July Reads

55.  The Crossbones (Carman) ~ 3/5

56.  Triptych (Slaughter) ~ 4.5/5

57.  Tina Fey (Fey) ~ 3.5/5

58.  The Night Monster (Swain) ~ 2/5

59.  Best Staged Plans (Cook) ~ 2.25/5

60.  Impulse (Hopkins) ~ 3/5

61.  Shut Your Eyes Tight (Verdon) ~ 4/5

62.  Little Princes (Grennan) ~ 5/5

63.  Virgin River (Carr) ~ 3.5/5

One Shot (Parrish) ~ 4/5

Home Coming (Todd) ~ 3.5/5

A Few Small Repairs (Abbott) ~ 4/5  

Short Story (not counted)

Bold titles made Best Reads of 2011 list

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

MONTHLY  -  YEARLY STATS:
TOTAL:  9 - 63

Audiobooks:    6 - 38

Best Reads:    2 - 8

Books:    2 - 14

DNF:    0 - 4

eBooks:    1 - 11

New-to-Me Authors:    4 - 40

Off My Shelf:   2 - 20

Published in 2011:  4 - 19

Short Stories:    3 - 31

YA:    2 - 10

Ratings

Monthly - Yearly Stats:

5.00 =   1 - 2

4.75 =   0 - 0

4.50 =   1 - 6

4.25 =   0 - 2

4.00 =   1 - 11

3.75 =   0 - 9

3.50 =    2 - 15

3.25 =   0 - 2

3.00 =   2 - 7

2.75 =   0 - 1

2.50 =   0 - 2

2.25 =   1 - 2

2.00 =   1 - 4

1.75 =   0 - 0

1.50 =   0 - 0

1.25 =   0 - 0

1.00 =   0 - 0

__________

average =  3.42  -  3.54    

A FEW SMALL REPAIRS (14 of 19)

Author: Jeff Abbott

(Edited by Harlan Coben)

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Death Do Us Part, 2006

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

Format:  Book

(ss) Yearly Count: 31

An estranged father and son reunite when the father is dying.

I was really intrigued by this one because I had no idea where it was going to go. It even provoked a "NO! Don't do it!" from me.

HOME COMING (13 of 19)

Author: Charles Todd

(Edited by Harlan Coben)

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Death Do Us Part, 2006

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

(ss) Yearly Count: 30

While her husband is at war, the wife senses that something is amiss.

This was another good story, but this one contained more of a spiritual twist.

ONE SHOT (12 of 19)

Author: P.J. Parrish

(Edited by Harlan Coben)

Genre: Short Story Collection

Published: Death Do Us Part, 2006

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

(ss) Yearly Count: 29

A grown man goes back to his childhood home to find some closure.

This one kept my attention from the beginning to the end.  The inner turmoil felt real.  I hoped for a different ending when I saw it coming, but it was still a very good short story.

VIRGIN RIVER

Author: Robyn Carr

Genre: Fiction, Virgin River Series #1

Published:  2007

Personal Rating: 3.5/5 (good)

Format: eBook

Yearly Count:  63

After the first anniversary of her husband's death, Mel makes the decision to sell everything and relocate to the mountains and use her nursing skills as a midwife. Change of scenery in all aspects is what she believes will give her peace and the chance to rebuild a life.

I finally relented (everybody seems to adore this series) and decided to read this book since I purchased the first 4 in this series as an eBook bundle.  With this first one done, I'm not so sure I'll be reading all 4, but I will definitely move on to #2 at some point.  I'd like to see what Mel and the town are doing.  

I thought Mel's choice to make such a radical change was bold, but exciting.  It was fun getting to know all the people in the small town alongside of her and for the most part, I enjoyed it.  I looked forward to picking it up; however, I would get my fill pretty quickly with only a chapter or two.  This type of book just isn't my cup of tea, especially with all the romping around.  So, thinking it was "good" is not-so-bad.

     

LITTLE PRINCES

Author:  Conor Grennan

Genre:  Memoir, Standalone

Published:  2011

Personal Ratings:  5/5

(absolutely outstanding)

Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count:  62

Conor Grennan, 29, throws himself into a year-long trip around the world.  His first stop is to volunteer in Nepal at an orphanage called Little Princes.  Despite being unprepared for the culture shock and conditions of the worn-torn country, Conor's heart is filled with the love of the children.  His realization of the true reasons why they are living in the orphanage drives him to seek out their relatives. Once back in the USA, he develops a non-profit organization called Next Generation Nepal to support his efforts to reunite families.

I felt so many emotions while listening to this book.  The joy in "Conor-Brother's" success was the most inspiring, but the way in which Conor shares his story was delightful.  He had a sense of humor that made me giggle often, and yet, he also had a very serious side that made me choke up with sadness when he described some of his experiences with the children and locals.  

The audiobook version was absolutely awesome!  I loved the accents and cadence of the reader, which just so happened to be the author himself.  Well done.

SHUT YOUR EYES TIGHT (and Giveaway!)

Author: John Verdon

Genre: Thriller, Dave Gurney Series #2

Published: 2011

Personal Rating: 4/5 (very good)

Format: Book

Yearly Count:  61

From the back of the ARC:

Every murderer leaves a trace.   Except what if one day that doesn't happen?


A few months past the Mellery case that pulled him out of retirement and then nearly killed him, retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney is trying once again to adjust to his country house's bucolic rhythms when he receives a call about a crime so seductively bewildering that the thought of not looking into it seems unimaginable--even if his beloved wife, Madeleine, would rather he do anything but.


The facts of what has occurred are horrible: a blushing bride, newly we'd to an eminent psychiatrist and just minutes from hearing her congratulatory toast, is found decapitated, her head apparently severed by a machete. Though police investigators believe that a Mexican gardener killed the young woman in a fit of jealous fury, the victim's mother--a chilly high-society beauty--is having none of it, and Guerney has been summoned to elicit the incredible truth.

I was so excited when Shut Your Eyes Tight came out and beyond excited to receive the ARC through TLC Book Tours. As soon as I began reading, my curiosity was piqued, and even though my interest level was high throughout, I felt like it was just too long (549 pages).


I really like Dave.  He is a thinker, and that's intriguing to me, but there were a couple of incidences that I felt were totally out of character. In other words, he just wasn't thinking, and that didn't fit. Other than that, I loved the intricate plot (puzzle) and being immersed in the police procedural aspects, as well as learning more about his wife Madeleine and his pseudo-partner Jack.


Ultimately, I liked Think of a Number (Dave Gurney Series #1) more, but this was still a very good read.  I hope the third in this series incorporates more of Dave's work teaching seminars at the State Police Academy.  I loved those scenes.  They gave great insight into the mind of a seasoned detective and psychology of bad guys.







My thanks go to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for sending me this ARC.

John Verdon's TLC Book Tour
TOUR STOPS:

Monday, July 11th:  Life in Review

Wednesday, July 13th:  A Bookworm’s World

Thursday, July 14th:  Simply Stacie

Friday, July 15th:  Colloquium

Monday, July 18th:  Sara’s Organized Chaos

Wednesday, July 20th:  Books Like Breathing

Thursday, July 21st:  Stiletto Storytime

Monday, July 25th:  Thoughts of Joy

Wednesday, July 27th:  Jen’s Book Thoughts

Monday, August 1st:  Cafe of Dreams

Tuesday, August 2nd:  My Random Acts of Reading

Wednesday, August 3rd:  Readaholic

Thursday, August 4th:  Life with Books

Monday, August 8th:  Stacy’s Books

Wednesday, August 10th:  Lesa’s Book Critiques

Friday, August 12th:  Rundpinne

Monday, August 15th:  Rough Edges

Wednesday, August 17th:  Bewitched Bookworms

Monday, August 22nd:  Book Junkie

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:

* Only residents of the U.S.A. or Canada are eligible to win
* No P.O. boxes, please


Leave a comment and contact information, if you are interested.


Giveaway ends Thursday, August 4.  Winner will be posted on Friday, August 5. 

SHUT YOUR EYES TIGHT

Author:  John Verdon

Genre:  Thriller, Dave Gurney Series #2

Published: 2011

Personal Rating:  To Be Announced

Format: Book

Yearly Count: 61

My thoughts will be posted on July 25!

IMPULSE

Author:  Ellen Hopkins

Genre:  YA Fiction, Impulse Series #1

Published:  2007

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)

Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count:  60

Three teenagers in a psychiatric hospital for attempted suicide voice their experience of the past and present.

This is the first Hopkins book that didn't really grab me.  I was interested in the stories shared, but I never emotionally connected to the teenagers.  

A HANDFUL OF YEARS

Boy oh boy, the years sure fly by when you're having fun!  Today makes 5 years of blogging fun for me.

Looking over the past year:

I've noticed that I have continued to shift my reading back to my favorite genres:  mysteries and suspense/thrillers.  This is after years of broadening my horizons with other genres.  I still have to throw in those less than preferred genres in my reading, so that I don't get confused with the characters and plot from the book, ebook and audiobook that I am simultaneously reading or listening to.  It's working, so I'll be continuing with that practice.

Looking forward: 

I don't have any specific plans for this coming year. However, one change I've been working on this calendar year has been to lighten up on my ratings. Has there truly been a change so far?  Well, yes and no. Yes, I have chosen to go with the benefit of the doubt when on the fence (in other words, no over-thinking).  And no, my thoughts and feelings are still my thoughts and feelings of my experience with the books I read.  It wouldn't be a fair assessment if I randomly gave higher ratings.  So the mind game continues.

I still want to change my header/template, but haven't had time to focus on it.  I guess when it becomes a problem for me, I'll change it.  For now - I've got others things that are keeping me busy.

Other little tidbits:

My Best Reads list has increased by 5 in comparison to last year at this time (yay!), and my total reads is almost the same, so I'm on track to my very loose goal of 104 books for the calendar year.  

Final blogiversary thoughts:

I love having Thoughts of Joy as a home base for my reading thoughts.  It has been a wonderful hobby, and I've met some great people along the way.  I did not create this blog to be a place of creative reviews or spectacular writing.  It's my place to keep memories of my initial thoughts of the books I read.  More often than not, directly after I finish the last page, I quickly make my way to a computer and type out my reaction.  There is hardly any editing (usually after I post it, I realize something's amiss - grrr), and it usually reflects a frank tone.  Despite all that, I hope you will continue to stop by and comment when you are prompted to do so.  I love to read your thoughts, and I always respond.


Thank you for being a part of my life!

BEST STAGED PLANS

Author:  Claire Cook

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2011

Personal Rating:  2.25/5 (not enjoyable +)

Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count:  59

Sandy, a professional home stager, wants to downsize and move.  Her husband and son are reluctant to do the work required to get the house ready for sale.  Frustrated Sandy takes on a new, temporary job in the same area as her recently wedded daughter, so she stays there while working.      

This is clearly not my preferred genre!  My daughter and I went on a road trip to Chicago and were totally bored with this whole book.  She exclaimed, "No plot - nothing's happening."  I agreed.

THE NIGHT MONSTER

Author: James Swain

Genre: Mystery, Jack Carpenter Series #3

Published:  2010

Personal Rating:  2/5 (not enjoyable)

Format: Audiobook

Yearly Count:  58

Jack Carpenter, ex-cop and private investigator, (specializing in missing children) is determined to locate his daughter's basketball teammate who was abducted right before his eyes.

Ugh. I just reread my thoughts of the first two in this series, because I couldn't understand how I could dislike Jack Carpenter so much after loving him. Well, my memory was holding onto the first book. I referred to him as Jack #1 in my post of the second book, and I did really, really like that character. The second book (Jack #2) did not portray the same characteristics as Jack #1. I was curious as to who the third book would spotlight. Unfortunately, it was Jack #2 - an even more negatively developed Jack #2. I didn't like him AT ALL. He is a self-professed authority of abductions, and frankly, he's just a know-it-all.  His personality was not appealing.  He thinks all he has to do is say something and that makes it true.  Oi!  

Also, we (Mr. Joy and I) didn't like the audio version. The reader's inflections made everything seem foolish. So why continue, especially when we discovered that we didn't like the reader within the first 5 minutes? We were on a weekend road trip. It was the only audiobook we brought along with us. :(

Lesson Learned: Always bring a backup, even if you are only going on a short trip.  And, this series is no longer an active pursuit of mine.

BOSSYPANTS

Author:  Tina Fey

Genre:  Memoir, Standalone

Published:  2011

Personal Rating:  3.5/5 (good)

Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count:  57


Tina Fey adds her twist of humor as she shares minute parts of her life.

I really enjoy Tina Fey, although, I have not seen 30 Rock (which she would not be surprised), but have enjoyed her Sarah Palin impressions and at least one movie I can think of with Dan Carell.  So, being that I'm not a big time fan or follower, I thought this book would enlighten me.  It shed a little light into the real Tina Fey, but not much.  There were definitely times when I grinned, let a chuckle escape unexpectedly and literally laughed out loud (while riding my bike outside!).  Other than that, the book didn't make a big impression on me.  Not sure if I expected more humor, less humor with more personal anecdotes or what, but it didn't make it past good for me.  It's short (5 CDs), so it was worth the time - little laughs for little time.

   

TRIPTYCH

Author: Karin Slaughter

Genre: Thriller, Will Trent Series #1

Published:  2006

Personal Rating: 4.5/5 (excellent)

Format: Audiobook

Yearly Count:  56

Atlanta, Georgia has a killer with a particular MO, and detectives Michael Ormewood and Angie Polaski are assigned.  Once more bodies have been linked, the state intervenes with assistance from agent Will Trent.     

Oh, I liked this one, a lot! Will and Angie's personalities reflected their broken, tormented childhoods, so my heart went out to them, but they also made me a little uncomfortable. And, I wasn't always confident in my assessment of some of the other characters, so on occasion, their actions came as a surprise.

The plot was revealed slowly and a little awkwardly. At first I was confused and thought I missed something, but when it happened again, I became more intrigued. The story line was also complex, which made it feel psychologically deeper.

The only odd thing was that I didn't find Will to be the main attraction or one that I thought would be the character of choice for a series.  He has lots of backstory to pull from, but I wouldn't have chosen him.  However, being off kilter with the characters kept the suspense up and me not wanting to put the audiobook down.  I found more chores to do in order to keep listening.  Not a bad thing at all!

THE CROSSBONES

Author: Patrick Carman

Genre: YA Fiction,
Skeleton Creek Series #3

Published: 2010

Personal Rating: 3/5 (just okay)

Format: Book

Yearly Count: 55

When Ryan finds a piece of paper with clues on it that was left behind by old Joe Bush, he knows he must solve the puzzle, and he needs Sarah to help.

Well, Sarah has moved away since the last book, and Ryan is stuck in Skeleton Creek, but they manage to work together to solve the mystery.  I did not like the new Sarah.  Neither her nor Ryan were seen on the videos as before, and Sarah's voice on the videos was not the same.  Seeing them and hearing Sarah's known exuberant voice added to my past experience (thoroughly enjoyed the first two).  With those entities missing - it was not the same, and I didn't enjoy it near as much.  It even caused the mystery to be not as intriguing.  I was disappointed, but am still all for the combo of journal entries and video format.