Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Thursday Thirteen 295: Recently Read

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Here are the latest books I've read -- as always, click on any cover to find out more about the book. I have now read 53 this year, putting me three books ahead in my goal of 100 .
















BOOK NOTES:

ROW 1: I seem to be regressing with this set (grin). Messenger is book three in Lois Lowry's "Giver" quartet. I was anxious to read this one, but didn't really like the ending. The (Wonderful) Wizard of Oz was the May group read for a classics group at Goodreads, and was a re-read for me--I read several in this series as a kid. And, of course, I had to watch the movie again after. I won Caroline Takes a Chance for my niece in a giveaway hosted by the author, Kathleen Ernst. She is a local author, and has written numerous books for children, as well as mysteries for adults.

ROW 2: These were all read for mini-challenges during May and June. The Azalea Assault is book one in a new series. It was an okay read and I'll probably hunt down book two. Thread on Arrival is book five in Amanda Lee's "Embroidery Shop" mystery series, which I really like. Hello! She owns a needlework shop! The Right Wrong Number is a free short romance story by Barbara Delinsky.

ROW 3: The Nail Knot is by a local author and was read for a June mini-challenge in which a book where someone goes fishing was required. I had difficulty getting into the narrator's voice at first, but ended up liking it more than anticipated. Blue Heaven by C.J. Box is a double-challenge mystery set in Idaho. Escape was also read for a mini-challenge. It's been a while since I read anything by Barbara Delinsky, but the intro of this one really drew me in.

ROW 4: These were books 7, 8, and 9 in the popular "Sons of Chance" series by Vicki Lewis Thompson. This trio is actually from last summer, but I didn't get them until late fall, and only just got round to them. There is a new trio in the series out this summer.


ROW 5: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was a re-read for me. It was the June group read for the classics group at Goodreads. I didn't remember how this one ended, so it was a nice refresher.




Linking to: Thursday Thirteen






12 comments:

anthonynorth said...

Some interesting looking books there - and of course, a couple of great classics.

Shelley Munro said...

I haven't read any of these, although the authors are familiar.

CountryDew said...

I'm glad you support local authors!

colleen said...

How do you read so many books? How long does it take for you to read one? Who gives the mini challenge?

Heather said...

Anthony: Thanks, there'll be a couple more classics on the next post like this, as I have two lined up this month.

Heather said...

Shelley: You've never read Barbara Delinsky? A few names may be familiar from previous posts like this. *g*

Heather said...

Thanks, Anita. There are a few local authors whose works I like, while others are too lit fic or out there for my tastes.

Heather said...

Colleen: I average two books a week, sometimes three, depending on the book/author. Of course, there are some books that take more than a week. Elegance of the Hedgehog and Anna Karenina took almost two weeks each.

The mini-challenges are for the Cozy Mysteries group, and there are five posted each month by the group moderator. She usually picks more obscure holidays or events. For example, the "fish/fishing" challenge was for National Fishing Day. That was one of the harder ones. Books for the challenges can be from any genre, which is a good thing considering how I tend to hop around.

Alice Audrey said...

You've been reading up a storm. And quite a mix, too.

Heather said...

Always! :-D

Alice Audrey said...

But isn't it usually heavier on the who done its?

Heather said...

Sometimes, but not always. Depends on what I'm in the mood to read. If it makes you happy, I am reading a mystery right now. ;)