Latest Update

So I've been sitting on these for quite a while now...keeping them in a pile that keeps getting moved around, split up, etc. But I really haven't felt like updating the list until right now...which means I have a bunch to do. So here I go.

87. Chasing Harry Winston
I remember enjoying this book (again, in the category of beach reading), but now that I'm sitting here, I really can't remember what happened. So you'll just have to read it yourself to find out :)

86. To the Power of Three
Ok, I think I actually like this equally to What the Dead Know. However, in all her novels, I find the references to Baltimore and other Maryland areas slightly distracting. Perhaps because I think I should know where they are, but I really don't (and why would I - I've never lived in MD, and really don't go to MD very often).

85. The Woods
Another recommendation from Stacy (really, most of the things I read are, but this one was a situation where I was in a book store, looking for something to read to pass time when I was caught without a book, and this is what she recommended). Anyway, it was really good. Lots of good twists, just as I thought I had things figured out, yet not so suspenseful that I couldn't sleep.

84. Away
For some reason, I avoided reading this for a while, and I'm not sure why. It's the story of a Russian immigrant who moves to America, then ends up going back to Russia. I liked it because the author would also wrap up what happened to some of the side characters before moving on with the rest of the story - which I appreciated - you always wonder what happens to the others.

83. Belong to Me
Sequel to Love Walked In. It's a few years ahead of where Love Walked In left off, and continues to the story of the main characters. Again, really enjoyed the story, and had some twists that I wasn't expecting (or didn't figure out until right before they were revealed).

82. Love Walked In
A really good read - had a little twist that I wasn't expecting at the end. I really liked this (but can't really think of a description of why - it was just good).

81. Hissy Fit
Pretty cute, and again, a perfect beach/vacation read. I mean, who hasn't wanted to throw (or actually thrown) a hissy fit :)

80. What the Dead Know
I think this was my favorite of the three Laura Lippman books I read. It made me want to hurry up and finish it to figure out what in the world was going on. And while I had a good theory about what was going on, it wasn't quite right. Therefore, a good mystery :)

79. Second Chance
Def. a good read, but still not as good (for me) as Jemima J. I would recommend reading it.

78. Fearless Fourteen
Thanks to Cathy, I'm totally addicted. And sad. I think this is the latest one in the series, and while not quite as good as the others, still totally enjoyable. I'm surprised this hasn't turned into a movie or TV series or something.

77. Deep Dish
Perfect book for the beach, where I read it. Nice, light, and everything wrapped up by the end.

76. Every Secret Thing
Stacy recommended Laura Lippman's books, which are OK, though I don't love them as much as she does. Of the three that I read, this was my least favorite, and took me a little longer than normal to get through.

75. Love the One You're With
Clearly, on an Emily Giffin kick here. This was not the typical story

74. Baby Proof
Ah, chick lit. It had some drama that all worked out in the end - this time, about babies instead of meeting Mr. Right. Still, it was good - especially for the beach, where I read it.

A few more books before vacation

I managed to squeeze a few more books in before vacation. I'm leaving for the beach for a week, so I'll probably have a bunch more to add.

73. The Miracle at Speedy Motors
Still love these - though I have a difficult time explaining why. They're just nice, pleasant books that make me wish I lived in Botswana, except that I don't think I could hack it.

72. The Memory Keeper's Daughter
I'm a little slower than most people - apparently, everyone in DE has read the book (I kept having people come by and tell me). It was really good, and everyone should read it.

71. Something Borrowed
Cute story, great to get in the mood for vacation (though it really didn't have anything to do with vacation, except that the main characters kept going to the Hamptons, which is not really like going to Hilton Head).

More books...

The Janet Evanovich era continues... with one small exception. I was sad 'cause I thought I was done with the series, but apparently, there's one more.

70. Nice to Come Home To
And now, for something completely different... in between all the Stephanie Plum books, I managed to squeeze something else in. This was cute - I think the fact that the setting was in Washington, DC added to the cuteness.

69. Plum Lucky
Another between the numbers book. All the same comments apply.

68. Lean Mean Thirteen
I thought this was the last book, but apparently, (other than the stupid between the numbers books) there's one more. Thank goodness. I mean, these books are by no means great literature, but they're entertaining. I'm surprised they haven't made it into a TV show or something yet.

67. Plum Lovin'
Another between the numbers book. Same reaction as the other one. I'm not sure that I would have missed anything by not reading this, but I was afraid I would always be missing something by not reading it.

66. Twelve Sharp
I'm a little sad at this point, because I know that I'm running out of books in this series. At least it was a long series.

65. Eleven on Top
Another one - a little variation on things - this time, Stephanie quits being a bounty hunter.

64. Ten Big Ones
Good thing these are numbered - helps me to figure out what's next.

63. To the Nines
Another one down...

62. Visions of Sugar Plums
You thought I might have varied a little... but no, this is a 'between the numbers' Stephanie Plum book. I wasn't crazy about it, but read it anyway. A little cheesy and disappointing, but short, so not a total waste of time.

61. Hard Eight
Another one - really, hard to find stuff to say, but I'm still enjoying them.

60. Seven Up
So the formula continues, but I'm still entertained. More crazy scenarios, crazy grandma scenes, etc.

Stacy's pulling away

I just don't think I can keep up. But I do have vacation coming up, including an 8 hour car ride. I feel some catching up happening...

59. Hot Six
Clearly, this post is all about Janet Evanovich. I need to read some other books for a little while. PS - it's a little weird sitting on a bus with a book that has the title Hot Six in GIANT letters on the front cover. I tried to hide it.

58. High Five
I guess the sorta rhyming titles ran out. I think she has fans name the books. Anyway, another good one. At some point, it may get hard to believe that so much bad stuff can happen to one person, but I'm going with it for now.

57. Four to Score
Yep, another one. Only 10 more left...

56. Three To Get Deadly
Good thing the titles are in number order - makes it far eaiser to read.

55. Two for the Dough
I'm totally hooked on these books. Good thing there are 14 of them - it should last me the summer.

I think I might be on time

I think I might actually be returning books on time for once. Yay! Now I need to go stock up on more for a weekend trip to the beach. In addition to overpacking clothes, I usually overpack books too. And really, how many books can one read in a weekend?

So the updates are (again, lacking color/flair in the interest of time - gotta be ready to go by 6PM tonight)...

54. The Girl Who Stopped Swimming (Joshilyn Jackson)
Enjoyed it. Not really sure what else to say, so I'll leave it at that.

53. Certain Girls (Jennifer Weiner)
On Stacy's recommendation, I reread Good in Bed prior to reading this, and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed this, though the first one is probably my favorite of the two. In writing this list, I realize I've got a library book that is MIA. I checked out Good in Bed, and need to add it to my list (as well as return it to the library), but I can't find it anywhere. Hm...

52. Big Boned (Meg Cabot)
Ah, Heather Wells, former teen pop star turned assistant dorm director, you've got to solve a murder again. Really, 3 murders in about a year at the same college dorm does get pretty unbelievable, but there's enough other 'stuff' going on that I still like the book.

51. Death by Chick Lit (Lynn Harris)
It was a funny idea - chick lit authors being killed off. And the title made me laugh. It was cute - again not super scary/tense, but still a decent mystery.

50. Chocolat (Joanne Harris)
I saw the sequel for this on the 'new' shelf, so I wanted to read this one (only saw the movie - and I remember feeling like the movie left off at the start of something). Reading this reminded me that I hadn't seen the movie in a while, which is probably a good thing. Oh, and reading this reminded me that I took Latin and German for my foreign languages. French means nothing to me.

49. One for the Money (Janet Evanovich)
Very cute, not too scary/tense mystery. The main character is definately a character, and this is the first in the series. I like series books, 'cause I always know what to read next.

Ah...summertime

The start of hot days and light, fluffy reading. Mostly. Being lazy, so that I can actually return these to the library on time, and not looking up the little pictures of the book. Sorry for the lack of color and flair, for the 1 - 2 people who actually read this list.

Here's what I've read since the last time I made an update:

48. A Good Indian Wife
Indian moves to America, swears off arranged marriages (one of my Indian co-workers thoughts on arranged marriages - "they're crap"), and ends up in one anyone. Pretty good book and a nice break from chick lit, while still being light and easily digestible.

47. Cause Celeb
Ever wonder why you haven't heard of the first book by Helen Fielding, who wrote Bridget Jones' Diary? There might be a reason. I wouldn't recommend this - it was OK, but not as funny as I was expecting. But really, how funny can you make starvation in Africa? The answer, not as funny as Bridget Jone's diary.

46. There's No Place Like Here
Not my favorite of hers, but reasonably good to pass the time. If I wasn't counting the number of books I read, I might not have finished reading it though...

45. Remember Me?
Another cute summer read. I'm wondering if the TV show Samantha Who got the idea from this book - probably not, but it kinda reminds me of it (yes, I've seen at least one Samantha Who episode).

44. Good in Bed
Reread it in preparation for the next one (on advice from Stacy). I had forgotten how much I liked it. It's not your typical chick lit.

43. Rosie Dunne
Cute. Like her other books. Good, light summer reading.

42. Behind the Scenes at the Museum
I picked this one up from a display at the library. I think it was the book for one of the groups they run. It was... different. I think I liked it, but there were a lot of characters - I really needed a family tree to keep up. ANyway, if you're looknig for something...different, it's a good read.

Just for Stacy

Finally updating, just for Stacy (who is ahead of me at the moment). I'll get caught up though. Just you watch.

41. Light a Penny Candle

Another good one from Maeve Binchy. According to the back of the book, it's her greatest.

40. The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters

I've read this a couple of times, and reread it again this year. I liked it - again, would I read something again if I didn't like it (possibly, if I was desperate).

39. If You Could See Me Now

Cute book - light summer reading. Good for the beach - or not the beach.

38. The Careful Use of Compliments

I've read others in the series, and enjoyed it. But I think it had been too long since I read the series, and sorta forgot what happened. It was still good :)

37. World Without End

Pillars of the Earth, 200 years later. Also very good.

36. The Pillars of the Earth

Not your usual Oprah's Book Club book. Very good - highly recommend.

35. Home to Holly Springs

So, apparently, this is the launch of the new Father Tim series. But I thought it was a continuation of the Mitford series, so I'm confused. It's the same characters, I think. Anyway, it was cute - if you like the Mitford series, you'll like this one too.

34. Can You Keep a Secret?

Yet another reread. It still makes me laugh too :) I would do something dumb like this (and probably have done something similar, except that it didn't result in me being involved with an unbelievably rich man).

33. P.S. I Love You

Another reread - I kept hearing about the movie, which made me want to read the book. I haven't seen the movie, but I usually think the book is better :) I like this - clearly, or I wouldn't have read it again.

32. Mr. Maybe

A reread (I have overdue library books once again, and so I'm avoiding them). It's cute - good summer book.

31. People of the Book

It was interesting - mix of history and present day 'stuff'. It came from the new release shelf of the library.