June 2012 Book Challenge - Page 2

[Holland73]

Grave Mercy by Robin LeFever

     Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.
     Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

I really enjoyed this book.  Very fascinating with a strong teen female protagonist.  

The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon

In 1991, fourteen-year-old Brent Runyon came home from school, doused his bathrobe in gasoline, put it on, and lit a match.  He suffered third-degree burns over 85% of his body and spent the next year recovering in hospitals and rehab facilities.  During that year of physical recovery, Runyon began to question what he’d done, undertaking the complicated journey from near-death back to high school, and from suicide back to the emotional mainstream of life.  In the tradition of Running with Scissors and Girl, Interrupted, The Burn Journals is a truly remarkable book about teenage despair and recovery.

A very honest look at an adolescent boy's battle with severe depression, suicidal ideation and the agonizing physical recovery of surviving severe burns.  

Body Finder by Kimberly Derting 

Sixteen-year-old Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her unusual so-called gift. While her confusing feelings for her best friend are new, she has been able to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered—and the imprints that attach to their killers since she was a little girl. Violet has never considered her ability useful, but now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Fiercely protective of her, Jay agrees to help Violet search for the murderer. But even as she's falling in love, Violet is getting closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Her best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay, is the only one outside of her family who knows of her morbid ability. But when Violet discovers the body of a missing boy, she draws the attention of the FBI.

As Violet dodges their questions, she is pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret. For without even meaning to, Violet has stumbled upon a dark truth—and a desperate killer.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series.  The second one really disappointed me, but apparently not enough to not read the third one... as I just downloaded it.   

[mrsmischief]

24. The Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord

25. Baby Buddhas: A Guide for Teaching Meditation to Children

26. The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald 

[kofduke]

City of Fallen Angels, Clare

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her...But nothing comes without a price. Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other one. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

[Holland73]

Originally Posted by kofduke 

City of Fallen Angels, Clare

What did you think of it?  I've read all them, except for the one just released. 

[kofduke]

Originally Posted by Holland73 

What did you think of it?  I've read all them, except for the one just released. 

I didn't find it as quick paced as the other ones -- but I was very interested in the historical/religious lines of the story, it had me doing searches on the Lilith myth among other things.  I also really like Simon's character/.  I bought the next one, will probably read it soon.

[Igraine]

32) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  These books are like crack! I had to set Storm of Swords aside to finish it this weekend

[fremontmama]

Originally Posted by Butterflymom 

I reas Life of Pi 9 years ago & remember practically nothing. Same summer read Sarah and Ahab's Wife and remember very much!
I think it's hard for me to retain a lot from fiction unless the main character is someone I can really relate to emotionally! Bah!

Oh, I LOVED Ahab's Wife!  I was just thinking about Life of Pi, and my friend said her book club's interpretation was that Richard Parker was a vicious human and the narrator identifying him as a tiger was a metaphor. 

Originally Posted by Igraine 

Sorry all. I have been really busy with work the last month and a half. So finishing books has taken a lot longer than usual for me.

31) "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen as a read aloud with the family. We enjoyed this one very much. The kids took out two more of Hiaasen's books so those will be appearing soon. Happy summer reading everyone!

Hoot is on my daughter's list of books she wants to read, when she finishes all the Little House books, all the American Girl books, and all the Harry Potter books.

Originally Posted by Ragana 

* Game of Thrones - Just finished it!

Will probably not have time to read much in July since I got a freelance job in that involves translating quite a large document and will take most of July. Am noting some of these books/reviews for the future, though!
 

Can't WAIT to read those books!

Originally Posted by Igraine 

32) Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  These books are like crack! I had to set Storm of Swords aside to finish it this weekend

Definitely like crack.  I couldn't put those books down!

I'm reading a serious book right now, after finishing Jenny Lawson's book Let's Pretend This Ever Happened, which was funny.  Currently reading The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. 

[zebra15]

January

1. Skipped Parts - Tim Sandlin  (Nook)

2. The Mill River Recluse - Darcie Chan (Nook)

3. I Used to Know That - Caroline Taggart (Nook)

4. Mom Still Likes You Best (audio book) - Jane Isay (Library)

5. The Snow Angel - Glenn Beck  (Library)

6. Hurricanes in Paradise - Denise Hildreth (Nook)

February

7. I Didn't Ask to Be Born - Bill Cosby (Library)

8. From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler (DS Copy)

9. House Rules - Rachel Sontag (Library)

10. On a Dollar a Day - Christopher Greenslate (Library)

11. Ella Enchanted - Gail Levine (Library)

12. House of Secrets - Tracie Peterson (Library) 

April

13. Victims - Jonathan Kellerman (Library)

June (no May, not much in April)

14. These Things Hidden - Heather Gudenkauf (library)

15. The Weight of Silence - Heather Gudenkauf (library)

16. The Help - Kathryn Stockett (library)

17. Live Wire - Harlan Coben (my copy) - this maybe titled something else as it's the canadian edition from a second hand shoppe

18. Sickened - Julie Gregory (library)

19. Maine -  J. Courtney Sullivan (library)

July

20. Who Do You Think You Are? - Alyse Myers (library) 

 

* couldn't finish #19 - 'Maine'. The first 120 pages just dragged on and on.  Honestly - I think there were too many characters and the switching between present and past with the main character was too confusing for the mind frame I was in.  Left it in the return bin at the library and am happily moving on to another selection!

Edited by zebra15 - 7/2/12 at 9:38am

[christianmomof3]

I have read several books this month.

Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3) by Kristin Cashore

and

The American Way of Eating: Undercover at Wal-Mart, Applebee's, Farm Fields and the Dinner Table by Tracie McMillan

which was quite interesting and revealing

and

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

and it's sequel

World Without End by Ken Follett

and

Peace like a River by Leif Enger which is really incredible

and

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

about alzheimers

[kofduke]

The Janus Stone, Griffiths

It’s been only a few months since archaeologist Ruth Galloway found herself entangled in a missing persons case, barely escaping with her life. But when construction workers demolishing a large old house in Norwich uncover the bones of a child beneath a doorway—minus its skull—Ruth is once again called upon to investigate. Is it a Roman-era ritual sacrifice, or is the killer closer at hand?

Ruth and Detective Harry Nelson would like to find out—and fast. When they realize the house was once a children’s home, they track down the Catholic priest who served as its operator. Father Hennessey reports that two children did go missing from the home forty years before—a boy and a girl. They were never found. When carbon dating proves that the child’s bones predate the home and relate to a time when the house was privately owned, Ruth is drawn ever more deeply into the case. But as spring turns into summer it becomes clear that someone is trying very hard to put her off the trail by frightening her, and her unborn child, half to death.

Okay, I listened to the first book in this series on audio and enjoyed it.  But I guess since it was audio, I didn't really get how oddly disjointed the writing is.  I like the story, but found the writing very distracting.  I think I will stick with audio if I read any more in this series.

[kofduke]

The Cove, Rash

Deep in the rugged Appalachians of North Carolina lies the cove, a dark, forbidding place where spirits and fetches wander, and even the light fears to travel. Or so the townsfolk of Mars Hill believe–just as they know that Laurel Shelton, the lonely young woman who lives within its shadows, is a witch. Alone except for her brother, Hank, newly returned from the trenches of France, she aches for her life to begin. Then it happens–a stranger appears, carrying nothing but a beautiful silver flute and a note explaining that his name is Walter, he is mute, and is bound for New York. Laurel finds him in the woods, nearly stung to death by yellow jackets, and nurses him back to health. As the days pass, Walter slips easily into life in the cove and into Laurel's heart, bringing her the only real happiness she has ever known.

But Walter harbors a secret that could destroy everything–and danger is closer than they know. Though the war in Europe is near its end, patriotic fervor flourishes thanks to the likes of Chauncey Feith, an ambitious young army recruiter who stokes fear and outrage throughout the county. In a time of uncertainty, when fear and ignorance reign, Laurel and Walter will discover that love may not be enough to protect them.

This book does a beautiful job of transporting you to the time and place.

[fremontmama]

Hey Folks!  Happy July!!!  Here in Seattle, it's finally started warming up.  I know most y'all are really warm already.  We'll send some of our rain and cool temps your way.

Started the July thread.

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1357324/july-2012-book-challenge