24th Challenge Completed!

It's done!  The TBR Challenge is now completed.  This was the perfect challenge to actually get to some of those books that I have put on the back shelf for way too long.  I read 8 books from my main list and 4 books from my alternate list.  Most, if not all, were chosen to be read at times when they would coincide with other challenges.  That worked out very well.   However, as usual, there were some books that were better than others, but in the long run, I am happy to have read them all.   

Thank you MizB from MizB's Book Reviews for hosting this challenge.

TBR Challenge Reads:

1.  A Child Called "It" (Pelzer)

2.  The Bluest Eye (Morrison)

3.  The Monkey's Raincoat (Crais)

4.  Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery)

5.  The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (Gilman)

6.  New Moon (Meyer)

7.  If I Am Missing or Dead (Latus)

8.  The Nazi Officer's Wife (Beer)

9.  Naked in Death (Robb)*

10.  Atonement (McEwan)*

11.  Booked to Die (Dunning)*

12.  Gallows View (Robinson)*

*Alternates

Here is my original list of books with links to my thoughts.

 Favorites:

A Child Called "It" (Pelzer)

The Nazi Officer's Wife (Beer)

Least Favorites:

The Bluest Eye (Morrison)

Atonement (McEwan)

GALLOWS VIEW

Author:  Peter Robinson

Genre:  Mystery

Published:  1987

Personal Rating:  4/5

Yearly Count:  116

Seeking a calmer existence than their residence in London, England, Inspector Alan Banks relocates with his wife and two children to Eastvale, a quaint town in Yorkshire County.  While some aspects of their life in Eastvale are peaceful, Inspector Alan Banks continues to be faced with the same depravity and crime that he experienced in London.  A Peeping Tom, random violence and murder are what Alan must tackle, along with personal issues that could clutter his mind and heart.

While I am happy to have met Alan Banks, I'm not so sure that I know him very well.  The lack of background information left me uncertain as to who Alan Banks really is.  I know what he does, I know who he lives with, I know his hobby, but I don't feel like I got to know what drives him, what makes him tick.  I'm thinking that's a good strategy in setting up a series - can't divulge too much in the first book, right?  Other than that, I really liked Gallows View.  The mystery kept me curious in its complexity, and learning about the town and its surroundings was pleasant.  

I'm not sure where I first discovered this author, but I'm glad I did.  The only daunting aspect is that this year he published his 18th book in this series.  Yikes!  I have 17 more to catch up!  That's okay though, I'm up for the challenge.  :)

BOOKED TO DIE

Author: John Dunning

Genre: Mystery

Published: 1992

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Yearly Count: 79

Cliff Janeway is a homicide detective and a book collector who resides in Denver. When a known book scout is murdered, both his profession and passion unite.

What a good book. I'm so impressed with Dunning's ability to introduce Janeway. The process of getting to know him and growing to like him was so smooth. It felt like a realistic relationship. As time progressed, his wit developed and flowed freely and his compassionate side became apparent, too. I liked the way Janeway's mind worked to solve the mystery. It had a low-key feeling, but one that kept me looking for clues. There was a bit of romance that was a pleasant surprise and the narrator, George Guidall, was fantastic. I can't wait to continue with this series because I thoroughly enjoyed Janeway's company.

ATONEMENT

Ian McEwan

Genre: Fiction

Published: 2001

Personal Rating: 2.5/5

Yearly Count: 49

Set in an upper-middle class English home, 13-year-old Briony witnesses an event that leads to the changing of numerous lives - including her own.

I read and listened to this book. The manner in which the story unfolds did not hold my attention in the handheld version, so I switched to just listening to it. The actual plotline became ridiculous; however, there were parts that I found interesting and actually enjoyable, but for the most part, there was just too much blah, blah, blah for nothin'.

NAKED IN DEATH

J. D. Robb

Genre: Romance Mystery

Published: 1995

Personal Rating: 4.25/5

Yearly Count: 37

J. D. Robb takes us into the future in this series - 2058 New York City. The main character, Eve Dallas, is a NY homicide detective who is the lead investigator in the death of a Senator's granddaughter. The leading suspect in this high-profile case just happens to be Eve's new love interest.

Under normal circumstances I wouldn't have picked up this book due to its genre: romance and science fiction. Neither appeal to me; however, it fit the First in a Series Challenge and the Thriller Challenge with the final push being - Danielle. She made this statement regarding the second book in this series: "I loved this book." (and ) "I am not a big fan of romance novels." I thought if she liked it, then I probably would, too. Well . . . I did!

The good: I thought the mystery/thriller plot was very interesting and engaging. The characters were well-developed and likeable. And, believe it or not, I was intrigued by the futuristic component. It wasn't overwhelming or too far-fetched; Robb weaved it in with finesse. What was more impressive was that the setting is New York, 2058 and yet she uses elements of today (and this was written 13 years ago) in the storyline, so we are still connected. I liked that.

The bad: It's a romance novel. It didn't change my mind - I still do not care for the "romance" scenes and would have rated it higher if they weren't there!

I will read/listen to the second in this 27 book series titled Glory In Death and will decide at that point if I will continue on.

THE NAZI OFFICER'S WIFE

Edith Hahn Beer

Genre: Memoir

Published: 1999

Personal Rating: 4.75/5

Yearly Count: 36

This is the story of Edith Hahn, a Jewish girl growing up with her family in Vienna, Austria at the beginning of WWII. Edith shares her unique story of survival from childhood thru adulthood including, as the title indicates, marrying a Nazi.

This memoir was devastatingly excellent. I had never read a memoir of a Holocaust survivor that came from this perspective. It was very difficult to put down. Edith exudes courage throughout the book and I applaud her in mustering up the courage, once again, to enlighten others of her plight.

IF I AM MISSING OR DEAD

Janine Latus

Genre: True Crime

Published: 2007

Personal Rating: 3.75/5

Yearly Count: 31

Janine and her sister, Amy, both grow up with an abusive father and as they mature, they continually choose men that maintain what they know and expect.

My heart goes out to battered women and I hope that this book will encourage those that are in unhealthy relationships to reach out and get help before it's too late.

What has irritated me is that the title is very misleading. It appears that it would be focused on the person that wrote the note, but it is far from that. This is Janine's story with Amy thrown in as an afterthought.

NEW MOON

Stephenie Meyer

Genre: YA Fantasy

Published: 2006

Personal Rating: 2.75/5

Yearly Count: 23

This installment of the Twilight Saga brings a separation for Bella and Edward which throws Bella into a depression. During this time, she deepens her friendship with Jacob and discovers that there is more to him than she thought. Once Bella and Edward reunite, their agenda is to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives.

There were many issues regarding the story line, the realism, and the message that this book portrayed that disappointed me. And, yes, I did state realism. Twilight was presented in such a way that the supernatural didn't seem so far-fetched. New Moon turned hokey and silly in some scenes that made me remember why I don't care for vampire stories. I'm happy to cross it off my lists and move on.

THE UNEXPECTED MRS. POLLIFAX

Dorothy Gilman

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Published: 1966

Personal Rating: 3.75/5

Yearly Count: 9

Mrs. Pollifax is a widowed grandmother whose meandering life leads her to become a CIA agent. Abruptly her life becomes one with definite direction . . . saving her life! Throughout her assignment, I got to know Mrs. Pollifax and discovered that she's very insightful and clever, as she says - due to her life experiences. She's resourceful and cunning as well, but with the warmth of a grandmother always in reserve.

In general, the plot was just okay, but Mrs. Pollifax grew on me. I'm glad I finally took the time to meet her; it turned out to be a pleasant experience. I think I would like to hear more about her and her escapades in the future. There are thirteen more in the series, so I will have plenty of chances.

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

L. M. Montgomery

Genre: YA Fiction

Published: 1908

Personal Rating: 4/5

Yearly Count: 7

Anne is an orphan who accidentally gets placed in a home that was requesting a boy. She is quite a vibrant, prolific girl of eleven that wins the hearts of all those she meets, but not without some trials and tribulations.

Now this classic was gratifying. What astounds me the most is that the reader would never know that this was written in 1908. The themes of relationships, responsibilities, teenage thoughts, etc. all transcend time making this very much a good read for today, as I'm sure it did in the 1900's. Anne was a delight to meet and L. M. Montgomery must have had an active imagination herself in order to make Anne seem so alive. I want to follow Anne's life, so I will be continuing with the series.

THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT

Robert Crais

Genre: PI Mystery

Published: 1987

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Yearly Count: 6

The Elvis Cole Detective Agency consists of Elvis Cole and Joe Pike with the office located in Los Angeles. A married woman enters the office and wants to hire them to find her missing husband and nine-year-old son. The investigation includes some hit or miss strategies, but then they get on the right path and find themselves immersed in the world of drugs and murder. Lots of murder.

I believe this makes my 7th Crais book. I have read 4 in the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series and several standalones. This one happens to be the first in the series. Being that I headed back to the beginning, my hope was to gain some insight on Elvis and Joe, but that didn't happen. I guess the later books give enough background that the earlier books aren't required reading to understand the characters.

I did find that this one was not quite as good as others, but I still enjoyed it. There were a few things I didn't care for, but if my memory serves me right, I think further into the series some of those wrinkles are ironed out. This was not bad writing by any means, but I can see and feel the difference in his writing today versus 1987.

THE BLUEST EYE

Toni Morrison

Genre: Fiction

Published: 1970

Personal Rating: 2.75/5

Yearly Count: 4

Well, my winning streak of chosen books has come to an end. This book brought flashbacks of Lolita (Nabokov) and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Angelou), both of which were not favorites of mine. With the many controversial issues presented, it would probably make a good adult book club read. For me, it satisfies my desire to read a Morrison novel and the pleasure of crossing it off of my lists.

A CHILD CALLED "IT"

Dave Pelzer

Genre: Memoir

Published: 1995

Personal Rating: 5/5

Yearly Count: 3

I was mesmerized by the contents in this book that I couldn't stop listening, yet was totally appalled at what I was hearing. It contained horrific, unthinkable acts of child abuse that just broke my heart. The resilience and determination of this little boy was remarkable - a true survivor! I HAVE to read the remaining books in the trilogy: The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave.

TBR Challenge

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

Julia Spencer-Fleming

Personal Rating: 4/5

Yearly Count: 112

The plot of this book really hooked me, BUT I did not care for one of the main characters at all. Also, I found the relationship between the two main characters, female Episcopal priest, Clare Fergusson and the married Chief of Police, Russ Van Alstyne, very uncomfortable and not enticing or tantalizing in the least. My soul purpose in continuing the read was to find out the resolution to the case of who left a baby on the church doorstep and who murdered a girl found in the park. If it was only about Clare and Russ, I don't think I would have continued.

In the long run, I enjoyed the book a lot, but will give it some time before I read the second in the series. There's just something about these characters that rubbed me the wrong way, but I will continue with the hope of that dissipating.

TBR Challenge

BIRDMAN

Mo Hayder

Personal Rating: 4.25/5

Yearly Count: 102

Whoa. This crime fiction thriller contained an incredibly twisted plot along with what I would call horror. I would never be able to watch something like this, but thankfully, reading it brought a healthy disconnection. It was also very clear that even though the plot may have been unique, the characters had difficulty holding the weight of that plot. I believe, even though it was still compelling, it lacked good, strong characters.

Jack (yes, ANOTHER Jack) Caffery, is a Detective Inspector in England. He has his own personal issues with death that linger in his mind as he investigates and searches for a murderer that mutilates his victims and leaves a horrific signature. He deals with several other members of the team and questions a host of people during the investigation. None of these people were very personable, including Jack. Despite the flaws in Birdman, I will still read the sequel titled The Treatment.

*Recommended By: Blogging My Books

TBR Challenge

EVEN STEVEN

John Gilstrap

Personal Rating: 3.25/5

Yearly Count: 96

I was enjoying this novel until about 3/4 of the way through, then it took a turn for the worse and continued downhill. The entire ending was overly dramatized and extremely disappointing. Also, I never developed much attachment to any of the characters, especially since there were so many different storylines going on. They were all interesting and tied together, yet the depth of the individuals was missing causing difficulty in sustaining any real concern for them.

This novel holds many unique characters and circumstances, but in general, a young boy is kidnapped and a man and his wife get swooped up in the crime. Their participation creates much more turmoil and ridiculous turn of events than necessary and ended up being over the top. The general plot was a great idea; it just wasn't executed well.

2008 TBR Challenge

COMPLETED:  September, 2008

Hosted By: Mizbooks

(January - December, 2008)

1. The Nazi Officer's Wife (Beer)

(Finished: 3-18-08)

2. The Monkey's Raincoat (Crais)

(Finished: 1-12-08)

3. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (Fadiman)

4. The Perfect Husband (Gardner)

5. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (Gilman)

(Finished: 1-17-08)

6. Ashes to Ashes (Hoag)

7. A Prayer for Owen Meany (Irving)

8. If I Am Missing or Dead (Latus)

(Finished: 3-7-08)

9. New Moon (Meyer)

(Finished: 2-17-08)

10. Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery)

(Finished: 1-13-08)

11. The Bluest Eye (Morrison)

(Finished: 1-8-08)

12. A Child Called "It" (Pelzer)

(Finished: 1-5-08)

ALTERNATES:

1. Booked to Die (Dunning)

(Finished: June, 2008)

2. The Wild Girl (Fergus)

3. The Rest Falls Away (Gleason)

4. Tilt-a-Whirl (Grabenstein)

5. Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery (Martin)

6. Atonement (McEwan)

(Finished: April, 2008)

7. The Opposite House (Oyeyemi)

8. Naked in Death (Robb)

(Finished: March, 2008)

9. Gallows View (Robinson)

(Finished:  September, 2008)

10. The House Next Door (Siddons)

11. Any Bitter Thing (Wood)

12. I Am the Messenger (Zusak)

TBR Challenge

A CAN OF PEAS

Traci DePree

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Yearly Count: 84

Unbeknownst to me (until I needed the book image), I discovered that this is the first in a series! I had NO CLUE! Well, it's another to add onto my Current Series Status blog.

This book reminded me of all the years I spent reading only Christian novels, which was a very peaceful, sweet time in my life. I thought it had a creative, yet realistic cast of characters, a good storyline, but (not in a sarcastic way) it was simple. I did connect with the book on many levels and did enjoy the read; however, the common every day happenings didn't captivate me. Everything was right on target with the farming life - slow.

In the end, visiting the town of Lake Emily was very pleasant. It's not a place I'd like to live, but another visit would certainly be welcomed. Someday, when I need a vacation, I will pick up the second in the series titled Dandelions in a Jelly Jar.

TBR Challenge

THE MEMORY KEEPER'S DAUGHTER
Kim Edwards ~ BOiPod
Personal Rating: 3.25/5
Yearly Count: 55

I was really looking forward to this book, but it ended up not being what I expected. The beginning started out with a mysterious tone that made it very intriguing, but about halfway through it started to become dull and repetitious, then ultimately fell flat.

The plot definitely held promise ... a twin being whisked away at birth without the knowledge of the mother, along with secrets (lies) that always have a way of surfacing seemed to me like the makings of a good novel. However, a great plot doesn't necessarily ensure the best execution, which was the case in this book.

TBR, Medical Mystery Madness & Southern Reading Challenges

BLINDSIGHTED

Karin Slaughter

Personal Rating: 4.25/5

Yearly Count: 52

Blindsighted is the first in the Grant County Series and it features Sara Linton as the town's pediatrician and coroner. A horrific murder leads to an investigation led by Sara's ex-husband Jeffrey who is the town's police chief. The passageway to solving the who-dun-it was pretty good, but it lacked the substance and psychological thrill that I loved in Shadow Man.

I actually started this book before I began listening to Shadow Man and found the opening chapter of 7 pages to be quite intense and utterly gruesome. I had never read anything so disturbing, so I decided to put it aside. Meanwhile, several online friends continued to share how "wowed" they were by it, so I decided to pick it back up. Somewhere between putting it aside and picking it back up, I began listening to Shadow Man. If you read my thoughts on that, you'd know I was shocked by that book. I figured if I could get through that and think it was excellent then I could read this one. I'm glad I continued on, it was good; HOWEVER, I hope my next several reads will be gore and s*x free. I have discovered that I can handle the blood and guts better when the storyline has me riveted. This one didn't do that for me, but all in all, it was a very good read.