I came across a book challenge, the 50 States Challenge 2013, on Book Obsessed which sounded like a lot of fun to me. Of course, as always, I'm a year late, so I'm going to try to do this THIS year.
The goal: To read a book set in every state over the course of the next year.
I'm gonna give it a shot. Who's with me?
The idea came from here, but I'm sure sign-up is waaay over:
Book Obsessed
I will keep track of my progress here!
Alabama:
Alaska:
Arizona:
Arkansas:
California:
Colorado:
Connecticut:
Delaware:
Florida:
Georgia:
Hawaii:
Idaho:
Illinois:
Indiana:
Iowa:
Kansas:
Kentucky:
Louisiana:
Maine:
Maryland:
Massachusetts:
Michigan:
Minnesota:
Mississippi:
Missouri:
Montana:
Nebraska:
Nevada:
New Hampshire:
New Jersey:
New Mexico:
New York:
North Carolina:
North Dakota:
Ohio:
Oklahoma:
Oregon:
Pennsylvania:
Rhode Island:
South Carolina: The Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd
South Dakota:
Tennessee:
Texas:
Utah:
Vermont:
Virginia:
Washington:
West Virginia:
Wisconsin:
Wyoming:
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
May #3 - THINK OF A NUMB3R
Title: THINK OF A NUMB3R
Author: John Verdon
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Copyright: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-307-58892-0
Audience: Adult
Setting: Upstate NY
1st Sentence:
Prologue
"Where were you?" said the old woman in the bed.
Why I chose this book: It is the debut novel by Verdon and it had a good premise. And it had a book trailer. I love book trailers.
Why I read it to the end: I thought for a first time book he did a bang up job. It also was a book I purchased personally and planned to donate to the library so I wanted to read it before doing so. Books have a habit of disappearing from the library. This one is still there, but you never really know...
Rating: 4.5/5
May #2 - TOYS
Title: TOYS
Author: James Patterson and Neil McMahon
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-316-09736-9
Audience: Adult
Setting: New Lake City, Year 2061
1st Sentence:
Prologue
7-4 day
I will not forget this moment for as long as I live, which, in truth, might not be that long anyway.
Why I chose this book: I was hesitant about reading this book because it's not of any of Patterson's series, it's definitely not typical Patterson, but the chapters were his one page wonders so I figured I wouldn't have to invest in a lot before I knew whether or not I would like it even a little bit.
Why I read it to the end: I actually enjoyed this book. The book is set in the future and the world is made up of humans, who are the scourge of the earth, and the Elites, perfect, strong, rich and genetically modified. Hays is an Elite. Or so he thinks. This book had a quality that reminds me of life as we know it. People who are richer, stronger and think they are better than us and the rest of us humans. I actually hope there is more to this story.
Rating: 4/5
May 2011 #1 - BUNNICULA
Title: BUNNICULA
Author: James Howe
Publisher: Scholatic Inc.
Copyright: 1979
ISBN: 0-590-31318-5
Audience: Juvenile
Setting: The Monroe's household
1st Sentence:
I shall never forget the first time I laid these now tired eyes on our visitor.
Why I chose this book: One of my youth patrons came in and said their friend was reading a book about some vampire rabbit and did I know anything about it and did we have it. Of course we did! So I sent her out with the book and when she returned it, I checked it out because I realized I had never read it or if I had, it had been a very long time since.
Why I read it to the end: I was about 8 pages into it and realized I had read it when I was a kid, but wanted to refresh my memory. "Today vegetables! Tomorrow...the world!" I think it's a great story for kids.
Rating: 4/5
Elizabeth and Lyric
Well, I feel like I got substantially caught up but will work on getting the rest of my year's books posted.
Before I begin with the next month though, I want to pause and post some information about some girls who were abducted from our small community.
The went missing July 13th and a week later, after a lake in town was drained and it was ruled out that they were in the lake even though that is where their bikes were found, they were classified as an abduction.
Right away, national news media were notified of their disappearance and their search became a nation wide event.
It's been 50 days and there has been no viable information given to bring these girls home. The FBI, DCI and local agencies have been working on this and nothing! The community is saddened and frustrated and just want them home.
If you know anything or have seen anything, please call. We need to bring Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook home!
Before I begin with the next month though, I want to pause and post some information about some girls who were abducted from our small community.
The went missing July 13th and a week later, after a lake in town was drained and it was ruled out that they were in the lake even though that is where their bikes were found, they were classified as an abduction.
Right away, national news media were notified of their disappearance and their search became a nation wide event.
It's been 50 days and there has been no viable information given to bring these girls home. The FBI, DCI and local agencies have been working on this and nothing! The community is saddened and frustrated and just want them home.
If you know anything or have seen anything, please call. We need to bring Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook home!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
April #6 - I AM NUMBER FOUR
Author: Pittacus Lore
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-06-196955-3
Audience: Young Adult
Setting: Paradise, OH
1st Sentence:
The door starts shaking.
Why I chose this book: The movie was coming out and I was interested in seeing it, but I almost always read the book first.
Why I read it to the end: As a librarian, I have always tried to read a little bit of everything. There are some things of which I read little; science fiction and westerns. Even though this is young adult fiction, it does fall into the category of science fiction with aliens and intergalactic war so I thought I'd try it...and LOVED it! (I enjoyed the movie, too!)
Rating: 4.75/5
April #5 - DEAD CITY
Author: Joe McKinney
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Copyright: 2006, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7860-2358-5
Audience: Adult
Setting: San Antonio, TX
1st Sentence:
There's an empty parking lot near the corner of Seafarer and Rood where I used to go to fight with my wife.
Why I chose this book: Zombies, zombies, zombies.
Why I read it to the end: Zombies, zombies, zombies! It was like reading an episode of THE WALKING DEAD, my favorite show on TV these days.
Rating: 4.5/5
April #4 - YOU KNOW WHEN THE MEN ARE GONE
Author: Siobhan Fallon
Publisher: Amy Einhorn/GP Putnam's Sons
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-101-48641-6
Audience: Adult
Setting: Fort Hood, TX
1st Sentence:
In Fort Hood housing, like all army housing, you get used to hearing through the walls.
Why I chose this book: I was having a distracting week at work and this book was short stories so I thought it would be a good read.
Why I read it to the end: It was only eight short stories about the effect of the war in Afghanistan and Iraq as it pertains to those from Fort Hood where the author lived. It showed how the wives hold it together -- or not. How the soldiers are affected. It was a very sobering read. There could have been more stories and I would have been satisfied.
Rating: 4/5
April #3 - SING THEM HOME
Author: Stephanie Kallos
Publisher: Kindle edition
Copyright: 2010
ISBN: 0871139634
Audience: Adult
Setting: Emlyn Springs, NE
1st Sentence:
Prologue
It's so hard to explain what the dead really want.
Why I chose this book: It was our book discussion book as well as the All Iowa Reads selection for 2011.
Why I read it to the end: There is a definitive story in the book but the thing that I focused on was the title of the book haling from the Welsh tradition gymanfa ganu, a singing in unison and four part harmony of Welsh traditional hymns. For the book's purpose, it was to honor the dead - an extended wake if you will. While I have not found that it is specifically to honor the dead, what I've read is that it usually happens in get-togethers of more than four people and typically you would find that in the case of someone's death. I thought it somewhat morbid but the musical side of me was overcome by the beauty of this concept of 'singing someone home' after they had passed on. The family dynamics of the book were also spellbinding and Midwest weather was a big part of the story.
Rating: 4.5/5
April #2 - EXPOSED
Author: Kimberly Marcus
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-375-86693-7
Audience: Young Adult
Setting: Shoreview, MA (Near Martha's Vineyard ferry)
1st Sentence:
I am the first one here.
Why I chose this book: The book is written in verse and that is something that is relatively new to me. The main character is Liz aka Photogirl. As an aspiring/hobbyist photographer, for a long time I was called Paparazzi because I was always shooting pictures of people at parties. The title and cover eluded to photography but the content was a lot darker than photography.
Why I read it to the end: It was a fast read because of the verse and the storyline had me captured.
One section really grabbed me:
My mother has pinned
all her hopes on me.
And I can't pull out
the pins.
Rating: 4.5/5
April 2011 #1 - LOVE YOU MORE
Author: Lisa Gardner
Publisher: Bantam Books
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-553-80725-7
Audience: Adult
Setting: Boston, MA area
1st Sentence:
Prologue
Who do you love?
Why I chose this book: This book is 5th in the series and I've read the four previous novels.
Why I read it to the end: I love Lisa Gardner books. It's like the anticipation of seeing a friend you haven't seen for a year. I get giddy when a new book comes out.
Rating: 4.75/5
March #3 - MY ROTTEN LIFE: NATHAN ABERCROMBIE, ACCIDENTAL ZOMBIE
Title: MY ROTTEN LIFE: NATHAN ABERCROMBIE, ACCIDENTAL ZOMBIE
Author: David Lubar
Publisher: Tom Doherty & Assoc.
Copyright: 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7653-1634-9
Audience: Juvenile
Setting: East Craven, NJ
1st Sentence:
It's no fun having your heart ripped from your body, slammed to the floor, and stomped into a puddle of quivering red mush.
Why I chose this book: I'm a zombie kick and read and collect all sorts of zomfic and zombie non-fic.
Why I read it to the end: It was a cute and fast read about 5th grade Nathan who, tired of being bullied and hurt, undergoes an experiment that wrongly turns him into a zombie. There are definite advantages, but in a race to find a cure, he realizes that it's not all it's cracked up to be, until a decision to be made counts the most. This book is the first in a series. I have not read any of the others yet.
Rating: 3/5
March #2 - TRAPPED
Title: TRAPPED
Author: Michael Northrup
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-545-21012-6
Audience: Young Adult
Setting: Rural New England, Tattawa Regional High School
1st Sentence:
We were the last seven kids waiting around to get picked up from Tattawa Regional High School.
Why I chose this book: I usually read at least ONE inclement weather book during the winter time and a blizzard book in March just sounded right at the time.
Why I read it to the end: I liked that the author actualized the dire situation with what typical teenagers without adults around would do and how the environment of the school still resonates with the cliques left in the hallways. In the book, nature is the enemy. The ending left me a little cold though, because it was open ended. I don't know if there is plans for a TRAPPED 2. We'll see...
Rating: 3.75/5
March 2011 #1 - ON MAGGIE'S WATCH
Title: ON MAGGIE'S WATCH
Author: Ann Wertz Garvin
Publisher: Penguin Group
Copyright: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-425-23678-9
Audience: Adult
Setting: Wisconsin
1st Sentence:
"Wash your hands and say your prayers, 'cause Jesus and germs are everywhere!"
Why I chose this book: This book was for my library's book discussion group and it was a book I chose because it was a debut novel which I love to read.
Why I read it to the end: The book was slow starting out as Maggie, seven months pregnant, moves home to her small town in Wisconsin and revitalizes the Neighborhood Watch. Good thing because there is a sex offender in their midst. As the book progressed it picked up steam and by the last page I was sad to say goodbye to the quirky characters. The other members of the book discussion group did not like it and found Maggie to be a very one dimensional character without many likeable qualities. But I know pregnant ladies can get weird so maybe that was her deal...
Rating: 3/5
February #6 - THESE THINGS HIDDEN
Title: THESE THINGS HIDDEN
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Publisher: Mira
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2879-7
Audience: Adult
Setting: Linden Falls, IA
1st Sentence:
Allison
I stand when I see Devin Kineally walking toward me, dressed as usual in her lawyer-gray suit, her high heels clicking against the tile floor.
Why I chose this book: The author is an Iowan and we buy all her books for our library and I read them all. Plus, I think she's a great author.
Why I read it to the end: The story is told in alternating POV chapters. The book is all about secrets with a storyline that could easily have been ripped from the headlines of my town.
Rating: 5/5 - One of my favorite books of 2011.
February #5 - TICK TOCK
Title: TICK TOCK
Author: James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-316-03791-4
Audience: Adult
Setting: New York, NY
1st Sentence:
Like the luxury co-ops and five-star, French eateries located in Manhattan's Silk Stocking District, Benchley East Side Parking was outrageously exclusive.
Why I chose this book: Of the Patterson series, the Michael Bennett series is my favorite and this is #4.
Why I read it to the end: Patterson books are what they are, as I've mentioned before. They are quick mindless reads and I read them because his short one-page chapters make me feel like I'm accomplishing something. Despite that short scathing review, he is one of my favorite authors and writes a thrilling and fast paced story. They just don't have a lot of depth to them. So, if you're new to Patterson and are expecting TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, stop and go look for something else. But if you're looking for some fun, try this series. But I recommend starting with #1, STEP ON A CRACK.
February #4 - ME AND EMMA
Title: ME AND EMMA
Author: Elizabeth Flock
Publisher: Mira
Copyright: 2005
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2082-1
Audience: Adult
Setting: Toast, NC
1st Sentence:
The first time Richard hit me I saw stars in front of my eyes just like they do in cartoons.
Why I chose this book: This was the third book chosen for our book discussion group. I actually chose this book because it had been on my TBR list for a long time and I wanted something different from the other books we'd read. I found by reading this book that I truly enjoy southern fiction.
Why I read it to the end: The depressed childhood that the main characters had made for some lively discussion and it was fun hunting down some candy from the 1950's to share with the group as we always share food at our discussions. Flock's stand-alone follow up to this book, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER was just published in August and has made my TBR list as well.
My rating: 4/5
February #3 - FLIP THIS ZOMBIE
Author: Jesse Petersen
Publisher: Orbit
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-316-10295-7
Audience: Adult
Setting: Phoenix, AZ
1st Sentence:
When the zombie plague struck, I was just an office schlub.
Why I chose this book: I loved the first book MARRIED WITH ZOMBIES. Unfortunately, I had to wait for them to actually be published before I could read the next ones.
Why I read it to the end: David and Sarah have started Zombiebusters Extermination Inc. and are working with a doctor to save the world. It was a good, fast read, although for rating purposes, I did enjoy the first book better.
My rating: 4.5/5
February #2 - THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS
Title: THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS
Author: Katherine Paterson
Publisher: Harper Trophy
Copyright: 1978
ISBN: 978-0-06-440201-9
Audience: Juvenile
Setting: Thompson Park, MD
1st Sentence:
"Gilly," said Miss Harris with a shake of her long blonde hair toward the passenger in the back seat.
Why I chose this book: I had to replace our library's copy because it was falling apart and when the new copy came in, I decided it had been a long time since I read it last.
Why I read it to the end: This was a favorite book from my childhood. It gave me my first glimpse into the life of the foster system and I remember admiring Gilly's sassiness. May be where I got mine...
My rating: 4.5/5
February 2011 #1 - LEFT NEGLECTED
Title: LEFT NEGLECTED
Author: Lisa Genova
Publisher: Gallery Books
Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4391-6463-1
Audience: Adult
Setting: Welmont, MA
1st Sentence:
Prologue
I think some small part of me knew I was living an unsustainable life.
Why I chose this book: I wanted to read Genova's first book, STILL ALICE, but couldn't bring myself to because of the Alzheimer's disease angle, and living with my granmother's disease made reading about it just too raw. I thought I'd give this book a shot first.
Why I read it to the end: Sarah is a very busy woman - and one day, while commuting to work she is in a car accident, sustaining a head injury that causes a condition called left neglect. This condition does not allow the brain to register that which is on the left. This topic was new to me as far as medical fiction goes and I was totally enthralled by it. The book travels through Sarah's rehab, her reconnect with family and her shift in priorities. I thought the book was similar to Jodi Picoult in writing style and would recommend it to my patrons who enjoy Picoult's work.
This was one of my favorite books of 2011.
My rating: 5/5
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