Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


All these books are amazing. The details that I learned from listening to the audiobooks makes me wonder how I could possibly have thought I knew what was going on just seeing the movies. The books are so much better. My favorite character in this book has to be Harry. He is trying so hard to figure things out and he's growing up and he realizes he really likes Ginny. He takes care of his friends in lots of ways and he's collecting all this valuable information in his head. Just amazing. Can't wait to start Deathly Hallows, but I fear I won't be able to stop at the midway point. I'm going to have to finish the whole thing before the movie comes out. We'll see...




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Another Challenge

I have no idea why I feel as though I need another reading challenge...but I do. This one is a really good one -- Read Your Own Books Challenge! My daughters constantly tell me to "read the books on your shelf first" and "you don't need more books, look how many you have". They should be happy I'm participating in this challenge.

This challenge is hosted by Jamie at Jamie's Bookshelf. Here's how you can be a part of it:

1. Please create a post for the challenge...then go to Jamie's Bookshelf and put the link to your challenge post (NOT your blog homepage.) in the comments under her challenge post.


2. As long as the book(s) you are reading are books that you CURRENTLY own they count towards this years challenge.

3. The object is to read as many of your own books, regardless of format, as possible by the end of the year.

4. Challenge goes from February 17, 2011 - December 31, 2011.

So let's get started! Since February 17th, I've finished "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "A Bolt from the Blue" by Diane A.S. Stuckart. Two down, a lot to go...

Follow Friday - February 25th

It's Friday again and time to join the Over 40 Bloggers in their Follow Friday Bog Hop. Java from Never Growing Old hosts this one and I've met some really interesting people hopping around. So, go on over to Never Growing Old and check out her amazing site and link up.

Happy Friday!

Teaser Tuesday - February 22nd

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week I'm finishing up "A Bolt from the Blue" by Diane A.S. Stuckart. It's a Leonardo daVinci Mystery. Here's my teaser:

     "Come on; let's take a closer look," I urged and scrambled over the wall. Tito followed more slowly, so that I had already climbed into its bed by the time he reached the wagon.
     "What do you think you are doing?" he demanded in a soft undertone. "The stable master might step in at any minute."
     "Then you must keep an eye out and warn me, for I am looking for clues."

(well, I accidentally closed the book before I could see what page the teaser was from -- it was in the middle)

This book is full of escapades where Leonardo's apprentices get into trouble. It moves quickly and never gets dull. I recommend it!

February 18th Follow Friday!!!

Happy Follow Friday!!! Every friday or really Thursday evening Parajunkee.com reminds us to get together and say HI! If you want to join in the fun, we need to know how to find you, so please go to Parajunkee.com and add your link in the Mr. Linky. Parajunkee also feature one blog on Friday. Each week is a different feature from the book blogging community. They are picked randomly or she gives in after multiple harassing emails. Just depends on the week. If you want to be next week's feature...leave your link.



The feature this week is...

Aaron (Book Addict) of Dreaming About Other Worlds

Aaron is a science fiction fan. He has a question for us:
 

If you are a fan of Science Fiction what is your favorite book? If you haven't read Science Fiction before...any inkling to? Anything catch your eye?

These are a few of his Science Fiction faves:

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clark
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

I've read Ender's Game and really liked it. I've also been meaning to read Stranger in a Strange Land and actually had it out of the library, but didn't get to it in time -- that was several years ago. I put it on my TBR list again for this year.
 
 
 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Well, I'm done with it! It was very, very long, but I enjoyed it immensely. So much happened and there were so many different parts. Listening to the audio cassettes was just wonderful. The only voice I didn't like was Luna's. It wasn't high and dreamy enough, but other than that Jim Dale continues to amaze me. I especially like his Professor McGonigal voice and Snape is very distinctive. And then there's Umbridge -- what a disgusting woman. Anyway, I'm done with it and now I have to figure out how I can get the next lot. I may even resort to reading the book!




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What are you reading Monday!!!

It's Monday! This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and she is having a one year anniversary party for It's Monday, What Are You Reading? Sheila took over this meme from J. Kaye one year ago. Join the party here.  As far as It's Monday, What Are You Reading? it's a place where we gather to share what we are reading this week and what we plan to read next week. Sheila loves to encourage the participants in this meme to visit as many other blogs as they can. She runs a contest where you get 1 entry for every 10 blogs you visit. Just leave the number in the comments on her blog and you are entered!

This week, I am listening to the audiocassette version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. I am loving listening to these books. Jim Dale is amazing!

I'm also reding A Bolt from the Blue by Diane A.S. Stuckart. It's a Leonardo DaVinci Mystery. It is our February book club selection. Moves along quite well.





After I'm done with those two, I'll either read State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy OR The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. Either way, I guess I'll be reading something by a Julie!!!

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig

The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm finding I truly enjoy listening to novels via my new MP3 player! Hearing a novel set in England read by a British narrator has got to be the best way to hear it. The Masque of the Black Tulip is the second novel in Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation series. It was as delightful as the first. Not knowing how far into the book I actually was, it seemed to me that a good portion of the novel focused on the romance between Henrietta and Miles which was entertaining, funny and exciting. There was a tiny bit of sex between married partners that was expected, but nothing erotic (which I wouldn't have liked). After Miles and Henrietta were all tucked up, the business of catching the Black Tulip began the novel took off again. Lots of guesses who the Black Tulip was and sneaking around, then characters being captured and, of course, rescued dramatically culminating in catching and trussing up the spy. Interspersed with all of this is the continuing saga of Eloise, the history grad student, and Collin, her host in Britain and her current crush. Lauren Willig has a great style and listening to her novel read by Kate Reading was very entertaining. These books are a pleasure to read and to have read to you. If you like historical romance with a twist, these books are for you.




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Lauren Willig Reading Challenge

Historically Obsessed is hosting the first ever Lauren Willig Reading Challenge.

The Challenge goes from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. The object is to read as many of the Pink Carnation books in 2011 that you can. I've read "The Secret History of the Pink Carnation" and I loved it. You can read my take on it here. Currently there are 8 books in the Pink Carnation series, the latest, "The Orchid Affair" was just released on January 20th. I signed up for the Lily level - 6 of the 8 books - because I've already read The Pink Carnation and I want to leave myself some wiggle room. I may complete all 8 books, who knows? The Pink Carnation was a fun read and I'm sure the others will be as well. So, go to Historically Obsessed and sign up for this challenge!

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

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


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Loved, loved, loved this audiotape. I know that my daughter has been telling me that there is so much more in the books than depicted in the movies, but I didn't realize the depth of the parts that were left out. I'm understanding so much more now. They totally left out the effort Hermione put into enlightening the house elves. That really was significant in my opinion. And Winkie -- where was Winkie? I got a better understanding of Cedric, too, which made his death even sadder. Harry certainly went through a lot of emotional torment in this book and dealt with really adult issues. You could just feel him growing up and leaving childish ways behind. I'm going to take my audiocassettes back to the library today and get The Order of the Phoenix. I'm officially hooked on this series.




Oh, and the best part of the book is how Hermione dealt with Rita Skeeter! If you have haven't read or listened to this book, you have to run out and get it just for that. It was priceless!




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