? Five years in prison. Now she's free. But secrets have a way of keeping you caged...When Allison is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult in her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces the whispered rumours every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn - shy, quiet Brynn - who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her. But then Allison is released, and is more determined than ever to speak with her sister. Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.

These Hidden Things contains many seemingly unrelated characters.  They each tell their own story through short, alternating chapters that include stepping back into their recent past.  I felt most of the characters fit into the realistic realm, and I enjoyed getting to know them.  The story line, however, didn't compel me to quickly pick the book back up once down, because right from the get-go I surmised most of the "hidden things," so the suspense component was somewhat dulled.  However, some of the scenes were very gripping, as well as difficult to read.  Those same scenes were revisited by other characters.  Ultimately, I enjoyed reading the story to fruition and think it will be well received.

My thanks go to Harlequin (Mira) & NetGalley for sending me this eGalley.  It will be published January 18, 2011.

MINI SHOPAHOLIC

Author:  Sophie Kinsella

Genre:  Chick Lit,
Becky Bloomwood Series #6

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  4/5 (very good)

Format:  Audiobook
Yearly Count:  2

Minnie, now 2, has become a bit of a handful and has picked up some of Becky's shopping desires.  When the family faces a national financial crisis, a whole new meaning to following a budget is in store for the Brandons.  

For the most part I have always considered this series to be filled with fun, silly shopping escapades.  Becky always manages to plunge herself into numerous holes and then lies, manipulates and deceives to weasel her way out of them.  Her mode of deception has not been mean-spirited, though, and let's remember that she's just a chick lit character.  However, in this book I experienced a major flaw - the use of the "f-bomb."  I didn't care for it at all.  It no longer felt silly or light-hearted, and it tainted my feelings towards Luke (Becky's husband).  That was a big disappointment.

On a good note, I was consistently grinning, smirking or giving a quick shake of my head at Becky's thinking.  Chick lit is not a preferred genre of mine, but this series has continually brought pure, nonsensical enjoyment. I think Becky is such a nutty, lovable character, and the narrator's portrayal of her on the audiobook is fabulous.

Based on the title of this book, I was concerned that the amount of Minnie's talking was going to put me off, but I found her vocal contributions were contained mainly to the word "mine," so her appearances didn't annoy me.  Also, the book was more about an event that Becky is going to host rather than Minnie being a mini-shopaholic.

BODY SHOTS (8 of 15)

Author:  J. A. Konrath

Genre:  Short Story Collection

Published:  Jack Daniels Stories, 2010

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)
Format:  eBook

(ss) Yearly Count: 8

Jack and Herb stumble upon a crazed gunman at the local burger place.

The entire story encompasses a shoot out.  It is done well in the sense of envisioning the scene; however, that's really all there is.