Thursday, March 31, 2016

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest, 147 pages

A patron had this on inter-library loan and I read it on my breaks. Not the best vampire book out there.

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe, 96 pages

I'd heard about this collection but since I'm not much of a Marvel fan I'd never read it. It was up at the circulation desk so I picked it up. Very dark and surreal at times, but with humor sprinkled through, a lot like Deadpool I imagine.

Big Nate Thunka, Thunka, Thunka by Lincoln Peirce, 174 pages

I don't know why I like these books so much, but I really do. They're just so darn funny I can't miss one.

A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas, 337 pages

A teen fiction book looking at the Sleeping Beauty story of what happened when she woke up. Very dark, very intriguing.

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Sisi, Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki, 438 pages

I knew almost nothing about Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz of the Austria-Hungary Empire before reading this and the previous book, The Accidental Empress. The author has done an outstanding job of bringing this larger than life woman alive. She was a fascinating character.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Mycroft Holmes by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse, 325 pages

I was kind of shocked by how much I enjoyed this. There aren't a lot of books showcasing Holmes' brother, and their early life. Much better done than I expected.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, 256 pages

This is March's book club book. It's sweet and touching, and is still an outstanding read, all these many years later.

The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton, 294 pages

A review book that just didn't grab me. This has not been my week for books.

Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray, 335 pages

The plot of this book grabbed when I read the back. A romantic mystery set at the end of the Chicago's World Fair, featuring a reading room in a public library, what's not to love. Unfortunately the plot was not outstanding, the characters trite, and I felt like the Christian aspect of it was forced into it at the end. There are others in the series but I don't think I'll be picking them up.

So Big by Edna Ferber, 212 pages

This title had been sitting on my "plan-to-read" pile for months and months and I finally got around to it. There is a reason it won the Putlizer. People rave about Willa Cather but I feel like Ferber is a better writer. This was definitely one of those books that left me wanting more.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black, 328 pages

The last two books I'd read were a little disappointing so I was almost afraid to start another one. This one was very enjoyable. A town that has lived with fey and dark creatures, including a horned prince in a glass coffin. A girl knight, a changling growing up with his human family, and an uneasy balance that has come to an end. All in all, a dark and deliciously delightful teen book.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Mark of The Thief by Jennifer Nielsen, 339 pages

I LOVED the False Prince series so I was excited to see a new one by her. Unfortunately I have to agree with my youngest daughter about this one. It just didn't grab like the False Prince did. It's set in ancient Rome with magic, which I would normally enjoy but this, for some reason, just never resonated with me. I can't really put my finger on it, I think it's that I never connected with the characters or really cared about any of them.
I'm not sure I'm going to read the second one in the series.

Wings by E.D. Baker, 307 pages

The sequel to this caught my eye but I figured I better read this one first. Tamisin has felt different for a long time, with her love of dancing that attracts little lights, her pointed ears and sparkly freckles. But now she has wings. Oh, and it turns out goblins are looking for her.
This wasn't a bad read, it just wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Lumberjanes, Volume Two: Friendship to the Max,

I really enjoy this series and I'm only 2 books in.

Betty and Veronica Double Digest No. 32, 256 pages

The last of my comics until I can find some more, sad face.

Betty and Veronica Double Digest No. 16, 256 pages

I need to find some more to read before bed.

Betty and Veronica Double Digest No. 19, 256 pages

I like the Betty and Veronica collections best of all.

Betty and Veroinica Double Digest No. 26, 256 pages

I've finished my stack and I'm now sad.

Betty and Veronica Double Digest No. 24, 256 pages

Funny

East of the Sun and West of the Moon, Kay Nielsen, 93 pages

A collection of old Norse fairytales I downloaded to my e-reader.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Lumberjanes, Volume 1-Beware the Kitten Holy, 128 pages

Everyone at the library has this on hold. I really enjoyed the artwork and the storyline was pretty interesting.

Damsel in Distress by Carola Dunn, 234 pages

I have to say that the Daisy Dalrymple series is filling the void that finishing the Phryne Fisher series created. Both are tons of fun, set in the same time period and well done.



Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Slice of Life by Ellie Ann, 131 pages

Read it because I'm in a book club with the author.

Travels in Siberia by Ian Frazier, 529 pages

Another patron had placed a hold on this book and it caught my eye when I was pulling it. So I read it when it came back. I like nonfiction books about the history of places, but this just never grabbed me. I was going to call it quits after a 100 pages or so but Blair, a co-worker, saw I was reading it and went on and on about how much he liked it and I should keep going. I plowed through it but it just never picked up for me. Basically the author writes about his trips to Siberia after his interest in the place was piqued. He includes details and history, but just not in a deep or coherent enough manner for my taste. I think because I don't have strong feelings for Russia this didn't interest me as much as a similar book about England would have.

The Wedding Bees by Sarah-Kaye Lynch, 345 pages

Sometimes you finish a book that just leaves you smiling at the end, this was one of them. I saw it reviewed on a site I get emails from, so I did an inter-library loan for it. The book was just so outstanding I'm going to recommend it for purchase for our library.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Wedding Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke, 370 pages

This Hannah Swensen mystery did not end the way I thought it would. I have to say I was surprised.

Death of a Nurse by M.C. Beaton, 248 pages

I really like the Hamish series. I can't decide if I want him to end up with anyone or not.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

A Hard, Cruel Shore by Dewey Lambdin, 339 pages

I started reading these for my husband but I've gotten hooked myself.

When Hitler Took Cocaine and Lenin Lost His Brain by Giles Milton, 261 pages

A fascinating look at little known tidbits of history.

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg, 229 pages

My youngest daughter had asked me to bring this book home for her. She'd complained about a teacher reading it out loud to them instead of letting the kids read their own books to themselves. But then the teacher didn't finish the book and Samantha had to know how it ended. The ironic thing was, just a few days later I was reading a book that listed this as a wonderful read. It was sweet and touching, and I'm glad I picked it up. But then again, I don't think I've read anything by Fannie Flagg that I didn't enjoy.

Betty and Veronica Annual No. 6, 128 pages

I always enjoy these.

Betty and Veronica No. 47, 128 pages

Still funny.

Archie's Double Digest No. 55, 256 pages

It's amazing how timeless these are.

Betty and Veronica Double Digest No. 31, 256 pages

Betty and Veronica are still loads of fun.

Betty and Veronica Annual No. 5, 128 pages


Laugh Comics Digest Magazine No. 78, 128 pages

I'll be sad when I finish my stack of these.




Monday, March 7, 2016

Betty and Veronica Double Digest No. 28, 256 pages

I have to read these fast to stay ahead of my kids.

Betty and Veronica Double Digest No. 20, 256 pages

Funny

Archie Andrews...Where Are You No. 60, 128 pages


Betty and Veronica No. 50, 128 pages


Betty and Veronica No. 48, 128 pages

Always funny

Laugh Digest Magazine No. 93, 128 pages

A great way to relax before bed.

Downturn Abbey by Michael Gerber, 152 pages

I discovered this spoof author when my daughter bought his Barry Trotter/Harry Potter book. This was very well-done. I think my favorite part was the illustrations and pictures. They were a delightful touch.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, 370 pages

This has been the best week for books I feel like. This was in the top three of all-time funniest books ever. I could not keep from laughing out loud whenever reading it. In fact, the carhop at Sonic looked at me oddly when she walked by as I was guffawing loudly. I had a twisted childhood as well (gravel fights in the summer because we had no snow for snowballs) but it was no way near as traumatic. Except for the fact that anything that happens to me has to be more traumatic than anything that happens to you, which seems to be how almost all of the human race seems to think. I believe though I almost peed myself during "The Psychopath on the Other Side of the Bathroom Door" chapter, it was so laugh-out-loud funny. I want to be Jenny's best friend, except neither of us would actually want to plan anything that involved leaving the house I feel.

Peter & Max by Bill Willingham, 389 pages

Even though the Fables graphic novels are done, they're still treating us to glimpses of that world.

Betty and Veronica No. 51, 128 pages

This is one library donation that made me extremely happy.

Laugh Digest No. 82, 128 pages

No matter what, this are always a mindless retreat.