Thomas&Mary tries, tries again

Well, even though I've yet to reach the milestone of 75 books, I enjoy the friendships and conversations on here too much, so I'll try again this year.

Hi there, great to see you :). I'm sure you can do it this year!

Glad to see you back with us again, Regina!

Welcome back!

Hi, Regina! Good to see you here!

Thank you, Stasia, Jim and Amber. I'm trying to get current reading threads and then hopefully I'll have time to join in some conversations!

#1. Mary Bloody Mary byCaroline Meyer
Dysfunctional family does not begin to describe the home life of King Henry the 8th's eldest daughter. This historical fiction is compelling and dramatic. While one can be very sympathetic to the awful childhood that Mary had to endure, it is hard to understand how she could turn around and become the blood thirsty queen she became. That was the one point of the book that didn't work. It states that after Mary's tutor and her guardian are executed that Mary claims she will never do that to anyone and yet just a few lines later she is executing Lady Jane Grey and her family. ***1/2

hi Regina, good to see you again :-)

Hello everyone! Don't really have time to write at this time, but I want to keep a record of what I've read so far.
#2. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield
#3. The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen
#4. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
#5. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey

Wow! I've surprised myself. At this rate I might actually make 75 this year. :-o

You've got some good reading under your belt to start the year!

Thanks for your post, Faith. Hope you are well. I am pressing forward with decluttering and reading and here are a few more to add to my list:

6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
7. Where Have All the Good Men Gone? by A.J. Kiesling

Abandoned- Pirate King by Laurie R. King too slow for me!

#8. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Fabulous ending to an amazing series. I am feeling ambiguous about going to see the movie, however, since reading that violence was hard enough; not sure that I can stand to watch it!

#9. Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell
I had read good reviews of Mitchell's fiction and this lived up to expectations. I'm not a huge fan of Christian fiction, but as I run the library at our church I try to put the best examples available on the shelves. This one ranks #1. It absolutely does not follow the formula for historical romances, instead ending with a shocker. The Christian message does not beat you over the head with a club, but is gentle and key to the plot. As a bonus the historical aspects were fascinating as it delved into the everyday lives of puritans. Highly recommended. *****

#10. She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell
I enjoyed the preceding book so much that I ran out to find another one by Mitchell. This story takes place in the Gilded Age and while it would rank among the best in Christian fiction, it doesn't quite reach the heights that Love's Pursuit did. Ms Mitchell's research for her books is extremely impressive, with each story catapulting the reader into the time period. If you enjoy historical or Christian fiction then Siri Mitchell is the rising star to find. Highly recommended. *****

What did you think of The Hunger Games - my son just bought it and is loving it so I contemplated reading it before the movie comes out??

Christina, I haven't been this excited about a series of books since reading Lord of the Rings thirty years ago. How old is your son? My guess would be that a boy will love all the action, but if he is too young, the violence might be disturbing. Hope you enjoy it!

#11. Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond
This story follows a day in the life of Ms Drummond's beloved Bassett hound, Charlie. The author is a very successful blogger, and while her followers might have found Charlie's story charming, it is not likely that children will. The story is basically dull and the humorous parts that there are will be missed by most children in the target audience.

#12. Summer Before Boys by Nora Baskin
Julia and Eliza spend an adventurous summer together the year Julia's mother is serving a tour of duty in Iraq. This is a fairly straight-forward coming of age story that was enjoyable, however, not particularly memorable. It is a refreshing change from all the dark materials being written for this age group and will resonate with girls in that uncomfortable stage between childhood and the teens, or as Julia puts it, the time when what's real and what's not real is hard to decipher.

#13. I Wanna New Room by Karen Orloff
Alex's mom and dad have a new baby, so younger brother Ethan is moved in with Alex to make room for Annie. Through a series of notes exchanged between Alex and his dad, the pleas for a new room become ever more outrageous and hilarious. Great illustrations to go along with a great book!

#14. The Boy on Cinnamon Street by Phoebe Stone
Story of a 7th grade girl recovering from the trauma of her mom's suicide. There were some likable aspects to the story, but other writing flaws spoiled the book for me. The main one being, unless you were a gymnast, please don't try to write about what a gymnast does. Even if the author gets the terminology right, which they usually don't, they don't use it in the correct context. In other words there are certain things possible in gymnastics and others that may sound exciting, but aren't possible.

#15. The 6th Lamentation by William Brodrick
Over 50 years have passed since the end of World War II, but when a Nazi War criminal claims sanctuary in a British church Father Anselm is called upon to untangle the convoluted web of lies and deceptions that have made the truth nearly impossible to find. Highly recommended.

#16. To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer
Witemeyer's writing is better than average, but this story bothered me at times. It seemed that the plot was too contrived, that she worked too hard to create drama for her characters.

Good to see you here again! Sorry your latest read wasn't more satisfying...

Extremely busy in the garden this year, dedicating myself to watering it instead of just planting it and letting it wither away. Reading when I can, but do not have time to write much, so here is a list of what I can remember:

#17. Just How Married Do You Want to Be Practicing Oneness in Marriage by Jim Sumner **
#18. Hard Lovin Man by Lorraine Heath *
#19. Seduction of a Proper Gentleman by Victoria Alexander *
(romance novels aren't my cup of tea, but after exhausting days in the garden I've been wanting something no too challenging, however, these were terrible!) I think I need to stick with mysteries.
#20. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie *** Liked the movie ending much better

#21. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen One of the best Christian fiction writers on today's market that I have read. Ms Klassen's research is fascinating and her stories carry a perfect pitch, with excellent plots and characters who are realistic in their sinfulness and their salvation.

#22. Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin
This is the first book in a series, Chronicles of the Kings. The author brings the story of King Hezekiah's childhood to life through strong writing. I'm anxious to read on into the series. Highly recommended.

#23. All She Ever Wanted by Lynn Austin
After reading Gods and Kings by this author, I was greatly disappointed by this story. The characters were flat and whiney. There were quite a few characters in the story and it would be hard to empathize with any of them. Not recommended.

#24. The Apothecary Rose by Candace Robb
the first in the Owen Archer mystery series, it was a pleasant read, but not much in the way of a mystery to solve. Characters were very likable and create a desire to read more about them. Will continue on with this series. Recommended.

#25. The Sisters Grimm the Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley
A children's book, I was unable to finish this since it could not hold my attention. Not recommended.

#26. Bittersweet by Cathy Marie Hake
Very disappointed in this book, which was totally unbelievable. Dialogue was extremely irritating along with a few of the main characters. Strongly disliked this book.

#27. Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin
Outstanding piece of Christian fiction. Caroline Fletcher is moved by her convictions to fight against slavery, even though she is a southern belle of Richmond. A strong story of faith and purpose. Highly recommended.

So good to see you posting again, Regina! How are you?

Agreed - it's good to see you here! Sounds like you've really had some ups and downs in the reading department lately, but at least there are a few good ones in there...

Hi Terri and Amber! It's good to hear from you. I missed seeing your pictures, Amber. The weather is supposed to be bad in the coming week so maybe I can spend some time catching up on things from the summer on the threads. Hope you are well. My family and I are fine, but we were really busting our humps this summer around the farm. We had our most productive garden ever and now we're trying to prep it for spring. Thanks for saying "hello".

Wow, congrats on the good gardening!

#28.By Reason of Insanity by Randy Singer
This is the first book by Singer that I have read and am disappointed because my expectations were high. It received good professional reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly, but I just didn't find it worth raving about. The main characters were the only two that were fully developed, with everyone else being very wooden. Also, very surprised that this came from a Christian publisher; not sure how it qualifies as Christian fiction. Unsatisfactory ending in that the villain was so improbable.
Not recommended.

#29. Where There's a Will by Rex Stout
When a book makes me laugh out-loud, it's going to receive a lot of stars. Not much to be added about a classic like the Nero Wolfe series, but Archie is incomparable! Highly recommended.

#30. Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke
Very interesting read on material that could have been dry and boring. I've read many books about books and reading and yet he covered new material with a new perspective. I've already purchased this for the church library. Highly recommended.

I read that book a year or so ago. It wasn't the book I was expecting, but it exceeded my expectations.

Lori, yes, it was much better than I expected, and he almost has me convinced about the marginalia! However, I just don't think I can bring myself to do it. His thoughts on books vs. E-readers were very interesting and logical. I don't have one because I love the actual physical book to ever abandon it, but I never thought about how it actually affects reading.
Thanks for stopping by my thread!

Arvenk, sorry my screen name is deceptive. Thomas and Mary were my first ancestors here in America and my family lives on the original farm, so I used their names as my "handle". Trying to be too clever, so now everyone thinks I'm a man! Lol. In regards to The Hunger Games, I loved the whole series. It is number 3 on my all time list, behind Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis's works. I haven't read Lolita in Tehran yet. Did you like it?

#31. Cape Refuge by Terri Blackstock
Reading a lot of Christian fiction since I run the library at our church. Wish I could say that I can see why Ms Blackstock is so popular, but I can't. I especially can't see why it got not one, but two good professional reviews. Very weak plot and flat wooden characters. First in a series, I will not be bothering to read the rest. Not recommended.

#32. Dogwood by Chris Fabry
While Mr. Fabry might be a marvelous wordsmith, putting lyrical phrases together, he seems to indulge himself too much and go on forever and ever. The basic story is a beautiful one of sacrificial love, but the author does not want a basic story and it becomes a convoluted mess. Worst of all, there was not enough action and way too much preaching.

That sounds pretty awful, Regina! Actually, the last two sound like ones I can skip!

Terri, sorry I couldn't give you something more appealing! Although if you go back a few more posts, I could recommend Lit! for the type of book that it was. I'm trying to catch up on threads I've missed over the summer, hoping to get to yours soon!

#33. Mary Emmerling's American Country Cottages by Mary Emmerling
Nothing here but a lot of fluff. Glad that I bought this in a box at an auction. I can't imagine people being too happy that paid full price for this. Out of two hundred pages, I saw two ideas that I liked. Not recommended.

#34. Serendipity by Cathy Marie Hake
Booklist calls this her best book yet, and I would have to agree. The story of two near strangers quickly making a decision to marry due to circumstances, what unfolds is a battle of cultures and expectations. The story held my interest as it seemed to tell my story more than any other book I've ever read. I have to admit there were times I was telling the character to flee! Lol. More serious than her other light-hearted work, it's still basic Christian romance, with a twist in that they are already married. Recommended.

#35. Keeping Chickens by Jeremy Hobson
One of the best books written on raising any kind of animal that I have read. Loads of information, colorful glossy pictures and quality crafts and recipes. This book makes me even more anxious to get started on raising chickens.

#36. A Measure of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling
Read a previous series and was not happy how the story was dragged out through numerous books. I was hoping that her writing had improved so that she would not be pulling this gimmick again, but no such luck.

#37. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
Uggggh! I wish I could get the time back that I invested in this book. A very good example of why I would rather read children's literature than YA. What a bunch of rot!

Nice to hear about the new Cathy Marie Hake book! I'll have to grab that one for the church library.

Hope you like it, Faith. Her books are so uneven. Some are enjoyable, while others turn out to be a waste of time. Thanks for stopping by.

#38. 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
Perhaps my expectations were too high for this book. The concept is beautiful as are the illustrations and the storytelling, but the ending fell flat. I think children will find it confusing to have a gift designated for America, but apparently will never come to America. (children's book)

#39. Beguiled by Deanne Gist
Interesting mix of romance and mystery. On a good, fair, bad scale, I'd rate it fair. The characters were too stock and the mystery seemed contrived. This is a first paired work by the authors, so if they plan more, here's hoping the writing improves.

#40. A World Away by Pauline Francis
A very compelling, well told story that I saw mentioned on Whisper 1 (Linda's) thread. Based on a sixteenth-century painting of an Indian girl that John White did during his expeditions to the new world and the tragic 1586 and 1587 colonies, this story will stay with you. It felt a little rushed at the end, where I found it to be confusing. It didn't help that my library edition stopped at 304, jumped back to 273 and then repeated all the way back to 304. Yikes! Talk about bad publishing. Even with the error, I would still recommend.

Hi Regina, A World Away caught my eye on Linda's thread and now I have another recommendation from you which cements the deal! Oh my, that is crazy about the repetition in your copy. I hope your library is able to get a replacement.

It does get a little confusing all on it's own, it sure didn't need help from bad publishing! I really enjoyed the story though, and would Ike to see what else this author has done. Thanks for stopping by to visit!

#41 I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
I don't usually count the picture books that I read, but since this one was considered controversial when it came out, I decided to write a little about it. The minimalist illustrations are fabulous and the story is amusing...for adults. I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone else, but i find it irresponsible for a company to market something for children simply because it pushes the envelope. There is a reason some things have never been done in children's books before and it is called appropriateness.

#42. Everything I Need to Know Before I'm Five by valorie fisher
I am including this picture book because it is so special. After all the fabulous alphabet and other concept type books that have been done, it is hard to find new ones that are unique. This one stands out from the crowd. Starting out with bold, colorful photographs to grab a child's attention, the author carries them through the book with a tidal wave of tiny toys. It would be hard to think of a more fun concept book than this one.

I'm glad you enjoyed A World Away. Sorry to be so late in posting on your thread. Congratulations on reading 42 books.

I definitely agree that there are some children's books out there that should *not* be labeled as such!
I'm going to see if the library has the Fisher book - sounds excellent!

Linda, thank you for your congratulations! Lol. My reading doesn't compare to the rest of this group, but I trudge along. The main characters in A World Away were wonderful. I don't think I will ever forget them, but I felt the author could have used a better editor and publisher. I don't think Usborne is a very notable publishing house for fiction.

Amber, I hope you and Charlie enjoy the Fisher book. The title makes it seem like there is a lot of material to encompass, but the book is actually simplistic in nature. Let me know what you think!

We checked it out of the library this morning, and I'm looking forward to reading it with him tonight!

The group doesn't care if you reach 75 challenge goal books. The group simply is glad you are a part of us!

Amber, I saw where Charlie wanted to go to the library for his reward. That is so cool!

Linda, thank you for your kind words. I have gained so much in reading by being a part of this group!

And that's the point!:)

Ditto what Linda and Jim said!

Thank you, Jim and Terri. Hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

#43. The Twins' Blanket by Hyewon Yum
a picture book that is picture perfect. Booklist says, " the art makes words superfluous", and that says it all. A darling book of sibling rivalry focusing on the one blanket they shared from birth. Highly recommended.

Merry Christmas to you, Regina!


glitter-graphics.com

Merry Christmas to you and yours!
And happy holidays :)

#44. Doc by Mary Doria Russell
While the storytelling was beautiful, I can't help but believe that I would have enjoyed reading a biography of Doc Holliday more.

#45. A Picture Book of Dwight David Eisenhower by David A. Adler

Since 1989 Adler has been producing fabulous biographies for young children. His series has focused on American history. Of course, when one thinks of 20th century American history, one must think of World War II, and nobody played a more significant role in that war than Dwight David Eisenhower. A great tribute to a great man and president. I hope that many young children will be exposed to his story.