PAET OHANA: July 2009

*Currently Reading*

Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese Sep10 Book Club Pick
Graceling - Kristin Cashore **** Nov09 A *wonderful* YA adventure. Recommended. May Book Club Pick
Heart of Gold - Jessica Bird *** Nov09 Pure romance fluff. Fun.
The Doomsday Key(Sigma Force 6) - James Rollins *** Nov09 Rollins stays true to his style of adventure.
Leviathan - Scott Westerfeld *** Nov09 Excellent 12+ for boys. Centers around a parallel WWI Europe. The illustrations are amazing.
The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance - Elna Baker **** Oct09 uproariously irreverent. I laughed.
Await Your Reply - Dan Chaon ****Oct09 I was paranoid and captivated for the entire read. Identity-Theft is a scary thing!
Forest Born(Bayern #4) - Shannon Hale ***** Oct09 Truly beautiful story-telling.
The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman **** Oct09 YA award-winning macabre. October Book Club Pick
Shadow Kissed - Rachel Mead ***1/2 Sep09
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown ***** Sep09 Dan Brown does not disappoint. Fascinating, captivating, thrilling. November Book Club Pick
The Immigrants - Howard Fast *** Sep09 Epic-like but with few redeeming values. September Book Club Pick
Austenland - Shannon Hale **** Sep09 A really cute book.
Catching Fire(book 2) - Suzanne Collins ***** Sep09 Awesome. I really love this series.
The Actor and the Housewife - Shannon Hale **** Sep09 Charming book.
Judgement in Death(book #11) - J. D. Robb **** Aug09 one of the best in the series.
New Moon - Stephenie Meyer ***** Aug09 Again! this time I listened to the Audiobook. Awesome!
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini ***1/2 Aug09 kinda heartwrentching August Book Club Pick
Daring to Dream - Nora Roberts
Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin **** Jul09 quirky Chick-Lit
Dead and Gone(book #9) - Charlaine Harris **** Jul09
To Catch a Pirate - Jade Parker *** Jul09 cute YA story, quick read
The Whole Truth - David Baldacci **** Jun09 REALLY excellent action packed story.
I Am the Messenger - Markus Zusak **** Jun09 very unique enjoyable author
The Ultimate Gift - Jim Stovall ***** Jun09 EXCELLENT! A fine jolt of gratitude. Highly Recommended.
From Dead to Worse(book 8) - Charlaine Harris *** Jun09 another installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series.
All Together Dead(book 7) - Charlaine Harris *** May09 fun. fun. fun.
Lover Avenged - J. R. Ward **** May09
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time - Greg Mortenson **** May09 Book Club Pick
Hold Tight - Harlan Coben *** May09 listened to the audio book.
The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming(book 2) - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni *** May09
Dead to the World(book 6) - Charlaine Harris *** May09 fun.
Dead as a Doornail(book 5) - Charlaine Harris **** May09 fun fun.
Bite(book 4.5) - Charlaine Harris ***May09 short story
Dead to the World(book 4) - Charlaine Harris **** May09 fun.
The Conch Bearer(book 1) - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni *** Apr09 My first venture into India's culture from a YA perspective.
A Bend in the Road - Nicholas Sparks **** Apr09 Tried and True Nicholas Sparks. Good love story with an underlying mystery. Listened to the audio book.
Men of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong ****Apr09 fantasy
Club Dead(book 3) - Charlaine Harris ***Apr09 Less Bill the vampire = more enjoyable. Southern vampire series. quirky.
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood * Apr09 What a bunch of angry-feminist driven drivel. sheesh.
Living Dead in Dallas(book 2) - Charlaine Harris ***Apr09 Southern vampire series. quirky.
City of Glass(book 3) - Cassandra Clare **** Apr09. Been on a roll with wonderful YA fantasy books. This is the final book in a captivating series.
Eldest(book 2) - Christopher Paolini ***** Apr09 EXCELLENT audiobook. Listened during workouts Mar & Apr. Can't wait to get my hands on Brisingr.
Broken - Kelley Armstrong *** Apr09
Dead Until Dark(book 1) - Charlaine Harris **** Apr09 Southern vampire. ha ha ha
Dark Fire(book 6) - Christine Feehan *** Mar09
Girl with a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier *** Mar09 Kept me hopeful and interested, but rather dry reading.
Witness In Death(book 10) - J.D. Robb **** Mar09 One of my favorites in the series.
The Virgin's Lover - Philippa Gregory **** Mar09 16th Century England, Queen Elizabeth.
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak ***** Mar09 A fresh take on 1940s WWII Germany. Recommended Reading. April Book Club
City of Ashes(book 2) - Cassandra Clare **** Mar09 Action adventure YA urban fantasy.
The Queen's Fool - Philippa Gregory **** Mar09 16th Century England, Queen Catherine.
City of Bones(book 1) - Cassandra Clare ***1/2 Feb09 YA fast paced good vs. evil urban fantasy
Cry Wolf - Patricia Briggs *** Feb09
The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel - Diane Setterfield **** Feb09 This book is like reading a grown-up V. C. Andrew's novel. Think Flowers in the Attic: an academic's version.
Bone Crossed(book 4) - Patricia Briggs **** Feb09 Fun. Urban fantasy.
Cravings - Eileen Wilks *** Feb09 I picked up this book for the second story out of the four. Fantasy.
The Surgeon - Tess Gerritsen **** Feb09 Such an intelligent novel. The author is a former internist. She's very descriptive in the autopsy room Ah, ya. But it was a fast-paced thriller.
The Lucky One - Nicholas Sparks **** Feb09 Why, Nicholas Sparks do you play with my emotions so?!? Good book. Listened on CD. There's a reason for why the demand for this book at the library is so high. February Book Club
The Girl Who Could Fly - Victoria Forester ***** Jan09 Recommended by Stephenie Meyer. This was a really great book. If you liked The Goosegirl I think you'll like this one, too.
Blue Noon(book 3) - Scott Westerfeld *** Jan09 Final book in the series. YA spooky suspense.
On the Prowl - Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks **** Jan09 four short stories by four authors. I picked up the book for the first story and read the second, too.
Industrial Magic(book 4) - Kelley Armstrong *** Jan09 The author departed from the characters of the first two books and now I'm hanging with the series to get to book 6 where it picks up with the story line I like.
Loyalty in Death(book 9) - J.D. Robb **** Jan09 Suspenseful, futuristic, murder mystery.
Princess Academy - Shannon Hale ***** Jan09 I loved this book. I'll be reading it again. It's a book I look forward to seeing my daughter read. Full of lyrical prose and imagination. March Book Club
Dark Challenge(book 5) - Christine Feehan *** Jan09 Carpathians are cool. This one was very syrupy, however.
The Star Garden(book 3) - Nancy E. Turner ***** Jan09 EXCELLENT series. HIGHLY recommended.
River Secrets(book 3) - Shannon Hale ***** dec08 This series is an instant classic. I love them.
The Book of a Thousand Days - Shannon Hale **** dec08 A charming fairy tale.
Succubus Blues - Richelle Mead ** dec08 I was like, 'what's a Succubus?' Then like, 'oh.'
Enna Burning(book 2) - Shannon Hale ***** dec08 The sequel to The Goose Girl. Very Good.
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury ***** dec08 Wow. Really a good classic. Find out why this is a 'banned book'.
Vampire Academy - ** dec08 kinda so-so
North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell Dec08 ***** a very nice classic.
Rapunzel's Revenge - Shannon Hale Nov08 *** A very unique Tall Tale. Cloe enjoyed it too.
The Hunger Games(book 1) - Suzanne Collins Nov08 ***** Such an interesting Young Adult novel. I was completely captivated.
Midnighters (book 2) - Scott Westerfeld Nov08 ***
The Goose Girl - Shannon Hale Nov08 **** Sweet, charming fairy tale. A positive story. January 2009 Book Club
Conspiracy in Death(book 8) - J. D. Robb Nov08 **** The characters are so great. Fun balance of crime and romance.
Eragon - Christopher Paolini Nov08 **** Excellent for young and old alike. An epic story with a compelling cliffhanger ending.
Midnight Sun - Stephenie Meyer Nov08 ****** The most enjoyable 264 pages ever. Now if only there were more. . .
Dime Store Magic(book 3) - Kelley Armstrong Oct08 *** Supernatural fluff. Easy reading.
The Secret Hour(book 1) - Scott Westerfeld Oct08 *** Now I know what goes bump in the night. Fun, clean, imaginative YA read.
Monkeewrench - P. J. Tracy Oct08 **** Quirky Murder Mystery with action and twists.
Dark Magic (Carpathian Series Book 4) - Christine Feehan Oct08 ****
Holiday in Death(book 7) - J. D. Robb Oct08 **** The characters are so great. Fun balance of crime and romance.
Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice Oct08 ** Gruesome. Not my kind of vampire.
The Wednesday Letters - Jason F. Wright 2Oct08 ***** Excellent. October Book Club
Carpathian Series Books 1, 2 - Christine Feehan Oct08 ***
Valhalla Rising - Clive Cussler Sep08 **** Just when you think it will slow down so you can take a breath there's more action. Good book.
Dark Prince(Carpathian Series book 1) - Christine Feehan Sep08 ***
Twilight Begins(books 1 & 2) - Maggie Shayne Sep08 *** total fluff. I don't know what I was thinking. . .well, it was the title that sold me. Ha ha. Pales in comparrison.
The Last Oracle(Sigma Force book 5) - James Rollins Sep08 *** Anti-bio-terroristic scientists with guns. Pretty good.
Vengence in Death(book 6) - J. D. Robb Sep08 ***** A futuristic, murder-mystery. My favorite of the series so far. Book #60 in 2008
Black Dagger Brotherhood Series (books 2 - 6) - J. R. Ward **** Aug08 spicy, paranormal romance, fluff
Sarah's Quilt - Nancy E. Turner Aug08 ***** Excellent. Highly Recommended. A favorite
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - James Rollins *** Aug08 Good fun - this one.
Return to Summerhouse - Jude Deveraux 16Aug08 **** Enjoyable, worth the read.
These is My Words - Nancy E. Turner Aug08 ***** Excellent. Highly recommended. A favorite
Breaking Dawn(book 4) - Stephenie Meyer August 2&3 ***** Wow. The Saga is complete. Book #50 read in 2008 September Book Club
Eclipse(book 3) - Stephenie Meyer ****** Counting down to the FOURTH book!July08
The Judas Strain(book 4) - James Rollins *** July08 It's the new-wave Indiana Jones. Pretty cool.
Black Dagger Brotherhood(book 1 Dark Lover) - J. R. Ward **** July08 spicy
Ceremony in Death(book 5) - J. D. Robb *** July08 not the best of the series.
Iron Kissed(book 3) - Patricia Briggs *** July08 The first two books were just a warm-up to this more intensely interesting book in the series. (urban fantasy)
Blood Bound(book 2) - Patricia Briggs *** July08 Mercy Thompson has to go fight the vampires now. What's a girl to do? (urban fantasy)
The Testament - John Grisham **** Jun08 A good page turner. Recommended.
The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards ** Jun08 Eh, it was okay.
Rapture in Death(book 4) - J. D. Robb **** Jun08 Good addition to the series.
Moon Called(book 1) - Patricia Briggs *** Jun08 Clean. Interesting series. Supernatural with a believable modern, human, day-to-day story.
Immortal in Death(book 3) - J. D. Robb *** Jun08 A futuristic, bawdy, murder-mystery.
Sunday's at Tiffany's - James Patterson **** May08 A sweet, modern, fairy-tale, love-story with a cherry on top.
Gathering Blue(book 2) - Lois Lowry *** May08 Reads like a disparaging dream. Or maybe it just kept putting me to sleep.
Glory in Death(book 2) - J. D. Robb **** May08 The characters are growing on me. Bring on book #3.
Imperial Woman - Pearl S. Buck May08 **** I felt like I just took an AP course on the Manchu Dynasty. This story is about the last Empress of China. A wealth of knowledge. Very fulfilling.
The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls May08 **** Intriguing memoir of an adult having lived her childhood with astonishingly careless parents and how her choices break the mold.
The Host - Stephenie Meyer May08 ***** REALLY GOOD.
The Last Promise - Richard Paul Evans May08 **** Ah, Amore. Viva Italia.
The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory May08 ***** What a scandalous romp. I devoured this book.
Stollen(book 2) - Kelley Armstrong Apr08 *** Mush and Fluff. Easy reading. *werewolves + witches + a vampire. Oh, my.
Life As We Knew It - Susan Beth Pfeffer Apr08 *** Elementary, end-of-the-world, apocalyptic, fiction from a 16 year-old's point of view.
Naked in Death - J. D. Robb Apr08 *** A futuristic, raunchy, murder-mystery, romance.
Bitten - Kelley Armstrong Apr08 **** Pure adrenaline and mush. A fun reprieve from my serious reads of late. *werewolves
Kindred - Octavia E. Butler Apr08 **** The fantasy of time travel combined with the reality of pre-civil war slavery. Excellent.
The Woods - Harlan Coben Apr08 **** Ooooooh, good one. Mystery, twists and turns, Harlan Coben delivers.
Playing for Pizza - John Grisham Apr08 *** Think testosterone laced ravioli.
The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger Apr08 *** Finally complete. I read the last 1/2 from where I stopped last year. It's kinda 'R' rated. 0:-/
Extras (Book 4) - Scott Westerfeld Apr08 *** A cool concept, though a step away from the original trilogy.
The Giver - Lois Lowry 30Mar08 *** An answer to "what would happen if all our choices were taken away."
Missing Persons - Stephen White Mar08 *** A who-done-it from a psychiatrist's point of view. Led into some ethical challenges for the protagonist. Unique to other murder mysteries I've read.
The Magic Garden - Gene Stratton-Porter Mar08 *** Oh, the drama of a pampered child. Sadly, she had everything but love. Published in 1927.
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel - Louise Murphy 20Mar08 ** On the surface very horrific. I'd recommend you pass on this one.
Specials (Book 3) - Scott Westerfeld Mar08 *** good. less 'bubbly' more 'bogus-making' ha.
Pretties (Book 2) - Scott Westerfeld Mar08 **** "Totally Bubbly"
The Road - Cormac McCarthy Mar08 ***** deeply tragic, moving. A father and son's journey fraught with peril. I felt their life was dependant upon me turning the pages. I couldn't put it down
Peeps - Scott Westerfeld Mar08 *** Parasites, anyone? Might have learned more than I wanted.
Uglies - Scott Westerfeld Mar08 **** Worth the read. A great young adult sci-fi. I'd recommend it to teenagers. Nothing inappropriate. Thought provoking and a good conversation starter.
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett Feb08 *** What a journey. 950+ pages. It's a five star story with some one star medieval violence and crude language throughout :-/
Children of the Promise (5) - Dean Hughes Feb08 ***** REALLY, REALLY GOOD
Children of the Promise (4) - Dean Hughes Jan08 ***** REALLY, REALLY GOOD
The Sunflower - Richard Paul Evans Jan08 ***** Extra Special and very easy to enjoy
Children of the Promise (3) - Dean Hughes Jan08 ***** REALLY, REALLY GOOD
Children of the Promise (2) - Dean Hughes Jan08 ***** REALLY, REALLY GOOD
Children of the Promise (1) - Dean Hughes Dec07 ***** REALLY, REALLY GOOD
A Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (I'm reading it with Cloe) Dec07 *** cute, kinda slow at times
Sandstorm by James Rollins Dec07 *** It was okay. Mr. Rollins writes good books. They are just a little too much to take back-to-back. Book #1 in the Sigma Force Series
Subterranean by James Rollins Nov07 *** His first novel. Nice effort. Very different. (To be fair, I'm still stuck on the Twilight Saga. It seems like everything else just pales in comparrison.)
A Girl Named Zippy: Growing up... - Haven Kimmel Nov07 **** Cute.
Twilight & New Moon & Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer Oct07 Oh, yea. I'm reading them again.
Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer Oct07 ****** Wow, so good. This whole series is so consuming. In a great way. Where's the FOURTH book?!?! I just read 1690+ pages in 7 days.
New Moon - Stephenie Meyer Oct07 ****** Excellent! Excellent! Oh, I'm reading these too fast. They'll be over too soon!
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer Oct07 ****** I LOVE THIS BOOK! Can't wait to read the next two.
P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern Oct07 **** excellent. Hopefully the movie will do it justice!
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte Oct07 **** classic * smooth * genuine goodness *
Walking Across Egypt - Clyde Edgerton Sep07 *** southern charm with most things PC out the window :-+
Ella Minnow Pea - Mark Dunn Sep07 *** unique, don't be tempted to skip to the end. So glad I didn't.
Gone for Good - Harlan Coben Sep07 ****
Daughter of Fortune - Isabel Allende Sep07 *** an anti-climactic epic
Enchantment - Orson Scott Card Aug07 *** Sleeping Beauty on a caffeine fix
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas - James Patterson Aug07 ****
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Aug07 ******
Harry Potter 5 & 6 again! Jul-Aug07 *****
Black Order - James Rollins Jun07 ***** Book 3 in the Sigma Force Series.
The Innocent - Harlan Coben May07 *****
No Second Chance - Harlan Coben May 07 *****
Map of Bones - James Rollins Apr07 ***** Book 2 in the Sigma Force Series.
Return to Summerhouse - Jude Deveraux 16Aug08 **** Enjoyable, worth the read.
The Whole Truth - David Baldacci