| Pages:
1
2 |
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Lady Disdain's Book Challenge (44/100)
Another year of book reading. Hoping to read more than last time 
* = so terrible you wonder how the hell it was published
** = ok, but didn't like it much
*** = liked it, but wasn't great
**** = great
***** =  = so excellent that I'd want to own a copy
^ = half
January
1)Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead ***^
2)The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig****^
3)The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig ***^
4) The Possibilities of Sainthood by Donna Freitas **^
5)The Deception of the Emerald Ring by L. Willig ***^
6)Mansfield Park by J. Austen ****^
7)The Little Prince by Antoine St. E.
8)The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee **
9)The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan
February
10)Frostbite by Richelle Mead ***
11)The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by L. Willig**^
12) The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie **^
13)Dramacon
March
14)Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh **
15)Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks**^
16)Secrets by Jaqueline Wilson****
17)Shadow kiss by Richelle Mead***^
18)Beastly by Alex Flinn ***
19)1984 by George Orwell**
20)A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess***
21)Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster ***
22)Beloved by Toni Morrison ****
April
23)Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas***
24)Catch 22 by Joseph Heller***^
25)Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas***
26)Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston****
May
27)It Happened One Autumn **
28)Bad Girls by Jaqueline Wilson***
29) Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella**
30)Fly on the wall:How One Girl Saw Everything by E. Lockhart***
31)Meridian by Alice Walker ***
32)The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood ***
33)Life and Loves of a She-Devil by Fay Weldon***
34)The Third Life of Grange Copeland by Alice Walker****
June
35)All These Lonely People by Gervase Phinn ****
36)Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
July
37)Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten ***
38)The Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare***
39)Abandon by Meg Cabot ****
40)Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas **
41)A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ****
42)Will Grayson, Will Grayson by D. Levithan & J. Green ****^
43)The Butterfly Tattoo by Philip Pullman***
44)Death Note Tsugumi Ohba ****^
Currently Reading
Hamlet by W. Shakespeare
Great Expectation by Charles [Censored]ens
Bizenghast v. 3 & 4
Re-Reads
1)Pride & Prejudice (still reading)
2)There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar
3)Persuasion (still reading)
|
|
|
Deni
Wordsmith
Posts: 238
Registered: 5-9-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
OOooh, I have The Secret History of the Pink Carnation on my TBR! I recently heard it's funny, which makes me even more interested. How are you liking
it?
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
So far it's going really well - it's a smooth read. The first one I read of Willig's was The Mischief of the Miseltoe - I found I got into that way
more easily than this one. You should try that, too. It's quite hilarious
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
FINALLY read VA after so much hassling from my friend. Didn't really like it at the beginning but it started picking up quite quickly. Have to say I
really liked the concept of the 'shadow-kissed ones' and also Lissa's healing abilities. Rose got on my nerves a little, but I had to admire her
dedication to protecting Lissa. Interested in reading the rest of the series.
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation was a fun and easy read. Everything falls in perfectly and you can tell Willig really has a
way with words and plots and characters. Just the easiest read ever. And it's so unlike any genre that I was surprised to come across a love scene
in it - I hadn't realized it was a romance in that sense. I guess it does credit to her that her books don't fit into any of the stereotypes.
|
|
|
reading101
YA Bibliophile
Posts: 352
Registered: 20-12-2010
Location: Camp HALF-BLOOD!! AKA Canada, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Books, books and more books!
|
|
So would you recommend Vampire Acadamy to a person? I read about a chapter and I stopped because it seemed a bit cliche and stupid. Should I keep
reading or forget about it?
Boys in Books are just Better
"If you wanted me to rip my clothes off all you had to do was ask."- Jace <3
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Mm, well everyone does have different tastes but I say, at least, give the 1st one a try. I found the first couple of chapters slow, too. It was my
friend - who's a huge fan - who urged me to read it. And while I didn't love it I'm definitely interested in what happens next. Give it a try, you
might like it. And then again you might not. To each their own
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
I'm really enjoying Willig's series. The mystery, spy element really pulls me in, as does the romance. The smooth plot and character development
can't be denied - but, for some reason, I'm always left wanting a little more. Not entirely sure why. I don't always agree with the heros'/heroines'
actions, so maybe that's it. In the last novel especially the two are forced into a marriage and I thought there were so many moments before that in
which the heroine could've opened her mouth and said SOMETHING to stop it. I find that just too submissive and annoying, really.
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Also finally finished reading Austen's Mansfield Park. Found it really easy to get into. Of course, love Austen's jabs at society.
I didn't find the ending really satisfactory, though. Edmund takes forever to notice Fanny and even then he only recognizes a sort of affection for
her which stems from their close friendship. And he moons so much over Mary, to the point where it gets really irritating. Not my favorite out of
Austen's but stilll a good read.
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
The Body at the Tower by Y.S. Lee was a good enough read. The main character, Mary Quinn, is quite resourceful as someone should be
from a spy agency. The mystery is intriguing enough, as is the little romance between Quinn and a James Easton. However, there was still something
that wasn't entirely...worthy of being pulled in. I found the writing a bit stilted and therefore the gap between reality and fiction to be quite
distinct.
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Ās usual I fell in love with another one of David Levithan's novels: The Realm of Possibility . It was such an excellent, excellent
read. I love his ability to weave simple words together into a random and magical order. His writing's always perfect. Plus, he explores same sex
romances, but the thing with him is that it's not a big deal in the usual sense - as in not the usual amount of angst, and "I hate myself" etc. It's
just told as a straight out romance, and often in the 1st person so you're never really sure if it's same sex or not until you come to find out the
narrator's name - if you find out at all. It's a great way of highlighting how alike we all are, I guess. I worship Mr. Levithan 
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Well, seeing as uni and everything's been cancelled due to the quake I've been reading A LOT to avoid fighting extensively with siblings and going out
of my mind. Been really looking for some chick lits - and Jennifer Crusie seems to do it. She's not EXACTLY a writer I love, but I do like her
storylines.
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Finished Secrets by Jaqueline Wilson. Was a good enough read, in true Wilson style. Was quick and easy; just left me down for
awhile considering how some kids have to put up with violent parents and whatnot. I suppose it's a good thing that Wilson's able to open the eyes of
all her readers.
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Updated: read Beastly by Alex Flinn - found it an interesting version of the beauty and the beast story. Bit of a downside that the
movie version's got Vanessa Hudgens though. Hopefully the acting's not too bad.
Trying to finish several books for school at the moment. Hopefully can read them in time >.<
|
|
|
Nichole0390
Super Moderator
Posts: 3396
Registered: 14-12-2009
Location: Washington
Member Is Offline
Mood: oh summer, how I love you
|
|
hahha. That's why I'm waiting for Beastly to come out on video!
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Haha yea - although on the upside it does have Neil Patrick Harris
|
|
|
Nichole0390
Super Moderator
Posts: 3396
Registered: 14-12-2009
Location: Washington
Member Is Offline
Mood: oh summer, how I love you
|
|
which is ALWAYS a bonus.
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Indeed, it'll make it at least a little worthwhile.
----------
Updated: Finished 1984, and have to say I hated it. It was completely frustrating and very pessimistic in general. I understand what the author was
trying to get at, outlining the dangers of certain types of society etc. But it was just such a depressing story to read, and I'm not one for
depressing stuff.
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Mostly been doing most of my updating for the challenge on Goodreads, but all updated here now 
Been reading so much for school - I'm sure my brain somewhat resembles an overly used sponge =\
|
|
|
Deni
Wordsmith
Posts: 238
Registered: 5-9-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
Ooh, what's your goodreads name?
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Lady Disdain.... yay, add me! What's yours?
|
|
|
Deni
Wordsmith
Posts: 238
Registered: 5-9-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
Hm, I can't find you on there. I was going to send you a friend request Here's
mine: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4579690-small-review
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
I shall send you one, instead
|
|
|
Deni
Wordsmith
Posts: 238
Registered: 5-9-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
Got it! Thanks
|
|
|
Lady Disdain
YA Obsessed
Posts: 518
Registered: 3-1-2010
Member Is Offline
Mood: read read read
|
|
Wow, I've been away for so long. Just updating all the books from Goodreads. Shall try to post more. Poor, dear YAR, I've missed you so.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/corporate/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
