Tuesday, October 13, 2015

I show you my books, you show me yours vol.9

Happy 1st year to the greatest link-up ever!  Thanks to Jana & Steph for being the hostesses with the mostestesses. 


1. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (originally published as The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry, and if your library is like mine, this is the title on the shelves) - Oh.  This book.  If you have not read this book, do yourself a favor and read it. I mean, it's a book about books, booklovers, and a bookstore.  It is endearing and wonderful and sad and quirky.  I laughed, I cried, and it may have leapt up to one of my all-time favorites. 5/5









2. The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow - I've never read the Godfather, but I imagine this book is similar. If you turned it into a movie, you'd need a trilogy. Spanning 25+ years, a DEA agent, a priest, a high-dollar prostitute, some Hell's Kitchen mobsters, and Mexican drug lords mix it up with murder, drug and weapon smuggling, betrayals, conspiracies, politics, corruption, sex, and more. Prior to selecting this book for a book challenge, I was unfamiliar with this author.  (He wrote the book that the movie Savages was based.)  I will definitely be reading more from him.  There's also a follow-up to this one; don't read about it on goodreads (if you intend to read this one and don't want spoilers) like I did. 5/5



 3.  The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson - This is a book that I'd added based on this link-up's recommendation (but I can't remember who recommended it), and I'm sure glad I did. There were several plot twists that I thought were excellent.  I was a fan of how it ended.  My only criticism was this: there were a few loose ends or holes that I thought should have been explained, but I don't want to say what they were that bothered me, because I don't want to spoil a thing.  You should still read this.  I'm just being pedantic.  If you like suspense mixed with some messed up folks, this is a good one.  4.25/5*







4.  Depending on where you live or what year the publication of the book you pick up, this book is either titled I Am the Messenger OR The Messenger by Markus Zusak -There is some really great stuff here.  At times, I got really annoyed and slightly angry.  Then, as the story continued, I liked that I had that response.  It was thought-provoking and demanded an array of emotions to be experienced.  I also felt encouraged, hopeful, and was brought to tears more than once.  Sometimes, I wanted to hug and applaud the main character; other times I wanted to tell him that he was a complete idiot.  Read it for yourself, and you decide. 4.5/5






 5. Motive by Jonathan Kellerman - There is a reason that Jonathan Kellerman is on his 30th book of the Alex Delaware series...the combination of a psychologist with his L.A. homicide detective best friend plus well-done pyscho thriller plots makes for enjoyable reads.  These stories have re-occurring characters, but don't hesitate to pick up one of these books if you haven't read others in the series.  They work as stand-alone stories too.  4/5









6. Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan - You know how goodreads recommends books to you based on what you've read and rated?  Allison Brennan has been regularly recommended to me.  Then, Kerry and I were chatting about it because she's read a lot of this author.  She recommended I start with this series/trilogy, so that's just what I did.  The villian is a severely damaged whackjob-psycho-sociopath-rapist-murderer-creep...and as much as I don't want to know that kind of person in real life, I do read some books with these kinds of folks.  I will definitely read more of this author.  Thanks for the recommendation Kerry & goodreads! 3.75/5*





7.  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman AlexieQuirky and cute. Sad and depressing, yet full of hope and inspiration too. A quick read that I read in honor of Banned Books Week. 4/5












8.  The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - How many of you have recommended this book?  A lot of you.  Well, thank you.  I finally read it, and it was magnificent.  This conversation occurred after I openly weeped on my train commute while reading:
My guy: Is that fiction?
Me: Yes
My guy: Then, why are you crying?  It's not like it's real.
MeBecause.........emotions........so many emotions
My guymmmmmmkay
5+/5






 9.  Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter - Thriller readers, have you read this author?  You should.  She's one of my absolute favorites.  She has a couple of series books, but this one is a stand alone.  If you like creeptastic bad guys, read this.  But I'm warning you, this one is especially vile, and the evils committed are gruesome. Due to some far-fetched parts, I score it 4/5.

*The way I score books has gotten ridiculous.

I've shown you mine, now show me your books!

33 comments:

  1. I am so glad that you liked The Kind Worth Killing and the Sea of Tranquility! I love both of those books! I will have to add Pretty Girls to my list now!

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  2. Ok, I'm seriously moving up The Sea of Tranquility right now. It's been on my list way too long. I'm also adding The Kind Worth Killing and Pretty Girls.

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  3. The Sea of Tranquility is one of those books that has just stuck with me! I hadn't ever heard of Karin Slaughter, but I'm adding her to my "to read" authors!

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  4. I loved The Sea of Tranquility too and felt almost the exact same way you described...lol. It is definitely a book that will stay with me. I loved The Storied Life of AJ Fikry too!! This is one thing I love about blogging...I never would have found those two books if I hadn't read about them on Goodreads or on blogs!! My reading life has improved a lot this year ;) I should get back into some Jonathan Kellerman sometime too...

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  5. I'm obsessed with anything Native American so that book is super-appealing. Also, you are the eleventybillionth (I made up that number) person to tell me about The Storied Life so I need to try it.

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  6. It took me forever to read TSoT because I knew it was emotional and I was so glad when I finally did!

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  7. I love a good thriller, Pretty Girls has been added!

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  8. "It's not like it's real" ??? Of course it is! While we're reading it, it totally feels real. Actually I have a post coming up about all the things that have made me cry lately, and most of it is books and TV shows that "aren't real." I'm intrigued by the The Storied Life. Adding it!

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  9. I am on a thriller spree so I added Pretty Girls. Also added the Dog book and of course the newest Alex Delaware. I didn't know a new one was out. I've read them all.

    Adored Fikry and Tranquility and really enjoyed The Kind Worth Killing.

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  10. Everyone is telling me that I need to read AJ Fickery! lol! It's definitely on my list! I've never read any of these actually!

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  11. I added so many of your suggestions to my Goodreads list! I'm all for thrillers and suspense novels and you've got a lot of good sounding ones here, so thanks!

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  12. You have a GREAT mix of books, lady! I've put three on my want to read list and am very intrigued by the last book. I hate scary things but for some reason am DRAWN to thriller mysteries. How graphic is this book?

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  13. Yep - sea of tranquility is just fantastic - makes me want to read again.
    I need to add that first one onto my to read list

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  14. seriously, i need to have like a 10 star rating. because some 5 star books are like the sea of tranquility amazing, others are like okay this was really good and i enjoyed it, and it's higher than 4 stars. you know? ugh anyway. i haven't read any allison brennan books, the other series (lucy kincaid) is on my list per Kerry's rec.

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  15. I loved Fikry. Have not read the rest but I Am the Messenger is already on my list, as is The Kind Worth Killing, and I'll add a couple more of these including Sea of Tranquility because enough of you guys have raved about it.

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  16. Adding the Kind Worth Killing. I loved Fikry and Tranquility, gave me all the feels. So glad you liked Speak No Evil, it gets so good the more that the others in the family are introduced too.

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  17. I read a bunch of these books including The Kind Worth Killing and The Sea of Tranquility. I am adding Speak No Evil to my to be read list and have to add Kellerman. Looking back on goodreads I read one of his a long time ago and thought it was "eh" but I may try his Alex Delaware series.

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  18. A.J. Fikry and the Sea of Tranquility are on my Kindle waiting to be read. I almost picked up the former the other day but wasn't sure it was what I wanted to read right now. It'll definitely be the next one on deck for me though—thank you for the push!

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  19. Oooo! I see 4 I'll be adding to my "to read" list!

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  20. So many awesome recommendations! I love the months when a lot of people's link-up posts consist of a lot of new favorites even though it makes my "To Read" list considerably longer!

    The Kind Worth Killing, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and Pretty Girls are all on my list already. I've actually been on the waiting list at the library for Pretty Girls for several months. I doubt I'll get it until at least December or sometime next year because the list is THAT long. That makes me think it's got to be amazing, though, so I'm really looking forward to it!

    I also added I Am the Messenger (and The Book Thief) after reading your previous post on this book and author.

    Things I'm adding now: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and The Power of the Dog. I'm going to look a little more into Allison Brennan because I think she's popped up on my Goodreads recommendations a few times as well. (The name sounds familiar, anyway). So … Pretty much every book you posted here is going on my "To Read" list. (Which is totally awesome, by the way!)

    I know we talked about this a little bit before, but again … I'm so glad you loved The Sea of Tranquility! Your conversation sounds like the sort of exchange my husband and I often have. Haha.

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  21. I'm seriously trying hard to finish the GTMO book before starting a "good" book. The struggle is real. I don't think I'm going to make the cut off date for the challenge, but I'll finish it, even if it is torture (haha, get it?) for me.
    I've started You as my "good" book and I'm sufficiently creeped out within the first 3 chapters, but I SWEARRRRR after I finish one of these book, I'm finishing AJ and then Still Alice THENNNNN The Sea of Tranquility because sooo many people have raved over it. I swwwwweeeeaarrrrr. I bet if I invested in some earbuds for Teh German to watch all his youtube videos on in the evening when we're laying in bed, I'd get sooo much more reading done. I'm such a problem solver. To the Amazons!

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  22. I'm adding all of your thriller recommendations to my list right now! I love watching and reading about all sorts of crazy people, which is probably why I'm obsessed with Law & Order SVU and James Patterson books. Looking up several of these authors right now!

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  23. I've only read The Storied Life out of your list, I liked it, it was a little odd to read a book, about books :) Good characters! I have The Sea of Tranquility on my list and just added Pretty Girls! So many books!

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  24. I've just added The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry to my list before reading your post and now I'm definitely reading it asap! I'm intrigued by The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and The Sea of Tranquility has been on my list for a while now. I'm having to take a break from thrillers and generally high-emotion books due to Recent Life Events but as and when I'm back to them, I may pick a few more out from your list!

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  25. The Storied Life and Tranquility have been on my list forever. The Kind Worth Killing sounds good. I've been looking for a good twist since Gone Girl. And I think I saw Messenger on another blog the last linkup. This linkup is great!

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  26. I don't think my library has The Sea of Tranquility or AJ Fikry as an ebook so I may need to go get it from them or (gasp) buy them, especially the first, because everyone has loved them. The Kind Worth Killing sounds great and is also already on my list, probably from someone else on the linkup!

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  27. Not my favorite genre. I like funny and tear-jerking books but i think that Pretty Girls one looks interesting too.

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    1. Funny & tear-jerking? From what I read this month, I'd recommended The Storied Life of AJ Fikry and The Messenger and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian all contained funny parts and tear-jerking parts too.

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  28. i've heard great things about the Storied Life of A.J. Fikry! basically every person i've seen review it says the exact same thing that you just said, "if you haven't read this book, stop what you're doing and read it now". i think i'll do just that! :)

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    1. Sometimes, I'm wary of books that receive so much praise. But, I truly felt this one deserves all of it and then some!

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  29. I totally cracked up at your 4.25 stars and then laughed even more at your footnote! I have a lot of these on my list. I love Karin Slaughter, but haven't read one of hers in quite a while, so I just added Pretty Girls.

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  30. Another Sea of Tranquility rec...I have it on my goals to read it next month because there are too many good things being said about it. And also AJ Fikry. I've also wanted to read that Alexie book for years. Mostly because it's on the banned books list. I really liked I am the Messenger, not as much as Book Thief though.

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  31. Karin Slaughter's books are really good. I got some at a flea market recently. And I really need to start the Fikry book. I rarely find time to read at the moment, it is a shame.

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