Thursday, July 8, 2010

Hey Ranger 2

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Hey Ranger 2 – Jim Burnett

What better way to prepare for a foray into our nation’s treasures than stories of misadventure! In just a few short hours I’m heading to the west coast to explore 3 major national parks and this book was the perfect prelude!

I did enjoy Hey Ranger! more, many of these stories seemed like they were re-runs of the stories from the 1st book.

It was still an entertaining read and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the life of a park ranger!

100_Reading_Challenge

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

June Review

My reading really slowed down in June. I seem to have lost my steam and no longer have any interest in reading at the pace required to stay on track to make 100 books for the year.  I’d hoped to make 50 by the end of June then I’d allow myself to slow down.   I missed the 50 mark by 1 book, but I finished that book July 1st or 2nd (I can’t remember!) so I didn’t miss the mark by much!  I’m still going to allow myself to slow down and really enjoy the books I’m reading!  I’m finding that with trying to finish so many I’m choosing books by their length/ease of finishing and not reading some books that I might really enjoy for fear that they will take too long!

1. Valley of the Dolls – Jacqueline Susann
2.  A Year in the Maine Woods – Bernd Heinrich
3.  Solving Thorny Behavior Problems – Caltha Crowe
4.  Termination Dust – Sue Henry
5.  Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams 
6.   Hooked on Murder – Betty Hechtman
7. Death Takes Passage – Sue Henry

Edited 9/24 to add:

8.  Sizzling Sixteen – Janet Evanovich

Since we are now at the 6 month mark, it’s time to review all the challenges and where I am:

WhatsInName3  - COMPLETED in April

twentyten_sml  COMPLETED in June

library-rc  Read 30 out of 50!  More than halfway!

100_Reading_Challenge   49 out of 100

BBClg 1 out of 6

Fun With Stephanie & Lula

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Sizzling Sixteen – Janet Evanovich

If it’s June it must be time for the latest installment in Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series! I love it because the new book always comes out right after school gets out and it’s the perfect way to start off lazy summer reading!

I’m very indecisive on this book, one the one hand it was exactly what I expect from the Stephanie Plum series, on the other hand it was lacking in the humor that usually makes her books so readable. 

It was a good story, I enjoyed seeing Stephanie, Lula and Connie band together to save Vinnie!  However I felt that the parts that were supposed to be funny just weren’t.   My favorite minor character, Mooner, was back and even that wasn’t that funny.  I hope this book is anomaly and that #17 will be back to the rollicking good fun I expect!

100_Reading_Challenge     library-rc

Crusin’ the Inside Passage

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Death Takes Passage – Sue Henry

Alex Jensen and Jessie Arnold take on a new case!  Just like Termination Dust this novel included historical information and a reenactment of the Gold Rush. 

Many of the events of this novel reminded me of Death on The Nile by Agatha Christie.  In many places it felt like it was the same book!  I would have really enjoyed that if I hadn’t just read Death on the Nile a few months ago!

Another aspect that I really enjoyed was the story took place on the Spirit of ‘98, which is an actual cruise ship run by Cruise West!  Cruise West leads small boat cruises of the Inside Passage and other destinations.  My parents took a Cruise West cruise a few years ago and it’s on my “someday” list to take one!

100_Reading_Challenge     library-rc