Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Thursday Thirteen 185: Recently Read

The last Thirteen books read...













NOTES:

* Jessica Fletcher/Donald Bain was the November featured author in the Cozy Mysteries group. Sorry to say, I did NOT like these. I had difficulty getting into the main character's POV and the pacing was too slow to me. It's the first FA I did not like and will not read again.

* I did like books three and four of Rett MacPherson's series. Now to find books 5 through 11, which are out of print!

* I participated in the Christmas Spirit reading challenge again this year, which ran from Nov 26, 2010 to Jan 6, 2011 (Epiphany). Did not get through as many as I'd hoped, but still managed to pare down the Christmas TBR shelf by eight. You know it's only going to grow again over the coming year...right?

* The top three books are the start to a brand new year of reading. I have also signed up for the 2011 Reading Challenge at Good Reads, with a goal of 100 for this year. Wanting to see that meter move should be good incentive throughout the year!

* My first classic for the year, A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys, and Dickens' A Christmas Carol were read on my Nintendo DS, as I received 100 Classic Books (US version) for Christmas from my sister.


LINKS TO OTHER THURSDAY THIRTEENS:(Please leave your link if this is your first visit!)
Stephanie Bennett * Adelle Laudan * Alice Audrey
Darla M Sands * Bratty * Maddy Barone * Xakara
Shelley Munro * Tatiana Caldwell * Virginia * Harriet
CountryDew * Kimberly Menozzi * Jeanne St James
Savannah Chase * Paige Tyler * KS Manning
A Catherine Noon * Mary Quast



30 comments:

Darla M Sands said...

I'm impressed. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

I'm seeing Christmas, naughty Santa and lots of murder in that list.

And yet you claim you spend much time making hand-made ornaments and such things.

Hmmmm. *checks rearview mirror for dark shadowy figure named Heather*

:P

Alice Audrey said...

I see the effects of reading challenges even before reading about them.

Heather said...

Darla: Thank you. *G*

Bratty: Yeah, Santa was a bit naughty this Christmas and committed a bit of murder and mayhem, lol. And I did get a lot of stitching done this past year. I usually do that while watching TV. You can get a lot done during the course of one football game or a couple of TV shows!

Alice: The reading challenges definitely influenced the amount of reading done last year. Here's to another 100 books this year!

Shelley Munro said...

I haven't read any of these ones. I used to like the TV show with Jessica Fletcher but I've only read one of the books.

Xakara said...

Always love a reading list! My budget? Not so much of a fan ;)

Happy TT,

~X
13 PsiCorps Terms

Stephanie Bennett said...

Oh my gosh, I had totally forgotten about Murder She Wrote. That was a great show. :) Happy Thursday!

Unknown said...

I often wondered about Jessica Fletcher/Donald Bain series. I like a fast paced book as well. I really need to start reading more. I do reward myself with reading time between projects, which is something I suppose.
Happy T13!

Tatiana Caldwell said...

I love that you read so much, and such a variety.

Virginia said...

I'm guessing you like mystery, LOL. I've read a few intrigue books of late as well. Haven't read a Mary Higgins Clark in awhile though. :)

I am Harriet said...

I love Murder She Wrote. Great choices.
http://harrietandfriends.com/2011/01/celebrity-gossip-and-freebies/

Maddy BArone said...

Reading is always a fun thing to do. I'm not much of a mystery fan, those books look good.

CountryDew said...

The Christmas Train was the first Baldacci book I read, and I enjoyed it a lot. I have since read many of his but that remains my favorite. Nice list.

Kimberly Menozzi said...

*snaps fingers*

Darn! I keep hoping...

Still, that's a lot of reading. Where do you find the time?

;)

Happy TT!

Heather said...

Shelley: Though I can't say I remember any particular episodes, I know my family used to watch Murder, She Wrote as well, and my 6-yr old niece loves watching it in reruns. Which is why it was a bit disappointing to discover I did not like the books.

Xakara: Yeah, my book budget is pretty non-existant at the moment as well. Good thing I have such a HUGE TBR pile to catch up on!

Heather said...

Stephanie: Yes, it was a good TV show. Was hoping I would like the books more, but they just don't seem to be for me.

Adelle: Most people in the Cozy Mystery group seemed to like the Murder, She Wrote books, but the two I read just did not grab me. I literally had to force my way through the second one, and it took me more than a week to finish it.

Heather said...

Tatiana: Thank you! I find I get bored easily if I stick to just one genre, so try to mix it up a bit.

Virginia: Yes, my prefered genre are mystery, romance, and rom suspense -- with or without the paranormal elements. Gotta have at least a little variety! *G*

Harriet: Thank you. I'm glad someone likes the MSW series!

Heather said...

Maddy: Some of the earliest books I remember reading had mystery and/or paranormal elements in them. I grew up on Trixie Belden and the Dorry books.

Anita: The Christmas Train was my first Baldacci, and I did like it. I have The Camel Club in the TBR pile.

Kimberly: I read wherever and whenever I can, including the bus, waiting in long checkout lines, or at night when I have trouble sleeping (which happens a lot). It also helps that I am single, and don't have kids or a life outside work. Actually, I've been known to sneak in a chapter or four on a slow work day, too, LOL.

Forgetfulone said...

Thanks for stopping by today. I'm glad I joined that challenge at goodreads. Thanks for telling me about it last week. Out of your list here, the murder/mystery ones appeal to me most. I have to wonder why... what does that say about me? LOL

Paige Tyler said...

I'd go for the romances! Mysteries aren't my thing!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

Heather said...

Forgetfulone: You're welcome, I'm glad you joined the challenge! As you can see, my reading is prettily evenly split between mystery and romance.

Paige: I can't imagine a little mystery in my life or my romance. *G*

Mary Quast said...

Nice list. I'm curious to see what is in the next pile of books TBR.

Heather said...

Mary: Currently at top of the TBR pile are books on loan from a friend, starting with a 2-in-1 by Suzanne Brockmann (Not Without Risk and A Man to Die For). There are also a couple by Nora Roberts, an anth. of short stories headed by Charlaine Harris, a dystopian YA and a couple of mysteries. Nothing like a bit of variety! *G*

A. Catherine Noon said...

I actually just started re-reading the Harry Potter series. It's fun to see what others are reading, too. There are so many good books to enjoy!

Heather said...

Catherine: I hope to read the last three in the HP series before the last movie comes out in July. Alice says I have to. *g*

colleen said...

I see you like murder mysteries. I tend to go for memoirs.

Anonymous said...

Who knew there were "Murder She Wrote" books?? Not me!
Good list!!

Jennifer Leeland said...

How did you like "Christmas Train"?
Great list!

Heather said...

Colleen: Yes, I like romance and mystery. Memoir/biography would be my least favorite.

Scotty: I knew there were books based on the TV show, but did not know there were as many as there are.

Jennifer: I really liked Christmas Train. It made me want to travel cross-country via rail.

Savannah Chase said...

What a list of books....I've not read any of them....But I will look some of them up...