Little Black Marks

The Complete Peanuts 1963 - 1964

2012-01-24T12:16:00.001+10:00

Title: The Compete Peanuts 1963 - 1964
Author: Charles Schulz
Genre: Comic
Series: Peanuts
Audience: Everyone!
Format: Book - Library

Synopsis: Volume 7 in this series takes us through 1963 and 1964.

What I thought: You all know what I'm going to say here - love it, love it, love it!! The Goodreads synopsis does a much better job of describing this book than I ever could. Check it out here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000+10:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Is a meme hosted by Shelia over at Book Journey. A weekly check in to see what you are currently reading and what is coming up. Head over to Shelia's blog to see what others are reading this week.

What am I reading now.

The Complete Peantus 1963 - 1964

Seriously, who doesn't love a little peanuts in their life? This is the 7th volume in a planned 25 volume series which will see the whole 50 years of Sculz's masterpiece published. So far 16 volumes have been published, which takes us to 1981- 1982. I hate to think what I'm going to do when I catch up as the plans are for two volumes a year.

What I finished this week (and last week).

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
3. The Retribution - Val McDermid

I also finished proof reading an unpublished manuscript for a friend of my husbands.

What's next

I have a few possibilities. Of course there are the last remaining Potter books. I also picked up Donna Tartt's The Secret History from the library the other day. A friend has lent me a copy of Sins of the Father by Eamonn Duff. Those outside of Australia may not know a lot about the topic of this book - Shapelle Corby. Corby was caught carrying a large amount of cannabis into Bali - not a good idea at all! There was much media attention and she is currently serving a lengthy sentence in a not nice Indonesian jail. There has been a lot of controversy over the case - whether or not she was guilty, whether she deserves to be where she is or whether she should be bought home. This book looks at her father's supposed links with drug trafficking and whether Shapelle took the fall for a man who is now dead and taken the truth to his grave.

So what was your week like? Leave me a comment and a link, I'd love to know!

The Retribution

2012-01-22T20:31:00.001+10:00

Title: The Retribution
Author: Val McDermid
Genre: Fiction - Crime
Audience: Adult
Format: Book - Library

From Goodreads: Clinical psychologist Tony Hill has had a good run. He and police detective Carol Jordan have put away scores of dangerous criminals and have a clearance rate that colleagues envy or resent. But there is one serial killer who has shaped and defined their careers, a person whose evil surpasses all others: Jacko Vance, an ex-celebrity and sociopath whose brilliance and utter lack of remorse have never left Tony’s mind in the ten years Vance has been locked up. Now Jacko has broken out of prison and, with a mind even more twisted and cunning than before, he is focused on wreaking revenge on Tony and Carol for the years he has spent in prison. They don’t know when Jacko will strike, or where. All they know is that he will cause them to feel fear like they’ve never known.

What I thought: I love Val McDermid's books that have psychologist Tony Hill as the main character. This series has been made into a TV series in Britain called Wire in the Blood and it's excellent. While several of the episodes are based on books, many just use the characters.
In this latest book, Tony Hill is faced once more with Jacko Vance. A serial killer he helped DCI Carol Jordan put away for the murder of several young girls. Now Vance has escaped and is bent on exacting revenge on those he feel are responsible for his downfall.
I don't know exactly what it is that I love about this series. Like most crime novels with recurring characters you do start to wonder exactly how many traumatic episodes these people can handle before losing it completely. But McDermid manages to convince you that her characters are up for this continual beating up. Maybe it's partly the fact that Tony Hill has been "different" from the beginning - socially awkward and obsessed with his chosen field of psychology. The first Tony Hill book was released in 1995 - a time when profiling was in it's infancy. It has been interesting to see how McDermid has incorporated the growing acceptance of criminal profiling as the series has grown. Where in early books Tony had to fight to prove his skills and their worth, by now it's just accepted a profiler will make up part of the team.
A worth while series for any crime nut.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2012-01-22T20:11:00.001+10:00

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K Rowling
Series: Harry Potter
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Children/ Young Adult
Format: Book - Personal Collection

From Goodreads: Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His best friends Ron and Hermoine have been very secretive all summer and he is desperate to get back to school and find out what has been going on. However, what Harry discovers is far more devastating than he could ever have expected...
Suspense, secrets and thrilling action from the pen of J.K. Rowling ensure an electrifying adventure that is impossible to put down.

What I thought: Most probably my least favourite book in the series. Having said that, I did still enjoy it. I can remember reading this for the first time and getting rather annoyed with Harry's woe is me attitude about everything. How on earth Ron or Hermoine did not lay him flat at some stage I will never know! Mind you, at the same time, it would be incredibly frustrating to be kept in the dark so much. I love Dumbledore's speech at the end where he admits he has kept too much from Harry for too long. I think it's important that children get to experience characters they love being flawed and apologising when they get it wrong. As for Umbridge - truly the most despicable character Rowling ever came up with!

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

2012-01-21T12:55:00.000+10:00

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J.K Rowling
Series: Harry Potter
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Children/ Young Adult
Format: Book - Personal Collection

From Goodreads: Fourteen-year-old Harry Potter joins the Weasleys at the Quidditch World Cup, then enters his fourth year at Hogwarts Academy where he is mysteriously entered in an unusual contest that challenges his wizarding skills, friendships and character, amid signs that an old enemy is growing stronger.

What I thought: The one where it all really starts to happen! For me, this is the first of the books you could class as young adult. I know that when it came out I was working as a teacher librarian in a primary school and there was much discussion about whether it should be in the library. At our local library it is the last one to be in the junior fiction area.
It's also the first book that starts to examine the characters and their feelings further. There is the beginning of attraction to the opposite sex, jealousy, betrayal and death to deal with. The end of the book sets the scene perfectly for the next book.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-01-09T10:00:00.000+10:00

What am I reading now.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling.

I decided to reread this series last year after seeing the final movie. I started this the other day when my Kindle died halfway through Mort. (My Kindle dying was a very traumatic experience!) Once I got a new Kindle sorted I went back to Mort but picked this up again the moment I finished.

What I finished this week.

Another half way decent week with holidays and all!

1. The Other Hand - Chris Cleave (also published as Little Bee)
2. The Complete Peanuts 1961 - 1962 - Charles Schulz
3. Mort - Terry Pratchett

What's next

Likely to be more Pratchett. I am really enjoying re-reading his stuff at the moment.

So what was your week like? Leave me a comment and a link, I'd love to know!

Mort

2012-01-08T14:33:00.002+10:00

Title: Mort
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.
After being assured that being dead was not compulsory, Mort accepted. However, he soon found that romantic longings did not mix easily with the responsibilities of being Death's apprentice...

What I thought: Death needs a break so he takes on an apprentice. No one can give Death more life than Pratchett. Mort is learning how to collect souls and what happens when he doesn't. Death meanwhile is off looking for himself and collecting cats. Throw in Death's old and very loyal servant, Alfred, his adopted daughter Ysabell and a princess that people are having trouble seeing and you get yet another classic, hilarious read.

Challenges: Ebook Challenge

The Complete Peanuts 1961 - 1962

2012-01-07T13:10:00.000+10:00

Title: The Compete Peanuts 1961 - 1962
Author: Charles Schulz
Genre: Comic
Series: Peanuts
Audience: Everyone!
Format: Book - Library

Synopsis: Volume 6 in this series takes us through 1961 and 1962.

What I thought: More Peanuts brilliance! There are a total of 25 volumes in this series, I wonder how many I can get through this year!

Challenges:

The Other Hand

2012-01-07T12:59:00.002+10:00

Title: The Other Hand (also published as Little Bee)
Author: Chris Cleave
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: Worlds collide when Little Bee, a Nigerian girl orphaned by violence, meets Sarah, a dissatisfied British professional away on holiday. The story is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific. The story starts there, but the book doesn't. And it's what happens afterwards that is most important. A mixture of tragedy and comedy, a taste of what could happen to immigrants to the UK, realistically narrated by the two main characters: Little Bee, an immigrant to UK from Nigeria; and Sarah, a British magazine editor who had a previous connection with Little Bee.
What I thought: This is our first book group read for 2012 and wow, what a way to start the year! First off, it is simply beautifully written. The flow, the language all melds seamlessly to create a fantastic reading experience. Each chapter alternates between Little Bee and Sarah. In the beginning this produces a wonderful image of two stories moving closer together until you know they will merge and from that point they move forward together, showing different view points of the same events.

The characters of Little Bee and Sarah were lovely too. Little Bee's way of explaining or describing things and events appear simplistic, but offer such great depth. Sarah's chapters showed her feelings of confusion and uncertainty as her world is turned upside down. I believe Little Bee is a book that needs to be read by everyone, if for no other reason than to show that things are not always what we think.

Challenges: Ebook Challenge

Quotable Quotes

2012-01-02T09:30:00.001+10:00

Sometimes when I am reading a book, I come across a quote that for some reason grabs me. It may simply be beautifully written or it speaks to me on a deeper level. I often think I must write that down! And now I want to share them. So every now and then, I will do a Quotable Quotes post featuring a passage from a book I am reading. If you would like to see all my Quotable Quotes, click here!

This quote comes from The Other Hand by Chris Cleave. Other's will know this book as Little Bee.

On the girl's brown legs there were many white scars. I was thinking, Do those scars cover the whole of you, like the stars and the moons on your dress? I thought that would be pretty too and I ask you right here to please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what the scar makers want us to think. But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, "I survived."

I love this. I have always said my stretch marks from being pregnant were badges of honour - proof that I nurtured a child in my body for 9 months. Scars do mean survival - triumph over something or someone that tried to hurt or damage us. A badge that says I survived.

You can check out other quotable quotes here.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

2012-01-02T09:14:00.000+10:00

What am I reading now.

I'm currently reading The Other Hand by Chris Cleave. It's also published under the name Little Bee. This is my book club's first book for 2012 and I am enjoying immensely.

What I finished this week.

I actually had a pretty good reading week - I love holidays - with four finishes.

1. Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater
2. The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett
3. I am Number Four - Pittacus Lore
4. The Power of Six - Pittacus Lore

What's next

I have no idea! Think I will just see where the wind takes me.

So what have you started 2012 with? Leave me a comment, I'd love to know!

2011 Challenge Wrap Up

2011-12-30T19:40:00.000+10:00

Tomorrow is New Years Eve and I know I'm not going to finish my current read before the calendar ticks over into 2012, so I thought I would do a 2011 Challenge Wrap up.

The A-Z Challenge.

Hosted by Becky over at Becky's Book Reviews, this was the first year I've done this challenge. I attempted to read 52 books for this challenge (26 titles, 26 authors) and unfortunately did not make it. In the titles area I missed K, N, Q, V, X and Z. With the authors I missed R, T, U, X, Y and Z. You can see my list here.

It was a fun challenge, but I wasn't really interested in hunting out titles or authors so I don't think I will do this one again.

Aussie YA Challenge

Hosted by Nic over at Irresistible Reads, I signed up to read 12 Aussie YA authors. I completed the challenge on May 30 and went on to read another 21 Aussie YA books, taking my total to 33. I didn't keep up with putting my reads on the linky list - bit remiss of me really. You can see my list here.
I don't know if Nic is hosting another Aussie YA challenge, but I have signed up for an Aussie Author Challenge over at Booklover Book Reviews.

Twenty Eleven Challenge

Hosted by Bart over at Bart's Bookshelf, the idea of this challenge was to read one or two books in 11 categories. You had to read at least one of every category. I read 18 out of a possible 22 books. Not bad I thought. You can see my list here.
I don't know if Bart is running something like this again in 2012, but if he is, I would join!

For the Love of YA Reading Challenge

Hosted by Jamie over at Jamie's Bookshelf, I originally signed up for the Fun level (20 books) which I completed on May 30. I set my sights on the Jumbo level (40 books) which I hit on October 8. Obviously at that point my YA reading slowed down as I only added another 4 books, missing the Mega level by 6 books. You can see my list here.

Although this was fun, I don't think I will participate again next year.

2011 E-Book Challenge

Hosted by the Ladybug over at The Ladybug Reads, I originally signed up for the fascinated level (6 books) which I reached on June 24. I've fallen short by one book for the addicted level (12 books.) You can see my list here.

Next year this will be hosted by Workaday Reads and I will be signing up again.

100+ Reading Challenge

Hosted by Home Girl, the idea of this challenge was to read at least 100 books. I read 104, which is 5 less than I read in 2010. I also kept stats for this challenge which were as follows.

Fiction -89
Non Fiction - 14
Adult -54
Young Adult - 44
Children - 4
Australian -43

You can view my full list here.

Although I will keep a list of what I read next year, I don't think I will sign up for an official challenge.

So that's 2011. I've selected four challenges for 2012 so far and may add another one or two. I'll be officially signing up for these challenges and doing the initial blog posts for them over the next week. If you are interested in what I have chosen so far, you can see them here.

The Power of Six

2011-12-30T19:19:00.000+10:00

Title: The Power of Six
Author: Pittacus Lore
Series: Lorien Legacies
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Book - library

From Goodreads: I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.
I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.
And I'm ready to fight

What I thought: I picked this up from the library at the same time I picked up I Am Number Four. Figured if I was going to read one I might as well read the other. Like I Am Number Four, I don't have a lot to say about this. It was enjoyable, but not spectacular. I did get to the point where I wondered how many battles they could fight, how many "hopeless" situations they could miraculously get out of. I'll most probably read number 3 when it comes out, but I won't be in a huge hurry.

Recommended for: not sure. Those who enjoy the current trends in YA fiction.

Challenges: 100+ Challenge, For the Love of YA Challenge

The Light Fantastic

2011-12-28T10:41:00.001+10:00

itle: The Light Fantastic
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld
Genre: Fantasy/ Comedy Fiction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: As it moves towards a seemingly inevitable collision with a malevolent red star, the Discworld has only one possible saviour. Unfortunately, this happens to be the singularly inept and cowardly wizard called Rincewind, who was last seen falling off the edge of the world...

What I thought: Continuing on from where The Colour of Magic left off, The Light Fantastic follows Rincewind and Twoflower as they attempt to save the world from a collision with a red star. Only problem is, neither of the know they are trying to save the world, they are simply trying to save themselves! Through in an aging barbarian, a bunch of wizards who are trying to catch Rincewind and another wizard hell bent on seizing power for himself and you have classic Prtachett!

Recommended for: lovers of quality fantasy and any who want a good laugh.

Challenges: 100+ Challenge, eBook Challenge

I Am Number Four

2011-12-28T10:28:00.000+10:00

Title: I Am Number Four
Author: Pittacus Lore
Series: Lorien Legacies
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Book - library

From Goodreads: In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.
The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

What I thought: I saw the movie of this before I read the book. The movie was ok, the book, as usual, was better. I actually don't have a lot to say about this. It wasn't brilliant, it wasn't awful - it was a nice light read. I have the second book, The Power of Six to read and I will. It will be interesting to see how it develops.

Recommended for: not sure. Those who enjoy the current trends in YA fiction.

Challenges: 100+ Challenge, For the Love of YA Challenge

The Scorpio Races

2011-12-28T10:16:00.001+10:00

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Genre: Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Format: Book - library

From Goodreads: It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.
At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.
Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

What I thought: I'm another who loved Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I've read some mixed reviews about The Scorpio Races so approached it with trepidation - trepidation I am glad to say that was not needed!
One of my biggest fears when an author that I love starts a new book or series is that it will simply be the old stuff rehashed. I'm pleased to say that did not happen with this. The story was different, the characters were different - different issues, different tastes, different personalities. I was glad that there wasn't the over the top, overwhelming love story again, as much as I enjoyed it in Wolves. I really enjoyed this and will watch for more Stiefvater books.

Recommended for: those who enjoyed Wolves of Mercy Falls and want to read something different by the same author.

Challenges: 100+ Challenge, For the Love of YA Challenge

Quotable Quotes

2011-12-28T09:59:00.001+10:00

This quote comes from The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

"Rincewind, all the shops have been smashed open, there was a whole bunch of people across the street helping themselves to musical instruments, can you believe that?"

"Yeah," said Rincewind, picking up a knife and testing the blade thoughtfully. "Luters I expect."

This one just made me laugh out loud. How couldn't it, it's so corny!

You can check out other quotable quotes here.

The Wedding Quilt

2011-12-22T09:53:00.000+10:00

Title: The Wedding Quilt
Author: Jennifer Chiaverini
Genre: Fiction
Series: Elm Creek Quilts
Audience: Adult
Format: Book - Library

From Goodreads: Sarah McClure arrived at Elm Creek Manor as a newlywed, never suspecting that her quilting lessons with master quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson would inspire the successful and enduring business Elm Creek Quilts, whose members have nurtured a circle of friendship spanning generations.
The Wedding Quilt opens as the wedding day of Sarah's daughter Caroline approaches. As Sarah has learned, a union celebrates not only the betrothed couple's passage into wedlock, but also the contributions of those who have made the bride and groom the unique people they are. Thus Sarah's thoughts are filled with brides of Elm Creek Manor past and present-the traditions they honored, the legacies they bequeathed, and the wedding quilts that contain their stories in every stitch.
A wedding quilt is a powerful metaphor: of sisterhood, of community, of hope for the future. The blocks in Caroline's wedding quilt will display the signatures of beloved guests. As the Elm Creek Quilters circulate amid the festive preparations with pens and fabric in hand, memories of the Manor-and of the women who have lived there, in happiness and in sorrow-spill forth, rendering a vivid pastiche of family, friendship, and love in all its varieties.

What I thought: This is the 18th book in the Elm Creek Quilts series. It has been too long since I have sat down at my sewing machine and this may just have inspired me to start rifling through my stash again to see what I can come up with.
The Elm Creek books jump between two time periods, the modern day and the time around the Civil War in America. The last book set in modern day saw Sarah pregnant with twins. This book takes place 25 years later as one of the twins is about to get married. Each chapter deals with what has been happening to a particular Elm Creek Quilter in the past 25 years as well as exploring the twins up bringing and the what has happened to Elm Creek Quilts over the year. As usual, it wasn't a taxing read, but very enjoyable. I will continue to read this series as books are released.

Recommended for: those who are interested in quilting or have read the rest of the series.

100+ Challenge, A-Z Challenge

Lionheart

2011-12-22T09:25:00.001+10:00

Title: Lionheart
Author: Sharon Penman
Genre: Historical iction
Audience: Adult
Format: Kindle

From Goodreads: They were called “The Devil's Brood,” though never to their faces. They were the four surviving sons of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine. With two such extraordinary parents, much was expected of them.
But the eldest—charming yet mercurial—would turn on his father and, like his brother Geoffrey, meet an early death. When Henry died, Richard would take the throne and, almost immediately, set off for the Holy Land. This was the Third Crusade and it was to be characterized by internecine warfare among the Christians and extraordinary campaigns against the Saracens. And, back in England, by the conniving of Richard's youngest brother, John, to steal his crown.
In Lionheart, Penman displays her remarkable mastery of historical detail and her acute understanding of human foibles. The result is a powerful story of intrigue, war, and—surprisingly—effective diplomacy, played out against the roiling conflicts of love and loyalty, passion and treachery, all set against the rich textures of the Holy Land.

What I thought: I hate it when you have been waiting for a book for ages, you finally get it and it's so good you read it too fast! This is what happened with Lionheart. Despite it's length (600 pages), I tore through it rather quickly. Once again Penman successfully brings to life the kings and queens of medieval times with such clarity you could just about reach out and touch them. People who know a bit about Richard I would possibly take umbrage at her portrayal of him, but once you read her authors note and realise the depth of her research they are likely to change their mind. And therein lies the reason I love Penman's work, Her research is immaculate and detailed. She does not take liberties with history, maintaining events within the information she has uncovered. Of course, she has to make guesses at times, obviously creates the dialogue, but it is all within the realms of possibility. This is the first of a two part series on Richard I and I cannot wait for the next one to come out!

Recommended for: those who like accurate, well written historical fiction!

Challenges: 100+ Challenge, ebook Challenge

The Complete Peanuts 1959 - 1960

2011-12-13T21:41:00.000+10:00

Title: The Compete Peanuts 1959 - 1960
Author: Charles Schulz
Genre: Comic
Series: Peanuts
Audience: Everyone!
Format: Book - Library

Synopsis: Volume 5 in this series takes us through 1959 and 1960.

What I thought: Love it! Not only are the cartoons a blast, but the introductions to each book are fantastic as well and can put a slightly different slant on the cartoons. Finding out that Charles Schulz had difficulty fitting in when he was young, that he often felt on the outer lends a whole new slant to Charlie Brown. In this volume Charlie Brown gets a sister and Snoopy starts sleeping on top of his dog house.

Recommended for: those who love Snoopy and the gang!

100+ Challenge,