2014 - #2: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

I got the first four books in the Mortal Instruments series for Christmas! Thanks Mom and Cory! I just finished the Infernal Devices series this afternoon and since I am still sick in bed, what better activity do I have to do than read? Nothing is the answer. There is very rarely something better to do than read, in my experience. 

Anyway, I liked it. It was surprising for sure, and I am very curious to know where the author is going with all this Jace and Clary business. As of yet I do not like any of the characters half as much as I do the Infernal Devices characters. Oh Will, I miss you so. But it was action and mystery packed and I read it all in about 4 hours minus time to fix dinner, put my kids to bed, and whine about how sick I am. So maybe 3 hours total reading time give or take. Not bad I'd say considering how much time I spent whining. 

I obviously will be finishing the series, and I rated it 4 stars on goodreads, so I would also recommend it to anybody who likes paranormal ya books. There really is something for everyone. Werewolves, vampires, rats, betrayal, mystery and many amusing proposed band names. I can't wait to read the rest! Although I will in fact wait until tomorrow because of my desperate need for sleep. Sleeeeep.

2014 - #1: The Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

What a way to kick off a new year of reading and blogging! This book was just as amazing as I hoped and heard it would be. I loved the entire series - Clockwork Angel and Clockwork Prince - but this was the best! I am sick in bed with the flu and I still couldn't put it down to rest, I had to finish it even though I was desperate for a nap and a shower and drugs.

I won't lie, I cried, several times. I may have even talked to the book out loud, which was concerning to my family as they thought my fever was more significant than I had let on. But Jem! And Will! My love for Will Herondale has grown out of control. He has definitely become one of my top 5 favorite male book characters ever. Like, I love him. Love.

Anyway, I would totally recommend this series to anyone who is into ya, paranormal, steam punk or amazingness and I gave it 5 stars on good read.

Today is January 1st and my resolution this year, at least as far as reading/book resolutions go is to re-start the blog to keep track of my reading again. I also hope to read more than 100 books this year which I recognize is a challenge because I an once again working full time. But fingers crossed I will manage to fulfill both resolutions and 2014 will be another great year for reading!!!

No. 104: Battle Royale

by Koushun Takami
translated by Yuji Oniki

This is probably the only novel I have ever read that was translated from Japanese. It was an interesting undertaking to say the least. This book has been compared to Hunger Games, and I must admit that in many ways it is very very similar. The government forces unwilling children to fight to the death, there is a relationship between two of the competitors that makes them unwilling to kill each other. But for me, that is where the similarities end. I don't know if it was the translation, or the author's style, but something left me a little cold. I didn't really care in about 85% of the deaths that the person died. Weird, because typically dead children seems like something I would care about.

But despite the length of the book (pretty long) I didn't really get any emotional attachment to the characters. And I didn't really get that the characters had any emotional attachment to each other. There was no Peta/Katniss action to be specific.

So, an interesting read, but I didn't really love it.

No. 103: Explosive Eighteen

By Janet Evanovich

Since I just read number 17 and I am pretty sure I heard that number 19 is coming out this fall I didn't see what else I could do. Also I didn't really remember ANY of the plot. So it was almost like reading a new book! Unfortunately, it wasn't my favorite Stephanie Plum. Not quite as funny despite the live potions and rat rain. I don't think a single car exploded! Although to be fair, a building exploded and a bus burned up. So close but no cigar.

I will obviously keep reading the series until the end. Even a so so Stephanie Plum book is better than a lot of the other books I have read.

No. 102: Breaking Point

By Suzanne Brockmann

I had to keep going with the Suzanne Brockmann books. They are really too good. This is max and Gina and the reunion of Grady/Dave/Leslie and Molly which is one of my favorites.

Poor Jules though, he had a tough time of it. I may need to read his books now - like the one with Cosmo? And Miami? The serial killer one (the other serial killer one)? I can't remember but I am sure I have them all somewhere!

No. 101: Austenland

By Shannon Hale

I actually read this book several weeks ago but never posted it! Despite the fact that it has been sitting on my coffee table so I won't forget to lend it to my mother in law. See how good that works!

Anyway, I read the sequel to this, Midnight in Austenland first, and liked it better. The FMC was more likable and the dialogue was wittier and more Austenlike.

But this was good too! Such a good idea and room for any number of sequels! I hope there are more!

No. 100: Gone Too Far

by Suzanne Brockmann

For my 100th book of the year I wanted to read something great, an old favorite if you will. So I searched my bookshelf for my all time favorite SEAL book, maybe my all time favorite book period - Out of Control. But it was not there!!! It was horrible. I may have cried. Or said a bad word. Also, it was late at night and I was desperate to read. So rather than acting rationally and looking somewhere else, or just ordering the book again on my kindle so I could carry it with me everywhere I go (which is a brilliant idea and something I will do immediately) I knocked my extensive collection of Suzanne Brockmann books on the floor in a fury of searching and in my despair settled on the book at the top of the pile.

Turns out, it was Gone Too Far featuring my SECOND favorite couple Sam and Alyssa!!! Not Alyssa so much I guess (she grows on a person but is kind of a B for a few books) but SAM! Oh how I love Sam. His swearing is so frequent and so awesome, his tough yet sensative yet jack ass-ey personality is so endearing/irritating. He is almost as good as Ken Karmody in Out of Control. Almost.

So even though it was not my intention to read this as book #100, it was a happy coincidence because it reminded me of how much I love Sam/Roger/Ringo. And that is a lot.

Now I am going to find Out of Control ASAP! Because I love Ken even more :)