Do the 2009 TBR challenge

Im not going to complete this goal. I know I could if I got a shuffle on, but I dont want to! Ive got three books on my shelves which I actively want to read, and none of the books left on this list are ones which I can motivate my self to get on with…. so I sense this goal with be given up on before the end of 2009…

Ive read loads of books which I didnt end up putting on this list though… Ive really gotten into Jill Mansell, and really REALLY gotten into Jodi Picoult. I know I have some Kate Atkinson books left to read too… hmmm.

I am sure though that this goal will reappear on my list next year – as I did find some good books through this goal. The Time Travellers Wife will remain one of my favourite books of all time.

Right, Im crossing off books 7 & 10 even though I havent read thm all the way through. Ive read about 1/2 of the first anf 1/3 of the second, and its enough for me to know that I dont want to read anymore, and Im not going to force myself for the sake of it, when there are so many other books out there I would enjoy more!

However, it still leaves 4 on my list, one a month… not sure Im going to get through all of them plus a bunch of Jill Mansell books I have awaiting me (plus all the Jodi Picoult books I am desperate to get!)Will have to make time to read during the day if Im going to fit it all in…

1. The Light of Day – Graham Swift
2. The House of the Spirits – Isabel Allende
3. The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
4. The Accidental – Ali Smith
5. 26a – Diana Evans
6. Eve Green – Susan Fletcher
7. The Virgin Suicides – Jeffrey Eugenides
8. My Best Friend’s Girl – Dorothy Koomson
9. Status Anxiety – Alain De Botton
10. The Psycology of Childhood – Peter Mitchell
11. When Will There Be Good News? – Kate Atkinson
12. Deception Point – Dan Brown

This one confused me.

It is quite different from the other books… in the others Meyer takes nothing much happening and seems to drag it out over 3 books. In this one, a lot seems to happen and its all squashed into the same book. I was convinced that she hadnt written it – as I even liked Jacob in this book, which I havent in any of the others! However, Bella and Edward are as annoying (possibly moreso?!) than ever, so perhaps she did ;o)

The ending is a bit of a non-ending in my opinion, and I felt quite let down by it. However, it wasnt a surprise that it was the outcome Meyer went for. There was one surprise I didnt see coming in it though, and I was thankful for something finally happening in this saga which I didnt anticipate!

This book, more than any of the others, has had the most mixed reviews about it. However, I actually think it was my favourite out of the saga, although I think I would have split it into two, and explored more fully some of the parts of the book which were sped through. I wish Meyer was a better writer, because there were some parts of this book especially which had so much potential to be something really exceptionally written… but the opportunity was missed. I still dont understand the pull with these books, I am sure there are some subliminal message in them which makes you need to read them, as I am now feeling quite sad that the saga has come to an end.

I enjoyed this one more than ‘New Moon’ but there were elements of it which were very annoying. Bella was very whiney and quite selfish a lot of the time. Jacob was very immature and had me cross at him all of the time! Edward, seemed to lurch between being very mature and very immature – and given he is meant to be over 100, his immature moments are just frustrating. And how is it, that the Cullen family with all their experience and years did not see the blatently OBVIOUS?! There are a lot of very dense people in these books!!

A lot of previous loose strings were tied up, and it was nice to have an end drawn under them by this third book. However, one of the key elements was left wide open and clearly a theme to be continued in the final book. Still enjoyed it, still couldnt put it down, still cant work out WHY?!!!

Hmmm. Was disappointed with this book. I wont spoil the story in case anyone wants to read it, but honestly, what are the chances? It was quite obvious from the beginning where this was going to go, and I was praying all along that it didnt go there… but it did.

What bothers me the most though is that I find this saga somewhat addictive even though I dont think it is well written and some of the aspects of the stories are annoying. I imagine I will read the rest of the books, I just wish i knew what it was about them which is hooking me in?

This was a Mothers Day gift – and what a good one it was!

This is the story of the life of a Berlin orphan and her rise to movie stardom. Set mainly between the two World Wars, the story also provides an insight into life in Berlin in those times, the poverty, the debauchery and the rise of the Nazis.

The characters are engaging and it was fascinating to really see what the impact of the wars was on the people of Germany. I loved this book and would reccomend it.

I really enjoyed this! Having read it though, I still class it as a chick-lit read despite what a lot of the reviews say.

The book is basically about a young woman, Kamryn, who is single and has a good career. Her best friend, Adele, who she met at college contacts her after 2 years of them not speaking – Kamryn broke contact when she discovered that Adele had slept with her fiance and that her daughter, Tegan, is actaully the product of their betrayal. Adele is in hospital with terminal cancer and she wants Kamryn to adopt her daughter… and so the story continues.

Parts of the story were badly written or researched, and parts of it were highly predictable. However, it was an easy read and as long as I could not dwell on some of the horrible inaccuracies in the plot it was very enjoyable.

Am now half way through my TBR list, so am on track so far!

1. The Light of Day – Graham Swift
2. The House of the Spirits – Isabel Allende
3. The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
4. The Accidental – Ali Smith
5. 26a – Diana Evans
6. Eve Green – Susan Fletcher
7. The Virgin Suicides – Jeffrey Eugenides
8. My Best Friend’s Girl – Dorothy Koomson
9. Status Anxiety – Alain De Botton
10. The Psycology of Childhood – Peter Mitchell
11. When Will There Be Good News? – Kate Atkinson
12. Deception Point – Dan Brown

This was Kate Atkinsons first novel, and has been highly celebrated. As a fan of some of Atkinsons more recent writing, I was really looking forward to reading this – but unfortunately I didnt enjoy it nearly as much as anticipated.

It is basically a family saga, well written in parts, but slightly dull and confusing in others. I will carry on and read the other Atkinson books which are in my collection, in the hope that I will find another one which i enjoy as much as her wonderful novel ‘Case Histories’ – still one of my favourite reads of all time.

I had come across a huge Twilight saga fanbase online, and I decided to see what it was all about for myself and picked up a copy of this book.

Quite a straightforward story, the best part is the end of the book – I had just gotten to the point where I was rapidly losing interest in the story when it actually becomes quite gripping! Am not sure there will be enough to keep me interested in completing the whole saga, as I think the basic plot themes will just repeat throughout, but I shall probably pick up the next book in the saga to see.