Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Thursday Thirteen 305: Recently Read

Here's a look at what I've been reading the last couple months. As usual, it's a good mix of mystery and classics, romance and young adult. Click on any cover to find out more about a book, or any link for more information.














BOOK NOTES:

Row 1: Life of Pi was an August group read for TNBBC — excellent book! When you think E.M. Forester, you probably don't think science fiction. The Machine Stops is a sci-fi novella by Forester, recommended by Anita — you can read it free here. It has an eerie prediction about the computer age. Seriously — read this book! It's short and can be read in one evening. Oliver Twist was the September group read for a GR classics group. Parts of the novel were quite familiar, though I'd never read it before and have no memories of any movie version. Liked the novel, despite all-too many coincidences at the end.

Row 2: Whiskey Beach is a recent single title rom-suspense by Nora Roberts, and one that had me up late finishing. Mysterious Stranger is a rom-suspense set in Kentucky that crosses another state off the infernal Read the USA mystery challenge. The Bride's Rescuer was an unintended reread. I pulled it out of Mount TBR for its Florida setting (that darn "USA" challenge again). I though the premise sounded familiar, and I remembered scenes from earlier in the book, though I did not recall the ending.

Row 3: Written in Stone is by one of my favorite cozy authors and the fourth book in the "Books by the Bay" mystery series—it fit an August mini challenge for a book with a lighthouse on the cover, or a scene set at same. Sealed With a Kill (third in a series) caught me up on a short-lived cozy series, and also fit a September mini challenge of a "DIY" book (the heroine teaches decoupage).

Row 3 and 4: I finished both City of Bones and City of Ashes in one weekend, and a week prior to the movie opening. The movie was okay, though parts — particularly the ending — could have been better. Isn't that usually the case?

Row 4: The Lost Hero and Son of Neptune were on loan from my sister, with the latter fitting an "ocean" September mini challenge. This is a spin-off series from Riordan's "Percy Jackson" series. And yay! I just got my hands on book three.

Row 5: Perks was a September group read for TNBBC group at Goodreads. A good book that has been banned/challenged quite a bit the last few years. Though YA, it is far from tame. Some readers might object to some of the content, which includes strong language, violence, and references to drugs, alcohol, homosexuality and abuse.


What have you read recently?




LINKING TO: Thursday Thirteen






20 comments:

Shelley Munro said...

I've recently read Whiskey Beach. I've been reading a lot of historicals lately.

Alice Audrey said...

Perks of Being a Wallflower sounds interesting.

Jennifer Leeland said...

Oooh!!!! I hadn't seen these Rick Riordan books. I love the Percy jackson series to read to my youngest.
I've been intrigued by Life of Pi, so your recommendation is noted.
I love it when you do these TTs.

Kimberly Menozzi said...

I read Life of Pi a couple of years ago. I really, really enjoyed it. Surprisingly moving, at times, and horrifying at the end.

Heather said...

Shelley: Whiskey Beach was good. I noticed you were on a historical binge lately.

Heather said...

Alice: Perks was interesting, and a bit different as it is told in the form of letters. Be interesting to see how that translated to the big screen.

Heather said...

Jennifer: Thank you, glad you like these! You didn't know there was a spin-off series to the Percy Jackson series? My sister just loaned me book three and number four just came out. Life of Pi was really good.

Mary Quast said...

I've enjoyed discussing City of Bones and City of Ashes with my teens. Nice list! Be sure to visit my TT today and enter 2 contests! http://maryquast.blogspot.com

Heather said...

Kimberly: That is an apt description of the book. There were a couple scenes that were horrifying. Scenes with the hyena and the Frenchman are among my least favorites.

Heather said...

Hi Mary! How fun that you've been reading the "Mortal Instruments" with your teens! I need to catch up on the rest of the series.

CountryDew said...

Thanks for mentioning that Forester read! I am glad you found it as intriguing as I did. Great list of books.

colleen said...

I like when you add brief descriptions. Is City of Bones and City of Ashes one movie or is that one title?

Heather said...

Anita: Thank you for initially posting the link to the EM Forester novella. It was good and, being a free read, I hope others will check it out as well.

Heather said...

Colleen: As you can see by the two separate covers, they are two different books in a series of six (last book out in 2014). As events of the sereis build upon each other, I recommend reading in order, starting with City of Bones, which is also now a movie.

Anonymous said...

WOW! You've been one busy woman, Heather! I don't believe I've read any of those. I love Nora Roberts, but I haven't read Whiskey Beach yet. I'll have to add it to my TBR list. Happy Thursday!

Heather said...

Stephanie: Uh-huh...and yet I've suddenly dropped from six ahead of my annual goal to only three ahead. Must do something about that! *VBG* Hope you've been inspired to add more than just the NR to your TBR list. ☺

Paige Tyler said...

I think I'd like those Intrigue books!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.com

Hazel said...

Love the books on Row 3, even before I read the description. And decoupage, how fun! The art reminds me of those decoupage napkins I bought and neglected. They're still in the shopping bag almost a year now.

Hazel

Heather said...

Paige: You just might! I think you would like the Mortal Instruments series, too. ;)

Heather said...

Hazel: Row three... Those were some good cozy mysteries. I bet you would like both series. And for shame, neglecting that decoupage project like that. NOT that I've never left projects sit unfinished for a year or ten. :-|